Hometown Crowd Turns Out For Favorite Son

Hundreds gathered in the cold to await the arrival of one of their own. Every window down the street was decked out with movie posters and movie lights were hanging on the lamp posts.

Acclaimed actor and director George Clooney unveiled his latest work, Leatherheads, on March 24 at the Washington Opera House in Maysville, Ky., a place he calls home.

According to the New York Times, this was not the first Clooney to host a premier in the town. George Clooney's aunt Rosemary premiered her movie "The Stars are Singing" back in 1953.

Sophomore Addie Herman attended a movie premiere for the first time Monday, and even though she's not a huge Clooney fan, she enjoyed the show.

"I had never been to a movie premier before so it was nice to see how everything was set up," she says.

People of all ages and all walks of life waited for hours to catch a glimpse of Clooney and leading lady Ren�e Zellweger.

Junior Kimberly Osborne said the crowd was very boisterous.

"You could immediately tell when they hit the red carpet as the crowd roared for both of them," she says. "It was so exciting trying to catch a glimpse of them and get pictures of them with my camera phone."

Arrangements were made for a second showing of the film where members of the public had a chance to win tickets. The crowd grew silent as 100 two-person tickets were drawn.

For the unlucky people who didn't get to see the film, it was still worth it to catch a glimpse of hometown boy turned mega star.

Junior Courtney Yates traveled an hour and didn't get to talk to Clooney, but said it was worth the drive.

"It doesn't matter that I didn't get his autograph or that I personally didn't get to shake his hand, or talk to him," she says. "To actually say that I have pictures of him and that I saw him in Maysville, Ky., is something I can make my family and friends jealous with."

March 27, 2008