On Saturday, August 4, 2007, Emily Jordan Osment, who portrays Lilly Truscott on The Disney Channel’s mega-hit cable television series HANNAH MONTANA, flew into Scranton to make a personal appearance at The Mall at Steamtown from Noon until 4pm. The sheer number of people in attendance dwarfed all previous turnouts for celebrity appearances hosted in this venue.
After graciously attending a Celebrity Breakfast held that morning at Scranton’s Historic Radisson Hotel, hosted by The Mall at Steamtown and 97 BHT, Emily took the stage in the Mall’s Center Court amidst the applause and cheers of thousands of excited fans. To her credit, the young star signed in excess of 1,500 autographs with unwavering courtesy and kindness. Both Emily and her father, Eugene Osment, expressed her wish to meet and greet every single visitor on Saturday. Unfortunately, due to the size of the crowd, it was physically impossible. Emily’s limousine left the Radisson in plenty of time to deliver her to the stage by Noon, however unexpected throngs of people lining Lackawanna Avenue brought traffic to a near stand-still, making it challenging to bring the car into the Mall and resulting in her arriving 15 minutes late.
The Mall at Steamtown’s continuing series of celebrity appearances provide us with a forum in which we can give back to our community while providing a memorable, value-added shopping experience for our customers, allowing as many of our guests to meet their Hollywood heroes as possible.
Over the last two years, The Mall at Steamtown has brought a number of celebrities to the City of Scranton. We continue to do so because, overwhelmingly, public response has been very positive. These community events are orchestrated over many months and involve the synergies of multiple disciplines including media partners, marketing firms, transportation companies, corporate sponsors, local and county law enforcement, fire officials, emergency personnel and the District Attorney’s office, as well as numerous other resources and support systems. Security measures taken for this event far exceeded the level required for the appearance of THE OFFICE’s Rainn Wilson back in December, 2006. Mall security, plainclothes detectives and Scranton Police worked diligently to ensure the safety of all. A Fire Marshall patrolled the stage area for the duration of the event. Every possible precaution was taken to protect the public, with Mall Public Safety Officers even going outside to distribute bottled water to families standing in the heat and sun.
A number of Saturday’s attendees were upset because their children did not meet Emily and a few people felt personally slighted. Although it was our intention for every individual to meet Emily personally and to create wonderful, lasting memories for all the children in attendance, the size of the crowd was an unforeseen obstacle that simply could not be overcome despite the best efforts of all involved. We recognize that there is certainly no greater source of disappointment and frustration than to have let down a small child. Emily’s time with us was limited due to her busy schedule, and she went above and beyond at every turn, even using a portion of her lunch break to call a 9-year-old leukemia patient at the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville. She also signed numerous items that will be auctioned off for charity during future Mall events.
In an effort to accommodate more fans at future events during which a larger than normal attendance might be expected, The Mall at Steamtown, Longbotham Strategic Marketing and our media partners will work to extend celebrity appearances, possibly over a period of several days, during which a number of various meet and greet opportunities will be scheduled. Additionally, the possibility of erecting larger video screens throughout the Mall and along the street may provide a means by which fans can watch and feel more connected to the proceedings. We are certainly open and willing to explore various solutions to enhance the success of our events and will continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and happiness of our neighbors and friends at all times.
Public comments, feedback and constructive criticism is welcomed and appreciated. The Mall at Steamtown is currently planning the 2007 Holiday shopping season and would appreciate community input. To nominate your favorite celebrity to be considered for an appearance at The Mall at Steamtown, email your nomination to themallatsteamtown@hotmail.com.
Thank you for your support, attendance and continued commitment to the vitality and prosperity of Downtown Scranton. The Mall at Steamtown is your ultimate shopping destination downtown. www.themallatsteamtown.com
