By Brian Cogan
(Taken from the obituary section of the New York Times, May 31, 2211)
Carter Thompson, believed to be the last survivor of the long and troubled preview audiences during the Julie Taymor era of Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, died last week at the age of 106 at his home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to a family spokesman. It is believed that he died of natural causes. Although Thompson was a long time electronic car mechanic, devoted husband, father of three children, grandfather of six and longtime member of the Rotary Club, he is best known as the longest living member of the SMTOTD preview audience of the troubled Julie Taymor era. The last other surviving Julie Taymor preview audience member, Lenore Daw, died last year at the age of 112.
According to his son Carl, Thompson was initially reluctant to discuss his experiences during the Taymor preview era. “He was pretty traumatized, as you might imagine,” Carl Thompson said. “It was a helluva thing to put a poor six year old kid through, but you know, he pulled through, he was a tough man.”
Others in the community were equally impressed by Thompson’s fortitude. “When he was young, I know he was reluctant to talk about it,” said long time friend and neighbor, Jimmy “Silver” Reeves. “But if you put a few beers in him, sometimes, he would sort of stare off into the distance and ask ‘Why Arachne? She wasn’t even part of the comic!’” Another long time friend James “Red” Barnes added that although he agreed that Thompson was reluctant to talk about his long ago experience, he also was possessed of the nostalgia, common to men of his generation. Barnes remembered that once or twice when a plane flew low overhead, Thompson might stare up wistfully and say, “Get the Green Goblin Spidey!”
Funeral services are expected to be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Actors Equity. Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark is still in previews and expected to open June 16, 2212.
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