Scranton, Pennsylvania's Steamtown Mall has hosted a number of events this year featuring popular celebrities like The Office's Rainn Wilson in May and Hannah Montana's Emily Osment in August. Similar to previous affairs, the most recent event featuring Drake & Josh's Drake Bell has been deemed a big success as the 21-year-old actor attracted a massive crowd of teens.  The distinction, however, is that Bell's show was much more orderly.

Last Saturday, more than 3,500 people came to Steamtown to see Bell, who catapulted to stardom as Drake Parker on Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh. Although fewer people attended his event, compared to Emily Osment who attracted more than 5,000 shrieking fans during her show four months ago, the affair had lesser commotion.

The same amount of security, including Scranton city firefighters and police officers, turned out for both events but it was the “sheer number” of people who came out for the Hannah Montana event that made the difference.  According to the mall's general manager Jim Walsh, Drake Bell's show resulted in a much organized festivity.

Most of the residents agree with Walsh.

“That was a disaster,” Jill Kelly of Scranton said of Osment's fan event. “But this, this was great. It went much better.”

The mall also limited the number of fans who could personally meet the Drake & Josh star, giving out free “Golden Tickets” prior to the event.

“We caught fire with the free-for-all last time, so this time we used tickets,” Walsh explained. “I think it was a phenomenal success, though I wish more people could have turned out.”

Since being cast on Drake & Josh in 2004, Bell has made numerous television appearances and has acquired plenty of upcoming movie projects, including Superhero, Drake & Josh in New York and College.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Times-Tribune
(Image courtesy of MSN)