`Simpsons Movie' draws fans.

Byline: Jack Moran The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - With a little help from Matt Groening himself, city and Gateway Mall officials demonstrated Thursday how to turn "d'oh" into doughnuts.

There was no moping at the mall regarding Springfield's loss earlier this month in a 14-city contest where the winner (Springfield, Vt.) earned the chance to host the worldwide premiere of "The Simpsons Movie."

Instead, officials celebrated the consolation prize they received for competing in the contest. Thanks to 20th Century Fox, more than 200 local residents on Thursday enjoyed a free advance screening of the animated film at the mall's Cinemark 17 theater. The movie opens nationwide today.

Even sweeter was the plaque that Simpsons creator Groening, a Portland native who was apparently rooting for Lane County's Springfield in the contest, mailed last week to city officials.

Unveiled by Mayor Sid Leiken moments before the show started, the plaque included a personal message from Groening: "Yo to Springfield, Oregon - the real Springfield."

Springfield is the name of the fictional city in which Groening's animated television family resides.

In the contest, 14 U.S. cities named Springfield were asked to show off their "Simpsons spirit."

An online vote determined that Vermont's Springfield deserved the premiere. But as Leiken pointed out, Groening was evidently disappointed with the results.

`The proof is in the pudding from the creator of `The Simpsons,' ' Leiken announced to several dozen people who gathered outside the theater. "If Matt says we're the real Springfield, that's good (enough) for me."

Before Leiken's presentation, about 100 people jammed into a section of the mall to partake in and watch a series of contests in which free passes to Thursday's showing were given away.

Thirteen-year-old Caitlin McIntyre won the doughnut-eating contest, scarfing down six of Homer Simpson's favorite treats faster than more than a dozen men she competed against.

"I felt kind of queasy," said McIntyre, a Bremerton, Wash., native who clearly had difficulty keeping down the deciding doughnut. "I thought I was going to barf there for a second."

Matthew Yates, 12, of Eugene watched the movie for free after impressing judges with his belching prowess during a separate contest.

"I've been looking forward to the movie ever since I first heard it was coming out," said Yates, who stands less than 5 feet tall.

There was also a "tall hair" contest, in honor of Simpsons' matriarch Marge Simpson. Kathy Fontenot of Eugene channeled her favorite character, dying her hair blue for the contest. She finished second but didn't feel too bad, since she had already obtained free tickets. Passes to the movie were also given away through a drawing at the mall, and to winners of contests on a local FM radio station.

Possibly the biggest Simpsons fan at the mall Thursday did not win free tickets to the special 7 p.m. screening. Brian Steveson, 13, of Eugene said he had been anticipating the movie's opening for about 16 months.

"I've counted down the days - I've waited 473 for this," Steveson said. "I'm such a nerd."

In the end, Steveson was out-burped by Yates, unable to top McIntyre in the doughnut-eating contest, and simply not lucky enough to secure tickets through the mall's drawing. He was considering waiting around for the first "official" showing of the film at midnight.