BATMANIA

A federal judge in Chicago stopped a would-be Batman who had hoped to parachute onto North Avenue Beach dressed as the Caped Crusader. “It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do,” a dejected Ron Rooding said as he left the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Brian B. Duff. Duff granted a temporary restraining order sought by Warner Bros. and DC Comics to block Rooding’s jump, charging that Rooding was violating copyright restrictions on the movie character. Rooding, owner of a movie theater, had received a permit from the Chicago Park District to make the jump Friday afternoon as the movie “Batman” opened in the Windy City. Rooding, whose theater is not even showing the movie, admitted he would in effect be helping his competition. He said he bought the costume from a Charlotte, N.C., distributor for $280.