The Adventures of Superman on the Radio
The Adventures of Superman radio series first aired on WOR 710 in New
York City on February 12, 1940. The transcription discs were played that week
on stations in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Los Angeles. Detective
Comics owner Harry Donenfeld paid $230 to hear the premiere in Cuba. The
series aired in different formats until March 1, 1951, after a total of 2,088
episodes.
The show was developed by publicist Allen "Duke" Ducovny and Robert Joffe
Maxwell. Maxwell was a former pulp writer hired by Harry Donenfeld to oversee
licensing for Superman Inc. Audition discs for four episodes were produced in
late 1939. Ducovny and Maxwell co-wrote the original opening phrase:
“Faster than an airplane, more powerful than a locomotive, impervious to
bullets. ‘Up in the sky – look!’ ‘It’s a bird.’ ‘It’s a plane.’ ‘It’s
Superman!’ ”
Ducovny and Maxwell were initially rejected by CBS, NBC Red, NBC Blue, and
Mutual. Transcription discs were sold to regional stations and then shared
with affiliates.
Macy's was an early
sponsor through a partnership with WOR. To promote the program, Macy's and
Superman, Inc. organized
"Superman Day"
at the New York's World's Fair on July 3, 1940. According to the
New York Times, an estimated 3,000 people attended the festivities.
Part five of "Hans Holbein’s Doll Factory" was played twice for "Superman Day"
guests.
George F. Lowther was brought on the staff in October 1940. Lowther was an
experienced radio writer known for work on Dick Tracy and
The Shadow. On August 31, 1942, the program began broadcasting live
for five days a week on the Mutual network with Lowther as a director.
During downtime between seasons, Lowther authored
The Adventures of Superman novel published on November 2,
1942.
The series aired in various timeslots on ABC Radio from February 7, 1949, until the last episode on March 1, 1951. Robert Maxwell
and Whitney Ellsworth reworked the show into a screenplay for Superman and the Mole Men starring George Reeves. The film was released on November 23, 1951, by Lippert Pictures. The
feature served as pilot for the
Adventures of Superman
television series that premiered on September 19, 1952. Maxwell left the television production staff after the first season.
Bud Collyer, born Clayton Johnson Heermance, Jr., starred as the first actor
to voice Clark Kent and Superman on the radio and cartoons. Bud Collyer
originally pursued a career in law before becoming a prominent voice in
broadcasting on all four major networks. Collyer famously switched from a
mild-mannered tenor as Clark to a rich baritone for Superman. The roles were
originally written for two different actors. The audition script embarrassed
Collyer, but Maxwell convinced him to stay.
Collyer also voiced both characters for the Fleischer and Famous Studios
animated shorts released from 1941–1943. The January 21, 1950, episode "Dead
Men Tell No Tales" was the final radio appearance of Collyer as Clark and
Superman.
Bud Collyer later reprised the roles in the
The New Adventures of Superman animated series from 1966–1968.
Collyer's final performance as Superman was on the April 22, 1969, broadcast
of The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. The program reenacted
part one of "Lois and Jimmy Disappear," originally broadcast on January 5,
1944. Johnny Carson read the role of Jimmy Olsen.
.png "Michael Fitzmaurice, Radio and Television Mirror (December 1941)")
Actor Michael Fitzmaurice provided the voices of Clark Kent and Superman for
78 episodes from June 5, 1950, until the series finale on March 1, 1951.
Michael Fitzmaurice worked as a reporter for the
Los Angeles Times before becoming a newsman on KNX radio known as
Mike Kelly. Fitzmaurice was the primary announcer for the Hearst-MGM
News of the Day newsreels and he regularly appeared in ABC radio
dramas.
In the 1939 audition episode "The Origin of Superman, Part 2," Miss Lane is
a secretary at the Daily Flash. Miss Lane was originally voiced by
actress Agnes Moorehead. The character was later rewritten as Miss Smith.
Reporter
Lois Lane
first appeared on radio in the February 26, 1940, episode "Dr. Dahlgren's
Atomic Beam Machine." The first actress to voice Lois Lane was Rosalind
"Rolly" Bester. Lois first meets Superman in the March 1 episode, "Threat To
The Daily Planet." Rolly Bester portrayed Lois in four episodes broadcast
from February 26 to March 4, before she was fired by Robert Maxwell.
Rolly Bester began her career as a Broadway performer before appearing on
radio, television, and film. Rolly was married to science fiction author
Alfred Bester, creator of Solomon Grundy and the Green Lantern oath. Rolly
Bester later became head of casting and vice president of the Ted Bates
& Co. advertising agency in New York.
Lois Lane remained absent from the show from March 6 through March 15, 1940.
Lois returned in the March 18 episode "The Prison Riot" voiced by actress
Helen Louise Choat, sometimes credited as Choate. Helen Choat departed the
series after three storylines. Her final appearance aired on April 26, 1940.
Choat began broadcasting at WNAC-Boston in 1928 and later starred in the
major soap operas of the era. After the decline of radio, Helen Choat
briefly worked in television and co-authored books about metaphysics.
Joan Alexander, born Louise Abrass, voiced Lois Lane for over 1,600 episodes
from June 9, 1940, until the series finale on March 1, 1951. Alexander was
fired by Robert Maxwell after about three months, but she regained the role
of Lois in a blind audition. Alexander had studied acting in Europe under
renowned director Benno Schneider. She took her stage name after actress
Joan Crawford.
Joan Alexander also provided the voice of Lois Lane for the Fleischer and
Famous Studios cartoons from 1941–1943. She would reprise the role in 1966
for one season of The New Adventures of Superman animated series.
Alexander later expressed disappointment about being remembered for Lois
Lane instead of major productions by Shakespeare or Shaw.
-
The radio show established elements of Superman mythology that remain in
current continuity. The ability for Superman to fly was introduced in the
1939 audition episode "The Origin of Superman, Part 2." In the comic books,
Superman first flew in Superman #10 (May–June 1941) due to a
misunderstanding by artist Leo Nowak. Superman flies in the first Fleischer
Studios animated short released on September 26, 1941. The power of flight
officially debuted in Action Comics #65 (October 1943).
In "The Shark" pilot, the Daily Star was originally named
Daily Flash. The Daily Planet first appeared in the newspaper
strip on November 13, 1939. Editor Perry White was created for the radio
series, voiced by actor Julian Noa and later by Jackson Beck. The radio character
was originally named Paris White. In the comic books, the original editor
was George Taylor. The name appeared as Editor White in
Superman #7 (November 1940).
On April 15, 1940, the Daily Planet copy boy was introduced as Jimmy
Olsen. Jimmy Olsen was first played by Jackie Kelk and later by Jack Grimes.
The character first appeared as an unnamed "office-boy" in
Action Comics #6 (November 1938). Jimmy Olsen officially made his
comic book debut in Superman #13 (November–December 1941).
The first appearance of the word "kryptonite" was an advertisement for the Krypto-Raygun from Daisy in
Action Comics #8 (January 1939). Kryptonite later appeared in "The
Meteor from Krypton," first broadcast June 3–11, 1943. The seven-part storyline was written and directed by George Lowther.
At the Metropolis Museum, Dr. John Whistler identified kryptonite based on previous observations of Krypton's destruction. The museum specimen was discovered on the Sheehan farm. The fragment "glowed like a green diamond" and weakened Superman within 5–10 feet. The meteorite also caused Superman to see visions of Krypton and his parents: "I know now, for the first time, who I really am, where I came from." Dr. Whistler promises to keep the kryptonite secure in a private vault.
A popular legend claims that kryptonite was introduced to give Bud Collyer time off from the series. Collyer appeared in all seven episodes of "The Meteor from Krypton" and the two-part sequel "The Meteor of Kryptonite" in September 1945.
-
"The Mystery of the Wax Men" aired from February 28, to March 15, 1945. The
February 28 episode features the first radio appearance of Dick Grayson and
Robin, voiced by Ronald Liss. The March 2 episode features the first
appearance of Batman on radio, although no lines are spoken. Jackson Beck
provided the voice of Alfred Pennyworth. Superman first appeared with Batman
and Robin on the cover of
New York World's Fair Comics: 1940 Issue
(April 1940).
-
Superman faced the Ku Klux Klan in the 14-part "Clan of the Fiery Cross"
from June 10 through July 1, 1946. The hate group targets a Chinese American
teen named Tommy Lee. After burning a cross in front of the Lee home, Tommy
is kidnapped, tarred and feathered. Perry White is threatened after offering
rewards to expose members. Superman ultimately stops the Klan from murdering
Tommy.
Stetson Kennedy was a civil rights activist who had infiltrated KKK
meetings. Kennedy claimed to have supplied Superman producers with secret
knowledge of Klan rituals and weekly passwords, but the information
presented in the script was public knowledge. No secret passwords were
revealed throughout the story. The "Grand Scorpion of the Clan of the Fiery
Cross" holds emergency meetings in a suburban garage. The "Grand Imperial
Mogul" describes membership as a multi-level marketing scam, "hokum."
The message of tolerance from Superman contrasts the anti-Asian themes of
World War II. In the
summer of 1942, the Superman newspaper strips drew nationwide criticism
after praising a Japanese concentration camp. In a letter to the Office of
War Information dated April 12, 1943, show creator Robert Maxwell declared
his intent to teach hatred towards the enemy. Maxwell wrote, "A German is a
Nazi and a Jap is the little yellow man who 'knifed us in the back at Pearl
Harbor.'"
-
Early WOR 710 advertisements were distributed by
Macy's for
"Superman Day"
at the New York World's Fair on July 3, 1940. Early regional sponsors
included Hecker's Oat Cereal, Force Wheat Flakes, Proctor & Gamble,
Skippy Peanut Butter, and Stroehmann's Bread. The show was sponsored in
Canada by Ogilvie Flour Mills Company. In 1941, various stations and
bakeries stamped branding on cards distributed by the
Superman Junior Defense League of America.
Kellogg's PEP cereal was the official sponsor on Mutual, first appearing on
January 4, 1943. Superman is featured in all five series of "Comic Buttons"
included with boxes of PEP from 1945 to 1947. Superman also appeared on
twelve different PEP box-panel comics dated 1945.
A
"Superman Crusader"
premium ring was available by mail order for one boxtop and 10 cents during
the fall of 1946. The "Superman Crusader" ring was featured in the
"Counterfeit Money" storyline from October 17 to November 5, 1946. A
commercial advertising the ring was included on transcription discs of Part
8. The ring was marketed as a "symbol of Superman's fight for tolerance and
good sportsmanship."
The
Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO)
of Chicago issued collector cards for Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander in the
TV and Radio Stars series. The American Card Catalog reference
is W409. The sets are cataloged by variations in the "Made in U.S.A." font.
Each card measures approximately 3.375 x 5.375 inches, smaller than a
standard postcard.
%20B%20-%20Bud%20Collyer.png "Exhibit Supply Co. - TV and Radio Stars Exhibit Cards (W409) A - Bud Collyer")
%20A%20-%20Bud%20Collyer.png "Exhibit Supply Co. - TV and Radio Stars Exhibit Cards (W409) B - Bud Collyer")
%20-%20Joan%20Alexander.png "Exhibit Supply Co. - TV and Radio Stars Exhibit Cards (W409) - Joan Alexander")
The black-and-white Exhibits were dispensed from penny arcade vending
machines during the 1940s and 1950s. A cropped variant of the Bud Collyer
card includes "Superman" under the facsimile autograph.
%20-%20Bud%20Collyer%20&%20Bert%20Parks,%20Break%20The%20Bank.png "Exhibit Supply Co. - TV and Radio Stars Exhibit Cards (W409) - Break The Bank")
Bud Collyer appears with actor and singer Bert Parks on an Exhibit card
for
Break The Bank, a quiz show that aired on ABC Radio from July 5,
1946, until September 23, 1949. Parks and Collyer co-hosted the radio
and television broadcasts for ABC beginning October 22, 1948. Bert
Parks is best known for hosting the annual Miss America pageant from
1955 to 1979. Collyer made appearances as co-host and emcee on
Break The Bank from 1948–1953. Bert is misspelled as "Burt" and
both actors are mislabeled on the Exhibit card.
Bud Collyer appears on card No. 31 in the 1953
Television and Radio Stars of NBC
series from
Bowman Gum.
The American Card Catalog reference is R701-15. Collyer appeared
on Break the Bank from 1948–1953, but the biography information
on the card back incorrectly states "since 1945." The Bud Collyer card is included in The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
-
Bowers, Rick. Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate. National Geographic, 2011.
Brown, Tweed. "He Makes Like Superman." Tune In, Sept. 1946, pp. 27–29.
Daniels, Les.
Superman: The Complete History: The Life and Times of the Man of
Steel. Chronicle, 2004.
Dubner, Stephen J., and Steven D. Levitt. "Hoodwinked?" New York Times Magazine, 8 January 2006.
Hayde, Michael J. Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman. BearManor Media, 2009.
Dubner, Stephen J., and Steven D. Levitt. "Hoodwinked?" New York Times Magazine, 8 January 2006.
Hayde, Michael J. Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman. BearManor Media, 2009.
Kennedy, Stetson. The Klan Unmasked. Florida Atlantic University
Press, 1990, pp. 92, 94.
Kobler, John. "Up, Up and Awa-a-y! The Rise of Superman, Inc."
The Saturday Evening Post, 21 Jun. 1941, pp. 14–15, 73–76.
Lamparski, Richard. "Whatever Became Of... Superman and Lois Lane?" Interview with Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander. WBAI-FM, New York, 20 December 1966.
Pasko, Martin. The DC Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book Featuring Rare Collectibles from the DC Universe. Running Press, 2008.
"H-O Superman." Time, vol. 35, no. 9, 26 February 1940.
"Radio Superman." Look, 3 Sep. 1946, p. 76.
Scivally, Bruce. Superman on Film, Television, Radio, and Broadway. McFarland & Company, Inc., 2008.
Siegel, Jerry. Creation of a Superhero. Draft. 1979.
Singh, Vinti. "Once a radio star, her roles in life never stopped coming." Connecticut Post, 26 Dec. 2010.
"Superman in the Suburbs." Radio Mirror, vol. 29, no. 2, January
1948, pp. 71–72.
WBAI Folio, vol. 7, no. 13, December 1966, p. 25.
Weldon, Glen. Superman: The Unauthorized Biography. John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 2013, p. 58.
