71 Years of "Adventures of Superman"

Yesterday marked 71 years since the Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves hit the airwaves for the first time. It aired on Chicago's WENR.

Filmed in 1951, the syndicated series languished until a sponsor could be found. Eventually, Kellogg's Cereals of Battle Creek, Michigan stepped up and became its prime sponsor.

The into included Kellogg's sponsorship:

Dennis Hays posted the following on Facebook:

On this date September 19, 1952 the Adventures of Superman makes its television debut on Chicago's WENR. 

The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California on RKO-Pathé stages and the RKO Forty Acres back lot. It was sponsored by cereal manufacturer Kellogg's. The show was produced for first-run television syndication. 

As a syndicated show sold separately in every market, Adventures of Superman did not have an official national premiere date. Here are some of the dates and markets for the launch of the series. 

September 19, 1952 at WENR in Chicago

February 9, 1953 at KECA in Los Angeles (later known as KABC).

April 1, 1953 on WJZ in New York (later known as WABC).

And various other dates in smaller markets. 

On April 8, 1953, Variety reviewed the April 1 New York premiere, writing, "It's to National Comics credit that its television version is restrained on the scripting side and well done technically ... Filming is top-notch, with no expense spared to get those special effects. George Reeves, who acts Superman, doesn't have too much of a role in the initial pix, since most of it deals with boyhood of the hero, but he registered nicely as the meek reporter and as the hero. Phyllis Coates was okay as Lois Lane, the girl reporter, while John Hamilton fits the fictitious concept of the editor. Other roles were well handled."

It is kind of hard to believe that the show is over 70 years old. Then again, I will be hitting 70 next year and I drive a Willys Jeep that's 71 years old. That's also hard to believe sometimes.

The Neverending Battle For Superman

Above, the very first published Superman story appeared in the first issue of Action Comics.

Just about everyone knows that the character of Superman/Clark Kent was created by two Cleveland, Ohio boys, Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster.

Siegel did the writing and Shuster did the illustrating.

Above, Laura Siegel Larson at the Superman Celebration luncheon last August. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After receiving no success in having Superman picked up by a publisher, the Superman character was picked up by a publisher (now known as DC Comics) and the rest is history.

But there's much more to the history.

Sedgwick Law has posted a history of the legal battles between Siegel & Shuster (and their heirs) and DC Comics.

Here's a snippet:

By now, the story behind Superman’s origins is well-known.  Created by teenagers Joseph Shuster and Jerry Siegel in the 1930s, Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938.  Shortly thereafter, Shuster and Siegel reportedly sold to what is now DC Comics their rights to the Action Comics storyline, including the Superman character as he then existed, for $130.00 and additional, annual “work for hire” payments for supplying material to DC Comics.  Superman would, of course, then go on to become one of the most well-recognized and financially successful characters in comic book history, generating millions of dollars in subsequent sales, spin-offs, movies and merchandise.  In the years that followed, both Shuster and Siegel would attempt to regain ownership of Superman and a more appropriate share in DC’s profits from the booming franchise.  Ultimately, various lawsuits, settlements and copyright extensions restored their names to the Superman comics’ credit pages, and deals were made to provide pensions and other compensation for the co-creators’ heirs.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster have both passed on. The battle has been taken up by their heirs, most notably Jerry Siegel's daughter, Laura Siegel Larson.

To read "the rest of the story" (as the late Paul Harvey used to say), go here. 

Boy Commandos No. 25

One of the oldest comic books in my collection is Boy Commandos no. 25 from National Comics (now known as DC Comics). The cover date is January/February 1948, which means it was published in late-1947.

I managed to buy it back in the early 1990s at a comic book convention.

According to Mike's Amazing World of Comics (or, specifically, Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics) database, Boy Commandos no. 25's cover was pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Charles Nicholas. The three stories were also pencilled by Swan and inked by Steve Brodie.

Swan went on to become "the definitive Superman artist" and my personal favorite. I was lucky to obtain this Golden Age comic at a reasonable price. Having it feature early work of Curt Swan is the icing on the cake.


SPECIAL THANKS: To Tony Isabella for the tip about Mike's Amazing World of Comics database!