Tuesday
Superman on Radio
Superman premiered in Action Comics #1 in 1938. By January of 1939, Superman had been picked up as a newspaper strip; attention was then turned to another source of revenue -- radio. In 1939, 4 audition shows were prepared for a Superman Radio series to play for potential sponsors. The mock ads for 'Blank-o' and 'Blankerine' make it apparent that they were already looking for a cereal sponsor, not uncommon for a show targeted towards children. Superman's background was still in flux, the comics said the child from Krypton was discovered as an infant and raised by the elderly couple John and Mary Kent of Ohio. For radio it was decided to streamline the story by having Superman arrive on Earth as a grown man, and in costume. Superman claims to have no name and little knowledge of mankind, yet speaks English and has a longing to begin a vocation. The newspaper in the audition shows was called the Daily Flash, and the editor was Paris White, which would be changed to Perry, and soon adopted by the newspaper strip and comics. Perry White's secretary is named “Miss Lane” in the audition, and was played by Agnes Moorehead, who also played Superman's mother, Lara. Agnes Moorehead is best remembered for the role of Endora in TVs Bewitched. The producers of the radio series were given a relatively free hand to shape the show to their liking; many of their creations were ultimately incorporated into the Superman legend. Kryptonite made its first appearance on the radio show.
