September 22, 2021 • 32 mins
Original Release Date: September 22, 2021
Superman has a clue to the Vulture's location, but will he be able to find him before the Vulture completes a very unusual execution of Jimmy Olsen
Original Air Date: January 21, 1943
Check out our website at http:///lasersword.adamsweb.us
Listen for more thrilling Golden Age of Radio adventures of Superman!
Superman has a clue to the Vulture's location, but will he be able to find him before the Vulture completes a very unusual execution of Jimmy Olsen
Original Air Date: January 21, 1943
Check out our website at http:///lasersword.adamsweb.us
Listen for more thrilling Golden Age of Radio adventures of Superman!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
Bullet, four poles, and peopleat least four buildings of a single bounds.
Yes, it's Superman, strange visitorfrom another world who came to work
with powers of abilities far beyond thoseof hotel men. Superman who can change
(00:28):
the cause of mighty rivers, thenthe steel in his bare hands, and
who disguised as Clark Kent, mildmanned reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper,
fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American Way.
But before we joined Superman, hereis an important method. Say, gang,
here's an adventure that's so fantastic you'dhardly believe it's really true. It's
(00:51):
the story of one young marine whoall by himself survived three whole weeks of
fighting in the jungles of Guadalcanal.He'd gotten lost from his platoona morning and
was hiding in the grass. Hey, bir, why here? Hey?
I wonder where they could have gone? Maybe up this trail you smoke?
(01:12):
Or gang of Japs? I can'tget around. I'm gonna gee, I
wonder what I Hey? I betthis trick will work? Ye, yes,
sir, That marine stampeded a largegroup of Japs by pretending he was
(01:33):
a whole platoon, and then hewent on through the jungle and at last,
one rainy night, geez lights ahead, I must at the camp.
I should wish I could tell whoseit is. I'll crawl a little closer.
Well, I say that looks likemy own gang. Hey, Sam,
Yo, Hey falas is see heyhere I am, yes, sir.
(01:56):
After three weeks fighting the jungle andthe Japs, that marine got back
to camp safely. Now, Idon't have to tell any of you how
much endurance that marine had to havein order to come through his ordeal as
well as he did. So I'lljust point out something that all of you
will be mighty glad to know.None of you can expect to have plenty
of zip and energy unless you eatright, which includes getting all your vitamins.
(02:17):
And I know hundreds of fellas andgirls are starting to get two mighty
important vitamins D one and D ina mighty grand tasting way. It's by
sitting down to a big bowl fullof delicious Kellogg's Pep for breakfast every morning.
And believe you me, anybody who'shad a taste of those swells super
crisp golden flakes can tell you whatdownright good eating pep is, So ask
(02:39):
your mother to get you a packageof Kellogg's pep tomorrow. And now the
Adventures of Superman. Superman and hisguise of Claw Tent is now fitted against
the mass the criminal of his timeon the farious Underworld character who calls himself
the Vulture. The Vulture, asyou remember, has in his possession the
(02:59):
model of the most human mechanical Maninvented by doctor Cameron. In our last
episode, we heard how the Vulturecarried out what he called an experiment in
horror after holding a conversation with JimmyOlsen Daily Planet copy boy, whom he's
holding prisoner. The Vulture made aphonograph recording of Jimmy's answers and sent it
to editor White and Clark Kent.The record made it appear as if the
(03:21):
Vulture were harming Jimmy, although actually, as we know, Jimmy has been
well cared for. As our lastepisode ended, Clark Kent suddenly realize the
record gave him just the clue hewas looking for, and as Superman set
out to track it down. Asour story continues, now, Superman and
his guise of Clark Kent arrives atthe Worldwide Recording Company. I'd like to
(03:43):
see the manageably, says he expectingyou, sir, no, but I
must see him at once. Thisis a matter of great importance or an
it? Please I'll find out.I'm sorry, I can't wait twenty eight
I wish to say that what's thedevil? It's a meeting of this.
How dare you breaking? I'm liketost apologize for insuring like this, but
I've got some business with you andit's got to be done. Well,
I'm afraid you'll have to wait untilI can't wait. It's a matter of
life and debt, life and debt, that's right. I'm assisting the police
(04:04):
and tracking down a dangerous criminal andyou are How do I though? You
represent the police, and you haveto take my word for it. You
sell machines for making records at home, don't him? Yes, they haven't
been very successful. Not many peoplehave bought them. Narrows my search.
I want a list of the peoplewho bought those machines. Well, that
ought to be zimple. We've onlysold three or four of them. Actually,
they're very expensive, you know.I've got to know the names of
(04:25):
the people who bought those machines atonce. Now, please hurry one moment.
I think we can accommodate your patios. Would you mind telling me why
you need these names? And there'shardly time for that. Yes, get
from the files the name of allcustomers who have bought model X four seven,
nine three. I believe the homerecording outfit. Well, I'm afraid
that's impossible. What do you mean, Well, that's ridiculous. Why is
(04:45):
it impossible? Well, have youforgotten, sir? All those files were
destroyed in the fire we had heresix weeks ago. Great Scott, of
course I've completely forgotten that, haven'tyou duplicate files? I've got to get
the names of those customers. I'vejust got to I'm afraid we can't help
yourself. All out files were completelydestroyed. Put me in a fine spot.
Isn't there any way you can tracethe criminals you speak of? I
don't see how you see he sentus a recording with a special message on
(05:06):
it, A recording made on oneof your machines. If you have no
record of the people who have boughtthese machines, I don't see what I
let let's what. It's just oneway I can think of. It's my
only chance, in fact, butit's got to work. It's got As
Kent prepares to follow a last desperatecourse of action, another scene is taking
(05:28):
place in the hideout of the Vulture. We join him now in the sumptuous
study, where he has seated acrossthe table from Jimmy Olsen. On the
table is a portable record player,and the Vulture has just finished playing a
copy of the record he sent toKent and Perry White. Listen you you
mean you sent that record to misterCannon. Mister White, Yes, mere
boy, I consider it rather ingeniusof me to have thought of tricking you
(05:50):
into playing that scene. Far maybe, but you made it sound as that
you've been torturing me. Exactly.That is how I planned it. My
idea was to winflict mental torture onyour friends, revenge for their hounding me,
and incidentally, to demonstrate that Iam best left alone. I'd rather
you kill me than do a thinglike this. Oh really, well,
(06:13):
it may interest you to no youngman that your wish is about to be
granted. You're trying to bluff me. You wouldn't there wouldn't. I but
why why kill me? Why don'tyou just let me go so you can
go back to your friends and letthem know you're all right? Oh no,
that would fund everything. Now,wait a minute, torture. This
is different from the other clients you'vecommitted. You're taking a chance. It's
(06:35):
very clever of you to stall fortime like this. It will do you
no good. I'm tired of thisplaying Captain mount. But I warn you,
wait a minute, what are youtiy in as cheer for it?
Because of the mechanical man is goingto do this job for me, it
is necessary for you to remain perfectlymotionless. I doubt if you'll do that
under the circumstances. If you're nottied in. Yeah, that will do
(06:58):
for your arms. Now these rootsfrom your body. You're gonna kill me?
Why go to all this trouble?Why not? I have a sort
of meania for doing things in anunusual fashion. Yeah, I think that
will do. You can't move,can you? I'm warning you, falter,
you're sticking your neck way out.Your concern from my neck is very
very amusing. Ah. Now toget that rifle down off the wall from
(07:23):
over the fireplace. I believe it'sloaded. Yes, and now descend on
the desk so it's disappointing, straightacross at you and the mechanical man who
will fire it from me. You'recrazy, I tell you. When that
rifle goes off, it will beheard out on the street. Oh no,
(07:43):
it won't. This is a soundproof room, especially constructed with double
window. Come warning you again.You see, whenever I've been in danger,
my friend's Superman has always managed toarrive in the neck of time,
and he will this time too,I hope. Well, if your friend's
Superman, I'm just going to helpyou eat better. Hurry now. Then
all is ready. The guns pointedstraight at you. The mechanical man is
(08:07):
standing at the end of the table. I shall pick this control panel into
the next room with me. Fromthere, I shall order him to walk
across the table and pull the figure. You rap. You'll pay for this,
We shall see good bye, youngOsans Gony. Only Superman would show
(08:31):
up. How can you know aboutthis? I'm afraid I can't count on
him this time. Try to getout of these ropes. If I can't,
No, it won't work. Hetied me to this chair punny type.
I can't budge it. I guessI'm a gunner. Holy smoke.
(08:52):
The eyes of the mechanical man arelit up. That means he's ready to
work. He's trying to walk straightacross the table toward the gun. Oh,
you gotta get out of his chair. I just got to him.
I can only toll my body aroundit and move the chair. No,
(09:13):
cheers, too heavy. You canfludge it getting closer to that rifle.
Superman. If he's gonna help me, you better do it quick. He
never failed me before. But can'tI go Man and stopped. Standing right
next to the trigger of that rifle. He's leaning down towards the trigger.
He's hand is moving toward it.He's gonna pull it. Just in time,
(09:39):
I think to Superman. All Iknew that. I knew you'd save
me. Oh God, were closefor comfort him. Thank Heaven, I
made it in time to catch thatbullet. Here. Let me get those
ropes off ow in the world.Did you find me how your friend Clark
can't trace you here by means ofthat record the vult you said him you
went to the company that makes homerecording machines made him out there your arms,
(10:00):
but the files had been burned out. Well how did he manage?
Then? Hell is only remaining chancewas to get in touch with a man
who repairs such machines. He did, and as luck would have it,
the man had repaired this one.Oh wait a minute, gonna have you
out of this? There we are, golly sure it is good to stand
up and the door the bag iscoming back, So far as I'm concerned,
(10:22):
that's just perfect. Where did youpilthy swile? Look out the table,
the mechanical man, it smashed theplace. Let me see quick,
m Yes, that's too bad.Afraid it's smashed beyond repair and the parts
can't be replaced. Well, Jim, that's the end of the mechanical man.
(10:46):
I'm afraid I can't say I'm sorry. What do you mean? A
mechanical man such as this is apowerful instrument. And as you've seen,
Jim, the danger of this inventionbeing used for evil purposes has been ever
present. Well that danger is removednow It'll never be used for evil again.
And I'm glad. I guess you'reright. Any Lay, you've saved
my life and captured the vulture.Yes, Jim, the vulture is our
(11:09):
prisoner once again. And there's onething this time that we've got to be
sure of. What's that We've gotto make sure the vulture never escapes again.
And so ended the adventure of theMechanical Man. But that certainly didn't
mean the end of adventures for asuperman, because at five o'clock the following
morning, Clark Kent was roused frombed by the sound of a telephone ringing,
(11:35):
Well, you're cheap that you Whatthe word are you calling me at
this hour? For it was justfive o'clock in the morning. Yes,
but wait a minute, get downof the office right away. Well what
on earth for pack bags with clothesfor sub zero weather? Well, now,
(11:56):
yes, of course I'll be rightdown. But Chief, what this
about? What's up? And wheream I going? Hello? Hello?
Hung up? I better pack andget right down of the Daily Planet.
I wonder what trouble we've got ourselvesin? Or now? Puzzled by Perry
White strange phone call, but surea new adventure is beginning. Can't hurriedly
(12:18):
pack's warm clothing and rushes down tothe Daily Planet office. His mind afurl
with unanswered questions and just a momentwill return to the adventures of Superman.
But right now here is another importantmethod. Say, Gang, I've told
you how golden in tempting Kellogg's peplooks, and how crisp and crunchy and
flavorsome pep taste. But the otherday I got to thinking that I'd never
(12:39):
told you why pep is such asuper breakfast cereal. Oh, I found
out from the Kellogg company how pepis made, and I can hardly wait
to pass the story along to you. You see, in the first place,
the Kellogg people choose only extra choiceparts of sun ripened wheat so as
to be sure you get every bitof that grand flavorsome goodness. And then
they carefully toast pep till it comesout a lovely, tempting golden brown and
(13:03):
so wonderfully light, and Chris,you can hardly wait to fall on the
milk and go to it. Sobe sure your mother gets you a package
of Kellogg's pep tomorrow, and rememberhe get in death make your Dario's Kellogg
path. And now back to Superman. What is the meaning of Editor White's
(13:26):
early morning call for Ken to reportfor work at once? And why did
mister White specify the Kent pack clothesfor sub zero weather. There's a new
and very exciting adventure beginning for Supermantomorrow, so don't fail to tune in
and be with us every day,Monday through Friday, same time, same
station for the thrilling adventures of Superman. Bullet more car holes than a locomo
(13:54):
in the least whole buildings in asingle bound. Follow the adventures of Superman
everyday, Monday through Friday, sametime, same Satan. Superman is directed
(14:18):
by George Loth and is a copyrightedfeature appearing in Action Comics magazine. This
is virtual welcome back. I willbegin with a word of caution that this
is gonna be a bit of anextended commentary section, because I'm going to
(14:43):
go ahead and you know, commenton those two episodes as well as the
serial, as well as answer somequestions people might have about the podcast and
Superman on Radio uh and acial futurestories. Okay, so let's go ahead
(15:03):
and talk about the Vulture and hisexperiment in Terrible. When I first listened
to this, I thought this wasa bit silly, the idea of faking
the torture. But I think particularlywhen you get to what he said in
(15:28):
Part fourteen about having this mania aboutdoing unusual things. It certainly makes sense.
It's like, okay, anybody whowants to can just tie somebody to
a chair and beat them senseless andrecord them screaming. However, only someone
(15:50):
with mad nineteen forties sound editing skillscan go ahead and take a record and
create a mix and not only getthe people on the other end as angry
as they would be if you'd actuallytortured their friend, but you get to
(16:14):
fool them into thinking you did that. I can totally see his appeal in
doing that, and that mania fordoing off the wall things. It does
make him make more sense as avillain, if for no reason of the
reason, then it gives an answerto the why don't you just shoot him
a question? Then we typically getand the answer from the Vulture here he
(16:37):
is because I'm a bit of anut, and I'm okay with that.
Now. They end by saying thatthey need to make sure the Vulture never
escapes again. Of course, theVulture does escape, and he appears in
one other serial that we know offrom nineteen forty three, The Vulture and
(16:59):
the Thunderbold Express. We don't havethe full cereal. It's a bit of
a longer run, and so Idon't know if the Vulture could be as
interesting or as entertaining as he isin this cereal, where essentially he's got
eight episodes. He kind of goesback and forth on what his goals are
(17:19):
and just is probably one of themore entertaining Superman villains we get over the
radio. But this may be thebest serial to remember him by, even
if the Vulture and the Thunderbolt Expresssomehow became available. He also did appear
(17:41):
in the nineteen forty five Kryptonite Saga, along with other Superman villains from this
era, such as the Laugher asfor the ten Man or the Mechanical Man,
as he kept being referred to,which is confusing because there was another
or Cereal called the Mechanical Man fromnineteen forty one four to two. But
(18:06):
I think that becomes more of amcguffin and a novelty than something that plays
a big role in the story.I wasn't particularly happy with the way they
built this whole thing up and essentiallydisposed of it by having it get broken
(18:26):
and not be able to get moreparts Superman's happiness at its demise, I
think is somewhat interesting because destroying itobviously had never been his object, but
he saw it nearly kill his friend, which I think gave him a bit
(18:47):
of hesitancy, which I think sayssomething about Superman, even in the midst
of World War Two, where thecountry was looking for any military advantage it
could get. Now, even ifmade it full size, you know,
and I think that when it comesto dealing with something like Superman in World
(19:08):
War Two, you're you're dealing withboth the fantastic and the practical. I
think at full size it would havebeen a dubious investment for the War Department.
The voice control was a great feature, but the country was putting all
of its its manufacturing capabilities behind thewar, and they were making tanks and
(19:37):
guns and planes and military vehicles.Countrary was at capacity. You had people
working double shifts. I mean,I think the only way you could have
made something like the Mechanical Man isto divert from some of the more conventional
weapons that the US was making atthe time. So I would imagine even
(19:57):
if it had survived, would nothave made a huge impact on the war.
In Superman's world. They might havemade a few prototypes, but it
probably would have just fallen into thehands of some super villain after the war
was done. One interesting point inhere is how bankes Lois Lane, one
(20:19):
of his enemies and responsible for hiswoes, on the same level as Clark,
Kent and Perry Watt. Now,of course, we are missing parts
nine and parts twelve, so wecan't say for sure that Joan Alexander didn't
(20:41):
appear, but I would almost betthat she did not appear in the serial
after part six. That was partof why I played part two and a
little bit of Part six at thebeginning, because it was the only way
we were going to get to heara little bit more Lois Lane, and
with Lois his phone call to Parry, we got to hear how they managed
(21:04):
to have Lois at least tangentially involvedin the plot, even if she doesn't
appear in a given episode. Ofcourse, there is reference in the recap
of Part thirteen to Clark having gottena call that he thought was from Lois.
However, when the Vulture called Clarkbefore part seven, we didn't hear
(21:30):
that necessarily, so it doesn't meanJoe Alexander had to appear. There were
a few Superman cereals where you wouldhave Superman and you'd have the entire Daily
Planet family in there, with Lois, Perry and Jimmy. That's not typical
(21:51):
because in short episodes it can bea challenge to have something for everyone to
do, so more typically it tendedto get one or two members of the
Planet family, and later that wouldexpand when Superman met up with Batman and
Robin and had his private detective friendKendy Myers and of course Inspector Henderson.
(22:15):
You would have, you know,maybe two or three of them in a
given episode, and you would havewhole blocks of weeks and months where there
would be no Lois Lane or noJimmy Olsen. And that didn't mean that
the actors weren't working. They mighttake a vacation during the period, but
there was a lot of radio workin New York City at the time,
(22:38):
so they might say, Okay,I'm not doing any Superman this week.
I would be happy to appear inthe Silver Theater, or I'd be happy
to go on Grand Central Station,or I can go over and do a
guest stop on Mister Kean tracer oflost persons. It's kind of rare to
have a case where someone is onin one episode in a given week or
(23:03):
a given block of a story,because I think the writers do tend to
realize, Okay, let's go ahead, we're going to be working with mainly
these two or three members of Superman'sa supporting cast. But I also think
it can be a good idea toat least have the Vulture some way already
having a knowledge of and a hatefor Lois Lane if you're planning on bringing
(23:29):
him back so that he can interactwith her and not be like who are
you or people be like, wait, how does he even know who she
is? Well, I think that'sprobably more what happened in this case.
Now, I guess I as we'regetting to the end of this and this
will end up at the top ofthe feed. I didn't want to answer
(23:55):
questions for anyone who came across aSuperman A podcast as to how this typically
works, Like, do I usuallygo on for seven eight minutes after an
episode? Are there usually this manymissing episodes in a given cereal? What's
(24:18):
the typical format? I'll go aheadand answer those briefly. The answers.
No, I don't usually go onthis long. I'm going on this long
just because we're at the end ofthe cereal, and also kind of when
you get to the end of aserial, it's an opportunity to look at
some of the bigger themes and issues, as opposed to if you're commenting on
(24:40):
one of the earlier episodes in thestory. We typically don't deal with near
as many missing episodes. Most ofcereals were quite complete. The original run
of Superman episodes from nineteen forty tothe spring of nineteen forty two, every
(25:00):
single episode is available and included onthe feed. It's just during the war
years when there tends to be quitea few and a lot of gaps.
This is the only story we havefor nineteen forty three that we can't even
do nothing at all for nineteen fortyfour, and as I'm going to talk
(25:21):
about in a second, a lotof gaps and stories from nineteen forty two
and forty five, and then fromthe fall of nineteen forty five for about
three years, there are very fewmissing episodes at all. There's a couple
missing episodes in one serial, andI think the first three episodes of Penny
(25:41):
for Pennies for Plunder, and thenthere's I think one or two other serials
that haven't missing episode or two.But other than that, that period of
nineteen forty five to nineteen forty eight, the starting in the Fall is remark
arkably complete and most of the episodesthat we're going to have on this feed.
(26:04):
When it's all said and done,there should be one thousand thirty nine
episodes available to listen to, andwe have one thousand and thirty five of
those starring Bud Collyer as Superman,with one thousand and nineteen of those being
a serial episodes. There are somecomplete half hour episodes that star a Collier
(26:30):
as Superman. There is one halfhour episode starring Michael FitzMaurice succeeded Collier as
Superman in nineteen fifty and then wehave about three different episodes that are kind
of exceptions. There's one which wasa command performance parody of Superman starring Bob
(26:55):
Hope as Superman, a Superman promotionalrecord including an interview with Jerry Siegel,
and then Blaine Dowler, who filledin for me as a guest host back
in twenty fourteen, did one episodewith some commentary on Superman and his impact.
(27:15):
So that's your sort of table ofcontents of the podcast. Now.
As of right now, this isthe last episode I'll be recording, but
if there are any lost cereals thatbecome available to do or lost episodes of
the half hour program, will beall in for that. Now, looking
(27:37):
at what we have in existence,there are a number of cereals from nineteen
forty two that are missing the lastepisode and have several episodes leading up to
the last episode, but are missingjust that final chapter. There's the Tiny
Men, the Black Narcissists, andthe one that I would most love to
(28:00):
the Lost Continent of Atlantis. Thatone's all a nine part or it's also
missing part six. But if wegot eight of nine parts of the Lost
Continent of Atlantis, including the finalepisode, I would absolutely be back for
that. From nineteen forty five,there's The Mystery of Sleeping Beauty. Now,
(28:23):
this was a serial that they laterdid again in nineteen forty eight,
but I kind of think it wouldbe fun to do the original version.
It's missing the first nine parts,but kind of like this one, at
least if it was true. Ifthe nineteen forty eight, Cereal was true
to the original. There's a lotof stuff in the first half you don't
(28:48):
need to understand to understand the secondhalf of the story, So if the
last episode of that came out,I would definitely do that. There's also
a serial call The Midnight Intruder fromnineteen forty two does have the last episode,
but doesn't have the beginning episodes andgoes from part ten to part fourteen,
(29:15):
which and it comes from, youknow, the same era of the
program as this one, and itwould be like going from them finding the
bank vault open in part ten tothe final part, and that just wouldn't
work. I think I'd need atleast one or two of the three lost
(29:36):
episodes in the middle to come forward, so you'd have at least a narrative
that you could base a return aroundand from later on in the show's run.
In nineteen forty eight, after therun of all the shows having all
of their episodes, there's the Mysteryof the Silver Buffalo, which has five
(30:02):
of its eleven parts, but it'smissing parts ten and eleven. So I
could definitely end up doing that oneif you know, at least we got
part eleven and maybe just enough contextfor it to make sense as a serial.
And of course there are other serialswith no episodes in existence which somebody
(30:25):
might find the entire thing, andwe could do that. And there were
well more than a hundred half hourSuperman episodes recorded between Mutual and ABC,
and those were all self contained.So if any new half hour programs come
forward, I will go ahead andwe'll do another episode a Superman. But
(30:49):
for now, I think we've gotit covered. If you're listening to this
in twenty twenty one. We stillhave to restore some of these episodes that
were deleted in a server issue,and that'll be done by the end of
twenty twenty one. But this podcastis going to be the most complete pository
(31:11):
of listenable Superman drama from the goldenage of radio, and I'll continue to
work to make sure it remains thatway whatever changes come along. Now to
listener comments and feedback, and wehave a couple quick reviews on Apple Podcast
and V two fifty two rights.If you like old time radio, then
(31:33):
you will like this spoiler. Anyvillain who discovers Ken's double identity dies Good
to Know, and then Cooldessa givesa file star rating and rites make Batman
versus Superman welcodess. I don't thinkthey necessarily went there, although there are
some cases where it looks like Batmanand Superman might have confrontations, so you
(31:59):
want to listen to those episodes,But there are actually quite a few Batman
and Superman team ups once you getinto the post World War two episodes.
But thanks so much for the commentsthat are greatly appreciate it, and that
will wrap it up for today.If you do have a comment, email
to me Adam adamsweb dot us.But that's all for now from Boise,
(32:22):
Idaho. This is your host,Adam Brahamson and all
Bullet, four poles, and peopleat least four buildings of a single bounds.
Yes, it's Superman, strange visitorfrom another world who came to work
with powers of abilities far beyond thoseof hotel men. Superman who can change
(00:28):
the cause of mighty rivers, thenthe steel in his bare hands, and
who disguised as Clark Kent, mildmanned reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper,
fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American Way.
But before we joined Superman, hereis an important method. Say, gang,
here's an adventure that's so fantastic you'dhardly believe it's really true. It's
(00:51):
the story of one young marine whoall by himself survived three whole weeks of
fighting in the jungles of Guadalcanal.He'd gotten lost from his platoona morning and
was hiding in the grass. Hey, bir, why here? Hey?
I wonder where they could have gone? Maybe up this trail you smoke?
(01:12):
Or gang of Japs? I can'tget around. I'm gonna gee, I
wonder what I Hey? I betthis trick will work? Ye, yes,
sir, That marine stampeded a largegroup of Japs by pretending he was
(01:33):
a whole platoon, and then hewent on through the jungle and at last,
one rainy night, geez lights ahead, I must at the camp.
I should wish I could tell whoseit is. I'll crawl a little closer.
Well, I say that looks likemy own gang. Hey, Sam,
Yo, Hey falas is see heyhere I am, yes, sir.
(01:56):
After three weeks fighting the jungle andthe Japs, that marine got back
to camp safely. Now, Idon't have to tell any of you how
much endurance that marine had to havein order to come through his ordeal as
well as he did. So I'lljust point out something that all of you
will be mighty glad to know.None of you can expect to have plenty
of zip and energy unless you eatright, which includes getting all your vitamins.
(02:17):
And I know hundreds of fellas andgirls are starting to get two mighty
important vitamins D one and D ina mighty grand tasting way. It's by
sitting down to a big bowl fullof delicious Kellogg's Pep for breakfast every morning.
And believe you me, anybody who'shad a taste of those swells super
crisp golden flakes can tell you whatdownright good eating pep is, So ask
(02:39):
your mother to get you a packageof Kellogg's pep tomorrow. And now the
Adventures of Superman. Superman and hisguise of Claw Tent is now fitted against
the mass the criminal of his timeon the farious Underworld character who calls himself
the Vulture. The Vulture, asyou remember, has in his possession the
(02:59):
model of the most human mechanical Maninvented by doctor Cameron. In our last
episode, we heard how the Vulturecarried out what he called an experiment in
horror after holding a conversation with JimmyOlsen Daily Planet copy boy, whom he's
holding prisoner. The Vulture made aphonograph recording of Jimmy's answers and sent it
to editor White and Clark Kent.The record made it appear as if the
(03:21):
Vulture were harming Jimmy, although actually, as we know, Jimmy has been
well cared for. As our lastepisode ended, Clark Kent suddenly realize the
record gave him just the clue hewas looking for, and as Superman set
out to track it down. Asour story continues, now, Superman and
his guise of Clark Kent arrives atthe Worldwide Recording Company. I'd like to
(03:43):
see the manageably, says he expectingyou, sir, no, but I
must see him at once. Thisis a matter of great importance or an
it? Please I'll find out.I'm sorry, I can't wait twenty eight
I wish to say that what's thedevil? It's a meeting of this.
How dare you breaking? I'm liketost apologize for insuring like this, but
I've got some business with you andit's got to be done. Well,
I'm afraid you'll have to wait untilI can't wait. It's a matter of
life and debt, life and debt, that's right. I'm assisting the police
(04:04):
and tracking down a dangerous criminal andyou are How do I though? You
represent the police, and you haveto take my word for it. You
sell machines for making records at home, don't him? Yes, they haven't
been very successful. Not many peoplehave bought them. Narrows my search.
I want a list of the peoplewho bought those machines. Well, that
ought to be zimple. We've onlysold three or four of them. Actually,
they're very expensive, you know.I've got to know the names of
(04:25):
the people who bought those machines atonce. Now, please hurry one moment.
I think we can accommodate your patios. Would you mind telling me why
you need these names? And there'shardly time for that. Yes, get
from the files the name of allcustomers who have bought model X four seven,
nine three. I believe the homerecording outfit. Well, I'm afraid
that's impossible. What do you mean, Well, that's ridiculous. Why is
(04:45):
it impossible? Well, have youforgotten, sir? All those files were
destroyed in the fire we had heresix weeks ago. Great Scott, of
course I've completely forgotten that, haven'tyou duplicate files? I've got to get
the names of those customers. I'vejust got to I'm afraid we can't help
yourself. All out files were completelydestroyed. Put me in a fine spot.
Isn't there any way you can tracethe criminals you speak of? I
don't see how you see he sentus a recording with a special message on
(05:06):
it, A recording made on oneof your machines. If you have no
record of the people who have boughtthese machines, I don't see what I
let let's what. It's just oneway I can think of. It's my
only chance, in fact, butit's got to work. It's got As
Kent prepares to follow a last desperatecourse of action, another scene is taking
(05:28):
place in the hideout of the Vulture. We join him now in the sumptuous
study, where he has seated acrossthe table from Jimmy Olsen. On the
table is a portable record player,and the Vulture has just finished playing a
copy of the record he sent toKent and Perry White. Listen you you
mean you sent that record to misterCannon. Mister White, Yes, mere
boy, I consider it rather ingeniusof me to have thought of tricking you
(05:50):
into playing that scene. Far maybe, but you made it sound as that
you've been torturing me. Exactly.That is how I planned it. My
idea was to winflict mental torture onyour friends, revenge for their hounding me,
and incidentally, to demonstrate that Iam best left alone. I'd rather
you kill me than do a thinglike this. Oh really, well,
(06:13):
it may interest you to no youngman that your wish is about to be
granted. You're trying to bluff me. You wouldn't there wouldn't. I but
why why kill me? Why don'tyou just let me go so you can
go back to your friends and letthem know you're all right? Oh no,
that would fund everything. Now,wait a minute, torture. This
is different from the other clients you'vecommitted. You're taking a chance. It's
(06:35):
very clever of you to stall fortime like this. It will do you
no good. I'm tired of thisplaying Captain mount. But I warn you,
wait a minute, what are youtiy in as cheer for it?
Because of the mechanical man is goingto do this job for me, it
is necessary for you to remain perfectlymotionless. I doubt if you'll do that
under the circumstances. If you're nottied in. Yeah, that will do
(06:58):
for your arms. Now these rootsfrom your body. You're gonna kill me?
Why go to all this trouble?Why not? I have a sort
of meania for doing things in anunusual fashion. Yeah, I think that
will do. You can't move,can you? I'm warning you, falter,
you're sticking your neck way out.Your concern from my neck is very
very amusing. Ah. Now toget that rifle down off the wall from
(07:23):
over the fireplace. I believe it'sloaded. Yes, and now descend on
the desk so it's disappointing, straightacross at you and the mechanical man who
will fire it from me. You'recrazy, I tell you. When that
rifle goes off, it will beheard out on the street. Oh no,
(07:43):
it won't. This is a soundproof room, especially constructed with double
window. Come warning you again.You see, whenever I've been in danger,
my friend's Superman has always managed toarrive in the neck of time,
and he will this time too,I hope. Well, if your friend's
Superman, I'm just going to helpyou eat better. Hurry now. Then
all is ready. The guns pointedstraight at you. The mechanical man is
(08:07):
standing at the end of the table. I shall pick this control panel into
the next room with me. Fromthere, I shall order him to walk
across the table and pull the figure. You rap. You'll pay for this,
We shall see good bye, youngOsans Gony. Only Superman would show
(08:31):
up. How can you know aboutthis? I'm afraid I can't count on
him this time. Try to getout of these ropes. If I can't,
No, it won't work. Hetied me to this chair punny type.
I can't budge it. I guessI'm a gunner. Holy smoke.
(08:52):
The eyes of the mechanical man arelit up. That means he's ready to
work. He's trying to walk straightacross the table toward the gun. Oh,
you gotta get out of his chair. I just got to him.
I can only toll my body aroundit and move the chair. No,
(09:13):
cheers, too heavy. You canfludge it getting closer to that rifle.
Superman. If he's gonna help me, you better do it quick. He
never failed me before. But can'tI go Man and stopped. Standing right
next to the trigger of that rifle. He's leaning down towards the trigger.
He's hand is moving toward it.He's gonna pull it. Just in time,
(09:39):
I think to Superman. All Iknew that. I knew you'd save
me. Oh God, were closefor comfort him. Thank Heaven, I
made it in time to catch thatbullet. Here. Let me get those
ropes off ow in the world.Did you find me how your friend Clark
can't trace you here by means ofthat record the vult you said him you
went to the company that makes homerecording machines made him out there your arms,
(10:00):
but the files had been burned out. Well how did he manage?
Then? Hell is only remaining chancewas to get in touch with a man
who repairs such machines. He did, and as luck would have it,
the man had repaired this one.Oh wait a minute, gonna have you
out of this? There we are, golly sure it is good to stand
up and the door the bag iscoming back, So far as I'm concerned,
(10:22):
that's just perfect. Where did youpilthy swile? Look out the table,
the mechanical man, it smashed theplace. Let me see quick,
m Yes, that's too bad.Afraid it's smashed beyond repair and the parts
can't be replaced. Well, Jim, that's the end of the mechanical man.
(10:46):
I'm afraid I can't say I'm sorry. What do you mean? A
mechanical man such as this is apowerful instrument. And as you've seen,
Jim, the danger of this inventionbeing used for evil purposes has been ever
present. Well that danger is removednow It'll never be used for evil again.
And I'm glad. I guess you'reright. Any Lay, you've saved
my life and captured the vulture.Yes, Jim, the vulture is our
(11:09):
prisoner once again. And there's onething this time that we've got to be
sure of. What's that We've gotto make sure the vulture never escapes again.
And so ended the adventure of theMechanical Man. But that certainly didn't
mean the end of adventures for asuperman, because at five o'clock the following
morning, Clark Kent was roused frombed by the sound of a telephone ringing,
(11:35):
Well, you're cheap that you Whatthe word are you calling me at
this hour? For it was justfive o'clock in the morning. Yes,
but wait a minute, get downof the office right away. Well what
on earth for pack bags with clothesfor sub zero weather? Well, now,
(11:56):
yes, of course I'll be rightdown. But Chief, what this
about? What's up? And wheream I going? Hello? Hello?
Hung up? I better pack andget right down of the Daily Planet.
I wonder what trouble we've got ourselvesin? Or now? Puzzled by Perry
White strange phone call, but surea new adventure is beginning. Can't hurriedly
(12:18):
pack's warm clothing and rushes down tothe Daily Planet office. His mind afurl
with unanswered questions and just a momentwill return to the adventures of Superman.
But right now here is another importantmethod. Say, Gang, I've told
you how golden in tempting Kellogg's peplooks, and how crisp and crunchy and
flavorsome pep taste. But the otherday I got to thinking that I'd never
(12:39):
told you why pep is such asuper breakfast cereal. Oh, I found
out from the Kellogg company how pepis made, and I can hardly wait
to pass the story along to you. You see, in the first place,
the Kellogg people choose only extra choiceparts of sun ripened wheat so as
to be sure you get every bitof that grand flavorsome goodness. And then
they carefully toast pep till it comesout a lovely, tempting golden brown and
(13:03):
so wonderfully light, and Chris,you can hardly wait to fall on the
milk and go to it. Sobe sure your mother gets you a package
of Kellogg's pep tomorrow, and rememberhe get in death make your Dario's Kellogg
path. And now back to Superman. What is the meaning of Editor White's
(13:26):
early morning call for Ken to reportfor work at once? And why did
mister White specify the Kent pack clothesfor sub zero weather. There's a new
and very exciting adventure beginning for Supermantomorrow, so don't fail to tune in
and be with us every day,Monday through Friday, same time, same
station for the thrilling adventures of Superman. Bullet more car holes than a locomo
(13:54):
in the least whole buildings in asingle bound. Follow the adventures of Superman
everyday, Monday through Friday, sametime, same Satan. Superman is directed
(14:18):
by George Loth and is a copyrightedfeature appearing in Action Comics magazine. This
is virtual welcome back. I willbegin with a word of caution that this
is gonna be a bit of anextended commentary section, because I'm going to
(14:43):
go ahead and you know, commenton those two episodes as well as the
serial, as well as answer somequestions people might have about the podcast and
Superman on Radio uh and acial futurestories. Okay, so let's go ahead
(15:03):
and talk about the Vulture and hisexperiment in Terrible. When I first listened
to this, I thought this wasa bit silly, the idea of faking
the torture. But I think particularlywhen you get to what he said in
(15:28):
Part fourteen about having this mania aboutdoing unusual things. It certainly makes sense.
It's like, okay, anybody whowants to can just tie somebody to
a chair and beat them senseless andrecord them screaming. However, only someone
(15:50):
with mad nineteen forties sound editing skillscan go ahead and take a record and
create a mix and not only getthe people on the other end as angry
as they would be if you'd actuallytortured their friend, but you get to
(16:14):
fool them into thinking you did that. I can totally see his appeal in
doing that, and that mania fordoing off the wall things. It does
make him make more sense as avillain, if for no reason of the
reason, then it gives an answerto the why don't you just shoot him
a question? Then we typically getand the answer from the Vulture here he
(16:37):
is because I'm a bit of anut, and I'm okay with that.
Now. They end by saying thatthey need to make sure the Vulture never
escapes again. Of course, theVulture does escape, and he appears in
one other serial that we know offrom nineteen forty three, The Vulture and
(16:59):
the Thunderbold Express. We don't havethe full cereal. It's a bit of
a longer run, and so Idon't know if the Vulture could be as
interesting or as entertaining as he isin this cereal, where essentially he's got
eight episodes. He kind of goesback and forth on what his goals are
(17:19):
and just is probably one of themore entertaining Superman villains we get over the
radio. But this may be thebest serial to remember him by, even
if the Vulture and the Thunderbolt Expresssomehow became available. He also did appear
(17:41):
in the nineteen forty five Kryptonite Saga, along with other Superman villains from this
era, such as the Laugher asfor the ten Man or the Mechanical Man,
as he kept being referred to,which is confusing because there was another
or Cereal called the Mechanical Man fromnineteen forty one four to two. But
(18:06):
I think that becomes more of amcguffin and a novelty than something that plays
a big role in the story.I wasn't particularly happy with the way they
built this whole thing up and essentiallydisposed of it by having it get broken
(18:26):
and not be able to get moreparts Superman's happiness at its demise, I
think is somewhat interesting because destroying itobviously had never been his object, but
he saw it nearly kill his friend, which I think gave him a bit
(18:47):
of hesitancy, which I think sayssomething about Superman, even in the midst
of World War Two, where thecountry was looking for any military advantage it
could get. Now, even ifmade it full size, you know,
and I think that when it comesto dealing with something like Superman in World
(19:08):
War Two, you're you're dealing withboth the fantastic and the practical. I
think at full size it would havebeen a dubious investment for the War Department.
The voice control was a great feature, but the country was putting all
of its its manufacturing capabilities behind thewar, and they were making tanks and
(19:37):
guns and planes and military vehicles.Countrary was at capacity. You had people
working double shifts. I mean,I think the only way you could have
made something like the Mechanical Man isto divert from some of the more conventional
weapons that the US was making atthe time. So I would imagine even
(19:57):
if it had survived, would nothave made a huge impact on the war.
In Superman's world. They might havemade a few prototypes, but it
probably would have just fallen into thehands of some super villain after the war
was done. One interesting point inhere is how bankes Lois Lane, one
(20:19):
of his enemies and responsible for hiswoes, on the same level as Clark,
Kent and Perry Watt. Now,of course, we are missing parts
nine and parts twelve, so wecan't say for sure that Joan Alexander didn't
(20:41):
appear, but I would almost betthat she did not appear in the serial
after part six. That was partof why I played part two and a
little bit of Part six at thebeginning, because it was the only way
we were going to get to heara little bit more Lois Lane, and
with Lois his phone call to Parry, we got to hear how they managed
(21:04):
to have Lois at least tangentially involvedin the plot, even if she doesn't
appear in a given episode. Ofcourse, there is reference in the recap
of Part thirteen to Clark having gottena call that he thought was from Lois.
However, when the Vulture called Clarkbefore part seven, we didn't hear
(21:30):
that necessarily, so it doesn't meanJoe Alexander had to appear. There were
a few Superman cereals where you wouldhave Superman and you'd have the entire Daily
Planet family in there, with Lois, Perry and Jimmy. That's not typical
(21:51):
because in short episodes it can bea challenge to have something for everyone to
do, so more typically it tendedto get one or two members of the
Planet family, and later that wouldexpand when Superman met up with Batman and
Robin and had his private detective friendKendy Myers and of course Inspector Henderson.
(22:15):
You would have, you know,maybe two or three of them in a
given episode, and you would havewhole blocks of weeks and months where there
would be no Lois Lane or noJimmy Olsen. And that didn't mean that
the actors weren't working. They mighttake a vacation during the period, but
there was a lot of radio workin New York City at the time,
(22:38):
so they might say, Okay,I'm not doing any Superman this week.
I would be happy to appear inthe Silver Theater, or I'd be happy
to go on Grand Central Station,or I can go over and do a
guest stop on Mister Kean tracer oflost persons. It's kind of rare to
have a case where someone is onin one episode in a given week or
(23:03):
a given block of a story,because I think the writers do tend to
realize, Okay, let's go ahead, we're going to be working with mainly
these two or three members of Superman'sa supporting cast. But I also think
it can be a good idea toat least have the Vulture some way already
having a knowledge of and a hatefor Lois Lane if you're planning on bringing
(23:29):
him back so that he can interactwith her and not be like who are
you or people be like, wait, how does he even know who she
is? Well, I think that'sprobably more what happened in this case.
Now, I guess I as we'regetting to the end of this and this
will end up at the top ofthe feed. I didn't want to answer
(23:55):
questions for anyone who came across aSuperman A podcast as to how this typically
works, Like, do I usuallygo on for seven eight minutes after an
episode? Are there usually this manymissing episodes in a given cereal? What's
(24:18):
the typical format? I'll go aheadand answer those briefly. The answers.
No, I don't usually go onthis long. I'm going on this long
just because we're at the end ofthe cereal, and also kind of when
you get to the end of aserial, it's an opportunity to look at
some of the bigger themes and issues, as opposed to if you're commenting on
(24:40):
one of the earlier episodes in thestory. We typically don't deal with near
as many missing episodes. Most ofcereals were quite complete. The original run
of Superman episodes from nineteen forty tothe spring of nineteen forty two, every
(25:00):
single episode is available and included onthe feed. It's just during the war
years when there tends to be quitea few and a lot of gaps.
This is the only story we havefor nineteen forty three that we can't even
do nothing at all for nineteen fortyfour, and as I'm going to talk
(25:21):
about in a second, a lotof gaps and stories from nineteen forty two
and forty five, and then fromthe fall of nineteen forty five for about
three years, there are very fewmissing episodes at all. There's a couple
missing episodes in one serial, andI think the first three episodes of Penny
(25:41):
for Pennies for Plunder, and thenthere's I think one or two other serials
that haven't missing episode or two.But other than that, that period of
nineteen forty five to nineteen forty eight, the starting in the Fall is remark
arkably complete and most of the episodesthat we're going to have on this feed.
(26:04):
When it's all said and done,there should be one thousand thirty nine
episodes available to listen to, andwe have one thousand and thirty five of
those starring Bud Collyer as Superman,with one thousand and nineteen of those being
a serial episodes. There are somecomplete half hour episodes that star a Collier
(26:30):
as Superman. There is one halfhour episode starring Michael FitzMaurice succeeded Collier as
Superman in nineteen fifty and then wehave about three different episodes that are kind
of exceptions. There's one which wasa command performance parody of Superman starring Bob
(26:55):
Hope as Superman, a Superman promotionalrecord including an interview with Jerry Siegel,
and then Blaine Dowler, who filledin for me as a guest host back
in twenty fourteen, did one episodewith some commentary on Superman and his impact.
(27:15):
So that's your sort of table ofcontents of the podcast. Now.
As of right now, this isthe last episode I'll be recording, but
if there are any lost cereals thatbecome available to do or lost episodes of
the half hour program, will beall in for that. Now, looking
(27:37):
at what we have in existence,there are a number of cereals from nineteen
forty two that are missing the lastepisode and have several episodes leading up to
the last episode, but are missingjust that final chapter. There's the Tiny
Men, the Black Narcissists, andthe one that I would most love to
(28:00):
the Lost Continent of Atlantis. Thatone's all a nine part or it's also
missing part six. But if wegot eight of nine parts of the Lost
Continent of Atlantis, including the finalepisode, I would absolutely be back for
that. From nineteen forty five,there's The Mystery of Sleeping Beauty. Now,
(28:23):
this was a serial that they laterdid again in nineteen forty eight,
but I kind of think it wouldbe fun to do the original version.
It's missing the first nine parts,but kind of like this one, at
least if it was true. Ifthe nineteen forty eight, Cereal was true
to the original. There's a lotof stuff in the first half you don't
(28:48):
need to understand to understand the secondhalf of the story, So if the
last episode of that came out,I would definitely do that. There's also
a serial call The Midnight Intruder fromnineteen forty two does have the last episode,
but doesn't have the beginning episodes andgoes from part ten to part fourteen,
(29:15):
which and it comes from, youknow, the same era of the
program as this one, and itwould be like going from them finding the
bank vault open in part ten tothe final part, and that just wouldn't
work. I think I'd need atleast one or two of the three lost
(29:36):
episodes in the middle to come forward, so you'd have at least a narrative
that you could base a return aroundand from later on in the show's run.
In nineteen forty eight, after therun of all the shows having all
of their episodes, there's the Mysteryof the Silver Buffalo, which has five
(30:02):
of its eleven parts, but it'smissing parts ten and eleven. So I
could definitely end up doing that oneif you know, at least we got
part eleven and maybe just enough contextfor it to make sense as a serial.
And of course there are other serialswith no episodes in existence which somebody
(30:25):
might find the entire thing, andwe could do that. And there were
well more than a hundred half hourSuperman episodes recorded between Mutual and ABC,
and those were all self contained.So if any new half hour programs come
forward, I will go ahead andwe'll do another episode a Superman. But
(30:49):
for now, I think we've gotit covered. If you're listening to this
in twenty twenty one. We stillhave to restore some of these episodes that
were deleted in a server issue,and that'll be done by the end of
twenty twenty one. But this podcastis going to be the most complete pository
(31:11):
of listenable Superman drama from the goldenage of radio, and I'll continue to
work to make sure it remains thatway whatever changes come along. Now to
listener comments and feedback, and wehave a couple quick reviews on Apple Podcast
and V two fifty two rights.If you like old time radio, then
(31:33):
you will like this spoiler. Anyvillain who discovers Ken's double identity dies Good
to Know, and then Cooldessa givesa file star rating and rites make Batman
versus Superman welcodess. I don't thinkthey necessarily went there, although there are
some cases where it looks like Batmanand Superman might have confrontations, so you
(31:59):
want to listen to those episodes,But there are actually quite a few Batman
and Superman team ups once you getinto the post World War two episodes.
But thanks so much for the commentsthat are greatly appreciate it, and that
will wrap it up for today.If you do have a comment, email
to me Adam adamsweb dot us.But that's all for now from Boise,
(32:22):
Idaho. This is your host,Adam Brahamson and all
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