"The Old Time Radio Superman Show" with Adam Graham

The "Superman" franchise has been carefully guarded for decades, going back to the first appearance of Suyperman in Action comics in 1938. A few years later, Superman came to radio. Thanks to the sponsor, Kellogg's of Battle Creek, we have many of the episodes that were recorded and distributed on transcription disks, 15-inch platters that look somewhat like old 78 rpm records. Not too many months ago I discovered Adam Graham's podcast. I have collected Superman OTR broadcasts and the TV show starring George Reeves for years. I really prefer Graham's podcast for a couple reasons. He has a distinctive voice for radio and I enjoy his comments before and after some of the episodes. He apparently has an extensive collection of old time radio, not just "Superman" but other shows as well. "Superman" on radio featured the voice of Bud Collyer, better known to my generation as the host of "Beat the Clock" and "To Tell the Truth" on TV. The radio stories, while aimed at children, are some of the best radio plays of the 1940s. Some are very reminiscent of the comic books I remember during Superman's "Silver Age." For example, "The Disappearance of Clark Kent" takes Superman to another planet where he is nearly killed (yes, Suyperman!) trying to save the planet from its coming doom. In another multi-part serial, Jimmy Olsen and a teenage girl who has been in trouble with the law and who has been rehabilitated, try to help break a crime ring and end of being imprisoned in a building down by the waterfront. Jimmy summons Superman by using a metal ring, just like the one listeners can order as a premium if they buy their Kellogg's Pep cereal. Jimmy drops his Superman ring out the window onto the deck of a passing boat where it is found by the boat's captain. In another story, Superman is summoned to Bruce Wayne's mansion after Dick Grayson disappears. Superman and Batman work together on other adventures, too. These are really very entertaining stories! I understand Collyer was a Sunday School teacher. Can you imagine a kid bragging to his friends, "My Sunday School teacher is Supernman!" The very first Superman show I collected was about Japanese taking over the city of Valeria in South America. Through the story, the citizens learn they must fight for the peace and liberty they treasure. Sounds like a good story for all the kids listening to the radio during World War II as well! Science fiction plays a big part of these shows (in addition to Superman being from another planet, of course.) A couple serials feature Poco, a little rhyming alien who arrives in a clear globe spaceship. In one serial, he and Jimmy end up in an Eskimo village that has been overrun by Nazis. The problem is, some episodes are missing, probably destroyed, Graham said on a recent broadcast. This is really a good podcast. After all, who doesn't enjoy a good Suyperman story!