Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Allen Ducovny, Comics, dc, harry donenfeld, jack liebowitz, jerry siegel, max gaines, Ray Middleton, superman, World's Fair

1940's Superman Day At The World's Fair Color Footage

If you haven't seen this then definitely click the link. This is the first public appearance of Superman back on July 3, 1940 at the World's Fair. It was Superman Day and the price of admission was dropped to a dime. The actor dressed as Superman is Ray Middleton and he is often credited as the first to play the Man of Steel, though there is some speculation that Middleton was not in the tights but there as just a judge and the actor is unknown. The day was planned by publicist Allen 'Duke' Ducovny to promote DC Comics 100-page New York World's Fair Comic which was only available at the fair. The show was broadcast live on the Superman radio program.

There is no sound for the following video, but you can do what I did and hum the John Williams Superman theme while you watch.

Couple things pointed out to me by our own Mark Seifert. The man on the elephant is DC comics owner/publisher Harry Donenfeld (1:05), later (2:05) the man on the left with the hat, smoking is key comic industry founder Max Gaines and the man on the right in the blue suit is Jack Liebowitz, DC accountant/manager and the man who cut the $130 Superman check. And finally, (2:25) the guy in the blue suit and glasses is a young Jerry Siegel. I got the link to the youtube video from Mark who I believe got it from the great Mark Evanier.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/yNaMbFAQF4U[/youtube]

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