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Dated Death
The Adventures of Superman
radio program debuted on Monday, February 12, 1940, with Clayton 'Bud' Collyer starring in the dual role of Clark Kent and Superman. The show, like its precursors, the comic books starring Superman, became an instant hit. Intended for juvenile audiences between 10-16, many adults listened to it as well in its heyday. |
Opening |
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Look! up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!
Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from the planet Krypton who came to Earth with amazing physical powers far beyond those of mortal men. And who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, wages a never ending battle for truth and justice.
And now, The Adventures of Superman.
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Collyer left the show ten years later to make a new career in televison. Michael Fitzmaurice took the role for the final season, with the series ended for good on March 1, 1950. George Reeves took the role when Superman debuted on television in 1951. |
Announcer |
When Clark Kent, who is really Superman received an urgent phone call from Robin, the young companion of the famous Batman he hurried to the handsome mansion which the dynamic duo occupy in their true identities of Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne. Kent found young Grayson greatly agitated. Just as Kent closed the door behind him, the youngster, choking back tears, exclaimed:
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Robin |
Batman's gone, Mr. Kent, and I'm afraid we'll never see him again!
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| Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in June, 1938. Batman appeared a year later in Detective Comics #39. The two characters (along with Robin, the Boy Wonder) met first on radio, not in the comics. (They appeared on covers together). |
MUSIC! |
A word from your sponsor.
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Batman and Robin made their first appearance on The Adventures of Superman on September 5, 1945. They didn't team up in a comic til 1952.
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Robin |
Oh, gosh, what'll I do, Mr. Kent, what'll I do?
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Batman never received his own radio series.
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Kent |
First thing you must do Dick is pull yourself together and tell me exactly what happened.
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Batman and Robin guest-starred on The Adventures of Superman in 13 adventures over the run of the series.
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Robin |
I can't. I'm so worried I can't even think.
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Kent |
Nonsense, you've got to. Now, come on, son, what did you mean when you said Batman was gone and we'd never see him again?
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Robin |
Well, I mean he's gone, forever.
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Kent |
Forever! He..He's not....dead, is he?
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Robin |
I'm afraid he is.
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Kent |
Why do you say that?
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Robin |
Because he told me before he went away. If he didn't come back within a week and I didn't hear from him I I'd probably never see him again.
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Kent |
How long ago was that?
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Robin |
It was exactly twelve days ago.
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Kent |
I see. Did he tell you where he was going?
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Robin |
No. No, I asked him, but he said he couldn't tell me.
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Kent |
Well, that's rather unusual. I mean, for Batman not to tell you, isn't it?
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Robin |
It's the first time it ever happened
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Kent |
Hm. Did he give you any idea at all of why he was going away?
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Robin |
None at all. He just told me that something very important had come up. Something he just couldn't tell me about.
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Kent |
That's odd.
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Robin |
And then he said that if he wasn't back inside of a week, he...he might never come back. Now I'm scared, Mr. Kent!
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Kent |
Ah, ah, take it easy, son, take it easy. Look, were you and Batman working on any particular case when he went away?
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Robin |
No, for once, everything was nice and peaceful.
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Kent |
It was, eh?
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Robin |
Yes, that's why I can't understand it.
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Kent |
Hm. Did you question Alfred, your butler? Maybe Batman said something to him.
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Robin |
No, he didn't. I asked Alfred.
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Kent |
What about the police? Did you call Inspector Henderson?
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Robin |
Not yet, because I kept hoping Batman would show up.
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Kent |
I see.
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Robin |
And besides, he always told me, if ever I was in trouble and he wasn't around, I was to call you.
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Kent |
Well, obviously he knew he was going into something dangerous or he wouldn't have said what he did, but what gets me is that he didn't leave some clue for one of us, just in case..
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Robin |
You think he'd do that. But I know he didn't because I...
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Kent |
Wait, Dick, do you know where Batman keeps his private papers.
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Robin |
Yes, in a vault in his bedroom. Why?
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Kent |
Do you have a key to the vault?
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Robin |
It's a combination lock. I know the combination.
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| First appearance of Superman: |
Kent |
Good. Let's go up to this vault. It's just possible we'll find a clue there.
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MUSIC! |
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| June 1938 |
Kent |
Well, we've looked at everything except Batman's will, Dick. Unless there's something in that to give us a lead I'll admit I'm stumped.
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| Superman gets his own book: |
Robin |
Might as well open it and see, Mr. Kent.
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Kent |
Yeah, I suppose so. Well, here goes. It's very short. I Bruce Wayne being of sound mind declare this to be my last will and testament. List several charities he leaves a lot of money to. and I bequeath the bulk of my estate to my friend Richard Grayson - - that's you.
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| Summer 1939 |
Robin |
Look, are you sure there isn't anything else in his will?
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Kent |
No, nothing that will give us a lead.
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| First appearance of Batman: |
Robin |
Oh, gosh, what'll we do, Mr. Kent?
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Kent |
I don't know. Somehow this doesn't add up, Dick. I'm sure Batman wouldn't have walked out knowing he might never come back without leaving some tiny hint. Waitaminnit. Maybe he couldn't. Didn't have time!
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| May 1939 |
Robin |
Didn't have time?
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Kent |
Look, where were you when Batman...I mean, the last time you saw him?
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Robin |
Right here. I was asleep in my room. He came in and woke me up.
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Kent |
Was he alone?
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Robin |
Sure. Wait a minute! I've been so upset I forgot about it.
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| Debut of Robin, The Boy Wonder: |
Kent |
Forgot about what?
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Robin |
I think there was somebody with him. Somebody who was standing right outside my door.
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| April 1940 |
Kent |
Can you remember who it was?
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Robin |
It was too dark to see well, but I think it was the same man Batman was talking to in the study.
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Kent |
When was this?
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Robin |
Earlier in the evening. Some man came to see Batman, he took him into the study downstairs.
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| First appearance of Batman, Robin, and Superman on a cover: |
Kent |
I see. Did you get a look at him?
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Robin |
No, I was getting ready for bed when I heard the doorbell. Batman let him in and then I heard there voices in the study.
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| Spring, 1941. They star in separate stories. |
Kent |
Did you hear anything they said?
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Robin |
No, the study door was closed, you see, and I was pretty sleepy. So all I heard was the murmur of their voices.
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Kent |
I see. And then Batman disappeared that night.
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Robin |
Yes, and now I'm almost sure that man, whoever he was, was standing right outside my bedroom door when Batman said goodbye to me.
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Kent |
And that may be why Batman couldn't tell you any more at that time!
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Robin |
That's right.
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Kent |
Of course. Come on, Dick, let's go down to the study. I want to have a look around there, with you.
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MUSIC |
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Kent |
Any luck, Dick? See anything odd, out of place?
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Robin |
No, Mr. Kent. I can't find anything in this room that wasn't here before.
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| A sample wire recording machine: |
Kent |
I can't make this add up, Dick. Because I'm so sure Batman wouldn't have walked out without leaving us some hint. Or.. Wait a minute, what's this?
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Robin |
Oh, that's our recording machine. We use it to record important phone calls or some special radio programs.
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| A Silver Tone Wire Recorder |
Kent |
I see. When's the last time you or Batman used it, do you remember?
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Robin |
Sure, the time we were trailing the Umbrella Man.
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Kent |
Oh?
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Robin |
We expected him to call up and try to make a deal with us. He did, and a recording of his phone call helped to send him to jail.
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Kent |
Yes, I remember that story. It was several months ago...
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Robin |
Yeah, I guess so.
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Kent |
Well, you must have used it since then.
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Robin |
No, that was the last time. I remember because I put a new spool of recording wire on the machine just a day or two before Batman disappeared, and we had no occasion to use it since.
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Kent |
Well, there's something recorded on that new wire, Dick!
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Robin |
Huh? Holy smokes! Is there?
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Kent |
Uh huh. And this may be just what we're looking for!
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Robin |
What do you mean, Mr. Kent?
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Kent |
If the wire was blank a day or two before Batman disappeared, and now there's something recorded on it, it may mean Batman used the machine when he was with the stranger on the night he disappeared!
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Robin |
You mean Batman might have recorded something on the machine to tell us where he went?
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Kent |
Could be! Let's play the recording back and find out!
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MUSIC! |
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Announcer |
Eagerly, Clark Kent and Dick Grayson prepare to play back the recording. Adjusting the machine, Kent calls out:
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Kent |
Okay, Dick, turn it on.
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Robin |
Right, Mr. Kent, here goes.
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Wayne (Recording) |
That's a strange request, Mr. uh, Jones, you said your name was?
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Robin |
That's Batman, Mr. Kent.
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Jones (Recording) |
Jones is right, Mr. Wayne. But strange or not, I insist that you come to my place with me now to discuss the matter.
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Kent |
Is that the man you heard with Batman that night, Dick?
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Robin |
Uh huh.
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Wayne (Recording) |
Why. Why can't we discuss it right here?
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Jones (Recording) |
Because as I explained before I prefer to discuss such an important matter in my own home, or in some neutral place if you prefer.
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Wayne (Recording) |
You think I might have spies around here.
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Jones (Recording) |
Let's just say I prefer not to take chances.
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Wayne (Recording) |
I see.
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Robin |
What are they talking about?
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Kent |
Quiet, Dick. You'll find out.
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| The phrase may have originated at Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire, England. The village has two pubs, the Cock and the Bull. |
Wayne (Recording) |
You amuse me, Mr. Jones. You don't want to take chances, but you don't hesitate to ask me to take them. You come here with some cock and bull story...
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| Coaches between London to Birmingham changed horses at one pub or the other. |
Jones (Recording) |
It's not a cock and bull story, Mr. Wayne. I've told you the truth.
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The banter of the rival groups of travellers, from England's two largest cities, resulted in exaggerated and fanciful stories.
The Phrase Finder |
Wayne (Recording) |
Maybe. And maybe your name is Jones. But, you must admit it sounds pretty fishy. I mean, telling me as little as you have and then asking me to go somewhere with you, alone. How do I know you're not leading me into an ambush.
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Jones (Recording) |
Why should I?
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Wayne (Recording) |
Well, I am pretty rich, you know. You may have some ransom idea in your head.
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Robin |
Gosh, listen....
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Jones (Recording) |
That's sheer nonsense, Mr. Wayne, as you'll find out. But we're wasting time. Will you come to my place?
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Wayne (Recording) |
Sorry, Mr. Jones, I'm not a coward, but neither am I a fool. You'll have to tell me more.
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Jones (Recording) |
And if I refuse?
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Wayne (Recording) |
I don't go with you.
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Jones (Recording) |
I think you will, Mr. Wayne, because if you don't...
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Wayne (Recording) |
Then what?
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Jones (Recording) |
Then I shall be compelled to reveal to the world that you, Bruce Wayne, are Batman.
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Wayne (Recording) |
What's that?
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Robin |
Christopher Columbus!
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| Columbus was the first European to discover the Americas. |
Kent |
Great Scott!
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Jones (Recording) |
Yes, Mr. Wayne. I will publicly reveal that you, Bruce Wayne, and the famous Batman, are one and the same
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MUSIC! |
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| Radio, circa 1948 |
Announcer |
Shocked, Clark Kent and Dick Grayson stare at each other in wonder and dismay as the recording completes its playback. Who is the mysterious and threatening Mr. Jones who has somehow discovered the secret of Batman's double identity? The secret Batman cherishes as much as Clark Kent guards his own identity as Superman. And what has happened to Batman? Tomorrow, Kent and Robin receive an even greater shock. So don't fail to listen, fellows and girls. Be sure to tune in same time, same station, for Chapter 2 of Batman's Great Mystery on The Adventures of Superman.
Music.
Superman is a copyrighted feature appearing in Superman DC Comics Magazine, and is brought to you Monday through Friday at this same time.
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