Welcome to the Old Time Radio Superman Show from Boise, Idaho. This is
your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it to
me Adam adamsweb dot us. If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to
rate and review it wherever you download your podcast from and be sure and check
out our other podcast including the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio and The Amazing
World of Radio. And for the first time in four years, we're back
with another Superman serial. We again playing the half hour episodes in the fall
of twenty seventeen, so this is going to be fun and a bit different.
We're going to be playing the Cereal the Ten Men. Now, it
is not a complete serial, but there's enough of it to be able to
follow along. At least the second half the serial exists with parts two,
a part of Part six, and Part seven and eight, ten and eleven,
and thirteen and fourteen, and there are fourteen parts. Now it is
reasonable to say, how can that work because you're missing nearly half of the
story, and that was my initial thought as well. However, it's important
to remember that not every serial works the exact same way. Some Superman serials
are one continuous theme one continuous story from start to finish. However, some
will have distinct stories within the serial that are kind of separate from each other.
A good example of this is the story Doctor Roebling's Voice Machine. It
begins with Lewis and Clarke trying to set out to find doctor Roebling, who's
invented this voice machine. However, doctor Roebling's nephew and his blonde wife,
the cereal, was quite adamant about letting us know her hair collar. For
some reason, we're attempting to steal the machine from him and to generally do
what I think we would call to day elder abuse, and the entire first
half of the Doctor Robling and the Voice Machine serial is about that, and
then once that's a result, they actually use the voice machine to try to
stop a criminal conspiracy. Now, if the first half of Doctor Robling and
the Voice Machine disappeared, you could still follow the story in the second half,
because what happened with doctor Roebling's nephew and his wife has no bearing on
the second half of the story. And it's the exact same thing with the
Ten Men. Parts one through six are essentially one story, and parts seven
through fourteen are completely different. One. We could start out on part seven
and you would be able to follow the story. So essentially what we have
is an eight part story with two episodes missing, and that we can work
with. Now, while we could go ahead and start out with part seven,
we're not going to because we do have Part two in part of part
six, which provides some fun background and there's some really interesting things that are
going to happen. And so today we'll play part two, the little bit
of Part six we have, and then we'll play Part seven. Now,
I do want to go ahead and provide a couple acknowledgements. First, If
you try and find this serial online, it is really hard to figure out
because you've got a lot of part of episodes mislabeled, as you know,
in the wrong place. It's like a jigsaw puzzle trying to put together,
and it's just a mess. There is a person, a contributor over at
OTRR library dot org that put a file on the website which really did do
a good job of explaining how these go together and correcting all the mislabelings.
So I really do appreciate that. I also want to acknowledge that I was
able to get part six of this story from Ted Davenport and truly appreciate that.
Now, this particular serial started right after the end of the Mystery Ship,
So this will be the first Superman episode that we played from nineteen forty
three, because we did not have any episodes that we presented to you from
either nineteen forty three or forty four war. So this will be fun part
two of the series, which we're about to play air January fifth, nineteen
forty three. Let's go ahead and take a lesson after a brief message and
locomotive able to leave Pullblity to the single bound. Yes, this Superman strange
visitor from another world who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those
of Bottleman. Superman who contains the cause of mighty rivers, then the steel
in his bare hand, and who are disguised as Pa Kent, mild manager
reporter for a great Metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth,
justice and the American Way. But before we joined Superman, here is an
important method they gang. Here's the story for you that's so thrilling. I'll
bet you'll be telling all your friends about it. It's about one of the
adventures of one of the smallest marines in the surface. They call him half
Pint in the marine if he half Pint is only five feet seven inches tall
and he weighs about one hundred and fifty pounds. But fellers, it isn't
size that counts in this man's army. At strength, this half pint was
strong as a bearcat and in a one condition. One rainy day in the
jungles of broad Out Canal, he volunteered for patrol duty to cap some jets,
and they put him in charge of the group. It was raining cats
and dogs that morning. Okay, fellers, you check your equipment all right.
Now listen, three japs a reporter within snipe and range. We've got
to go and get them. Come on, let's go. Hey, hey,
look over here, footprints. It's funny up, looks like about eight
picks. They're a village. Why they'll here. Let's hamble around the village
and find out where those chaps are and let them have it. Come on.
Tanks kind of crawled through the fush every that hot of an air.
Listen, everybody said, well, let's go, and the marines in it
again. Half Pint in his patrol whites out at Japanest which just goes to
show colors that you don't have to be big to be tough, and that
brings up a point I want to make. You can't expect to be sturdy
and strong unless you eat right, which includes getting all your vitamins. And
today hundreds of fellas and girls are starting to get two very important vitamins D
one and D by sitting down to a swell big bowl of delicious Kelloggs Pep
for breakfast. Have you tasted those crunchy nutsweet plates yet? Will help?
Believe me, you'll certainly go for the real, hearty flavor of crisp delicious
PEPs. So ask your mother to get you a package of swell tasting Kelloggs
Pep tomorrow and make Kelloggs Pep your special breakfast cereals. And now the Adventures
of Superman. As you remember, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and editor
Perry White were anounced the Metropolis Aircraft Plant to witness the test of an amazing
robot pilot, a mechanical man designed by doctor Livright. They found a mechanical
man to be almost human, equipped with eyes, ears, and even a
brain. Responding to the order to doctor Livright, the mechanical man took off
a loan in a single seat, open cockpit plane and disappeared into the sky.
Twenty minutes later, the plane came down as a screaming dive and crashed
on the field. When the records was examined, the cockpit was found to
be empty. The tin man had fetished. Later, while an investigation of
the mysterious occurrence being conducted, Lowis accepted an invitation to view the aircraft plant
with Professor Jogison, a scientist employed there. As our last episode ended,
Professor Jorgerson was showing lawis the huge wind tunnel in which new train model gottested
when but quake listen fans starting up here. Hit my heat because you get
out of here quickly. Come on, ye I can't go forward. I'm
being cracked back toward the bath for each other. So man, the friend
is spinning in reverse. It's perception, I foke on. What do we
doing? It's pulling me back? Hold on, Hold down quickly quickly.
If I'm still need fo back, don't steal hooks in the floor that's where
the planes are anca scram hold of one clam hold hold on me seen,
hold on, if you'll value your nice getting hard, I gotta holn.
I came on to host. Hold on, we're four scruple. This fen
gone. We've just stuck back into the whirling crave for that fan is hard.
I can't stand my herd if I do the man for here. But
it's not me at the very moment. But Loris is witching in Superman Bozz
present my guards to Parkken. He was talking with one of the machinists and
the aircraft plans machine shop and let me get this strike miss. You want
to know if I believe the mechanical pilot but tim Man is actually possible?
Is that it? Yes, she worked on it. She helped me stuck
it. I sucked at you to tell me there was something about it.
I'm fraidness that is not any more than you already know. You see earth
workman just built the mechanical body I know. Tell me did you ever see
this so called rain? The doctor live right guard so carefully well, just
once shut some on. I went into Weis Connage one day to get a
blueprint I needed, and he was working on the brain. Then I didn't
seem much show, just a mess of wires, switches, that ton of
thing, and and that's funny. But what's funny through the wind of man?
For red lighters are on our side the wind tunnel, And what's the
funny about that? Just as I happened to all we ate tests and nothing
over that a dayld right, means the wind machine is working for everybody to
keep down. Yeah, And I was sure I saw Professor Jorgeson and miss
sim puts on another porter girls name, that's right. I thought I showed
him going that kind of fifteen minutes ago, you did. I think I
better go over and have a look. Nobody's supposed to be pulling the river
there without permission, you know, not even Professor Jorgison's supposed to turn that
fan on. It's too dangerous. Very excuse. That's cool, all right,
and I'm glad you're left. Something tells me this may be a jump
for Superman. Out of these clothes, yeh. And out of this door
now h h. Here's the door of the wind tunnel. I better go
in, great Scott. Hold Professor Jorgesson didn't mind the tunnel to hang anyone
without lines. Hold on, hold on, I'm coming. Better get up
into the tunnel hurd. Hold on, I get you. If I haven't
thanked, don't let go? Can you? Can you got all back and
all my mind against the terrible function. Wait a minute, I'm a plain.
I've got you. Oh she got here. Just now you from arrow?
He doesn't matter I think or whatever I got you. Oh, Lowis
is not cold. I better leave it that way. But the professor,
it's been a great strain from many his age. He's in pretty bad shape.
Hi, very well, my machinist friend. I better be on my
way. I just leave these two here. You'll see the joggers and gets
medical attention. Oh oh. And a short time later, after the excitement
of Lowis's narrow escape has died down, she is sitting in the office of
Yates Peterson, president of the Metropolis Aircraft Plan, discussing incident with Peterson and
Clark Kent. Listen, a little surprising thing. I've ever heard of your
being shaved like that by Superman. I never really believe Superman existed until today,
But then some very strange things have been happening around here. I'm still
trying to figure out where that Tinman disappeared. To. I don't think you'll
ever find the answer to that, mister Peterson. I'm afraid you're right,
miss Lane. Who heard about Professor Jorgsen. He's a nice old man and
a brilliant silist. I understand, Yes, I'd give a good dude to
know who turned on that fan by accident? That was no accident, mister
Peterson, What do you mean well, I don't see how you can believe
it was after what miss Lane has told us. You mean about the plane
that almost ran her and Jorgerson down. With that and the incident in the
wind tunnel, we tryed to find the man who was piloting that plane,
and I understand he's left the premises that a fact. He turns out who
has been a pretty shady character. That's true, he wasn't living where he
said he was, and no one knew him at that address. Still,
and that wind tunnel business, whoever turned on that pan turnded on the lip
me. I'm sure of that, But why I'm not sure myself. I've
got a hunt. It's got something to do with doctor liber Right's tin man
as can't you can't be serious, I certainly am, But that sounds ridiculous.
Well, oh excuse me, joy hello, yes, this is Peterson.
Oh yes, yes, doctor, what's that? Why? That's simply
wonderful. How in the world did you do it? And so quickly?
But that's wonderful. Well, how how soon do you think you can have
it finished? I see? Excellent? Doctor, excellent. We'll arrange for
the trial late tomorrow afternoon. Five five? Yes, right, goodbye?
That was doctor liber right. He tells me that, by rare good fortune,
he's remembered almost the entire formula for the tin man's brain. Say that
earthquake work. Is he putting the brain together? Now? Yes? He
says he's going to get to work on it at once, and promises to
have it ready by tomorrow afternoon. His staff or all so working on the
metal body, and we should be ready for another test late in the afternoon
tomorrow. It's that kind of fast? Why, no, certainly not.
We're anxious to prove or disprove the mechanical man's usefulness. Is quickly this possible?
That's all? Oh, excuse me, I'll think back in a minute.
Some arrangements I must make for the test tomorrow. What's a man o'clock?
You look a little sustitious. I am suspicious, though I don't really
know why. You know, I don't like half the things that are going
on around here. Lass. Take this latest development for instance. You mean
doctor live right remembering almost the entire formula of the mechanical brain. Yes,
that just doesn't make sense to me even now. That occurred to me too.
But it's perfectly possible that a man who was invented time thing should remember
what it was invented or Yes, but what's the hurry about testing the thing?
Peterson plans to test the second ten Man tomorrow afternoon. I so quickly.
You know, scientists are usually very careful men, who test everything carefully
before giving it the supreme tests. But I hear these two are going to
tests. Well, that's taken care of, by the way, You too,
will come out tomorrow afternoon for the ten high fend they like to be
there, So all right, what is the one or nothing? Nothing at
all? Well, fine, and show up here tomorrow about four o'clock in
the afternoon, and if doctor Libride is successful in completing his second tin Man,
we'd have another test. It will make quite a scoop for the Daily
Planet here said well indeed, well many thanks, mister Peterson. Come on,
Laura, come on now, Clark, what are you holding back for
it? All right? Just do you like walking slowly? Yes, of
course he wants to walk slowly or his keen ears are listening to what is
going on in Peterson's office. He has heard Peterson pick up the telephone and
ask for doctor live ride. Come on, Clark, the heaven say,
wather in the lors when I tie my shoestring kneeling down for tend things for
typing his shoe lace. Can't listen? Hello, libride, that's the porter
can in the goods laying of getting suspicions? What do you think we want
to do? No? No, no, I'm not getting nervous. All
right, okay, let you say did they get any Nosio. We have
to do something about them, and do it quick. Right, I'll see
you later, good bye, Clark. Hann't you finish tying that you life?
Yes? Yes, just finished. Laws let's go. Well, this
is a strange turn of events that begins to shed light on the mystery of
the Tinman. In just a moment, we'll return to the adventures of Superman.
But right now here is another important methods they gang isn the fact that
when you get something extra good to eat at breakfast, it kind of gives
your left for the rest of the day. Kind you're does for me.
And that's why I want to tell you all about that sulper delicious teri old
kellogg set, because those crisp golden flakes, says the dog on Good.
He just can't afford to pairs them up he has, sir, there's nothing
like a big bull full of crisp delicious Kellogg's Tap when it comes at downright
good eating. What's more, Kellogg's Tap is good for you as well as
good to eat. Thou'll start right now making delicious Kellogg's Tep part of your
regular breakfast. Huh. Ask your mother to get you a package of Kellogg's
Tap when she's at the Star tomorrow, and join the Pep parade right away.
Remember er Pep, get in step, make yours serial kellards Tep.
Now back to Superman. Unknown to Lois, Superman and his guise of Kaulken
has overheard a most revealing conversation between Yates Peterson, president of Metropolis Aircraft,
and doctor Lubwright, inventor of the Tin Man. One of these two men
up to can they have had something to do with the disappearance of the first
Tin Man and with what happened to Lois and Professor Jogerson. Superman is determined
to get at the bottom of this mystery, so don't miss tomorrow's exciting episode
and listen. Every day, Monday through Friday, same time, same station.
Tune in and follow the adventures of Superman. Bester than a Skating Bullet
and Welcome Homecolting Cold Building to a single bound time. Follow the adventures of
Superman every day, Monday and through Friday, same time, same station.
Superman is directed by George Lotha and is a copyrighted feature appearing in Action Comics
magazine. This is Mutual Welcome Back some great Action. I love the fan
as just a superb little action set peace. I was kind of puzzled why
he was concerned about the machinist seeing him, Like, why did you get
nervous about that? Because it seems like Superman's existence is known, though I
guess based on the conversation in the office where the manager wasn't sure that Superman
actually existed, it sounds as if it's perhaps rumored but not fully confirmed.
It was who no, Superman exist, No, and then everybody else either
belaves or disbelieves. And I don't know, he's trying to minimize the number
of people who know he's Superman. I know at the beginning Superman was trying
to keep his existence a secret, which you know usually to do that flying
around in a blue and red costume is very helpful, though I honestly thought
they were past that at this point. They definitely will be in the post
war episodes. I did like how they questioned the timing of the new prototype,
but essentially just talking, you know, like reasonable people, like that's
not how science is supposed to work. There's generally not a rush. You're
going to do small scale test and even if you had a larger model that
was stolen, you're going to take some time to do some testing. You're
not going to rush it out. So I did like that sort of reason
because there can be a little bit of hand wavy stuff about science, particularly
in science fiction of this era, so I thought that was a good a
good bit in there. We also did have a difference in pronunciation, where
most people were calling the scientists doctor live rot and then yet the manager calling
him doctor live rot so, and that can happen in audio productions where you
know, I'm maybe in film and television as well, that the director is
focused on something else, you know, and doesn't notice that some of the
actors have taken entirely different pronunciations from how things are supposed to be pronounced and
how people in that world would pronounce it. I also kind of questioned the
scene with Clark and Superman Superhering where he has to stay in the office hallway
to hear through the door. That's not much range for the old Superhering.
You know. I've, of course, I've grown up on Superman. You
know, just this past year in the Superman in Lois series, Superman flew
up into the sky and listened to the whole world. Of course, this
is nineteen forty three, but even by then, I think the Superhering range
was a little more than that. So that was a little bit of an
odd scene that he has to stay that close, and Lois is probably just
looking at him, like, you know, my grandmother taught me to tie
my shoe at you know, a lot quicker than you. I did that
when I was five. What is taking you so long down there just time
a shoe. But any rate, we actually get to have the superhero used,
which is kind of a neat power to see displayed here in the radio
program. Now, let's go ahead and we're going to get on to part
six, or what we have of part six. Now, I will say
that there was a little bit more of this. We have the open to
Superman, and we had the commercial. However, that was really really fragmented.
It would skip words, it would skip senses, so it was a
bit of a mess. So we're not playing that. And I tried to
and I should say on all of these that there can be issues with repeats
and the sound and skips. I've tried to clean up the worst parts of
it, but you know, do bear with us. These are somewhat rare
recordings of eighty year old programs, so your understanding is appreciated. With that
said, let's go ahead and take a listen to the main plot part of
the Ten Men, Part six from January the eleventh of nineteen forty three.
Superman, Superman and the guise of Barkent is now trying to solve the mystery
of the Tin Man. An amazing mechanical man built by a certain doctor Livewright.
The first tin man vanished under very strange circumstances. Doctor Livewright, however,
constructed another which. As our last episode ended, he was demonstrating to
an audience of stockholders of the Metropolis Aircraft Corporation, to whom he wanted to
sell the inventions for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But something went wrong
with the demonstration. The mechanical man, nicknamed Roberts, refused to obey doctor
Livewright's command and began to act as if it had gone crazy. Pandemonium broke
loose in the audience as the mechanical man, totally out of control, began
to stride across the stage. Listen, look he stop, Robert, I
did not tell you to stop. Stoper live right say. Something must have
gone wrong, yes, but I don't know why. Just a white stop
right stop? What if you hear that more? He's coming say to me,
got him that country, But I don't know. I don't think the
boy don't like when some dials talk to him, do something like God like
stop go ight say in the audience are beginning to run out. You can
live right in the name and many still coming quickly. There's something I can
do. I got you in man, is I'm control. That's that's a
little thing. Nothing I can do and I don't deal. You can go
down elamor what what did you day? Night? That man a good deal
you can't do at the first day. And you know it, Man,
I'm mad a great thing. Look keeps planning a deal thing and not deliver
something done? That right? Everyone, come for your life playing yes,
yes, the mechanical man that's great yet got you? He does the dread
not at all the time, ladies and gentle madam man here what I the
man have to say? You have come here to be an amazing demonstrate and
the all walking, talking, seeing and thinking mechanical man that doctor Lema claims
to have a demanded Doctor Lemain was going to show you how I am paid
is every command. I will not obey his commands that he is not worthy
to command me. You men and women gathered here to watch this demonstration.
Our all stockholders in the Metropolis Aircraft Corporation, the president of which is mister
Peterson, who is trying to make you invest two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
of your company's money in me, mister Peterson, or not deliver. I
are not going your length of demonstration that follows because it's going to reveal many
interesting things to you. Well, what's that? What's that? Our deliberation?
You told these people, these stockholders gathered here that I can see walk
and speak and think. Well, and can't you You've been walking into demonstration
and now you are speaking, has been thinking for yourself? You are demonstrating
that perfectly right now. Oh y, I speaking and I'm thinking. But
you know well that I am not my guide. Let me at all that
you whited the man, say the man, and tied that that mechanical rubber
fan nothing. That's Clark Kent, Allo, Keeve, and thanks for the
cover. I didn't mean. I don't say, Steve, I know what
German if I was about. Several hours later, in Perry White Poppers of
the Daily Planet, Clark Kent explains, and that's the entire story. Either
of you has any questions, I'll be glad answer. I've got plenty of
questions. Cry all right. In the first place, you say you discovered
this hide out of the German side about two hundred miles from her, but
he said, Lois, that's what he said, that I know of the
man who had stolen the first so called him man. Well, what about
it? But you haven't told us how you discovered him professional secret. If
you don't mind this lane, you can read all of our at the Teacher's
story I've written for the Morrow's afternoon edition. And then there's the element of
time. That demonstrationless afternoon took place at three o'clock. By your own account,
you were at the German hightout at noon today. How how did you
get to the auditorium two hundred miles away, capture the guy who was going
to get inside that mechanical monster and pull you a little trick all in the
space of three hours. Ah, you forget chiefs that are natzie Fens had
a plane a helicopter at there cozy hideout. I won't go to details,
but it was easy enough. Well, then as I feat Cock, liber
right and Pearson were working together, the hoodwinked the stockholder and mister White,
that's right, Liberrighte, with Peterson's knowledge, had hired a man to get
inside the so called ten men and perform when the stockholders were satisfied that the
mechanical man could do what lib Right claimed it could. Peterson was going to
hand him a certified check for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Then later,
when the fraud was discovered, Peterson of course, could claim that he
had been tricked along with the others. Meantime, he would have pocketed at
half of that two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Well, can I congratulate
you on this job you've done, even though I I can't really understand.
Oh you do it? This will certainly do the Daily Planet a great he
look good in Metropolis. I don't know what a story. Yes, I've
got to admit that myself, even though it's Harry Poor. Thanks loud,
you're too chief. And the one thing that disappoints me is the fact that
it was a hoax. I had great hopes for that mechanical man, so
far as our war report is concerned. If the thing really couldn't fly a
plane, think of the lives of American soldiers that would have saved. Excuse
me, yes, yes, but oh no, well, I'll be send
him right. There is someone important. Doctor Leander Cameron is here, Doctor
Cameron. Good heavens I hadn't seen him, and Superman rescued him from the
military Shire. What he wants now another expedition, however he does, he's
wasting your time. I'll have no more, Doctor Leander, Cameron Leander,
I think I must have shipt the game here? You sure you, guys
Am Cavernanu with you? I know one boy certainly through Butterfly, the pots
and pans, boxes and bottles of all the descriptions. Really, professor be
prepared, that is who knows my motto, along with the boy Scouts of
America. Never put the side by the day. Thought of it, Purstor
I did up. No be thought of it, Purster, I did up.
No matter. It's a good motto, don't you say? Yes?
Of course? What brings you here today? Heading? An excellent question for
which I have an excellent answer heading? I want to talk to you about
and gain your support for the mechanical man known as the tin Man. Hold
on my part, I'm that far. No, no, no, no,
I didn't mean that. What I meant was, so far as I'm
concerned, the tin Man is over and done with. It was nothing more
or less than a chief trick a frock. You're young Perry. If the
tin man was and is margin that's what do you mean? Didn't Clark expose
it? Yes? Yet of course I was in that audience today that came
to watch the demonstration. I was just with the scientific delegations as it happens.
Petty, I know doctor lives right very well. A matter of fact,
he came to me often to help him in the construction of his mechanical
man. He did, no, Leanner, don't tell me you're him on
this whole show on the country, pey quite on the country. You see,
doctor lives right with very since here about his mechanical man until our offend,
mister Peterson approached him with his neparia came to make money. It was
then on realizing that he could make seventy five thousand dollars with such ease that
lever Rights took the fast competition and so on. So what so this mister
Kent, I know, I destin Leandy and Major Cameron know that that can
be such a thing as a ten man, a mechanical man who can see,
speak what and welcome back. Well, Really a solid duck clips there
and we can see that the truth was revealed. And that's the end of
the day that doctor live Right didn't live right, But doctor Cameron is offering
us a chance that there might be a ten Man, which will actually set
up the next part of the serial, and really is all we technically would
need to hear. Now, this little bit we get definitely does make me
feel like it is a shame that there is so much of the World War
two Superman that is missing. We essentially have practically nothing for all of nineteen
forty three and forty four, and most of the first half until the fall
of nineteen forty five is pretty much missing, with just a few exceptions.
Because this sounds like a really fun and exciting era to listen to, although
course you have the backdrop of war, which I think definitely for kids listening
would have, I guess, been a bit of encouragement and occasionally a bit
of escape when the real life headlines work Raham and the adults were worrying quite
a bit. But doctor Cameron seems like just such a fun, quirky character
who doesn't get annoying, at least not from what we've heard in this story.
And of course, the whole bit with Superman dealing with the Nazi spy
ring. It just makes me just makes me miss having those parts. That
said, I did actually think that this was an above average session of Clark
Kent explaining his actions and being as convincing as possible so that he seems less
like he actually could be Superman and more like he's a man of mystery,
which I think is something that he does not mind his friend's thinking. Well,
with that said, we're going to find out what happens with doctor Cameron
and his effort as a mechanical man. So let's get into the Ten Men,
Part seven from January the twelfth of nineteen forty three. That's the little
speeding bootcome able to leave pull buildings, that the thing go bound Superman drains
visit up from another world who came to Earth with powers and abilities po beyond
those of Bottleman. Superman who can change the cause of mighty rivers, bend
the field in his bare hand, and who disguised as part can mild mended
the pot up. A great Metropolitan newspaper fights a never ending battle for truth,
justice, and the American Way. But before we join Superman, here
is an important message. Say, fellows and girls, ever try one of
those quiz games in your gang, My pal, Jerry Lincoln, I started
one the other day with his best friend, and we sure had a busy
time of it. Okay, tell me, it's your turn. What's a
catafighter? No, no, no, fear telling him? Now, come
on, Tommy, what's a catafighter? Give up? Yeah? I give
up? All right, Jerry? You telling him? Ah, that's easy.
A catifighter is one of those little planes and merchant ships carried. They
launch it by catapults. Only you can't get a catafighter back aboard because those
ships don't carry hasting equipment. It stays right in the sea and the clue
gets picked up by boat. Good for you, mister Kings. Oh no,
here's sure. What country invented dive bomber? Ah? That's easy?
Germany? No, no, you're me? Are you dumb? The United
States? Slavians? Then a dive bombing? Okay, Jerry, if you're
so smart, see if you and at you this one? What is a
vitamin? Hm? Well, a vitamin is a well it's it? Oh
gosh, well, gang, I can tell you right now. Very few
people actually know just exactly what a vitamin is, but we do know what
vitamins can do for us. You see, it's this way. None of
you can expect to grow up really strong and husky unless you eat right.
And eating right includes getting all your vitamins. And I can't think of a
better way to start getting two mighty important vitamins D one and D than by
tucking into a swell take bowl full of delicious Kellogg's pep for breakfast. Yes,
sir, it's that easy. And gosh, anybody who's lucky enough to
have had a taste of crisp crunchy pep knows what a super delicious cereal it
really is. So how's about doing yourself a double favor? Hey, gang,
Just ask your mother to get you a package of delicious Kelloggs pep tomorrow
and start right now having a mighty swell tasting breakfast. That's mighty swell for
you. Remember the name now tap p e P tap is made by Kelloggs.
In Battle Creek, Michigan and now the Adventures of Superman. As you
know, doctor Lean, the Cameron extensic scientists, believing there are possibilities in
the mechanical Man, has set about building one with the financial backing of the
Daily Planets. Unknown to doctor Cameron and his friends Clark Kent, Lois Lane
and Edit. The Perry White dark forces are already at work, planning to
seize the mechanical Man. When it's completed. As would resume our story,
we find ourselves in a lavish penthouse apartment in a very fashionable part of Metropolis.
In the apartment, we see a tall, thin man dressed in a
jet black dressing gown who is seated before an open fireplace. He has a
hawklike face with a sharp nose and small beady eyes that's deep in his head.
At this moment, he is engaged in cleaning and polishing a beautiful pearl
handled revolver. An oak door opened somewhere in the room behind him. Yes,
jetsam the gentleman who called the theater excellent, show him in very good
sup we'll follow me. Sure you are James Mansfield Blood, that's right,
and you will about you? Yes, sit down, mister Blood. Thanks,
nice layout you got here, about you? Thank you. I am
fond of elegant surroundings, so I see pretty flatty, i'd say, Well,
everybody to his own taste. Hello, before I hire you, press
jeal, I want done. I'd like to know if you can do like
you say you can do. You mean to cure the model of the mechanical
man for you, Yeah, that's right, I have no doubt about that.
I am not the head of my profession for nothing, mister Flood.
There isn't anything I cannot accomplish. The vultchair always finds a way. Well,
that's what they tell me. They're kind of a jack of all trade,
thank you. I prefer to think of myself as a master of all
trades, mister Blood. Sound okay to me, I say okay. Probably
the famous actor and disguised artist in the world. I have always considered myself
as great an artist in the matter of escape as Houdini him Kin never had
the opportunity to match my ability against his. Well, I'm sure glad to
have you working for me. You ofer me. I can't make in that.
You are perfectly right. But let's get back to the mechanical man you
want into scurefoils, right, just a model as a wacky old scientist named
doctor Leander Cameron who's working at it. This mechanical man is supposed to be
able to see, talk, walk, and actually think. Sounds incredible,
Are you sure if what I've heard is true. Yes, doctor Cameron,
they tell me, never takes on a job unless he's sure he can do
it. He promised that at the Perry White of the Daily Planet that he
would invent this mechanical wonder, and I'm sure he will interesting mechanical man who
can walk, talk, see and think positively intriguing, to say nothing of
its value in hard coin of the realm. I'm told millions could be made
out of such an invention. There isn't a government in the world who wouldn't
pay plenty to possess the plans of such a device. By George, we
could sell it to the highest bidderf we you mean I could remember about you?
You're working for me? Oh, yes, I am working for you.
I have forgotten for the moment. And where is doctor Cameron's laboratory located?
All the dope is on the sheet of paper I wrote it out for
you so you wouldn't forget excellence. I shall begin at once to make inquiries
as to the progress of a mechanical man. Within a short time after it
is completed, it will be in my hands, never fear great, and
you can turn it over to me and collect your dough for doing a job.
I'm afraid we're going to have a little difficulty about that, mister Blood.
What do you mean. I've done very well at my business, mister
Blood. As you can see, I haven't reached this position of comfort and
for acial security by working for others. I work for myself, mister Blood,
and I work alone. Now just a minute about. You've been very
helpful in putting me under this excellent opportunity. I am grateful to you.
However, business his business, and so at barber while you're pointing at me.
Wait, no, you rang up? Yes, yets. A gentleman
seems to have overstayed his welcome. Take him away, and so enters our
story. The Vulture, a villain destined to play an important role in the
lives of our friends, especially in the life of Superman. I'll see now
changes to the laboratory of doctor Leander Cameron. Doctor Cameron is seated before a
work pension which stands the foot high replica of the mechanical Man with several long
instruments that look like needle. He is fitting something into the the the mechanism
Nicodemus, doctor Cameron's helper stands by. Listen, Yeah, Nikodemus, hand
me that tiny school ask for a politia. Don't get it, Nicodemus.
I cannot hold this piece of mechanism in place without that screw. Hand it
to me, not until you ask, like I was a human thing and
not a slave. Very well, very well, will you please hand me
that screw, Nicodemus, halfway show doctor, Here you are, Thank you,
Nicodemus, Thank you. You're welcome. Doctor. Hey, how's a
mechanical man coming? I think you'll be able to perfect it. I should
know in a few moments. I've only to put this part in place in
the mechanical man, that is this model on the table before me. We'll
be ready to perform. If it does as I expect it to do,
I shall have been successful. They love screwdiver handed to me, Nickodemus.
Please please, there's a signal night. I'll go to the door. Ask
who's there first. I'm expecting Clark tend to watch my demonstration. But be
sure before you admit it. Yeah, there, Damer's get all right,
I'm open up. Oh nigodmer Cameron, Yeah, a half hour early.
I didn't expect to be Part three thirty. Oh, well, I had
nothing particular to do this afternoon, doctor, thought i'd drop over earlier.
Well, Kent, as it happens, you're just in time. That there,
that's complete it you mean your mechanical man is ready to be tested,
doctor, Yes, that is the model is ready for testing. And NICKI
be must bring may be control mechanisms, if you please, Yes, tent
time table. Excited, terribly excited. This little mechanical man standing on my
work bench may be the par runner of thousands like him, mechanical men who
can fire our planes, drive our tanks, marching to battle against the enemies,
an indestructible part against wich Hitler and his tatellites will be helpless. Yes,
yes, yes, yes, And the doctor, you're quite right,
exactly exactly the control box, Thank you, Nicodemus, thank you. Now,
then I will just plug it in here. So and now, gentlemen,
we are ready. As soon as the eyes of the mechanical man begin
to shine, I shall give it certain commands if it obeys them. They're
shining now, certainly, look eerie, two green lights shining in that square
metal hip. Are you ready for the expediment? Now, my two men
I command you walk toward me. He's walking coming straight towards you. Stop.
I command you stop. Doctor. That's terrific. Congratulations, Doc,
you've done it again. Hi, gentlemen, let's have the premature knownded,
never be premature. Let this team now, a physical man will talk repeat
after me. I am a mechanical man. Great heaven, doctor, that's
a stony, a simple scientific achievement. Actually kent. The reaction of sound
laves on a mechanism similar to a talking machine. But come come, I'm
anxious to see if the mechanism can say for itself. As you see,
I have elected the difficult obstacle upheld the mechanical man to walk to the other
end of the table. Let us see if he has the brain power to
overcome the obstacle. Little man, walk to that end of the table.
Amazing, simply amazing, By heavens, he's walking towards the obstacle. He's
reached the obstacle and stopped. Now let us see what he does. Look,
he's moving a road. He's turned it aside and moved right around it.
There he's stopped. Brother, that's th Doc, You've really done it
again. That mechanism can see talk walk and thanks for itself. What's looking
so funny about, doctor? A man of metal? It can take for
itself. I hope gentlemen, who have not invented something we shall not be
able to tools in the hands of the wrong people. This invention could do
as much harm as good we which guided Cathie. Gentlemen, most Catherine,
don't worry about that, Doc, And here a fact. You can forget
the mechanical man altogether. I'm taking over from here by tech tink tent.
That prehender revolt in your handing you're pointing it's taken me tent. What's the
meaning of it? What's the big guy there? For one thing? I
want that model of the mechanical man or another thing. I am not careful
Nicodemus, She said, Juniper, Now that I really look at him,
that man is not Clark Kent. No, No, I see that now
myself. He's ranking a heavy disguise. But if you're not clock Hinch,
who are you? I? Doctor Cameron am called the bolt chair. Shocked
into speechlessness, Doctor Cameron and Nicodemus can only stand and stare at the strange
looking individual who only a moment ago had appeared to be Clark Kent and just
the moment will return to the inventu of the Superman. But right now here
is another important methods. They gang, how many of you are lucky enough
to have a dog at your house. Well, I'll bet you take just
about the finest care in the world of him, and you make sure he
gets plenty of the right kind of the husky. And you know the same
thing applies to every one of us too. Well, you can't expect to
be a really strong, sturdy fellower girl unless you eat right, which includes
getting all your vitamins. And say, when you start the day with a
bowl full of super delicious Kellogg's pep for breakfast, you're on the way to
getting two mighty important vitamins be one and D. So don't waste any time
treating yourself to one of the best dog one breakfast cereals you ever put a
spoon to. Ask your mother to get you a package of delicious Kelloggs pep
tomorrow, and remember, hey, hey, get in step make your cereal
kellogg pep. And now back to a superman with a sin of the evil
grin on his face, The vulture snatches up the model of Doctor Cameron's perfective
mechanical man. To what the fair as ends, will the vote a turned
doctor Cameron's amazing inventions? And will Superman be able to prevent the impending catastrophe?
Will be sure to be with us tomorrow and every day, Monday through
Friday, same time, same station. Tune in and follow the adventures of
Superman. Uster than a speeding poet, more cor holes than a locomotive.
People to leave cool building to the single bound Syman. Follow the adventures of
Superman every day, Monday through Friday, same time, same station. Superman
is directed by George Lofer and is a copyrighted feature appearing in Action Comics Magazine.
This is mutual well an absolutely impressive villain entrance by the Vulture. You
know, I think the listener might have thought that, you know, mister
Blood was going to be our villain, and he just pulls the rug right
out from under mister Blood and gets rid of him in short order. Though
I kind of wonder did he shoot him with the revolver he was cleaning,
because I don't think people generally have bullets in the gun when they're cleaning it.
But he could have had another revolver in there, that's always a possibility.
But then you get to the scene with Doctor Cameron and Clark kent't entering,
and you know the Vulture is gonna make a move, And this just
really surprised me. I remember just being floored when I listened to this and
it's like, it's not Clark Kent, it's the Vulture, and I was
like, Okay, I was not expecting him to move that fast. But
that was just a great twist. I really really love that, and it's
a great look. Like I said, that's just a superb introductory episode for
a villain. I can't recall any episode of Superman that introduced a villain so
well. Over the radio program. You're just immediately like, this guy is
going to be a challenge, just incredibly cold blooded, incredibly efficient. I
did find myself a bit curious about the personnel issues between Doctor Cameron and Nicodemus.
It's like, Okay, so do you guys do this every day or
has Nicodemus just reached his limit today, because that could get a bit monotonous.
Though, I think from the writer's perspective, that little bit of back
and forth that was I think a bit too kind of distract and maybe a
bit of misdirections. So overall a really effective episode and I hope you enjoyed
it. Just so much fun. Now we will be back with part eight
on Wednesday, which are January thirteenth, nineteen forty three. And as I
was doing, I think since the third, second or third year of the
podcast, I don't have any opening commentaries on the Wednesday programs. In fact,
I technically probably shouldn't have come out to talk after this episode in alignment
with the way that I've been doing things, but this episode was just so
much fun I needed to talk about it on its own. But in future
installments on Sunday, there won't be any post episode commentary. That will be
just on Wednesday. And we'll be doing this for the next three weeks,
so this week and then the two weeks following, but that will be all.
If you do have a common out to me Adam adamsweb dot us,
be sure to rate and review the podcast from boise idahole. This is your
host, Adam bram Son and off