Superman on Radio in Australia
Inspired by the success of the American Superman Radio program, Australia set about creating their own Superman Radio series, starring Leonard Teale as the Man of Steel.
SUPERMAN
Series: 143363
Summary: An adventure radio series for children. This American inspired series was based on the exploits of Superman, a super hero who's real identity is Clark Kent, reporter for the newspaper The Daily Planet.
Contributors: McDowell's (SPO), Michael Noonan (SCR).
Cast: Leonard Teale (Superman), Margaret Christensen (Lois Lane).
Label: Artransa
Episodes produced: 1040 (at least)
Broadcast details: Late 1949-1954; Monday to Thursday on 2GB at 6.30pm; Macquarie Network.
Just as the US series was moving away from 15 minute serial formats, Australia was moving into them! TV didn't start in Australia until late 1957 and so radio remained "big entertainment" through most of the 1950s due mainly to the technology of the tape recorder. Great sound effects and full production orchestra music, made for exciting listening especially when it was combined with canny writing.
Superman premiered in a 15 minute continuing serial format on Australian radio on 23rd May 1949. Running 4 days per week (Monday to Thursday) at 6:30 pm, it was hugely popular and benefited from the fine speaking voice of Leonard Teale (who went onto significant success with Australian TV's Homicide). The series concluded in 1954 after 1040 episodes.
So far only a handful of episodes have surfaced. Many of the episodes apparently are archived at the National Film and Sound Archive, now incorporated into the Australian Film Commission. As far as we know the only episodes available online are episodes 1, 2, 715 & 716 (combined together), 1027, 1028, 1039, and 1040.
[Note: If anyone has episodes 1, 2, 1039 and 1040, and any other episodes of this series please email me.]
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