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Superman on Radio Trivia Quiz

Superman first appeared in Action Comics in 1938. He made the transition to newspaper strips and to radio in 1939. The character was created by two adolescent boys from Cleveland, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. They did not write the radio program.

A multiple-choice quiz by GammaRho. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
GammaRho

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
273,399

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
476

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The "Superman" radio program debuted in 1939. How often was it broadcast? Hint

Three times per week.

Twice per week.

Once per week.

Five times per week.

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Question 2 of 10

2. The actor who portrayed Superman later appeared on television as a quizmaster. What was his name? Hint

Clayton "Bud" Collyer

Bill Murray

Art Linkletter

Ralph Edwards

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Question 3 of 10

3. The introduction to the raido program has often been parodied. What was the actual introduction during the first few years of broadcast? Hint

None of these

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!

Up in the sky! Look! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!

Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the first villain fought by Superman on radio? Hint

Der Teufel

The Yellow Mask

The Wolf

Alonso Stagg

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who scripted most of the radio adventures? Hint

Fran Striker

Jerry Siegel

George Lowther

Bob Kane

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Question 6 of 10

6. The surname Lane was popular. The Shadow's friend and companion was Margot Lane (the radio scripts all included the "t"). Who played Superman's obsession, the often endangered Lois Lane? Hint

Nila Mack

Agnes Moorehead

Joan Alexander

Penny Singleton

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Question 7 of 10

7. Some of the great characters and gimmicks associated with Superman were introduced on the radio program. Which of the following was not introduced on the radio program? Hint

Jor-el

kryptonite

Lex Luthor

Jimmy Olsen

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Question 8 of 10

8. What was a major difference between Superman on radio and Superman in other media? Hint

On the radio he did not work for The Daily Planet.

On the radio he tried to keep his existence as well as his secret identity hidden.

On the radio he was depicted as wearing a costurme other than the traditional blue and red.

On the radio Lois Lane knew that he was also Clark Kent.

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Question 9 of 10

9. When did Lex Luthor (or Luthor, as he was known in those days) first appear on the radio program? Hint

1948

1944

He never appeared

1946

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following characters did not appear during two or more Superman adventures (defined as a consecutive sequence of episodes) on the radio? Hint

The Yellow Mask

Batman

Der Teufel

Robin

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The "Superman" radio program debuted in 1939. How often was it broadcast?

Answer: Three times per week.

The Monday-Wednesday-Friday format was common in 1939. The "Superman" program was of fifteen minute duration. "The Lone Ranger" also used the Monday-Wednesday-Friday format, but lasted for thirty minutes.

2. The actor who portrayed Superman later appeared on television as a quizmaster. What was his name?

Answer: Clayton "Bud" Collyer

Clayton used the technique of changing his voice to represent the shift from Clark Kent to Superman. He raised the pitch of his voice just a trifle to portray Kent. His natural voice was lowered a trifle to portray Superman. The shift from the Kent voice to that of Superman seemed quite dramatic.

3. The introduction to the raido program has often been parodied. What was the actual introduction during the first few years of broadcast?

Answer: Up in the sky! Look! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!

The very first broadcast had an amusing variation. Instead of "It's a bird!" the announcer said "It's a big bird!" Shades of "Sesame Street"! The phrasing beginning "Look! Up in the sky! was used in the television program in conjunction with "Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!" which began the show.

The television introduction was introduced in the 1940 Superman cartoons and was adopted eventually by the radio program several years before the debut of the television program. No verbal introduction as used in the two Columbia live action serials (which were, in fact, not entirely live action because in the first serial Superman's flight was drawn).

4. What was the name of the first villain fought by Superman on radio?

Answer: The Wolf

Der Teufel appeared years later on "Superman" in the wonderful series involving Atom Man. The Yellow Mask was an early villain who endangered Lois Lane in particular and all of Metropolis as well. Alonso Stsgg was a character in an early adventure.

5. Who scripted most of the radio adventures?

Answer: George Lowther

Jerry Siegel scripted the early comic book and comic strip adventures. Bob Kane is credited as the creator of Batman. Fran Striker scripted a preponderence of "The Lone Ranger", "The Green Hornet", and "Sergeant Preston Adventures".

6. The surname Lane was popular. The Shadow's friend and companion was Margot Lane (the radio scripts all included the "t"). Who played Superman's obsession, the often endangered Lois Lane?

Answer: Joan Alexander

Agnes Moorehead was the first portrayer of Margot Lane opposite Orson Welles. Penny Singleton played Blondie in the movies and on radio. Nila Mack was the producer and direstor of the great children's program "Let's Pretend".

7. Some of the great characters and gimmicks associated with Superman were introduced on the radio program. Which of the following was not introduced on the radio program?

Answer: Lex Luthor

Jimmy Olsen was a regular on the radio program before he was ever mentioned in the comics. Jor'l was Superman's Kryptonian sire in the newspaper strips and was unnamed in the comic books of the 1930's. Kryptonite was introduced on radio both to give Superman a weakness and to permit him to relive his origins on Krypton (which he did by standing just near enough to the kryptonite so that he was under its influence without passing out).

8. What was a major difference between Superman on radio and Superman in other media?

Answer: On the radio he tried to keep his existence as well as his secret identity hidden.

George Lowther's decision to have Superman attempt to keep his existence hidden made the impact of Superman's appearance to thwart evil much more effective. Criminals did not know that they had to defend themselves against an extraterrestrial fighter for truth. justice, and the American way.

9. When did Lex Luthor (or Luthor, as he was known in those days) first appear on the radio program?

Answer: He never appeared

Luthor never appeared in the original television series either. He did appear, however, in the second Superman movie serial in the late 1940's.

10. Which of the following characters did not appear during two or more Superman adventures (defined as a consecutive sequence of episodes) on the radio?

Answer: Der Teufel

Batman and Robin appeared several times in a failed attemnpt to arouse interest sufficient to warrant a program of their own. The Yellow Mask appeared as a villain on two separate occasions (the second of which was advertised in comic books as "The Return of the Yellow Mask"). Der Teufel died during the series involving Atom Man and was never resurrected.

Source: Author GammaRho

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor JuniorTheJaws before going online.
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