Update to the Update: I've got to agree with the anonymous commentator below, the more I research it the more circumstantial evidence I find that it was Ray Middleton in the Superman suit. I'm leaving the updates though, controversy is fun.
UPDATE: Fellow Superman fan Nostalgia King has let me know that despite being credited to Ray Middleton, the actual guy in the Superman suit's name is unknown. Middleton was actually one of the judges of the Superboy and Supergirl contest.
Thanks for the info Nostalgia King.
I ran into some great photo's of actor Ray Middleton the first man to ever play the role of Superman in public, during "Superman Day" at the New York World's Fair on Independence day 1940.
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| Note the altered logo |
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| Man of Steel meets World's Fair Police |
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| Ray Middleton as Superman |
I don't have much information on Superman Day, other then the photo's but they are cool, and I bet a bunch of young fans went nuts when they saw Superman himself in person.
The man in the Superman costume is not broadway star Ray Middleton, contrary to popular belief. Middleton was one of the judges of the Superboy and Supergirl contest held at the fair, but never appeared as Superman. The "Man of Steel's" true identity remains a mystery.
ReplyDeleteGood to know.
ReplyDeleteI found the pictures in an early issue of the old Amazing World of DC Comics and they listed it as Middleton.
Mind if I ask how you found out it wasn't?
My research has uncovered a photo of Ray Middleton with the winners of the Superboy and Supergirl contest taken on July 3rd, 1940. The photo comes from William Aronis, the Superboy contest winner. He is standing next to Ray Middleton, who is wearing a suit and tie. He is clearly not the same man in the Superman costume. Middleton is also credited in a program from the Fair as one of the celebrity judges along with Charles Atlas, Frank Buck and Buster Crabbe. Regards.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, I'll update the post.
ReplyDeleteActually this only proves that Middleton WAS there and increases the likelihood that he was in fact the first Superman portrayer. I doubt very much that he wore the Superman suit all day, quite likely he took off the suit to host this event as himself. Clearly the man wearing the Superman suit bears an extremely strong resemblance to Superman. And until his death in 1984 he continued to sign autographs as Superman and never suggested anything to the contrary that he wasn't our first Man of Steel.
ReplyDeleteEdit - i meant to say -
ReplyDeleteClearly the man wearing the Superman suit bears an extremely strong resemblance to Middleton.
Proof that he WASN'T Superman would be a photo of Middleton Standing BESIDE Superman. The image of Middleton as a judge of the Superboy and Supergirl contest only proves that he was there. It doesn't provide any proof that he didn't have time to remove his costume before he judged the show or that he wasn't in fact Superman. It only establishes that he was in fact at the Fair at the time - a fact that has been commonly accepted.
ReplyDeleteI've got to agree, see the update above.
ReplyDeleteRick- Don't agree with Mr. Anonymous. It's just a case of mistaken identity that has gone on so long that everyone now believes it. When those pictures first showed up in the 70s, DC comics didn't have a name attached to them. Circumstantial evidence is what led to naming Middleton as Superman in the first place. I don't know why people resist the truth. Ray Middleton was probably a wonderful actor but Superman is one role that he never played.
DeleteThe Nostalgia King is the only person I've seen to have debunked that Ray Middleton played Superman at the 1939 World's Fair, and here he states that is based on him looking at a picture and coming to the conclusion that he does not personally think the plain clothed Ray Middleton resembles the guy in the Superman pictures. Sorry, NK, but I need more info before I accept your deduction over all the other sources that state otherwise.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen a photo of Ray Middleton other than the World's Fair Superman photo's? Please look for yourself. The photo of Middleton at the fair, taken the same day as the Superman photos, shows that he even parts his hair on the opposite side. Nothing against Ray Middleton. I would just like to
Deleteraise interest so that the real "first Superman," is recognized and named.
Is any one checking this out for themselves! Find a picture of Ray Middleton and compare. There is a Photo of the Superboy/Supergirl contest winners on the "Superman through the Ages" website. On the right, uncredited is a suited gentleman, Ray Middleton. Look at pictures of Superman taken that same day. CLEARLY not the same person. Yes, Middleton was there. No, he did not play Superman. When this comes out, remember who told you. NK.
ReplyDelete