FOUR COLOR RADIO meets BATMAN ’66 WEEK! By PETER BOSCH Hey, everybody, since we’re celebrating BATMAN ’66 WEEK here at 13th Dimension, I thought it would be fun to discuss the first time the Dynamic Duo made it through the airwaves into your home — 21 years earlier, on the radio program The Adventures of Superman. The February 28 to March 15, 1945, storyline “The Mystery of the Waxmen” had Superman meeting Robin first and then Batman. Highly regrettable is that only two episodes of that radio serial survive: In 1981, Roy Thomas incorporated a condensed version of the radio story (pencilled by Rich Buckler and inked by Frank McLaughlin) in World’s Finest Comics #271, a special anniversary issue (cover by George Perez): Don’t despair, though, about those missing episodes. There were at least 15 other shared radio adventures before the Caped Crusader and Man of Steel first teamed up in the comics, in 1952’s Superman #76. You can find links to those old time radio shows below. However, before we get into that, wouldn’t you like to know who played Batman? Superman, of course, was played by Clayton “Bud” Collyer, but Batman was portrayed by three different actors from 1945 to the last appearance of the Dynamic Duo in 1948. They were Stacy (Stacey) Harris, Matt Crowley, and Gary Merrill, who went on to appear in a number of noteworthy Hollywood movies, including the 1950 Bette Davis classic, All About Eve, playing her fiancé in the film. (He was also that in real life, marrying Davis that same year.) The role of Robin was played in all adventures by the capable radio actor Ronald Liss. IMAGE 7 CAPTION: Left to right: Now — on to the 15 other storylines! (NOTE: A number of the following are complete, storywise, but occasionally edited to avoid repeated openings and some commercials.) — “Dr. Bly’s Confidence Gang,” the complete adventure (aired Sept. 4 to 21, 1945): — “Looking for Kryptonite,” in which Clark reveals his secret identity to Batman. (No deep detective investigation by Batman in discovering it — Clark just tells him.) Here are the first four chapters (you can find other chapters online). The serial aired from December 4, 1945, to January 8, 1946: — “Is There Another Superman?”, complete (aired Jan. 29 to Feb. 14, 1946): — “Story of the Century,”...