On This Day, August 27: Five Eras of Superman and The Kranesburg Matter
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August…
August 27 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 27 across American and South African radio, five distinct wartime and post-war serialized adventures of The Adventures of Superman starring Clayton "Bud" Collyer for Kellogg's Pep (1941 Dr. Roebling's voice machine, 1943 Civil Air Patrol submarine warfare, 1945 black market meat ring, 1946 Candy Meyer counterfeit war bonds, and 1948 diplomatic courier rescue), alongside international diamond smugglers in The Kranesburg Matter on Springbok Radio (1941–1956):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Dr. Roebling and the Voice Machine (Part 3)" | Mutual (WOR) 1941-08-27 5:15 PM EDST |
Sustaining Mutual Serial |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Joan Alexander (Lois) | Julian Noa, Mutual Staff | ["Superhero", "Sci-Fi", "Adventure", "Action", "Juvenile"] |
Clark Kent tracks a rogue inventor using an infrasonic sonic device capable of shattering glass and collapsing brick structures across Metropolis. |
| "The Civil Air Patrol (Part 8)" | Mutual (WOR) 1943-08-27 5:30 PM EWT |
Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep Cereal |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Jackie Kelk (Jimmy) | Mutual Production | ["Superhero", "Adventure", "Aviation", "Wartime", "Juvenile"] |
Superman intercepts an enemy submarine laying magnetic mines in coastal shipping lanes after Jimmy Olsen spots a clandestine light signal from the cliffs. |
| "The Black Market (Part 2)" | Mutual (WOR) 1945-08-27 5:15 PM EWT |
Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep Cereal |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Joan Alexander (Lois) | Mutual Production | ["Superhero", "Adventure", "Crime", "Investigative", "Juvenile"] |
Clark Kent and Lois Lane investigate an illegal meat-packing ring hoarding rationed beef in hidden refrigerated warehouses outside Metropolis. |
| "Candy Meyer's Big Story (Part 4)" | Mutual (WOR) 1946-08-27 5:15 PM EDST |
Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep Cereal |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Julian Noa (Perry) | Mutual Production | ["Superhero", "Adventure", "Journalism", "Crime", "Juvenile"] |
Cub reporter Candy Meyer is trapped inside an abandoned printing plant by counterfeiters attempting to destroy evidence of forged war bonds. |
| "The Mystery of the Letter (Part 10)" | Mutual (WOR) 1948-08-27 5:15 PM EDT |
Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep Cereal |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Joan Alexander (Lois) | Mutual Production | ["Superhero", "Adventure", "Mystery", "Action", "Juvenile"] |
Superman flies into a mountainous ravine to rescue Lois Lane from an armed gang attempting to intercept a classified diplomatic letter. |
| "Smuggler's Rendezvous (Episode 2)" | Springbok Radio 1956-08-27 8:30 PM |
Commercial Mystery Sponsors |
Springbok Radio Players | SABC Production | ["Mystery", "Crime", "Espionage", "Serial", "South African"] |
Undercover investigators stake out a remote coastal inlet where international diamond smugglers plan a midnight rendezvous to transfer contraband gems. |