In this very first Superman costume, in order to introduce the character
to the public, the name "SUPERMAN" was
inscribed in the top part of Superman's chest emblem and Superman's boots were
the original lace
style.
Ray Middleton was the man in the costume and is often credited
as being the first actor to ever play Superman. He later starred
in the Broadway hits South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun, and
others.
Superman Day
was the brainchild of publicist Allen 'Duke' Ducovny, held in part to promote
the sales of DC's New York World's Fair Comics, a 100-page special
edition sold exclusively at the World's Fair.
In 1975, DC comic book historian Allan Asherman reported that this event
occurred in 1939, at the 1939 World's Fair. At that time, he did
not know the name of the "unknown actor" who portrayed Superman. It
is not known how he discovered that Superman Day was in 1939.
Since that time, many other
sources (CD liner notes, books, etc) have cited this year, presumably using Allan Asherman as their source.
However, in 2001, Michael R. Reilly, one of our readers, wrote in to
report that,
"Superman Day
at the New York World's Fair was not 1939, but July 3,
1940. This
was the first day that the admission price
was reduced to a dime.
"The artwork
was done by Lou Zimmerman,
who worked for, or at, Macy's. On the
back of the artwork are notation's on
why the art was rejected ... as if the
obvious Macy's and Toyland was enough!
"As the owner of this art - received from
Dr. Elliot Faber several years ago - these
comments have never been photocopied."