"Truth, Justice, and the American way."

In the 1950's , George Reeves starred as Superman in a TV series. The opening credits ended with an announcer's voice declaring that Superman "fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way."

Recently I found the 1948 Superman movie theater serial online. (Movie theaters used to show lots of short features in addition to the main feature -- or even a double feature. ) It starred Kirk Alyn, the first actor to portray Superman in a live-action film.

I watched episode 1. As Clark Kent reaches adulthood, his adopted father, "Pa Kent" talks to him about his mission in life. "You must always fight for truth, tolerance, and justice."

I am guessing that in 1948, the producers were responding to the Nazi treatment of Jews. In 1952, they were responding to the Cold War.

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bijouxbroussard · F

My father, as a teenager in the segregated South, said that those Superman serials gave him hope for the future. Because things like "truth, tolerance and justice" may seem obvious today (well, perhaps until 2016). But then, they were such revolutionary ideas.

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bijouxbroussard · F

@DrWatson I’ll have to ask him.

DrWatson · 70-79, M

@bijouxbroussard If he went to a Catholic school, chances are in those days he had to buy his books. He might not have covered them.

It was public schools, where kids return books at the end of the year for reuse by next year's class, that were fanatic about book covers! 😄

bijouxbroussard · F

@DrWatson That’s a good point, because I imagine he did.

JSul3 · 70-79

The specific phrase, "fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way," was used in the opening narration of the Adventures of Superman radio show during World War II. It was intended to evoke patriotism during wartime.

However, the "American way" part of the motto was later dropped by the radio show after the war and was replaced with "tolerance".
The phrase was later revived and popularized in the 1950s Adventures of Superman television series starring George Reeves.

Source: Web search AI.

My 2 cents:
Please go watch the first full length feature film, Superman and The Mole Men.
The film was edited and musical score changed, into a 2 part episode that ended Season 1 of the tv series.
The title was changed to The Unknown People.

It's message is clear: Tolerance and acceptance for those who are different.

Actor Jeff Corey, who appears in the film, was a victim of the Blacklist.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@JSul3 Very interesting history.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

I know this is not very original, but he would presumably be deported today for not being a US born citizen and without documentation. Also, because justice in the US has been completely perverted, he would be seen as treacherous and he would be locked in a Kryptonite jail as Lex Luthor ran to be DOJ.

bijouxbroussard · F

@FreddieUK You’re right, of course…

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@bijouxbroussard Clever: never thought of the alter-ego as well.

Thrust · 56-60, M

@FreddieUK 🙄

SinlessOnslaught · M

Strange because the Holocaust was virtually a global effort.

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