Episode 1: Fleischer Studio's Superman

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DATE : Mon, 6 Mar 2006 15:01:00 GMT
Entered in Database : 2006-03-06 15:01:00
length : 16699763
Link to the Show / Show Notes

Fleischer Studios was founded in 1921 by brothers Max and Dave Fleischer. They are most known for producing the Betty Boop and Popeye shorts. Fleischer Studios was an innovator in animation and produced sound films years before The Jazz Singer and Steamboat Willie.

In a attempt to better compete with Disney, the brothers moved their studios from New York to Florida in 1937. But the new studios, larger staff and the lack-luster success of their two animated feature files, Gulliver's Travels and Mister Bug Goes to Town resulted in financial troubles. The brothers turned to Paramount for a series of loans, putting shares of the studio up as collateral.

On May 24, 1941 after defaulting on their loans, Paramount assumed full ownership of Fleischer studios and reincorporated it as Famous Studios. Max and Dave, who were no longer on speaking terms, were never a major force in the animation industry again.

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The Superman shorts were produced between 1941 and 1943. Sources vary on production costs from between $50,000 to $100,000 per episode. Either way, Superman was the most expensively produced cartoon to date.

Voice actors Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander reprised their roles from the Superman radio drama as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane. Also, Joe Shuster, one of the creators of Superman, drew the model sheets of Lois Lane, Clark Kent, and Superman for the series.

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Correction:

I misspoke during the podcast. The most recent footage of the Superman series was discovered in the 1990s, not the 1960s as I stated.