Consume All Media! Superman: "Terror on the Midway"
- Joseph Heath
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
Joe Heath is a big fan of comic books and watching things in order. So they made this spreadsheet containing every serial, short, film, television episode, commercial, motion comic, and web series based on a comic book. Now they're watching them all. Previously, Joe watched Superman deal with a volcano. This time, Joe watches Superman take on the circus.
Superman: "Terror on the Midway" - 8:21 (Available on YouTube.)
Film Info
Release date: August 30th, 1942
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Written by Dan Gordon & Jay Morton
Based on the National/DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
Produced by Max Fleischer
Directed by Dave Fleischer
Writer Highlights
Dan Gordon (1902-1970)
Other comic book media credits: Writing the previous Superman animated short The Magnetic Telescope (1942) as well as directing Eleventh Hour (1942) & Jungle Drums (1943)
Jay Morton (1911-2003)
Other comic book media credits: Highly debatable! After doing some research, it appears as though Jay Morton’s only writing credits are for this short, Showdown (1942), Destruction Inc. (1942), The Mummy Strikes (1943), Jungle Drums (1943), & The Underground World (1943). He claims to have been the person who created the opening narration for the cartoons, but he also claimed to be Stinky from the Our Gang shorts and the inventor of the attached soda can tab. The Stinky claim seems to be highly disputed and the soda can tab claim blatantly false.
Look at that. This article is uncovering the truth! Who said this wasn’t hard-hitting journalism?
Producer Highlights
Max Fleischer (1883-1972)
Other comic book media credits: Previous Superman animated shorts Superman (1941), The Mechanical Monsters (1941), Billion Dollar Limited (1942), The Arctic Giant (1942), The Bulleteers (1942), The Magnetic Telescope (1942), Electric Earthquake (1942), & Volcano (1942)
Director Highlights
Dave Fleischer (1894-1979)
Other comic book media credits: Previous Superman animated shorts Superman (1941), The Mechanical Monsters (1941), Billion Dollar Limited (1942), The Arctic Giant (1942), The Bulleteers (1942), The Magnetic Telescope (1942), Electric Earthquake (1942), & Volcano (1942)
(Be sure to click the Writer Highlights tab for some exciting drama!)
This is the ninth and last Superman cartoon put out by Fleischer Studio.
A day at the circus is ruined by a rampaging gigantic gorilla (and a few other animals released in the process).
While Superman gets all the animals back in their cages, Lois saves a kid from the gorilla. Then Superman saves Lois and ties up the gorilla.
Lois gets the scoop. Clark takes her picture.
Should you watch it, though? This one seems a little darker and scarier than the other cartoons. But still fun! Also, this is our first gorilla in this series! While making my spreadsheet, I noticed there seemed to be a lot of episode titles featuring gorillas, so I knew they were coming, but I didn’t expect one so soon!
Tune in next time for another Superman cartoon: "Japoteurs" (Available on YouTube.)
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