Another Look (Up in The Sky) at the 1966 SUPERMAN Broadway Musical! DC Comics!

Dig this nice recent magazine feature on the little-known 1966 musical, IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S SUPERMAN! Altho this plucky play is still being revived here and there, it's best known from its mid-60s run, when it rode the wave of the colorful pop art craze, and the dizzying heights of "Batmania!" Click below to enlarge, and click here to peruse past posts covering this manic musical!

"It's a Bird, It's a Plane--It's Superman!" Rare Pics and Text! 1966 DC Comics Find!

I've covered this famous 1966 play before, but here, direct form the hefty tome THE BEST PLAYS OF 1965-1966, come some little-seen pics and facts about this live-action Man of Steel spectacle! Click below to enlarge not only the (truncated) script from this comic camp-fest musical, but also pics of the production in progress, cast listings, and behind-the-scenes info! 

Above: Dig that wonderful Al Hirschfeld illustration!

David Newman and Robert Benton would later be involved
in the 70s SUPERMAN films starring Chris Reeve!

Above: Actress Linda Lavin ("Sydney") went on to bigger
fame as the title character on CBS-TV's ALICE in the 70s...

SUPER-BONUS! Click below to glare at these special pics relating to this boffo Broadway bonanza!

Above: Actor Bob Holiday ("Superman") dares to step into
the "real world" between show performances!

Above: A rare color shot from the production!

Above: NYC venue the Alvin (later renamed as the Neil
Simon Theatre) advertises the play in '66...

Above: From a 1966 SUPERMAN issue, here's a mention
of actor Bob Holiday plugging the musical on
nationwide TV!

Thanks to Steven Thompson for the above clipping!

Batman! Robin! Superman! Rare 1974 Chemtoy Custom Painted Figures! DC Comics!

Most fans of a certain age recall these wonderfully cheap plastic figures of DC Comics' "Big Three" superheroes. These little (about 5 inches) replicas of Superman, Clark Kent, Batman, and Robin, were all sold loose in end-cap and counter display boxes in stores like Woolworth's in 1974. They were later hawked on blister cards thru Kresge and K-Mart outlets, and were very well-known back in the day! Tho not much to look at in their original state (due to very minimal paint applications), these minuscule masterpieces look quite nice, once a bit of "TLC" is applied! Click below to view images of both the original Bronze Age figures, and the same figures after I've applied paint, marker and lots of time! 

Above: The original Batman and Robin figures, as sold in 1974!

Above: The later-issued carded figures. As crude as they looked then (and
especially now) collectors still clamor for these simple, but colorful, toys!

Above: The original three Superman plastic figures.

Above: Superman on the "blister card!"

Above: The point-of-purchase store box that
housed the three Superman figures!

Above: The 1974 Batman and Robin figures with custom paint!
Marker, and gloss and dull coatings, were also applied!

Above: The '74 Superman (and Clark Kent) figures, with spiffy new custom paint applications!

BONUS! Click below to see the comic-art inspirations for the above figure poses, courtesy of artists Carmine Infantino and Curt Swan!