Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- This wrapper was for a package of trading cards featuring Superman. The set, 66 cards in all, was made by Topps Inc. In 1965. It promoted the television program, "Adventures of Superman," using black and white stills taken from the series.
- Premiering in 1952, the syndicated "Adventures of Superman" ran for 6 seasons and 104 episodes. The role of Superman was portrayed by actor George Reeves, with Noel Neill as journalist Lois Lane, Jack Larson as cub reporter/photographer Jimmie Olson, and John Hamilton as editor Perry White. Although all episodes initially aired in black and white, the series shot it's final three seasons in color. In 1965 the episodes were broadcast in color for the first time.
- The character of Superman first flew into action in 1938. The costumed superhero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland Ohio, who used, among other things, Classical mythology, philosopher Fredrich Nietzche's concept of the "uber mensch," and the era's popular science fiction and adventure writing, for inspiration.
- With his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman became an instant sensation with audiences, inspired by the "Man of Tomorrow's" virtue and heroics at time when the Nation was slowly emerging from the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression and moving closer to World War.
- Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Superman was sent to Earth as a child, where our world's yellow sun granted him extraordinary powers such as flight, super-strength, near-invulnerability, as well as other extraordinary abilities including heat and X-Ray vision. As an adult living in the city of Metropolis, the alien, born Kal-El, protects his identity by assuming the persona of Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered" journalist.
- Fighting for "Truth and Justice," Superman birthed a cultural fascination with superheroes, and has become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters in history. In addition to comic books, the character has been explored in all forms of media, including radio, television, and film, and has been used to promote a variety of successful consumer products, educational initiatives and public service campaigns.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- depicted
- Reeves, George
- Date made
- 1965
- Credit Line
- DC Comics, Incorporated
- Physical Description
- paper, waxed (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 5 in x 5 1/2 in; 12.7 cm x 13.97 cm
- Object Name
- Wrapper, Chewing Gum
