Part One of the Jerry Siegel Project can be found here. It explains what the project is all about and how it’s being compiled. I have tweaked the format of the listings, so hopefully it’s more accessible and readable for all. Naturally I’m willing to accept corrections and additions - just send them on over and I’ll update as we go. This is by no means complete, but it’s as complete as I can get it. You can reach me via email at snoopy967 at gmail.com and, of course, via this site.
Now, onto the next five years.
1930 - 1934: The High School Years
Intro
Jerry Siegel attended Glenville High School from 1930. Joe Shuster came to the same school in 1931. Both graduated in June 1934. During their time at Glenville, both contributed to The Glenville Torch. The Torch was the official newspaper of the school, produced by students. It has often been stated that both Siegel and Shuster were on the staff of the newspaper, but Shuster’s name never appears as part of the Editorial Staff, and Siegel’s name is credited as part of the Editorial Staff on fifteen occasions over his time at the school.
Siegel was a frequent contributor to the newspaper, with his peak coming in 1931 with twenty one known contributions. Siegel’s stories are a mixture of humor, science fiction and detective stories. Surprisingly, death, in the form of murder, usually violent, is present in his stories. This trait is present before his father died of a heart attack during a robbery.
During this period, Jerry Siegel met Joe Shuster at Glenville. They would become friends, and, ultimately, create the first version of Superman.
Shuster came from Alexander Hamilton Junior High. He had worked on the school newspaper there and recalled creating a strip called Jerry the Journalist.
After they met, Siegel and Shuster produced several ideas and strips, several of which were reprinted in Siegel and Shuster: Dateline 1930s (Eclipse Comics, 1983). These include strips with titles such as Gloria Glamour, Kaye, The Waif, Spuds, Snoopy & Smiley, Radio Team, The Interplanetary Police, Steve Walsh, Bruce Verne, The Kooks, Public Pests and more. The two issues of that title are essential for anyone interested in Siegel and Shuster’s pre-Superman work.
Siegel also published three known fanzines in this period titled Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization. The third issue of this title, published in January 1933, contains what is the first ever Siegel/Shuster story using the name Superman. This lends credence to the theory that Siegel had the name ‘superman’ ready for a character in 1932.
Siegel and Shuster worked up a Superman comic book which they pitched to various publishers, some of which are known. None of the pitches were successful, leading Siegel to believe that Shuster wasn’t the best artist for the strip, resulting in Siegel approaching Russell Keaton, then the artist on the Buck Rogers Sunday strip (and also assistant to Dick Calkins, who was drawing the Buck Rogers and Skyroads daily strips) with an offer to take over the art duties.
The end of the period documented will show that Shuster was off the strip, Keaton was on and Siegel had interest from a publisher for Superman.
EVENTS
Date: 8 May 1930 Event: Story Title/Details: Mysterious Case Is Solved By Detective Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No byline but was written by Siegel. A science fiction detective story. The main character is named Stileto Vance (sic).
Summary: Stileto Vance is contacted by phone by a man named Alexander with a mystery. His clock, which had not worked for 100 years, has suddenly began to tick. Vane arrives at the house, inspects the clock and deduces that it communicates with Alexander with ringing notes – one note for no, two for yes. Vance then solves the mystery after learning Alexander has finally wound the clock.
Date: 29 May 1930 Event: Story Title/Details: In The Happy Days To Come Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Signed “Jerome Siegel, 10B’. This is the first time that we see Siegel’s name in The Torch.
Summary: A science fiction story set in a futuristic world where humans rely heavily on robots and technology for daily tasks. John Jones lives a lazy and indulgent life, waking up to his robotic servant, Bojo, delivering a synthetic food pill. Teeth have been deemed unhealthy and eliminated, so food is consumed in liquid form. Bojo, tells John that two women, Miriam and Selma, have rejected his marriage proposals. Frustrated, John threatens to send Bojo to the glue factory if Selma does not reconsider. He ponders his remaining options, including proposing to other women or ordering a female robot from the Robot Factory, which he believes would be more obedient than human women. Exhausted by his thoughts, he falls asleep under his vibrating quilt, dreaming of a world populated by female robots.
Date: 16 October 1930 Event: Story Title/Details: Professor Sights Stupefying Vision Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: A science fiction story with a tragic ending. Signed “Jerome Siegel”
Summary: Professor I. M. Blank, an astronomer, believes he has spotted a Martian through his telescope. He excitedly calls his assistants to confirm the sighting, and they engage in a conversation with the supposed Martian, who identifies himself as Sam Brown and claims to live in New York. The professor is astonished by the idea that Martians would adopt Earthly names and cities. However, the excitement is interrupted when one assistant, Iden, reveals that the Martian is actually the man hired to clean the telescope. The story takes a dark turn when it is later reported that the bodies of two men, Samuel Brown, the cleaner, and Eugene Iden, assistant to I.M Blank, are found dead and floating in the Hudson River.
Date: 1 November 1930 Event: Letter from Jerry Siegel Title/Details: Writes Jerome Siegel, of Cleveland, Ohio… Publisher: Weird Tales Vol 16, No. 5(cover dated November) Details: Siegel praises the new look of the magazine and the works of Edmond Hamilton, August W. Derleth and Adolphe de Castro.
Date: 11 December 1930 Event: Article Title/Details: Editor Receives Math Puzzle From Author Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Siegel makes commentary on the small amounts of money offered by science fiction magazines for articles. He writes the article as if it’s in response to a submission guideline from Bernard Kenton, Editor of Fantastic Fiction Magazine. Bernard J. Kenton is one of the pen names that Siegel used. Signed Jerome Siegel.
Date: 11 December 1930 Event: Story Title/Details: Renowned Defective Deducts Deductions Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Another Stiletto Vance mystery with no by-line.
Summary: Stiletto Vance demonstrates his deductive prowess by identifying a butler’s attire without looking, astonishing his companion. The butler announces the arrival of Dr. Perris, who enters dressed in butler’s livery and wearing a fake moustache. Vance immediately shoots and kills him, revealing that Dr. Perris was actually the butler in disguise. Vance explains that the butler had infiltrated his employ to murder him, motivated by resentment as a failed student of Vance’s crime detection correspondence course.
Date: 16 December 1930 Event: Mention Title/Details: Four Students Win Mention In Contest Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: A Question of Ethics, the manuscript submitted by Aaron Paley, 11B, was judged winner in The Torch Christmas story contest. The stories given honorable mention are Sacrifice by Edward Diamant. Yuletide Secret by Jerome Siegel and Brothers by Estelle Krauss.
Date: 1 January 1931 Event: Letter Title/Details: Bouquets Publisher: Astounding Stories of Super-Science No. 5 Details: Siegel praises “The Planet of Dread” by R.F. Starzl, along with the works of Ray Cummings.
Date: 22 January 1931 Event: Poem Title/Details: ‘Ere is Some More Seniors Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: A poem by Stiletto Vance.
Date: 1 February 1931 Event: Meeting Title/Details: Approximate date that Siegel met Shuster at Glenville High School. Details: “They met in high school. They were introduced by a cousin, by Jerry’s cousin, and they immediately came over to our -- to our house. And they got around -- we had a big dining room table about, you know, a little bit bigger than this, and they immediately started talking about science fiction and very, very excited about HG Wells and all the -¬all the great science fiction things that were going on. And they were both great fans, and so they -- the first day they thought, we ought to do something together. So immediate.” - Jean Peavy, Joe Shuster’s sister. Jerry’s cousin was Jerry Fine.
Date: 19 February 1931 Event: Mention Title/Details: School Records Show Increase For Present Semester’s Enrollment Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Joe Shuster mentioned as one of the new students enrolled for the forthcoming term. This makes the date when Shuster began at Glenville.
Date: 26 February 1931 Event: Editorial Title/Details: Editorial Staff Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: The first mention of Jerome Siegel being part of the editorial staff. He would be mentioned as part of the 1931 staff on 16 April, 30 April, 21 May, 24 September, 1 October, 15 October.
Date: 5 March 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Vance Deserts Crime for Literary Contests Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: A Stiletto Vance story of entering writing contests. Jerry writes himself into the story.
Summary: Stiletto Vance analyses a peculiar poem for a literary contest with the help of his friend, Jerry. The poem is about ‘Miriam’, who is described as enigmatic, constantly circling, and emotionally impactful to the writer. Stiletto interprets the poem line by line, concluding that Miriam is not a real person but a unique and incomparable figure who occupies the writer’s thoughts.
Date: 5 March 1931 Event: Poem Title/Details: Attention ‘M’ Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: A poem by Stiletto J.S. Vance.
Date: 12 March 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Vance’s Breath-O-Scope Solves Mystery Puzzle Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerome Siegel. A Stiletto Vance mystery. The Breath-O-Scope in the title can detect B.O - Breath Odor. Summary: Stiletto Vance is tasked with solving a bizarre murder case. The victim is found dead with six bullets in the brain and three stab wounds in the chest and yet is holding both a revolver and a dagger. Vance uses a unique device called the Breath-o-scope, which detects breath odor to identify the murderer. After analyzing the corpse’s breath, Vance dramatically reveals the culprit: Televox.
Date: 19 March 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Student Downcast Because of Test Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerome Siegel. Siegel writes of the pressures of failing an exam early in the day, calling it the first minor tragedy of a busy student’s day.
Date: 26 March 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Mysterious Occurrence Amazes Two Scientists Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No by-line. Siegel contributes another science fiction story. Again, the story ends on a tragic note.
Summary: 5,000,000 years ago, Professor Schecter and his assistant Malcolm Zucker embarked on a journey to the distant planet Silverstein, where two years for them equated to 15 million years on Earth. Upon their return, they hear a news report about a mysterious upheaval on Gogolick Island, which unearthed peculiar items like an extinguished cigarette, a soda straw, and a photograph of a woman named Miriam Mann. Believing Miriam Mann to be the key to solving the mystery, the professor and Zucker decide to search for her. They clasp hands and head out. The story ends abruptly with an editor’s note stating that the author was poisoned by one of his readers, leaving the tale unfinished.
Date: 16 April 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Citizen of Future Age Nearly Misses Vehicle Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No by-line. Siegel contributes another science fiction story. Summary: The year 2006 is the setting for the story, where advanced transportation technologies are commonplace. A character, X-1347-CZ, navigates through New York using a materialization platform, compressed-air lanes, and a molecular shaft. After a brief encounter with a customs officer, she proceeds to an interplanetary field to catch a vessel to Pluto. Using a gravity-nullifying device, she makes a dramatic leap to board the ship just before its departure, which is marked by a trail of flaming gases.
Date: 23 April 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: ‘”Izzy Murphy” Slithering Sleuth, Solves Thrilling Live Corpse Murder Mystery Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No by-line. The story has the hallmarks of a Siegel story. And he does use the name ‘Izzy Murphy’ (and variations) in stories in the future.
Summary: Detective Izzie Murphy is a bumbling and comically inept investigator. He is sent to Drinkwater Apartments to investigate a suspiciously quiet gambling joint. Upon arrival, he discovers a man lying on a couch amidst a chaotic scene of shattered glass and overturned tables. Mistaking the man for a murder victim, Izzie dramatically declares it a recent murder and begins an investigation. He examines the corpse, and noting its disheveled appearance, he concludes the man was killed three days previously. He then embarks on a search for the murderer, eventually accusing a frightened peanut vendor who cannot speak English. Izzie drags the man back to the scene, loudly demanding a confession. Startled by the shouting, the corpse suddenly sits up, revealing that he was merely sleeping and annoyed by the commotion.
Date: 30 April 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Detective Tries Composing Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: As Jerome Siegal (sic). A Stiletto Vance story with a grim twist. Summary: Despite a lack of any talent, Stiletto Vance attempts poetry and songwriting. He shares his poem, Recalling with the narrator, who pretends to appreciate it to avoid hurting Stiletto’s feelings. Stiletto then sings his composition, which is poorly received. After his performance, a neighbor, Ruth Kaltenborn, commits suicide, leaving a note blaming her action on the unbearable noise from Stiletto’s singing. The detective and narrator discover her body, but the narrator hides the note to prevent Stiletto from realizing his indirect role in her death.
Date: 7 May 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Goober The Mighty Discovers Countless Foes in Wilderness Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerome Siegel. The first Goober story published. Art is by Joe Shuster.
Summary: A deliberate take on the Tarzan stories, Goober, Son of the Lion, is an ape-man raised by lions and is boastful and obsessed with his strength. During the story he encounters various characters, including his adopted lion mother Oolala, a panther, a statue he mistakes for a woman, and an old man who turns out to be his long-lost friend, Izzy the Ape. Goober gets up to all kinds of shenanigans, such as snapping twigs with “superhuman energy,” fighting Oolala, and limping after injuring himself. Finally, Goober and Izzy embrace for so long that even the sun gets exasperated.
Date: 21 May 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Master Sleuth Solves Very Baffling Enigma Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No by-line but has the hallmarks of Siegel. He also writes himself into the story.
Summary: Jerry Siegel, master of deduction, is called upon to solve the murder of Doris Blank. He enters the room and begins crawling around looking for footprints and searching the wall for fingerprints. He examines the elderly victim and promptly goes to the storeroom with his assistant, where they drink from a bottle. The victim isn’t dead, just drunk, and soon Jerry and his assistant are also drunk.
Date: 21 May 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Master Mathematician Solves Perplezxing (sic) Problem For Mob Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No by-line. Jerry Siegel writes himself into a story.
Summary: Jerry has an idea. He sharpens three pencils, grabs a notebook and seven sheets of paper and begins to write. After furiously writing, he rises up and triumphantly announces that there are now only 1,488,000 seconds from May 22 to when school stops and vacation begins.
Date: 21 May 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Murder Victim Sighted in Cold, Barren Earth Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No by-line.
Summary: A bizarre story in which the three paragraphs do not link up with each other. The first is about night falling on earth, the second paragraph details a murder by gun, the third features the God Apollo driving his golden chariot across the heavens, before spying a mass of clay that was once a man.
Date: 28 May 1931 Event: Poem Title/Details: untitled Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: A poem by Stiletto Vance.
Date: 28 May 1931 Event: Glenville Porch Title/Details: Master Sleuth Solves Very Baffling Enigma Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Siegel named as Head Copy Boy in parody of the Glenville Torch.
Date: 28 May 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Bulumni Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No byline, but the main character in this one paragraph story is named Bernard Kenton.
Date: 15 June 1931 Event: Letter Title/Details: Likes the “Corner” Publisher: Astounding Stories Vol 2, No. 1 (cover dated August) Details: A long better by Siegel which praises the May issue’s collection of letters and emphasizes the importance of “The Readers’ Corner” feature, urging it not to be removed. He expresses enthusiasm for the magazine’s stories, particularly those by Jack Williamson, R.F. Starzl, and Edmond Hamilton, and looks forward to upcoming works by Francis Flagg. He floats the idea of a quarterly magazine with longer stories and highlights his favorite authors, including Rousseau, Eshbach, Diffin, Ernst, and Hal K. Wells. He proposes a popular vote to determine the best story ever published and appreciates the support of fellow readers Booth Cody and Sears Langwell.
Date: 1 October 1931 Event: Letter Title/Details: A Very Good Natured Scolding Letter From One Who “Continues To Read Amazing Stories” Publisher: Amazing Stories Vol 6, No. 7 (cover dated June)
Details: Signed Bernard J. Kenton. Siegel expressed strong criticism of Amazing Stories artistic and literary quality. He states illustrations have deteriorated over time, comparing the March 1931 cover to the first issue’s cover. He also criticizes the magazine’s stories, claiming they have become inane, tedious, and overly reliant on exposition or clichéd romantic plots, singling out Jack Williamson’s The Prince of Space. Despite his harsh critique, Siegel acknowledges the difficulty of producing a magazine and continues to read Amazing Stories. Jack Williamson would write a response to Siegel in a letter published in Amazing Stories.
Date: 1 October 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Goober, the Mighty, Returns to Page With Breath-Taking Story of Battle in Jungle Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No byline and no images. The second Goober story and, though humorous, is violent.
Summary: Goober dreams of building a mighty chest through breathing exercises but ends up coughing after pounding his chest. He reunites with his friend Izzy the ape, but their playful interaction turns tragic when Goober pushes Izzy off a tree, leading to his death. Goober then battles Looneyack, an alligator, in a fierce fight refereed by a bullfrog. He defeats Looneyack by tying his tail into a slipknot, causing the alligator’s death. Oolala appears, urging Goober to stop fighting and inviting him to a cabaret. Goober enthusiastically agrees, and they head off together.
Date: 15 October 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Izzie Murphy, Sleuth, Receives Warning Of Death, But Defective Clock Saves Him Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No byline, but is a Siegel story as Jerry has used the name more than once.
Summary: Detective Izzie Murphy boasts about his success in capturing a moonshine lawbreaker in the mountains. His pride is short-lived when he receives a threatening note warning that he will be killed for his meddling at 11:45 PM the next evening. Terrified, Izzie spends the day in fear, avoiding food and movement, as he anxiously awaits his fate. However, the next day, he is alive and well, explaining to a friend that his clock had stopped at 11:30 PM, inadvertently saving him from his supposed doom.
Date: 29 October 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Foreign Ambassador Receives Loan From Gullible Detective Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Another Stiletto Vance mystery.
Summary: Stiletto Vance is approached by a bearded gentleman who claims to be an ambassador from a European country. The ambassador tells Vance of a plot to overthrow an unnamed king, who is referred to only as A. Vance thinks the king is referred to as L, and gets his letters, and thus kings, mixed up.
Date: 19 November 1931 Event: Story Title/Details: Two Torch Sleuths Murdered, But Only Dead from Neck Up Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No byline. Siegel writes himself into the story.
Summary: Phulla Vantzen and Issy Murphy are found brutally murdered. Jerry Siegel is tasked with solving the mystery and sits down to play solitaire. A siren is heard and an intern bursts into the room and asks if the two are dead. ‘Sure,’ replies Seigel, ‘from the neck up.’
Date: 19 November 1931 Event: Poem Title/Details: Heights High - Take Notice Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: A poem by Stiletto Vance.
Date: 1 December 1931 Event: Letter Title/Details: An Interesting Communication About Atlantis and Mu Publisher: Amazing Stories Vol 6, No. 9 Details: Signed Bernard J. Kenton. An astonishing letter. Siegel praises the story The Arrhenius Horror by P. Schuyler Miller. He then defends Schuyler Miller and addresses what he calls ignorance from P.J,. McDermott. Siegel argues that Atlantis and Mu were real, highly advanced civilizations, citing evidence from ancient texts like the Naacal Tablets, Iroano Manuscript, Codex Cortesianus, and Shasa Record. He claims Mu was the origin of humanity and civilization, predating cultures like the Greeks, Egyptians, and Babylonians and references archaeological sites like Easter Island and Ponape as remnants of Mu and critiques scientific theories about human origins. Siegel ends his letter claiming Miller’s work is justified and should not be criticized for using Atlantis and Mu as fictional setting. This letter would result in others writing into Amazing Stories discussing Siegel’s letter.
Date: 14 January 1932 Event: Story Title/Details: Five Men & A Corpse Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerome Siegel, 11A. This is the last long story that Jerry contributes to The Torch. He would submit short stories and poems from here on.
Summary: A group of intellectuals from diverse fields gather for an unspecified purpose. During the meeting, one of them, Considine, suddenly collapses and appears to be dead. Chaos ensues as the group debates the cause of his death, with one present, Brandon, declaring it a murder and accusing various members of the group. Tensions rise as accusations and motives are discussed, including financial debts and personal disputes. However, the situation takes a shocking turn when Considine unexpectedly sits up, revealing that he had faked his death using a pill to demonstrate suspended animation. He admits to hearing everything said during the ordeal, calling the reactions psychologically interesting.
Date: 1 March 1932 Event: Mention Title/Details: Science Fiction Publisher: The Author and Journalist Details: Write up for Siegel’s Science Fiction magazine.
Science Fiction, 10707 Kimberley Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, is announced as a new market for the work of science fiction writers. It is issued by the Morontz Publications. Jerome Siegel is editor, and Bernard J. Kenton is managing editor. The latter writes: “More boodle for science fiction writers, in the appearance of our new ¼ to 3 cents a word publication. Stories desired must have a snap in them such as is found in the works of P. Schuyler Miller and Francis Flagg. No fairy tales with a 10,000-word introduction involving the construction of a space-machine, or the technical potentialities of seven different kinds of water-glass as a function of the temperature in expectation of determining the heat of activation of the colloidal coagulation of silicic acid, are desired. What we do want are tales in which the interest does not lag, since lengthy descriptions stick out like a sore thumb in the way of an otherwise uncriticisable periodical. If unacceptable, we will radio stories back at the earliest opportunity, provided sufficient postage accompanies each manuscript.” Payment is presumably on publication.
Date: 10 March 1932 Event: Column Title/Details: Backstage Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerome Siegel.
Date: 1 April 1932 Event: Letter Title/Details: A Tribute to P. Schuyler Miller. The Causes of Senility Publisher: Amazing Stories Vol 6, No. 12 Details: Signed Bernard J. Kenton. Siegel responds to a Jack Williamson story The Stone from the Green Star and its premise of rejuvenation. Siegel critiqued Williamson’s idea that old age can be reversed by neutralizing glandular poisons or consuming invigorating substances like buttermilk, arguing that senility is primarily caused by sedimentary deposits in the arteries and veins, leading to inelasticity and deterioration. He referenced the science of gerocomy, which links arteriosclerosis to senility, and suggests that eliminating these deposits could rejuvenate the body. Siegel dismissed Williamson’s methods as unscientific but acknowledges the possibility of extending human life through advanced chemical or biological means. Incredibly, he mentions his own work on a synthetic haemoglobin formula that could potentially increase human longevity significantly. The letter concludes with Siegel expressing admiration for P. Schuyler Miller’s writing and his hope for scientific advancements to prolong life.
Date: 2 April 1932 Event: Editorial Title/Details: Editorial Staff Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Siegel named as being part of the editorial staff. He would be named as a staffer on 29 September, 6 October, 13 October, 20 October and 27 October.
Date: 12 May 1932 Event: Poem Title/Details: A Spooky Story Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Joe Shuster, 11B
Date: 3 June 1932 Event: Death Title/Details: Dies After Robbery Publisher: The Cleveland Press Details: Short article relating the death of Michael C. Siegel, of ‘heart disease’, after being held up in his store. “It was believed that the robbers might have murdered the merchant, but Pearse (coroner) said that his was a natural death brought on by shock.” This is Jerry’s father. The death is also mentioned in other Ohio newspapers The Times Recorder and Tyrone Daily Herald, with the latter reporting it under the title ‘Victim Drops Dead’.
Date: 4 June 1932 Event: Death Notice Title/Details: Siegel, Michel Publisher: The Plain Dealer Details: The official death notice for Michel Siegel, beloved husband of Sarah, father of Harry, Leo, Jerome, Isabel, Mrs. Rosalind Spanner and Mrs. Minerva Levin. Funeral Sunday 2pm from Berkowitz Chapel.
Date: 1 September 1932 Event: Advertisement Title/Details: Ad for The Advance Guard of Future Civilization Publisher: Amazing Stories Vol 7, No 6 Details: The ad mentions the publication of Masterpieces of pseudo-science by R.F. Starzl, David H. Keller, Ed Earl Repp, Ray Palmer, Edwin K. Sloat, Jerome Siegel, Hugh Langley and Bernard J. Kenton. The latter two names are pen names of Siegel.
Date: 29 September 1932 Event: Column Title/Details: Backstage Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerome Siegel.
Date: 29 September 1932 Event: Story Title/Details: The Penthouse Murders Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Lois I. Living. Siegel writes himself into the story. This is another of Jerry’s pen names, reflecting his obsession with fellow student Lois Amster.
Summary: Siegel and Shrank with a new column. A series of cliches detailing a shooting murder of an orchestra leader (who falls with a bullet in his brain) at a penthouse dance party.
Date: 29 September 1932 Event: Mention Title/Details: 125 Actors To Present Five Plays Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Siegel (misspelled as Seigal) mentioned as crew for school stage productions.
Date: 1 October 1932 Event: Fanzine Title/Details: Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization Vol 1 No 1 Publisher: Jerome Siegel Details: Date is approximate, but the ad in Amazing Stories, combined with an article in in Glenville Torch make this date very likely. Jerry Siegel, Editor. Contents include stories by Eugene I. Frank, Carl Mann and a Biography of Ed Earl Repp by Siegel.
Date: 1 October 1932 Event: Story Title/Details: Snaring the Master Publisher: Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization Vol 1 No 1 Details: as Herbert S. Fine. Siegel certainly wrote more in the fanzine than the one story, but the contents are not fully known to me at this point in time.
Date: 6 October 1932 Event: Article Title/Details: Senior B Student Publishes Science Fiction Magazine Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Siegel writes about his fanzine, Science Fiction 1932. Siegel, Shuster and Bernard Schmittke mentioned, along with the news that an ad has been placed in Amazing Stories.
Date: 27 October 1932 Event: Mention Title/Details: Tsk Tsk Tsk Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Siegel mentioned as wearing pajamas to school as he awaits the time the school becomes a hoosegow.
Date: 1 November 1932 Event: Fanzine Title/Details: Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization Vol 1 No 2 Publisher: Jerome Siegel Details: Jerome Siegel, Editor. Exact date is known but came in either November or December 1932. Seigel certainly had articles in this fanzine, but the contents are not known to me at this point in time.
Date: 17 November 1932 Event: Mention Title/Details: Glenville Student Receives First Honors In Contest Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Shuster named as winner of poster design for Charity Football game. 5000 posters were printed up and posted around the city.
Date: 24 November 1932 Event: Mention Title/Details: Pupil Wins First Prize In Contest Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Shuster named as winner of Charity Football Poster competition, as per previous entry.
Date: 1 December 1932 Event: Story Title/Details: Burlesquing The News Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerry and Wilson (Hirshfield). Includes a poem by Siegel about Lois Amster and Stiletto Vance (see below for details).
Date: 1 December 1932 Event: Poem Title/Details: Lois Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: No byline. A poem by Siegel about fellow student Lois Amster. An editorial note reads, “This looks a lot like Stiletto’s work, Miss Amster.”
Date: 15 December 1932 Event: Story Title/Details: Burlesquing The News Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerry and Wilson.
Date: 22 December 1932 Event: Story Title/Details: Burlesquing The News Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: By Jerry and Wilson.
Date: 1 January 1933 Event: Fanzine Title/Details: Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization, Vol 1, No. 3 Publisher: Jerome Siegel Details: The third and last issue of the fanzine. This issue contains The Reign of the Superman (see below).
Date: 1 January 1933 Event: Story Title/Details: The Reign of the Superman (Superman 1st version) Publisher: Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization, Vol 1, No. 3 Details: By Herbet S. Fine. This is the first known time that Siegel and Shuster use the name Superman in print. Siegel also writes Forrest J. Ackerman into the story. Ackerman would go on to become a noted figure in the horror and science fiction world and would start his own magazine, Famous Monster of Filmland.
“The superman theme has been one of the themes ever since Samson and Hercules; and I just sat down and wrote a story of that type, only in this story, The Superman was a villain. Herbert S. Fine was a combination of the names of one of my cousins and my mother’s maiden name.” Jerry Siegel (Nemo #2. August 1983)
Summary: Professor Ernest Smalley, a chemist, experiments on Bill Dunn, a vagrant, using a chemical derived from a meteor fragment. The chemical transforms Dunn into a Superman with extraordinary mental and sensory abilities, including telepathy, interplanetary vision, and the ability to manipulate others’ thoughts. Dunn, now called The Superman, initially revels in his newfound powers but becomes increasingly arrogant and destructive, sowing chaos and conflict. Smalley, envious of Dunn’s abilities, attempts to replicate the experiment on himself, leading to a violent confrontation between the two. Dunn kills Smalley and continues his reign of terror, planning to incite global warfare. However, Dunn’s powers begin to fade as the drug’s effects wear off. He experiences a vision returning to a life as a vagrant, which leads to a moment of regret and self-awareness. In the end, Dunn releases a captured reporter, Forrest Ackerman, and accepts his fate, acknowledging his failure to use his powers for good. He resigns himself to returning to the breadline, symbolizing his fall from power and redemption.
Date: 1 January 1933 Event: Story Title/Details: Gods of the Nebulae Publisher: Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization, Vol 1, No. 3 Details: By Hugh Langley. This is a pen name of Jerry Siegel.
Date: 12 January 1933 Event: Mention Title/Details: Backstage Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Joe Shuster, Bernard Schmittke and George Shoen named in section in The Drama’s Art Department.
Date: 1 April 1933 (approx.) Event: Creation Title/Details: Superman (2nd version) Publisher: Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster Details: The second version of Superman is created in this period. “…it occurred to me that a Superman as a hero rather than a villain might make a great comic strip character in the vein of Tarzan, only more super and sensational than that great character. Joe and I drew it up as a comic book - this was in early 1933. When Joe and I first got together, we did attempt to prepare and sell newspaper strips; but they failed to sell. When I saw this publication Detective Dan, it occurred to me that we could get up an even more interesting comic book character than that other strip, which seemed to be a take-off on Dick Tracy.” Jerry Siegel
“It wasn’t really Superman: that was before he evolved into a costumed figure. He was simply wearing a T-shirt and pants; he was more like Slam Bradley than anything else, just a man of action. But we called him The Superman. That was the second time we used the name, but the first time it was used for a character of goodwill.” Joe Shuster
Both quotes from Nemo #2. August 1983. The cover is the only existing item from this second version and can be seen at the very top of this post.
Date: May-June-July Event: Pitch Title/Details: Superman Publisher: Jerome Siegel Details: During this period Siegel began to pitch the new Superman comic book.
Date: 23 August 1933 Event: Pitch Title/Details: Superman Publisher: Consolidated Ptg & Pub Co Details: Consolidated write to Siegel saying they would publish The Superman.
Date: 1 September 1933 Event: Mention Title/Details: Wins Scholarship For Essay On Aid Publisher: The Cleveland Press Details: Jerome Siegel once again fails to win a writing contest – The Press-Cleveland Sd Club advertising contest - and gets an honorable mention. The winner was Elaine Bryar.
Date: 1 October 1933 (approx.) Event: Pitch Title/Details: Superman Publisher: Consolidated Ptg & Pub Co Details: Consolidated Press pass on The Superman. “We interested a publisher in putting it out, but then he changed his mind, and that was the end of that particular version of Superman—called The Superman. Practically all of it was torn up, by the way. Joe got very upset and tore up and threw away most of it. I asked Joe what he remembered of this story, and he remembered a scene of a character crouched on the edge of a building, with a cape almost a la Batman. We don’t specifically recall if the character had a costume or not. The publisher who turned it down published Detective Dan.” Jerry Siegel
“I’m a perfectionist, and I think the fact that the drawings had been turned down made me want to tear them up. I simply destroyed them. I said, ‘If we ever do it again, I’m going to redo it properly.’ It was a very low period for us. Joe Shuster
Both quotes from Nemo #2. August 1983
Date: 5 October 1933 Event: Mention Title/Details: Start Work On Season Presentation Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Joe Shuster named as head scenic artist for school stage productions.
Date: 2 November 1933 Event: Mention Title/Details: Backstage Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Joe Shuster named as an artist for the stage productions.
Date: 2 November 1933 Event: Mention Title/Details: Art Pupils Organize New Type Of Club Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Joe Shuster mentioned (misspelt Schuster), is mentioned in regard to a new art club at the school.
Date: 29 November 1933 Event: Cartoon Title/Details: Annual Turkey Feast Arrives Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Joe Shuster wins the annual Thanksgiving art contest with this gag.
Date: 7 December 1933 Event: Mention Title/Details: Noted Senior Artist Wins Cartoon Contest Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Joe Shuster mentioned as winning the Thanksgiving cartoon. Also mentioned is Siegel and Shuster trying to sell a syndicated cartoon (details of the title not mentioned).
Date: Early 1934 (approx.) Event: Creation Title/Details: Superman (3rd version) Publisher: Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster Details: This is approximately the time that Siegel and Shuster refine their creation of Superman. He is no longer merely a strongman. “Jerry got the idea and they came over and around the dining table, and he would talk about his idea for a story and, then Joe would say, well, then -- well, how about this? And he would draw it out real, real fast and say, how does this look to you? And Jerry would say, yes, great. Great. Great. And they were both excited and enthusiastic and very, very excited.” –
Jean Peavy, Joe Shuster’s sister and eyewitness to the creation of Superman.
Jim Steranko places this as happening in the summer of 1934.
Date: 15 March 1934 Event: Mention Title/Details: Backstage Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Shuster named as working on stage productions.
Date: 22 March 1934 Event: Mention Title/Details: Tickets For Spring Play Move Fast Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Shuster mentioned (misspelt Schuster) as being part of the art team for the school productions.
Date: 17 May 1934 Event: Mention Title/Details: Torch Announces Short Story Winner Publisher: The Glenville Torch Details: Siegel once again comes runner up in a short story competition with his story Death of a Parallelogram.
Date: 9 June 1934 Event: Mention Title/Details: 10 Pupils Awarded Art Scholarships Publisher: Cleveland Plain Dealer Details: Joe Shuster gets honorable mention.
Date: 12 June 1934 Event: Correspondence To: Russell Keaton From: Jerry Siegel Details: Siegel writes to Keaton asking him to collaborate with him on a proposed Superman syndicated strip. He mentions that the idea has been positively received by the General Manager of Bell Syndicate. He then includes a script outline explaining the origin of Clark Kent (Superman).
Superman’s first origin: Almost all the elements that we now know as the origin of Superman are present in this letter. The main difference is that Superman is not sent to Earth from Krypton, rather he is sent back in time to 1935 by the last man on Earth in an undated future year as the planet is being destroyed. Hence, Superman is an Earthman and not an alien.
Date: 15 June 1934 Event: Mention Title/Details: 285 at Glenville Publisher: The Plain Dealer Details: Siegel and Shuster named amongst recent graduates of Glenville High School. This marks the end of their involvement with The Glenville Torch.
Both Siegel and Shuster graduated with the June class of 1934.
The Olympiad 1934 (the official yearbook) notes the following credits:
Jerome Siegel: Torch; Play Production; Choral Club.
Joe Shuster: Art Club, President; Play Production, Chief Scenic Artist; Torch; Tumbling Club.
Date: 26 June 1934 Event: Pitch Title/Details: Superman Publisher: Super Magazines, Inc Details: Super Magazines asks about the daily strip, no deal is made.
Date: 1 July 1934 Event: Story Title/Details: Superman Publisher: Russell Keaton Details: Keaton completes at least nine daily strips featuring the origin of Superman.
Date: 1 August 1934 (approx.) Event: Pitch Title/Details: Superman Publisher: Jerry Siegel Details: Siegel pitches a Superman newspaper strip by Jerome Siegel and Russell Keaton to publishers.
Date: 12 November 1934 Event: Correspondence To: Russell Keaton From: Jerry Siegel Details: Siegel outlines his efforts to pitch The Superman comic strip to a publisher, one Mr. Anderson. He thanks Keaton for his efforts in convincing Anderson to take a chance on the strip. He mentions that the publisher is interested and encloses scripts for three additional strips along with a synopsis of upcoming storylines. He also shares his professional background, detailing his struggles to break into the comic strip industry since 1929. He lists previous acceptances, rejections and the challenges he has faced from various publishers, including Wonder Stories, Super Magazines Inc., Consolidated Book Publishers, and Eastern Color Printing Co. He asks Keaton if he should disclose his limited experience to Mr. Anderson and expresses his commitment to focusing on Superman if given the opportunity.
Siegel works with Keaton in a script format that Keaton was used to – one that John F. Dille used on Buck Rogers.
The revised origin: Sam and Molly Kent discover a child in a metal cylinder on the side of the road. They take him to an orphanage asylum where he begins to leap over their heads. Later in his cot, he bends metal bars. A few days later he is adopted by the Kents. The rest of the story revolves around the raising of Clark Kent and the Kent’s search to discover where he came from.
Siegel also includes a synopsis of Clark Kent in school, playing sports. At no point is there any mention of where Clark Kent has come from. Siegel’s script says, ‘metal cylinder’, Keaton draws it as a futuristic rocket ship. Clark Kent is not a baby in this story; he is a three year old child.
Siegel promises Keaton that the script and synopsis would account for at least sixty daily newspaper strips.
NOTES
Here we reach the end of the High School years for Siegel and Shuster. In the five years from 1930 to the end of 1934, they created three versions of Superman and published one. Siegel, believing that Shuster’s amateurish art is responsible for rejections, has removed him from the pitch and engaged the services of a professional Russell Keaton. This goes against the accepted narrative that Siegel and Shuster were firm partners right from the beginning. The opposite was the truth – Jerry Siegel would do anything to get his vision published.
Jerry and Joe also created numerous strips in the hope of getting them sold and also for the amusement of their schoolmates. They would later say that some were published in the mid-1930s, but the diary of payments that Siegel kept begins in February 1935. These payments will be detailed in the next five year entry.
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Next: Joe goes back to Jerry and they begin to make money. Jerry writes letters. They send samples everywhere, and they get offers to work in a relatively new medium – comic books. Superman is published and their lives will never be the same again.
Daniel, thanks as always for your work digging this stuff up and sharing it.
The only version of Superman I like (as opposed to enjoyed) is the OG SJW Superman. But I maybe like that first version—the vagrant—even more as a story that resonates for me in 5hese times.
Daniel, thanks as always for your work digging this stuff up and sharing it.
The only version of Superman I like (as opposed to enjoyed) is the OG SJW Superman. But I maybe like that first version—the vagrant—even more as a story that resonates for me in 5hese times.
And, of course, when he wrote a Human Torch story for Marvel he had Johnny going to Glenville High. The Glenville Torch continues!