Ray Middleton – First actor to portray Superman in public – Superman Homepage

“Superman Day” took place on July 3, 1940 at the New York World’s Fair. Superman was featured at the World of Tomorrow exhibit as “Man of Tomorrow”, where Ray Middleton donned the costume and was the first actor to portray Superman in public.

Interestingly, the suit had “SUPERMAN” written on the chest shield emblem and the original lace up boots were worn.

A live Superman radio broadcast was broadcast from the fairgrounds. DC Comics in association with Macy’s sponsored the event and the price of admission for that day was reduced from 50 cents to one penny for children. Notably, Max Gaines and Harry Donenfeld were among those in attendance.

DC also released a special “World’s Fair Comics” edition for sale exclusively at the fair, a 96-page, 15-cent issue that boasted Superman on the cover, along with Batman and Robin standing in front of the famous Trylon and Perisphere.

About Ray Middleton:

Born Raymond Earl Middleton Jr. on February 8, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois. This American actor/singer Ray Middleton spent several years in regional and New York stage productions before his first film appearance (without singing) in Chicago Gangs (1940). He may have made his film debut in 1938, the year he was considered for the romantic lead role in the comedy Laurel and Hardy. Miss Switzerland; however, the film’s leading lady, Della Lynd, vetoed Middleton in favor of Walter Woolf King.

After playing the role of Superman at the New York World’s Fair, Middleton then originated the role of Frank Butler in “Annie Get Your Gun” opposite Ethel Merman in 1946. When Ray had to hit his high notes, he s is prepared against Ethel Merman for Support. When he tried the same thing with Nanette Fabray in “Love Life”, Nanette told him to hang on to the set, she wasn’t Ethel Merman.

Most of Middleton’s films were forgettable, except for his appearance in I dream of Jeannie (1952), an exceptionally lavish biopic from Republic Studios about the life of Stephen Foster. In 1965 Middleton signed on to play the innkeeper in the Broadway musical Man from La Manchaa role he created and maintained for six seasons and several Don Quixote.

Despite the job security, it has been an eventful six years for Middleton. He underwent serious heart surgery during the play’s run, only to return to his role stronger and with a better voice than ever. And, for the first time in his life, Middleton married dancer/singer Patricia Dinnell. After Taskthe Middletons devoted themselves to Unitarian church activity and Ray’s solo touring gig, America in song and dance. Active in television commercials well into the 1970s, Ray Middleton made a welcome screen return in the 1972 musical 1776.

Ray died in Panorama, California on April 10, 1984.

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