Donelli's Protection Racket - Pt 04: The Adventures of Superman (April 22, 1940)

The Adventures of Superman, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“Donelli's Protection Racket - Pt 04” is an episode of The Adventures of Superman, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 22, 1940. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Superman, the mild Clark Kent, and editor Perry White pursue the Donelli gang, petty racketeers who have carried off Lois Lane, feature writer for the Daily Planet. Lois escaped a burning cabin in the deep woods, but the gang's car has left her to the fire. Clark and White stop at a gas station and learn the gang has doubled back by a rough road blocked by a fallen tree. Clark goes up the road on foot while White phones the police, and a blast destroys the tree. Copy boy Jimmy Olsen has vanished in the woods, and Denelli and Spike are returning toward the cabin as the episode ends.

Deep pine woods near Little Falls, a burning wooden cabin, a rough dirt road, and a gas station

Characters: Superman, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Denelli, Spike, Otis

Listen for: The blast that destroys the fallen tree and the disappearance of Jimmy Olsen in the woods

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.