The Nitrate Shipment Part 01: The Adventures of Superman (April 21, 1941)

“The Nitrate Shipment Part 01” is an episode of The Adventures of Superman, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 21, 1941. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen and Pug Flanagan wait in a small hotel lobby in Panama for a boat to Metropolis, after escaping the sinking of the Clara M. Kent has decided against chasing the pirate treasure map they recovered and has sent a report to the Daily Planet. Pug, however, begins to scheme about searching for the treasure himself. Meanwhile, a scarred man who has been overhearing the group takes an interest in the letter Kent has left at the desk, and a clerk is drawn into his plan. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as Pug sneaks toward Kent's room with the map.

A small hotel lobby in Panama, with connecting hotel rooms, during the night before a boat departs for Metropolis.

Characters: Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen, Pug Flanagan, Carlos, Manuel

Listen for: Pug's plan to steal the treasure map, and Carlos's scheme with the hotel clerk to obtain Kent's letter and the map.

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.