Kirk Alyn was born on 8 October 1910. He was a successful actor during the early years of the sound film. But we remember him today as being the first live-action Superman.

What I love about Alyn is that he got his start in the chorus of Broadway musicals. And then he became the most badass of superheroes. And it highlights the fact that all this stuff is not very manly. Being a true man is fighting in a war. It isn’t providing harmony for a light opera starlet. And it sure isn’t dressing up in a spandex costume! Maybe this explains why so many modern “real men” are what I will charitably call “whiny bitches.”

This isn’t to take anything away from Kirk Alyn. He was a singer and dancer. And that’s as manly as welding. At least if you ask me. But any reactionary who likes superheroes should seriously consider what their concept of a “real man” is.

Kirk Alyn starred in two Superman serials. The first was Superman (1948). It told a 4-hour story over the course of 15 16-minute parts. Then came Atom Man vs Superman (1950), another 15-part serial. Are they any good? Well, they were TV shows before there was TV. And they are pretty much what you would expect. They’re fine. No worse than anything people are producing now!

Here is the complete second serial. I couldn’t find the first. You can find all the episodes online if you want. But they aren’t in any set location.

Other 8 October Birthdays and Releases

Filmmakers

• René Cardona (1906-1988): Director of countless films including many El Santo films like Santo en el Tesoro de Drácula.
• Frank Herbert (1920-1986): Novelist known for the Dune novels.
• James Olson (1930-2022): Actor known for Crescendo, The Andromeda Strain, and more.
• Paul Hogan (1939-): Actor best known for Crocodile Dundee.
• Chevy Chase (1943-): Actor known for Fletch and Memoirs of an Invisible Man.
• RL Stine (1943-): Children’s novelist of Goosebumps.
• Sigourney Weaver (1949-): Actor known for Alien, Galaxy Quest, and so much more.
• Michael Dudikoff (1954-): Actor known mostly for the American Ninja films.
• Stephanie Zimbalist (1956-): Actor best known for the TV show Remington Steele but also starred in The Babysitter.
• Matt Damon (1970-): Actor known for Rounders, The Martian, and much more.
• Kristanna Loken (1979-): Actor known for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and BloodRayne.

Films

• Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952): Lewis & Martin clones drop onto an island where they meet a mad scientist.
• Kill, Baby… Kill! (1966): Mario Bava films about a doctor goes to a small town were everyone is afraid of a curse.
• The Horror of Frankenstein (1970): Failed comedic take from Hammer.
• My Favorite Year (1982): A self-destructive star appears on live TV where he must battle his fear and mobsters.
• Demolition Man (1993): Super cop is unfrozen to fight a supervillain.
• Stakes (2002): Hunters chase vampires between dimensions.
• Halloweentown High (2004): Teen comedy about a magic world.
• The Hillside Strangler (2004): Fictionalized account of a pimp turned serial killer.
• Toolbox Murders (2004): Demons come back to a haunted hotel when it is renovated.
• I Spit on Your Grave (2010): A much more palatable version of the original with more focus on the revenge.
• My Soul to Take (2010): A supernatural serial killer returns home to kill seven kids born when he died.
• Red White & Blue (2010): Rape-revenge film where the rape is more motivated but the revenge is not due to the victim.
• Bloody Hell (2020): A man tries to escape his past by leaving the country, only to be kidnapped by cannibals.

Kirk Alyn via Wikimedia. It is in the public domain.