Question about Fleischer Superman cartoons

[Jeff]

Can anyone tell me the story of how these cartoons slipped into the public domain? Also, what do you consider the "definitive" source for these cartoons (i.e. best transfers / remasters, etc)?

Thanks,
Jeff

[absolutpaul]

I think when Paramount sold their cartoons to TV, a small distributor picked up the Supermans (UM&M and AAP got the rest), but probably never renewed their copyrights. I remember reading that WB has the negatives, but they still have no copyright to them.

[Geezil]

I'm wondering myself what would be the best "complete" Fleischer/Famous Superman DVD package to seek out (among the 99,999 or so now glutting the market). Suggestions, anyone? And thanks.

George W. as the "No More 'Six-Hour Cartoon Classics' VHS Tapes!" Geezil

[J Lee]

The Superman cartoons were syndicated originally as a package with the live-action Superman TV show in the late 1950s. The original copyright renewals were due after 27 years (1968-70), but even by then, those cartoons were making only rare appearances on TV and slipped through the cracks.

Had Kinney National Services aquired Warner Bros., the Superman TV Show/Cartoons and National Periodical Publications (DC Comics) a few years earlier, odds are they would have been more diligent about their film holdings and the copyright renewals.

[MikeH0714]

I think when Paramount sold their cartoons to TV, a small distributor picked up the Supermans (UM&M and AAP got the rest), but probably never renewed their copyrights. I remember reading that WB has the negatives, but they still have no copyright to them.
In fact, the cartoons were sold in 1954 to Flamingo Films, the company that was distributing "The Adventures of Superman" TV series. I'm not quite sure what the thinking was behind this, as the TV show was a self-contained half-hour sponsored by Kellogg's, there were only 17 cartoons - not enough for a program package, and I think these were the only cartoons Flamingo acquired.

Flamingo did, however, distribute some theatrical motion pictures to TV, and may have included the cartoons as filler. Or possibly they made the cartoons available to stations airing the TV series for use on their own local cartoon shows. Anyone here remember seeing these cartoons on TV during the fifties? What shows were they on?

As for the copyright renewal issue, National Periodical Publications - then the corporate name of DC Comics - became the distributor of the "Superman" TV series during the mid-1960's, up until Warner Brothers bought the company around 1972. Presumably they got the cartoons when Flamingo went under. Probably since NPP was not distributing the cartoons, they didn't bother renewing the copyrights during 1969-71. But WB would have inherited the negatives when they bought NPP.

Michael

[MF TOON]

I'm wondering myself what would be the best "complete" Fleischer/Famous Superman DVD package to seek out (among the 99,999 or so now glutting the market).
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305943389.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Geezil]

aside to MF TOON: :D ! the thought is the deed, and I just ordered my copy (it's quite economically had on Half.com, BTW, for anyone else interested). Many thanks.

George W. as the "When Your World Starts Running Down, Browse the DVDs" Geezil

[Larry T]

Aren't those Bosko Video Superman cartoons all windowboxed?

They are on the VHS tapes, which I have.... and if you've read about my beef with BoskoVideo in the Animation History forum in this thread,

http://www.animationshow.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=857&st=30&#entry8816

I'd like to know if the Superman collection is the same way.

[Geezil]

Aren't those Bosko Video Superman cartoons all windowboxed?
They are on the VHS tapes, which I have....
I'd like to know if the Superman collection is the same way.
I've been checking on this in a few other places on the Net, and there's no sign so far that the DVD set has any windowboxing. Let's hope.