Q: In the “Adventures of Superman” series on TV, Clark Kent’s mother was called Sarah. I thought that her name was Martha in the comic books and movies. Am I wrong?
A: You are not wrong, although the name of Clark’s mother took many forms, as Larry Tye points out in his book “Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero.” For example, one early, unpublished draft had Superman’s adoptive parents named Sam and Molly. In the first issue of the “Superman” comic book, says Tye, Mom is Mary and Dad has no first name. In a 1948 comic, he adds, the names were John and Mary, but a year later dad became Silas. A “Superman” novel had them as Sarah and Eben, names that carried over to the TV series. Tye says “it would take until the 1950s for the couple to settle in as Jonathan and Martha” — unless you count, say, the John and Mary Kent on a parallel Earth in stories.
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Q: I have read the Sue Grafton alphabet mysteries (“A Is for Alibi,” “B Is for Burglar,” etc.) several times. But sadly she died before writing “Z Is for Zero.” Is there a draft or something her estate would publish posthumously? And I keep thinking these mysteries would make a great “Masterpiece” serial; is anything happening?
A: Before Grafton’s death from cancer in December 2017, she had written alphabetized books featuring detective Kinsey Millhone through the letter Y. A book called “Z Is for Zero” was announced, but Grafton had not started it at the time of her death, and the family said that Grafton absolutely did not want a ghostwriter using her name. So, the family said, “the alphabet now ends at Y.”
As for adaptations, Grafton had written screenplays (though not about Kinsey) and refused to sell screen rights to the alphabet novels. In one published interview, she said, “I know how the (Hollywood) game is played, and it's not one I admire.” And, she said, “I don't want an actress's face superimposed on Kinsey's. Most of her fans have a very clear sense of what she looks like, so the minute an actress steps into the role, 50% of my readers would be up in arms, claiming she was wrong for the part.”
It appeared that was the end of it — until 2021. Then, Grafton’s husband, Steve Humphrey, announced a deal with A+E Studios for Millhone adaptations.
“Television has greatly evolved since Sue was writing in Hollywood in the 1980s,” he said on Facebook. “From her experience then, she was concerned that her stories and characters would be diminished when they were adapted. But as the power of television has transformed over time, so too has the quality from writing and acting to the production values and viewing experience.”
We’ll eventually see if that proves the case here.
Q: In the early '60s there was a program called “East Side/West Side” with George C. Scott. Is it available for viewing anywhere?
A: The drama series aired on CBS for a single season in 1963-64. Scott played a social worker in New York City; the cast also included Cicely Tyson and Elizabeth Wilson. While audiences did not take to its grim stories, it was still widely praised. It was nominated for eight Emmys, including for best drama series, Scott and guest stars Diana Sands and James Earl Jones; it won for best drama directing (Tom Gries). A cable packaging of “brilliant but canceled” TV shows included some “East Side/West Side” episodes. One place I have found the episodes is on YouTube; the picture and sound aren’t great, but it is watchable.
Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com.
