The Dawn of Superman

The first man to don the Superman costume at the New York World's Fair in 1940. His identity? A secret, of course.

That's the world's first Superman, an uncredited actor, at the New York World's Fair on July 3,1940, a mere two years after Superman debuted in Action Comics No. 1. It was also the first day the admission price was reduced to a dime — the same price as a comic book.

What's amazing is that a color home movie survives of the event, and also features Superman's co-creator Jerry Siegel. You can view it here. The guy on the elephant is DC publisher Harry Donenfeld.

Superman greets other crime fighters on the World's Fair grounds