Superman: Serial to Cereal [Paperback]

Gary H. Grossman (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Popular Library (August 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0445040548
• ISBN-13: 978-0445040540
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary Grossman is an Emmy Award-winning network television producer, a print and television journalist, a novelist and a film and TV historian. His career has included stints producing for NBC News, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and 36 cable networks.

He is author of EXECUTIVE ACTIONS and EXECUTIVE TREASON (Diversion Books, the forthcoming sequel, EXECUTIVE TREASON, and two acclaimed non-fiction books covering pop culture and television history - SUPERMAN: SERIAL TO CEREAL and SATURDAY MORNING TV.

Grossman has been partnered with Robb Weller in Los Angeles-based Weller/Grossman Productions, a prolific television production company. Together, they produced more than 9,000 programs and earned numerous awards including the prestigious Governor's Emmy Award for their USA Network special, "Healing the Hate," and an Emmy for Best Informational series with the production of "Wolfgang Puck" for Food Network. Their documentary "Beyond the Da Vinci Code" (History Channel) earned two national Emmy nominations. In all, Grossman has received 14 Emmy nominations.

In addition, Gary Grossman is now a principal in World Media Strategies, a new International branded entertainment marketing content company with offices in Los Angeles and Miami. WMS produces television specials and series for travel destinations, corporate clients and government entities.

Grossman earned a Bachelors Degree in Communications from Emerson College in Boston and a Master's Degree in Urban Affairs from Boston University.

He began his broadcasting career as a rock disc jockey at WHUC, in Hudson, New York. He worked at Boston television station, WBZ; joined The Boston Globe as a special contributor, and then became the television critic and media columnist at The Boston Herald American. His freelance articles have appeared in The New York Times and numerous magazines. He taught journalism and media at Emerson College, Boston University, and USC and guest lectured at colleges and universities around the country.

Grossman helped formulate, program and launch television cable networks including HGTV, Fit TV, National Geographic Channel, and The Africa Channel.

Grossman serves on the Emerson College Board of Trustees and chairs the Academic Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Boston University Metropolitan College Advisory Board. For four years he was chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Caucus for Television Producers, Directors & Writers, a Hollywood-based media activist group. He is member of The International Thriller Writers Association.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The go-to source for Superman info, March 30, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Superman: Serial to Cereal (Paperback)

It is unlikely that any fan of the Superman saga would find a more comprehensive summary than is presented in this book. It covers the early Superman serials from the 1940's through the classic TV series starring George Reeves. Each episode is discussed, along with background information and numerous anecdotes. The history of each of the actors is reviewed (did you know George Reeves was in Gone With the Wind?), along with the complete cast and credits for each show. There are also lots of behind-the-scenes photos of the cast and crew. This is required reading for Superman afficianados.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of steel!, February 6, 2006

By 

Mister Chris (Peekskill, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Superman: Serial to Cereal (Paperback)

For years the most notable book about the great "Adventures of Superman" tv show and writer Gary H. Grossman has done a truly super job. The author, like many of us weaned on 50's television, clearly loved this show and had seemingly tracked down all actors or crew members alive in the 1970's for a complete retrospective. For the first time we get to relive the trials and tribulations of bringing Superman to the small screen and are given key insights on why the show has weaved a sort of magic for generations of viewers (with just a shoe-string budget). Best of all, Grossman paints a wonderful memory of George Reeves- still in my book the definite Man of Steel. Although the actor felt the role was beneath his talent, the man's kindness and charisma can be felt on every page.

Grossman also briefly covers the 1940's Superman serials starring Kirk Allyn. These serials have their fans but act here as sort of a dry run before the tv show takes center stage. With the "Adventures of Superman" now getting their due on DVD, this book, if you can find it, will be the perfect companion.

5.0 out of 5 stars Two formats, apparently, February 3, 2011

By 

Ronald L. Levao "Ron" (Princeton, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Superman: Serial to Cereal (Paperback)

Now that the Fleischer cartoons, the Kirk Alyn serials and the George Reeves series are all available on DVD, this book takes on a second life as a fun companion for those with the time (and suspension of adult, aesthetic judgment!) who watch them and still enjoy them.

Prices are, however, all over the place--anywhere from $1.99 to over $150.00. One reason appears to be that there are two formats-- the trade publication called "oversized," and the other, a small paperback (about 6 by 4 inches). The latter probably has cheaper paper, possibly some cuts in the material, but my copy has stood up to time pretty well. Fans should make sure which one they are getting. The author, Gary Grosssman, has apparently made the trade version available again at another site (Google the title) for $29.99. Either version should be faster than a speeding bullet.