Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 58
October 21, 2015
First Bill Finger credits on TV and in comic books
On 10/10/15, we got our first glimpse of the newly worded Batman credit “Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger.” It is from what some called a house ad but what actually seems to be a title page.
A little more than a week later, the credits are coming fast and furious now.
On 10/18/15 (technically 10/19/15, since the show aired at midnight), the first known Bill credit in a TV show ran—Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship:
Later on 10/19/15, in the end credits of the fifth episode of the second season of Gotham (“Scarification”), we first saw the credit in a television series where said credit will now appear each time:
Today, on 10/21/15, we encounter the first three credit appearances in comic book series:
Batman & Robin Eternal #3
Batman: Arkham Knight—Genesis #3
Gotham Academy #11
We’ve come a long way.
A little more than a week later, the credits are coming fast and furious now.
On 10/18/15 (technically 10/19/15, since the show aired at midnight), the first known Bill credit in a TV show ran—Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship:
Later on 10/19/15, in the end credits of the fifth episode of the second season of Gotham (“Scarification”), we first saw the credit in a television series where said credit will now appear each time:
Today, on 10/21/15, we encounter the first three credit appearances in comic book series:
Batman & Robin Eternal #3
Batman: Arkham Knight—Genesis #3
Gotham Academy #11We’ve come a long way.
October 20, 2015
My book dedications
The Felix Activity Book (1996): To Darby, in the spirit of all the games I used to make for you when you were little [sister]
Felix Explores Our World (1999): To Leslie Moseley and Dan Tucker [two of my three first bosses, who became friends; Leslie was also co-author of The Felix Activity Book]
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman (2008): To Daniela and Lara, my Girls of Steel [wife and daughter]
Quick Nonfiction Writing Activities That Really Work! (2009): To Andrew, whose word is always true [friend from college]
Vanished: True Stories of the Missing (2010): To Christian, who knows too much about missing someone and who has not vanished after all these years [friend since 4th grade]
Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman (2012): To Charles, Lyn, and Athena, who respectively revealed the soul, heart, and hope of Bill Finger [Charles Sinclair, longtime friend/writing partner of Bill’s; Lyn Simmons, Bill’s second wife; Athena Finger, Bill’s only grandchild]
Brave Like My Brother (2016): to be revealed…
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon (2016): to be revealed…
The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra (2017): to be revealed…
Fairy Spell (2018): to be revealed…
Felix Explores Our World (1999): To Leslie Moseley and Dan Tucker [two of my three first bosses, who became friends; Leslie was also co-author of The Felix Activity Book]
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman (2008): To Daniela and Lara, my Girls of Steel [wife and daughter]
Quick Nonfiction Writing Activities That Really Work! (2009): To Andrew, whose word is always true [friend from college]
Vanished: True Stories of the Missing (2010): To Christian, who knows too much about missing someone and who has not vanished after all these years [friend since 4th grade]
Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman (2012): To Charles, Lyn, and Athena, who respectively revealed the soul, heart, and hope of Bill Finger [Charles Sinclair, longtime friend/writing partner of Bill’s; Lyn Simmons, Bill’s second wife; Athena Finger, Bill’s only grandchild]
Brave Like My Brother (2016): to be revealed…
Thirty Minutes Over Oregon (2016): to be revealed…
The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra (2017): to be revealed…
Fairy Spell (2018): to be revealed…
October 19, 2015
October 18, 2015
“Boys” and “Boy Wonder” “equally riveting”
Gathering Books gathered a series of kind words for Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman:
“equally riveting” (compared to Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman)“The very extensive Author’s Note is a study in first-class sleuthing, dedicated investigation, and single-minded relentlessness in pursuing every lead he could find to look for Bill Finger’s surviving heir. Not only is this a tribute to a brilliant man’s legacy, it also honors his memory by potentially changing the life of his granddaughter whom very few people knew even existed. Truly an amazing work of investigative and comic art. Find it and add this to your library.”
I also especially appreciated this:
“Bill struck me as a man who would rather concern himself with creating and writing—his head [so] bursting with brilliant ideas that perhaps it was just way too much effort for him to stand up to Bob Kane and claim what is rightfully his.”
Thank you, GB, for lending your voice to the effort to preserve the legacy of Bill Finger.
October 15, 2015
Insulting Bill Finger early (1946) and posthumously (1976)
The calculated campaign to bury Bill Finger’s role in Batman began earlier than some realize...and, in a particularly egregious manner, continued after his death.
Real Facts Comics was a DC Comics series featuring biographies of notable people. Real Facts #5 (1946) was apparently the only time the series profiled the creator of a superhero...the alleged creator, anyway.
The story was called “The True Story of Batman and Robin: How a Big-Time Comic Is Born!” (Thanks to Bill Wormstedt, Bill Jourdain, and John Wells for the scans.)
In this case, a more appropriate title for the series would have been Real Fake Comics. Not only is there no mention of Bill, but the events attributed to Bob Kane are preposterous. The capper: when Bob asks a friend to model a Batman costume his mother made.
Others including Bill Jourdain and Arlen Schumer have already covered this topic well.
Bill Finger died in 1974. Not even two years later, Amazing World of DC Comics #10 (1/76) ran a distasteful story called “Through the Wringer” about a chronically late writer named Phil Binger (get it?) who (spoiler in more ways than one) dies at the end. Even now would be too soon.
Again, others including the incomparable Robby Reed at Dial B for Blog have covered this.
Of course, since 9/18/15, this is all even more moot than before.
Real Facts Comics was a DC Comics series featuring biographies of notable people. Real Facts #5 (1946) was apparently the only time the series profiled the creator of a superhero...the alleged creator, anyway.
The story was called “The True Story of Batman and Robin: How a Big-Time Comic Is Born!” (Thanks to Bill Wormstedt, Bill Jourdain, and John Wells for the scans.)
In this case, a more appropriate title for the series would have been Real Fake Comics. Not only is there no mention of Bill, but the events attributed to Bob Kane are preposterous. The capper: when Bob asks a friend to model a Batman costume his mother made.
Others including Bill Jourdain and Arlen Schumer have already covered this topic well.
Bill Finger died in 1974. Not even two years later, Amazing World of DC Comics #10 (1/76) ran a distasteful story called “Through the Wringer” about a chronically late writer named Phil Binger (get it?) who (spoiler in more ways than one) dies at the end. Even now would be too soon.
Again, others including the incomparable Robby Reed at Dial B for Blog have covered this.
Of course, since 9/18/15, this is all even more moot than before.
October 12, 2015
Showing you how big my “Brave” is...
(In other words, about 6x8.)
A novel of World War II, told in letters. Due from Scholastic in early 2016.
October 11, 2015
Bill Finger co-credit - first time in print!
On 10/10/15, I first saw the new normal...Bill Finger’s name on Batman. Not just on Batman stories Bill wrote. On BATMAN.
It appears in Dark Knight Universe Presents: The Atom #1 (a mini-comic correlated to Dark Knight III: The Master Race). Small hero. Big deal.
And the language is better than what I speculated.
(Too bad Jerry Siegel’s name is spelled wrong. Twice.)
It appears in Dark Knight Universe Presents: The Atom #1 (a mini-comic correlated to Dark Knight III: The Master Race). Small hero. Big deal.
And the language is better than what I speculated.
(Too bad Jerry Siegel’s name is spelled wrong. Twice.)
October 9, 2015
My history with history: visiting world-famous sites
In 6/15, I had the privilege of seeing in person one of the most beloved buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. It made me wonder how many other wonders of the world I have visited. Here are the ones at which I was photographed:
Lincoln Memorial, 1984
Washington Monument, 1984 (with my dad)
Niagara Falls, 1987 (with my dad, my sister, and a rainbow)
Eiffel Tower, 1993 (with a shockingly bad shirt)
Notre Dame, 1993 (with my friend Seth,who would also accompany me to Easter Islandalmost 20 years later)
Leaning Tower of Pisa, 1993
Colosseum, 1993
The Vatican, 1993
Berlin Wall, 1993
Berlin Wall, east side
Berlin Wall, west side (yes, dirtier than east)
Little Mermaid statue, Copenhagen, 1993
Stonehenge, 1993
Strawberry Fields, 1993
Major Oak (Robin Hood hideout), Sherwood Forest, 1993 (with my friend Phil)
Empire State Building, 1995 (with friends and other people whose names I don’t remember)
Washington Monument, 1995 (with my friend Drew)
Kitty Hawk, NC, 1996 (where the Wright Brothers first flew)
Liberty Bell, 1998(with my best friends)
Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1998 (with my mom and that tourist)
Gateway Arch, St. Louis, 2008
Easter Island, 2012
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, 2014(then the world’s tallest building)
La Sagrada Família church, Barcelona, 2014(with my wife)
Taj Mahal, 2015
Lincoln Memorial, 1984
Washington Monument, 1984 (with my dad)
Niagara Falls, 1987 (with my dad, my sister, and a rainbow)
Eiffel Tower, 1993 (with a shockingly bad shirt)
Notre Dame, 1993 (with my friend Seth,who would also accompany me to Easter Islandalmost 20 years later)
Leaning Tower of Pisa, 1993
Colosseum, 1993
The Vatican, 1993
Berlin Wall, 1993
Berlin Wall, east side
Berlin Wall, west side (yes, dirtier than east)
Little Mermaid statue, Copenhagen, 1993
Stonehenge, 1993
Strawberry Fields, 1993
Major Oak (Robin Hood hideout), Sherwood Forest, 1993 (with my friend Phil)
Empire State Building, 1995 (with friends and other people whose names I don’t remember)
Washington Monument, 1995 (with my friend Drew)
Kitty Hawk, NC, 1996 (where the Wright Brothers first flew) 
Liberty Bell, 1998(with my best friends) 
Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1998 (with my mom and that tourist)
Gateway Arch, St. Louis, 2008
Easter Island, 2012
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, 2014(then the world’s tallest building)
La Sagrada Família church, Barcelona, 2014(with my wife)
Taj Mahal, 2015
October 6, 2015
The first Bill Finger panel since the credit announcement
It wasn’t billed as a Bill Finger panel, but isn’t any Batman panel simultaneously a Bill Finger panel?
On 10/3/15, at Wizard World Fort Lauderdale, I took the stage with author/maestro of ceremonies Travis Langley, writer Russell Lissau, advocate Jamie Walton, and the Finger family themselves, Bill’s granddaughter Athena and great-grandson Benjamin.
photo courtesy of J.J. Sedelmaier
For the last time slot of the day, and on a Saturday evening no less, we had a decent turnout in terms of both numbers and engagement. After the fact I found out that one of them was animator J.J. Sedelmaier (Saturday Night Live’s “Saturday TV Funhouse”), who asked me what the people I interviewed said about Bob Kane. Wish I had known at the time who was asking.
I’d done panels with Travis and Athena in San Diego in 2014, but this was the first time we were together since the historic announcement of 9/18.
Some of the people in the audience did not know that DC Entertainment announced that Bill will begin receiving credit on Batman stories. Some did not know who Bill is. (Therein lies the problem that the credit announcement will begin to solve.)
This guy, however, was not one of them; Patty Hawkins showed us in the flesh (for the second time) what Batman would’ve looked like if there were no Bill:
photo courtesy of Travis Langley
Jamie injected a sense of real-world heroism in describing her work with the Wayne Foundation (the name inspired by what you think), which works to protect children from predatory situations. After seeing the crowd response, I now feel most any comic panel could benefit by including a person like Jamie; take advantage of all of these captive audiences to spread the word about worthy causes.
While planning for Florida, I also tried to get us scheduled for New York Comic Con the following weekend so we could discuss the big news in the city where Bill built the Bat-world, but the credit announcement was only weeks earlier…in other words, too late; NYCC finalized its schedule months ago.
However, Fort Lauderdale gave us an enthusiastic reception. And it was a peerless thrill slash honor to be with the Fingers the first time they publicly spoke about this life-changing milestone. Nine years ago, when I started researching Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, it was, of course, just me and a dream. Now the dream is a secret the whole world knows, or soon will.
On 10/3/15, at Wizard World Fort Lauderdale, I took the stage with author/maestro of ceremonies Travis Langley, writer Russell Lissau, advocate Jamie Walton, and the Finger family themselves, Bill’s granddaughter Athena and great-grandson Benjamin.
photo courtesy of J.J. SedelmaierFor the last time slot of the day, and on a Saturday evening no less, we had a decent turnout in terms of both numbers and engagement. After the fact I found out that one of them was animator J.J. Sedelmaier (Saturday Night Live’s “Saturday TV Funhouse”), who asked me what the people I interviewed said about Bob Kane. Wish I had known at the time who was asking.
I’d done panels with Travis and Athena in San Diego in 2014, but this was the first time we were together since the historic announcement of 9/18.
Some of the people in the audience did not know that DC Entertainment announced that Bill will begin receiving credit on Batman stories. Some did not know who Bill is. (Therein lies the problem that the credit announcement will begin to solve.)
This guy, however, was not one of them; Patty Hawkins showed us in the flesh (for the second time) what Batman would’ve looked like if there were no Bill:
photo courtesy of Travis LangleyJamie injected a sense of real-world heroism in describing her work with the Wayne Foundation (the name inspired by what you think), which works to protect children from predatory situations. After seeing the crowd response, I now feel most any comic panel could benefit by including a person like Jamie; take advantage of all of these captive audiences to spread the word about worthy causes.
While planning for Florida, I also tried to get us scheduled for New York Comic Con the following weekend so we could discuss the big news in the city where Bill built the Bat-world, but the credit announcement was only weeks earlier…in other words, too late; NYCC finalized its schedule months ago.
However, Fort Lauderdale gave us an enthusiastic reception. And it was a peerless thrill slash honor to be with the Fingers the first time they publicly spoke about this life-changing milestone. Nine years ago, when I started researching Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, it was, of course, just me and a dream. Now the dream is a secret the whole world knows, or soon will.
October 5, 2015
The 1970s candy store of Cheshire, CT: the Emporium
If you are a human being who grew up on Planet Earth in the 1970s or 1980s, you have a special section of your brain reserved exclusively for memories of candy. Yes, just candy.
People of other eras remember candy, too, of course, but the ‘70s-‘80s were the bubble right before it burst—in other words, the time when kids eating tons of candy with minimal parental restriction peaked. By then, adults knew candy was no health food, but apparently they did not know JUST HOW BAD it was for you.
For people my age from my hometown of Cheshire, CT, most such memories converge on a place called the Emporium, an old-fashioned general store that sold penny candy in barrels.
Recently, I went in search of photos of this fabled fantasyland of yesteryear. My family had none, and both my post on a Cheshire Facebook page and my search through archival issues of the Cheshire Herald yielded zip. I did, however, come across numerous ads for the Emporium, and was surprised to rediscover that it sold more than sweets. In fact, it seems its primary business was the opposite:
Sometimes I use the research skills I’ve acquired not for a book I’m writing but simply to satisfy my personal curiosity. I found out the names of the couple who owned the Emporium and tracked them down: Bud and Marge Gaudio. Bud left me a voice mail message which concluded “It’s nice to be acknowledged after so many years.”
Then he kindly answered a few questions and sent a candy-barrel’s worth of photos (below):
When did the Emporium open and close?
Opened May 6, 1973; closed 1988. [MTN: I could’ve sworn it was gone by 1986 because I don’t remember going there once I was in high school.]
What inspired you to open the Emporium?
We were residing in Branford, CT, and decided to sell our home in order for me to be closer to my employment (art director and ad manager for Worth’s, a women’s clothing store) in Waterbury. Noticing our art and craft, and Marge’s knowledge of nutrition, our realtor suggested we combine these talents in a business and home for our family…thus the purchasing of the Old Grange Hall on Wallingford Road in Cheshire [to turn into the Emporium].
Did you live above the store?
Yes, after much renovation!
What were your best-selling products?
It was not one particular store product but rather [the way we] introduced and maintained an atmosphere of “Old Americana,” a Vermontish country store where one could relax by our potbelly stove or browse…no one ever left without purchasing something, and as our sign at the entrance read, “Enter with a smile…or share one of ours.”
Any funny anecdotes?
Mothers coming in to purchase nutritional items and sending their children to the back room to purchase candy and ice cream.
Why did the Emporium close?
Our children were out of college, getting married…it was time for Marge and I to enter into a new season.
What did you do after that?
I assisted my son in his home remodeling business. Marge did home care for the Visiting Nurse Association. Presently I am one of the founders of the East Haddam (CT) Art League and exhibiting my pen-and-ink art of American lighthouses and historical sites. Marge is volunteering in community services.
What did you think when I contacted you to ask about the Emporium?
DELIGHTED to think that we would be remembered for the many pleasant memories in Cheshire. Thank you sincerely.
As for the 1920s attire in a few of the pictures, Bud explained that they dressed up for holidays including Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day.
Oh, and see the outdoor signs shaped like an ice cream cone in a couple of the pictures? The Emporium must have had several styles because my mom bought one at the sale the store had when it was closing, and hers looks slightly different.
People of other eras remember candy, too, of course, but the ‘70s-‘80s were the bubble right before it burst—in other words, the time when kids eating tons of candy with minimal parental restriction peaked. By then, adults knew candy was no health food, but apparently they did not know JUST HOW BAD it was for you.
For people my age from my hometown of Cheshire, CT, most such memories converge on a place called the Emporium, an old-fashioned general store that sold penny candy in barrels.
Recently, I went in search of photos of this fabled fantasyland of yesteryear. My family had none, and both my post on a Cheshire Facebook page and my search through archival issues of the Cheshire Herald yielded zip. I did, however, come across numerous ads for the Emporium, and was surprised to rediscover that it sold more than sweets. In fact, it seems its primary business was the opposite:
Sometimes I use the research skills I’ve acquired not for a book I’m writing but simply to satisfy my personal curiosity. I found out the names of the couple who owned the Emporium and tracked them down: Bud and Marge Gaudio. Bud left me a voice mail message which concluded “It’s nice to be acknowledged after so many years.”
Then he kindly answered a few questions and sent a candy-barrel’s worth of photos (below):
When did the Emporium open and close?
Opened May 6, 1973; closed 1988. [MTN: I could’ve sworn it was gone by 1986 because I don’t remember going there once I was in high school.]
What inspired you to open the Emporium?
We were residing in Branford, CT, and decided to sell our home in order for me to be closer to my employment (art director and ad manager for Worth’s, a women’s clothing store) in Waterbury. Noticing our art and craft, and Marge’s knowledge of nutrition, our realtor suggested we combine these talents in a business and home for our family…thus the purchasing of the Old Grange Hall on Wallingford Road in Cheshire [to turn into the Emporium].
Did you live above the store?
Yes, after much renovation!
What were your best-selling products?
It was not one particular store product but rather [the way we] introduced and maintained an atmosphere of “Old Americana,” a Vermontish country store where one could relax by our potbelly stove or browse…no one ever left without purchasing something, and as our sign at the entrance read, “Enter with a smile…or share one of ours.”
Any funny anecdotes?
Mothers coming in to purchase nutritional items and sending their children to the back room to purchase candy and ice cream.
Why did the Emporium close?
Our children were out of college, getting married…it was time for Marge and I to enter into a new season.
What did you do after that?
I assisted my son in his home remodeling business. Marge did home care for the Visiting Nurse Association. Presently I am one of the founders of the East Haddam (CT) Art League and exhibiting my pen-and-ink art of American lighthouses and historical sites. Marge is volunteering in community services.
What did you think when I contacted you to ask about the Emporium?
DELIGHTED to think that we would be remembered for the many pleasant memories in Cheshire. Thank you sincerely.
As for the 1920s attire in a few of the pictures, Bud explained that they dressed up for holidays including Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day.
Oh, and see the outdoor signs shaped like an ice cream cone in a couple of the pictures? The Emporium must have had several styles because my mom bought one at the sale the store had when it was closing, and hers looks slightly different.
