This morning Mark Evanier showcases an incredible piece of comic-book history: home-movie footage from Superman Day at the 1939-40 New York World's Fair (the same exposition that introduced the Trylon and Perisphere, which in '80s DC Comics served as the headquarters of the All-Star Squadron).

It's notable certainly for the glimpses of such figures identified by Evanier as Jerry Siegel, Harry Donenfeld, Max C. Gaines and Jack Liebowitz, but also as testimony to the swiftness with which the Man of Steel made an impact on popular culture: Superman Day, with its races, elephant rides, parade and boys wearing S shields, was held July 3, 1940, roughly two years after the release of Action Comics #1. Granted, by the time of the event, the Adventures of Superman radio serial had been airing for about five months, but still ...

Evanier has more on his blog, including doubts as to whether the man in the Superman suit is actually the actor some have long thought.