014 TV’s 1951 Adventures of Superman Episode #14

Mystery in Wax December 19, 1952

“Good evening, my friends, this is a sad occasion for one of you and for me...” She revealed a wax figure of famous psychiatrist Dr. John Hurley who would die within six months, the

third of Madame Salena’s death predictions, and the third of her predicitees who committed suicide by jumping off a pier. Perry White knew John Hurley well. Clark Kent talked skeptically about the three death predictions, wanting the scoop, and Lois, who had been sitting back listening, decided to go along for the ride to the wax museum.

At Madame Salena’s wax museum, which seemed to be doing a booming business, the two reporters took in the “Hall of Death” while they waited an audience with the Madame. Figures of Herbert Fairweather, John Martin, and John Hurley were hidden behind curtains. “Clark, this is weird.” When each curtain was drawn, a recording revealed how the death of each victim had been

foretold by Madame Salena. “I know they’re just recorded voices, but it’s a little too gruesome for my taste,” said Lois. “Madame Salena will see you now.” Andrew Dawn ushered Lois and Clark into his wife’s chamber. “Miss Lane and Mr. Kent, My dear.” ...................................................................... The Madame had been upset by Lois’s article describing her as a fortuneteller. “We’d like to hear more about your power to predict death,” said Clark. Madame Salena said a vision comes to her and she hears a voice not of this world, which says to make a death figure of a certain person who always dies within six months. She said she had not received any death visions recently, but, if she got one, she would invite the reporters over. She would not shake hands with Lois. After the fourth estate had left, Salena cackled hysterically to her husband who did not seem enamored by her behavior.

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Back in the office, Clark went over the obituaries of the three reported suicides. (Apparently, the obituaries were thorough, containing the height and weight. They all weighed close to 150 pounds with a similar build.) “You never give up, do you?” harped Lois. Later, Clark, Lois, Perry and other Metropolis reporters and dignitaries were invited to the unveiling of Madame Salena’s latest death figure. “You know what this means, don’t you? It could be one of us.” The crowd hushed as Madame Salena made her prediction. “Recently, I received a vision…” and proceeded to carry on about how it was her unhappy duty to reveal the death figure of… Clark gasped, as if he could see what was behind the curtain. “Clark, what’s the matter with you?” demanded Lois who soon found out. “Chief, it’s you!” she exclaimed as the curtain was drawn back. Perry was not impressed.

“Before my paper gets through with you, Madame, you’re going to be run out of town!” Clark insisted that Perry get a bodyguard, but the adamant editor said he was not about to jump into the Metropolis Harbor. Late at night, Clark Kent got a bad news phone call from Inspector Henderson. “...something’s happened...” Clark and Lois arrived at headquarters to discover that only an old shoe remained from Perry

White who had been seen jumping off the pier and whose body was apparently washed out to sea. Later, Clark talked the event over with Lois. “I’ve been thinking. You know that all the people Madame Salena predicted would die jumped off the same pier… and none of the bodies were ever recovered.” Lois snuck off to prowl the wax museum while Clark and Inspector Henderson inspected the pier.

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At the museum, Lois hid behind the figure of Genghis Kahn and Andrew Dawn locked up. She was startled as a hidden trap door opened and Madame Salena entered the room “Everyone gone?” she asked her husband. “Yes, dear.” She said the private museum was doing quite well. There was room for three more, in fact. Lois waited her opportunity to investigate. In the hidden cellar, she found the four “suicides” cooped up in small cells.

“Thank heaven you’ve come,” exclaimed Perry White. “Get me out of here… Get Kent! Call the police!” Lois, however, was caught and chloroformed before she had the opportunity. Then, there were five in the cages. “Let me go!”

Salena cackled

hysterically.

Meanwhile, Clark and Henderson were checking out the pier. Clark had discovered a rope someone could have used to pull himself out of the water. He also noted that Andrew Dawn was about the same size as the victims. (Frankly, I would have figured Perry for over 150 pounds.) “You’re way off the beam on this one,” complained the inspector. Back in the cellar, Andrew Dawn was becoming concerned about his wife who appeared to be really off her rocker... more so than usual. Everyone was afraid she would make a death figure of them. She was cackling over her private museum, her courage, money, and power and was barely able to recover her composure when Henderson began thumping on their door. “The police. Open up!”

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The Dawns had not made it to the door before Clark opened it without a key. “We’re…uh… looking for some people,” said Henderson. “People…there are no people here… only my wife and myself,” retorted Andrew Dawn. While Henderson took the Dawns off to inspect their living quarters, Clark Kent paused to tie his shoe and then dashed off and Superman returned almost immediately through the same door. Henderson reentered the chamber to find no

Clark Kent and an open trap door. “Kent… what happened?” wondered Henderson. “This is my private museum!” wailed Madame Salena who charged down the stairs. “This is where I keep my masterpieces!” “Who are you? What are you doing here?” “It’s Superman,” gasped Henderson. Madame Salena squawked like a loon and Andrew emptied his revolver into Superman as the five prisoners were freed.

Later the Daily Planet proclaimed the five “suicides” were found alive. Madame Salena and her husband had just arranged their “deaths” in order to drum up business and because Salena was crazy. Publicity to drum up business… The episode was not complete without a newsstand vendor with an armful of papers

proclaiming, extra, extra read all about it. In the rack behind him were several 1951 comic magazines including: “Mutt and Jeff” #14, “Detective Comics” #175, “Joe Palooka” #60, “Batman” #44, and Superman” Sep/Oct, a tidy sum in mint condition. “Dawn and his wife will get twenty years for abduction,” announced Henderson. “… what in blazes happened to you at the museum?” he asked Clark. “You just disappeared.”

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“You know Kent,” snapped Lois, “he’s always disappearing.” Perry White suggested that maybe Clark had hidden behind one of the figures.

“Behind Superman, Chief…” replied the mild-mannered reporter. (The obviously whacked Madam Salena had made wax masks of her victims which her husband wore when he jumped off the pier and then hid underneath.) C Minus Comics & Stories™ All rights reserved 02/27/2018 Directed by Lee Sholem Written by Ben Freeman Madame Salena: Myra McKinney Andrew Dawn: Lester Sharpe Dr. John Hurley: Steve Carr Inspector Henderson: Robert Shayne

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