

Spider-Man, you’ve got that Spidey touch!įrom 1974 to 1982, Marvel Comics published a comic book called Spidey Super Stories, which was aimed at children ages 6–10. The theme song that plays at the beginning and end of the shorts was written by Gary William Friedman. He also never appeared out of his costume as Peter Parker and, given the series’ budget limitations, used his web-shooters sparingly. Unlike other live-action and cartoon productions of Spider-Man, this version of the web-slinging hero did not speak out loud, instead communicating only with word balloons (having a similar role to Clarabell the Clown of Howdy Doody), in order to encourage young viewers to practice their reading skills because he was drawn without a mouth.

In many of these sketches, viewers were addressed as “true believers.” The cast of The Electric Company played the roles of the various characters in each story, with another serving as narrator. These stories involved the masked superhero foiling mischievous characters who were involved in petty criminal activities (such as burglary or assault). Spidey Super Stories premiered during The Electric Company’s fourth season (1974 – 1975).

Spider-Man was played (always in costume) by puppeteer and dancer Danny Seagren. Episodes featured the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, provided to the Children’s Television Workshop free of charge. Spidey Super Stories was a live-action, recurring skit on the PBS children’s television series The Electric Company.
