Jay Morton, a game designer and writer, died on Sept. 6 of a brain aneurysm. He was 92.
Morton studied art at the Pratt Institute in New York, received a master’s degree from the L’Institut de Montparnasse in Paris, then moved to Miami to write and draw the animated cartoon, “Superman,” for Fleischer Studios.
He was responsible for writing more than 20 episodes and describing the Man of Steel as “Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” He also coined the phrase, “Look!…up in the sky!…it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a man…it’s Superman!”
When Fleischer was bought out by Paramount Pictures, Morton left the studio to draw Felix the Cat, Betty Boop and Popeye. Later he co-founded the Home News in Hialeah, Fla., and developed the board games, ”Winning on Wall Street” and “Fairway Frolic.”
September 22, 2003 by
Jay Morton
Categories: Artists
I worked with Mr. Morton at the Home News in Hialeah, Fla..We also published the Bermuda News, and his son published Stewardness News.
Many times he and his wife Blanche (a charming woman)would show me the old silent Our Gang comedies where he played Stinky.He was quite a man.I really respected him,and I’m sorry I didn’t learn more from him.He was an excellent teacher.I will miss him!
Alfred Cipullo
Brooklyn NY
My parents worked for the Hialeah Home News. I knew Jay and Blanche. My father, Bill Lombar, was a layout artist. Before Blanche passed away, my husband, son and I were invited to visit them. Jay took an immediate interest in my son and drew a Superman poster for him. We later attended his wedding to L. Tuttle and also his 80th birthday party. At the birthday party, he chose to spend more time talking with former Hialeah News employees than he did with the who’s who of Miami. He sat my son on his knee, told him about the Our Gang and how his ideas came to him for his inventions. But I will never forget how he then turned serious and proceeded to tell my son about my father and mother and how wonderful they were. What an amazing gentleman he was. It is so eerie that he died here in Charlotte NC, where I moved from Miami in 1994.
I WORKED FOR JAY MORTON AND DIANNE 1 SUMMER IN WINCHESTER VAA AT THEIR SUMMER HOME THEY BOTH WERE VERY CHARMING AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE I WILL NEVER FORGET THEM ROSE
When I was in Florida in 1981, Jay Morton autographed a photo card showing him standing in front of a cartoon picture of Superman. He wrote a charming message on two different cards to each of my children and signed it. Am wondering if anyone knows if there are others like it or when
this particular photograph may have been taken.
Thanks and regard, Elizabeth Payne
P.S. While in Florida I had the pleasure of meeting his son, Alex, who in turn introduced to my children and me to his very interesting and delightful Dad.