The history of Bart Gleason prior to his career as the Gong is little known.  In the mid 1940's in Philadelphia he was working as reporter on a similar circuit as Libby Lawrence.  The two crossed paths in 1946 when the Gong made headlines with a series of audacious crimes.  Infuriated with the lack of success and the local inspection named Sexton, the police chief demanded answers.  After leaving a press briefing, Gleason and Lawrence shared a cab and dropped her off. 

Shortly thereafter a furious den of police sirens and fire alarms created a mass of confusion right near Libby's apartment.  Changing to Liberty Belle, she found the Gong and his henchmen robbing a clothing store.  The criminals flee but not before Liberty Belle snags one of the minions.  She interrogates him but he has not clue who the Gong really is.  Gleason arrives shortly thereafter to get the scoop but his nearly killed when he does not hear a passing car.

Back at the Gong's hideout, the thug who allowed his colleague to be captured is tortured by being placed under a large metal dome which is ruthlessly pounded. Afterwards, the Gong and his men use a signal bell to divert a ship off course so they can board and rob it of diamonds.  Liberty Belle hears the noise and intercedes but is captured and taken back to the Gong's hideout.  There she is placed under the metal dome but had had  the foresight to bring ear plugs and emerges from underneath ready to fight.  The Gong, however, has a hidden escape route and eludes her even  tho his gang is captured.