Adventures of Superman TV show turns 70!! (article mistakenly says 60) 1 1

[sagii]

Adventures of Superman Turns 60

Adventures of Superman was the first TV series starring the Man of Steel as he fought the criminals of Metropolis and worked as Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent. The show premiered on September 19, 1952, and ran for 104 episodes over six seasons, ending in April 1958. The series starred George Reeves as Clark Kent/Superman, Phyllis Coates played Lois Lane in the first season, then Noel Neill took the role of Lois, Jack Larson played Jimmy Olsen, and John Hamilton starred as Perry White.

In late 1951, producer Robert L. Lippert released the short movie Superman and the Mole Men, which was used to greenlight the series. The first season established Superman as the gallant hero, but first, he was introduced as a mysterious figure in film noir style episodes. Early on, the episodes were filled with dark, gritty action with Superman showing up to stop the bad guys who were shocked by his superpowers.

When Neill joined the show in the second season, she played Lois as a more sympathetic character compared to Coates’ strong-willed version. The show retained the crime drama style, but added in science fiction elements. To broaden their appeal to kids, the show toned down the violence, turning the villains into bumbling thugs.

Once the show switched from black and white to color, it became even more family-friendly with villains like the ones Superman fought in the comics. Superman used violence less than in earlier seasons, usually taking out the bad guys with a single blow. Jimmy Olsen became the comic relief, regularly getting caught by the bad guys and needing to be rescued.

They relied on the science fiction elements more in the final season, with atomic explosions and a robot powered by kryptonite. Some late series episodes also upped the stakes with putting characters in peril. Clark was dumped in acid, Lois was tied to the railroad tracks, Jimmy was left in a car heading toward a cliff, and Perry was almost sawed in half.

There were plans in place to continue the show, but that halted when Reeves died by a gunshot wound on June 16, 1959. Ideas were tossed out for spinoffs, but the concepts didn’t make it very far, and Superman was largely out of the film and TV spotlight until 1978’s Superman with Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, and Gene Hackman.

 

 

 

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Edited September 2, 2022 by sagii

[sagii]

Courtesy of 'Scoop'

[D84]

Check the math. The show turns 70.

[sagii]

On 9/2/2022 at 11:57 AM, D84 said:

Check the math. The show turns 70.

I realized that, but went with their headline for the feature.

Perhaps i should fix it with an asterisk?

[D84]

On 9/2/2022 at 11:07 AM, sagii said:

I realized that, but went with their headline for the feature.

Perhaps i should fix it with an asterisk?

That would work.

[sagii]

For those popping in who may have never ever watched an episode of this series because you may deem it 'dated', do yourself a favor:

If you watch only one episode, check out "The Stolen Costume' from season one. It's black and white, but you can do it, lol. 'Dark' Superman waaay before  'Man of Steel'. 

[The humble Watcher lurking]

Great memories of this show while watching it with my late grandfather.

If I recall correctly it was Adam West Batman, George Reeves Superman, than Ron Ely Tarzan reruns in a local block of reruns on a independent channel.

Those shows along with the Spider-Man and SuperFriends made me go out and buy comics.

 

[The humble Watcher lurking]

 

[sagii]

On 9/2/2022 at 6:22 PM, The humble Watcher lurking said:

 

Iconic slice of pop culture! 

[Larryw7]

The whole first season is dark, moody and sometimes scary. The episode "The Evil Three" is so violent that it feels like a Quentin Tarantino movie.

Edited September 2, 2022 by Larryw7

[sagii]

On 9/2/2022 at 6:35 PM, Larryw7 said:

The whole first season is dark, moody and sometimes scary. The episode "The Evil Three" is so violent that it feels like a Quentin Tarantino movie.

You're gonna make me break out the dvds tonight,

[Larryw7]

I was thinking of doing the same. Maybe tomorrow.