Superman usually guarded his secret identity closely, but there were more than a few times when he or Clark Kent just couldn't resist having a bit of fun with his friends.
What set George Reeves apart from all others is that he had the presence of mind to play Clark Kent as a regular dude you'd like to hang out and shoot pool and play poker with. His Kent was understated enough that no one would connect him to Superman, and he didn't have to overcompensate with the bumbling cowardly clod routine to hide the dual identity. And George had a quick wit, that million dollar smile and that mischievous wink that would light up a room. God bless you, George!!!
I've said this same thing for years. The 1978 Superman movie I thought was a disservice to Superman. It made Clark look like an idiot and made it out like Superman/Clark had a mental issue with split personalities. George Reeves always played it like he was one up on the rest, keeping a secret, yet having fun in his confidence. He was no idiotic Clark Kent.
@@tommissouri4871 I couldn't agree more. I only saw the Christopher Reeve movie just once, and I was not impressed. I've never seen any other incarnation of Superman, and frankly, I don't care to. George Reeves is the Superman I grew up with, and he nailed it perfectly. He'd be amazed to see the loyal fan base that he has after all these decades.
Much as I like George Reeves' depiction, both the TV show and the movie were adaptations of the original source material, the Superman comic books. Chris Reeve did a vastly better job of capturing the Clark Kent of the comics than George did -- though I think George's Superman came closer to the comics than Chris's gee-whiz version.
@@bobbuethe1477 Have you seen how Kirk Allyn played the roles, or heard how Bud Colyer (on radio and in voice-over) did? They were closer to the idea of the comics than George Reeves played it, yet didn't make Clark Kent look like an idiot as in Chrisopher Reeve's characterization. George Reeves played both roles as "cool", which I'm not sure was appropriate but is the take that actor was known for.
I remember an episode where they had all been sealed in a cave and were being exposed to a gas that would cause amnesia and then death. I think they were in Egypt but I could be wrong. With no other choice, Clark says, "Well, there's no point keeping this a secret any more," and breaks his chains and breaks open the cave wall. He then freed Jimmy so that, after the gas had cause the amnesia, it would look like he had somehow broken free and saved them but, for a brief moment, Lois, Jimmy and Perry knew the truth. George Reeves, R.I.P.
I liked his George's Clark Kent portrayal. His wasn't the traditional 98 pound weaking that is so often seen. His Kent was definately confrontational at times.
I accidentally ran into this and was not expecting much; have not watched any of those episodes since I was a kid...uh...a very long time ago! But I must say this was FUN! Excellent work!
I got the feeling while watching these clips that George enjoyed every opportunity he had to tease his costars above and beyond what the script called for or little tricks like pulling "Lois" into the water with him, her squeal didn't sound fake like George moved faster than she expected.
I had the same thought as I assembled these clips. Work was work, but there seemed to be so many instances when George thoroughly enjoyed what he was doing. And to this day, that makes all they did so enjoyable to watch.
During a rehearsal Clark was in a hospital bed, minus his glasses. Jimmy, Jack Larson seeing Reeves remarks, "Wow Clark without your glasses you look just like," Noel Neill, Lois interrupts him saying, "Shut up or we're all out of a job."
There were many times when Lois seemed to suspect...and there's even one episode where she dreams that Superman proposes to her, and that she joyfully accepts, but later confides to him that she's afraid she has feelings for Clark. At which point - he tells her the secret - and since it's her dream, that would suggest she either suspects it's true or wants it that way. When she wakes from her dream, she calls Clark "Superman" and then asks if any of her dream was true. In another episode, she sets up a situation where Clark has to interview Superman, and it's pretty clear she's doing it to set a trap.
Used to tie one end of a bath towel around my neck (cape) and jump offa public park slides and the roof of the house so I could 'fly' for a second or so!
What a wonderful way to spend 21 minutes... especially on the night before George's birthday! Amazing he would have been 109... and how great that so many of us were together for what was the centennial of his birth nine years ago! Thanks for helping me remember the fun his Clark Kent had almost giving away his secret identity!
Thanks for this ive been a huge Superman since I was little and to me, George Reeves is the only true, Superman that I'll ever recognize as being the one and only Superman.
@@jimnolt-TAC, this is a delightful presentation! I smiled and/or laughed several times! Clark Kent/Superman surely could dance delicately around the truth! Sometimes he reminded them that he is MILD MANNERED/CLUMSY as Mr. Kent!
Great video! Showcased some of the classic Clark/Supes moments from the show. My friend and I got to meet Noel Neill at ECCC (comicon) in Seattle in 2009. He had always talked about meeting her. She was well into her late 70's and such a sweet lady. We both got a pic with her and he bought some pics from her table. Funny thing, he bought 2 but she only charged him for 1. Anyway, my friend died later that year, so at least he got his wish.
George Reeves plays the best Clark Kent. He had the perfect attitude, everyone else plays Clark as a simpleton and fool, but George kept him manly and kind of sly about it. Such a great tongue in cheek attitude when called for.
@@r0bw00d source? The movies. Watch them. Edit: to be fair Chris Reeve played Kent as a buffoon. I loved it as a kid and showed Reeve’s skill as an actor but everyone else played it differently.
I have to correct your assessment there. Christopher Reeve intentionally played Clark as bumbling and awkward to offset against superman. This wasn’t the 50s anymore and a pair of glasses just wasn’t going to cut it on the big screen. You literally see Clark becoming superman before your eyes when he drops Lois back to her balcony and then knocks at the door as Clark. Glasses or no glasses he is literally two completely different people. Following reeve, yes I agree that there has never been another actor come anywhere close to either reeve or reeves. But I think you’ll find the layer actors are copying reeve without properly understanding “why” he played Clark as he did. It was his height change, his voice change, it was as complete a transformation as it’s possible to physically achieve with your only prop being a pair of glasses. I think you’re being a bit unfair to what Chris reeve really achieved in doing that. Certainly from an acting pov
I like this version of Clark Kent. He's whimsical, good-natured, upbeat and pleasant. As a real person he would be a pleasure of a coworker. He seems to have more personality than his alter ego, and is just as likeable (if not more).
But undoubtedly the most fun he had was in 'The Face and the Voice', where he got to play a dumb thug who impersonated Superman. Dual roles like that are always fun for the actor, a chance to get out of character.
This series on which all action series of Superman is based and movies have a connection to are due to George Reeves and his skills as a actor and yet no one has ever tributed him really to those movies or TV series that followed, and of course his tragic death was a shame and very sad, and it is about time a true tribute to his on screen presence in those series should be topped as a mark of respect. George was a talented actor and who can stay if had lived what would he have done after that role? Possibly played Jor El the father of Superman or something else? Celebrate Superman but never forget those who brought him to live like Christopher and George the best of many?
Famously, he gave Superman his punch line smile and wink, which these you from time time. George Reeves has to be honesty the best Superman for the 50s in all his playing both Superman and Clark are a pleasure to watch. It's such shame he didn't receive the praise he should of he died to soon I think if had lived he would have done some great movies and might of appeared in the Superman of the 70s as Jor El Superman's father or Perry White? Gone but not forgotten George Reeves the Man Of Tomorrow Superman remembered.
The scene where he changes the population on sign and tells Lois..."If she's good...Someday he'll tell who the little bird is" Is an admission that *It was Superman. * And, Clark knows who Superman is. But this was never pursued.
George Reeves was the best Clark Kent reporter, Christopher reeves was too goofy as Clark Kent that no one would take him seriously as a reporter if he was investigating. George Reeves's reverse psychology was more clever as you can see.
The voice on the opening theme song "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...." was done by Bill Kennedy. He also did any narration if any was needed. In the movie, 'Superman And The Mole Men' and the very first episode 'Superman On Earth' it was Jack Narz who did the narration.
Born in 1952, TV was my babysitter. The week would seem to drag on forever waiting for the next installment of Superman played by George Reeves. No television program had as much impact upon me as did that one, as I still wish above all else that I could fly. Back then many life insurance agents came to the home to pick up the monthly insurance premium payments. Our agent, Mr. Conroy, looked exactly like Clark Kent and my preteen mind thought it was actually HIM! He probably wondered why that Tillman kid was always smiling and winking whenever he came to the house. That was my way of assuring him that I knew his secret and I would not betray him by revealing it to anyone. I never told anyone back then.
Thanks for putting this together. It reminds me of how much I enjoyed watching that show growing up. With all his super powers this Superman used his wits as well in bringing murderers and other criminals to justice. All without the latest super powered enemy for him to get into endless fistfights with.
Loved Watching Superman as a child: I'm 71 now & am still watching this!.... Loved the entire cast, & George Reeves died so tragically...... Thanks for posting this. 🙏☺️
Thanks for sharing all these great old videos of the Adventures of Superman. For years since I was a child, I thought George Reeves was the original Superman until I started watching the old serials on VHS back in the 90’s featuring Kirk Alyn as the original Superman. Also found out from the serials that Noel Neill was the original Lois Lane, not Phyllis Coates. In my opinion out of all the actors that portrayed Superman, George Reeves was the best. A history fact for those who don’t know: Superman’s costume in the B&W shows were grey and brown.
I've always wondered whether Superman has everyone he encounters under some sort of super-post hypnotic suggestion so they don't notice he and Clark are the same person. Every once in a while, Lois starts breaking out of her super-hypnotic state and Clark then does something to distract her - like entertain her, shake her, pull her into the water, etc. - which puts her under again.
Great clips- how fitting to have “All that Glitters” as the last clip. In looking at all of the different clips, I was thinking about Season 1 Episodes 3 “The Case of the Talkative Dummy” where Clark steps away and Lois questions Inspector Henderson and wonders where Clark is going and Henderson replies “Maybe he runs into an alley and takes his glasses off and turns into Superman”.
this is the way it was done in the comics for years, until DC decided to reduce the numbers of super powers Superman had, removing super hypnosis, intelligence, and other slightly more mystical powers- leaving him with the set we are more familiar with today.
There was a comic book story, "The Master Hypnotist of Metropolis," early in Julie Schwartz's run as editor on Superman comics after Mort Weisinger retired in 1970. It held that the Kryptonian-glass lenses in Clark's glasses hypnotized everybody into thinking that Clark didn't look like Superman at all. The story didn't quite explain how Clark also looked different in photos and on video. The thing is, the disguise works because stories about Superman require it to do so.
Jack Larson appeared in episodes of Superboy and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman ( there he played a elderly Jimmy Olson, transformed by a machine)
George reeves Clark was the best hiding being Superman didn’t mean Having to hide being a man. Writers should also be applauded I forgot about how he teased everyone with his private jokes. Thanks for the video.
At times it comes across as though people in his circle - Lois, Jimmy, Perry, the inspector - all do know - and there's just some etiquette or conventional reason for not talking about it.
I just learned (honest!) from "The Adventures of Superman Second Season Goofs" video of RUclipsr Tvcrazyman that in issue #330 of the Superman comic book, Superman explains that he uses unconscious super-hypnotism to look different to other people when he is Clark. So, it looks like whoever wrote this comic book story in the late seventies beat me to the punch.
Phyllis Coates was a good Lois Lane, but when Noel Neill showed up to play Lois, I was so gob-smacked by her, I fell in love. She was feisty and beautiful!
@@PunchBuggyDreams I realize romance was done differently in those days - but even allowing for that - there's not a lot of indication that Clark/Superman really has feelings for Lois on this show.
Reeves really was great at this role. He played Kent to a T, and of course he was great as Superman, His physique was not overbearing. But that is fine. I also noticed while watching this, None of the other men in any scene was as tall or taller than George Reeves, He was 6'1"
The way Kent made a fool out of Gunner Flinch while playing poker kind of suggests that good ol' George might have known his way around a poker table or two.
This has got to be one of best compilation of Superman series I've ever seen. Great Job!! I was a little young lad growing up & use to watch Superman after school which was hosted by Captain Jack & Officer Joe Bolton. Those were the day of innocence. By far George Reeves best Superman & Clark Kent was played with charisma, humor & not a bumbling nerd. Before the suspicions death of George Reeves, Jack Hamilton who played Jimmy Olden said they planned to bring back the TV series. RIP My pal George Reeves
I remember Ray Heatherton, The Merry Mailman; Captain Jack McCarthy, whom I met in person at The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as he told stories about each county that marched in the Parade. . And finally Officer Joe Bolton; later Chief Joe Bolton.He hosted The 3 Stooges Comedy show and Cartoon- Show.
It's a tragedy what happened to George Reeves. And it's sad that he felt trapped by the role of Superman. The show really displayed his quality acting skills. I strongly suspect he was a very likeable man in real life.
Yes, he really was that. I've spoken with many people who knew him, included his ex-wife. No one I ever spoke with had anything negative to say about him.
@@thefurrybastard1964 Yes, it was! There is one thing I took form the movie and also from the information of the time: "You don't pull the trigger twice to kill yourself".
Kent’s glasses are amazing. He looks nothing like Superman! Lois was a investigative reporter and she couldn’t figure out the connection with Clark and Superman.
Thanx for posting these gems...I watched this show as a kid..They were showing it on MEtv,but replaced it with the 3 Stooges.Bring this and the original Twilite Zones..On MWtv but late night.
The two that stand out to me are "The Magic Secret" and "The Perils of Superman". Does anyone know what episode it was when Superman said, "Inspector, you're going to find a lot of missing people in that basement".
Why did people even think that Superman had another identity? Batman, okay, he wears a mask. He's got to be somebody else. But Superman is just Superman.
For some reason, Superman told everybody he had a secret identity. Ghod only knows why he did that. If he hadn't, everybody would have assumed he was Superman all the time. Clark revealed his identity to the world toward the end of the Man of Steel run.
George Reeves talents are really unbelievable: his humor and wit, his focus, his charisma, his timing, and, oh, that SMILE and the twinkle in his eye; Reeves was an extraordinarily gifted actor and this role really was his magnum opus. The best EVER.
@c.a.g.3130 I love your description and agree with you whole-heartedly. If you care to look, I have some videos on my Facebook page (search for jimnolt). The videos were taken last July when about 90 of George's fans met at The Garland in North Hollywood to remember George Reeves and 70 years of the Adv of Superman. You'll need to scroll down to Feb 25, 2024 for the first of them, but there are still images even before that.
I have a question that I don't know if you can help me with. With your knowledge of the 1950's Superman TV series when Phyllis Coates was in the Series, would you by any chance know if any of the original "Daily Planet" newspapers used/seen in the show were saved and/or preserved? In many of the earlier episodes when they show the front page of the newspaper with the large headline pertaining to the Episode being shown, there are many other articles that can be seen on the page that would probably be fascinating to read if the newspapers were still in existence. Someone in Production back in the 1950's went to a lot of trouble to create those complete "Daily Planet" newspapers with those accompanying articles. If any of those original "Daily Planet" newspapers still exist, they would be priceless. Thanks for any help/info you can give! --- John L.
johnwoa, I don't have any specific knowledge of those "newspapers" and their headlines, but I suspect they were printed by an outside company that worked with many different TV productions. I say that because there is on "story... Building Code Under Fire... that shows up several times on the front page of The Daily Planet, and I spotted it again when a newspaper headline was shown in an episode of Perry Mason.
@@jimnolt-TAC Thank you very much for your reply, sir! Thank you for your knowledge on this and your insight. I watched Perry Mason as a child with my parents, but I did not pay any attention to any newspaper being shown as I was only interested in the "Daily Planet" newspaper that I saw on the "Adventures of Superman" television show. I have loved reading newspapers ever since childhood and the "Daily Planet" newspaper I saw on the TV show intrigued me and still intrigues me to this day. When I watched the "Adventures of Superman" back when I was very young, I could clearly see that the newspapers were complete, full-size newspapers and I would not know if they were custom-made "by an outside company" or if (maybe) a Los Angeles daily newspaper was sandwiched between a front page depicting the "Daily Planet". With your inside connections to the TV show, if you ever get additional information regarding this, PLEASE send me a note! I have wondered about this for nearly 60 years. I have seen Images on the Internet of "Daily Planet" newspaper front pages, but these are from the modern-day Superman movies and I immediately notice that those newspaper front page images were created by people today in prop departments who don't have the love and the feel for the authentic appearance of a newspaper that I do and people that don't put the effort into creating a "Daily Planet" newspaper that had a real and very authentic "detailed" appearance from top to bottom as the ones in the show did back in the 1950's when newspapers were king, especially when Phyllis Coates was in the show. I hope I'm not boring you with this. I wouldn't be surprised if specimens of those "original" Daily Planet newspapers exist in someone's prop collection. Again, it would be a priceless Superman artifact. Sorry so Lengthy! --- John L.
@@johnwoa Same beef here. Movies based on comicbook properties always seem to have newspapers that are chalk white and on large, thick paper that almost looks like cardstock. The producers apparently think this unrealism "fits the form."
Wait just a minute... Clark...would you mind removing your Glasses.?...COULD IT BE..???....what do you think Jimmy..?? GEEE LOIS ...CLARK AND SUPERMAN BOTH USE BRYLCREAM..!! Say CLARK...DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF RED FRUIT OF THE LOOMS..?
You missed the best: the *blind* child who told Superman, "You sound sort of like Mr. Kent."
What set George Reeves apart from all others is that he had the presence of mind to play Clark Kent as a regular dude you'd like to hang out and shoot pool and play poker with. His Kent was understated enough that no one would connect him to Superman, and he didn't have to overcompensate with the bumbling cowardly clod routine to hide the dual identity. And George had a quick wit, that million dollar smile and that mischievous wink that would light up a room. God bless you, George!!!
Well said. George Reeves was amazing as Superman... and he got it right from the very start. He really knew his character.
I've said this same thing for years. The 1978 Superman movie I thought was a disservice to Superman. It made Clark look like an idiot and made it out like Superman/Clark had a mental issue with split personalities. George Reeves always played it like he was one up on the rest, keeping a secret, yet having fun in his confidence. He was no idiotic Clark Kent.
@@tommissouri4871 I couldn't agree more. I only saw the Christopher Reeve movie just once, and I was not impressed. I've never seen any other incarnation of Superman, and frankly, I don't care to. George Reeves is the Superman I grew up with, and he nailed it perfectly. He'd be amazed to see the loyal fan base that he has after all these decades.
Much as I like George Reeves' depiction, both the TV show and the movie were adaptations of the original source material, the Superman comic books. Chris Reeve did a vastly better job of capturing the Clark Kent of the comics than George did -- though I think George's Superman came closer to the comics than Chris's gee-whiz version.
@@bobbuethe1477 Have you seen how Kirk Allyn played the roles, or heard how Bud Colyer (on radio and in voice-over) did? They were closer to the idea of the comics than George Reeves played it, yet didn't make Clark Kent look like an idiot as in Chrisopher Reeve's characterization. George Reeves played both roles as "cool", which I'm not sure was appropriate but is the take that actor was known for.
George Reeves did the absolute best job of playing Superman and Clark Kent.👍
Amen.
Some of the best shows were where George, playing Kent, was the real genius in crime solving. He used his brains rather than superpowers.
Chris Reeve may have been a great Superman but nobody has played Clark Kent the way George Reeves did, what an actor !!!
I remember an episode where they had all been sealed in a cave and were being exposed to a gas that would cause amnesia and then death. I think they were in Egypt but I could be wrong. With no other choice, Clark says, "Well, there's no point keeping this a secret any more," and breaks his chains and breaks open the cave wall. He then freed Jimmy so that, after the gas had cause the amnesia, it would look like he had somehow broken free and saved them but, for a brief moment, Lois, Jimmy and Perry knew the truth.
George Reeves, R.I.P.
I remember that one.
It was a favorite of mine.
As someone who watched Superman on a daily basis as a kid, I wanted to thank you for this video
So did I. I LOVED the colors of his costume.
George Reeves as Superman was... well... SUPER. I surely wish I could have met him.
Me too
@@jimnolt-TAC I second that, Jim.
I third that.SUPERMAN !
I liked his George's Clark Kent portrayal. His wasn't the traditional 98 pound weaking that is so often seen. His Kent was definately confrontational at times.
The music in the closing credits is the BEST Superman music theme ever!!!
Both opening and closing
absolutely got you so hyped to see the next one
that just brought me back to being 7 years old.
Yes the music especially when he would take off and fly. Full Orchestra . Always loved the harp playing.
I accidentally ran into this and was not expecting much; have not watched any of those episodes since I was a kid...uh...a very long time ago! But I must say this was FUN! Excellent work!
I got the feeling while watching these clips that George enjoyed every opportunity he had to tease his costars above and beyond what the script called for or little tricks like pulling "Lois" into the water with him, her squeal didn't sound fake like George moved faster than she expected.
I had the same thought as I assembled these clips. Work was work, but there seemed to be so many instances when George thoroughly enjoyed what he was doing. And to this day, that makes all they did so enjoyable to watch.
@@jimnolt-TAC, even though the special effects were explained by others, it is also true that George Reeves was VERY athletic, a fabulous SUPERMAN!
During a rehearsal Clark was in a hospital bed, minus his glasses. Jimmy, Jack Larson seeing Reeves remarks, "Wow Clark without your glasses you look just like," Noel Neill, Lois interrupts him saying, "Shut up or we're all out of a job."
There were many times when Lois seemed to suspect...and there's even one episode where she dreams that Superman proposes to her, and that she joyfully accepts, but later confides to him that she's afraid she has feelings for Clark. At which point - he tells her the secret - and since it's her dream, that would suggest she either suspects it's true or wants it that way. When she wakes from her dream, she calls Clark "Superman" and then asks if any of her dream was true. In another episode, she sets up a situation where Clark has to interview Superman, and it's pretty clear she's doing it to set a trap.
Used to tie one end of a bath towel around my neck (cape) and jump offa public park slides and the roof of the house so I could 'fly' for a second or so!
Wow Clark, now that you have contact lenses, do you know who you look like?
I grew up watching this Superman. George was my Superman. Tragic end for such a great actor.
Me too!
I was born the day he died
Me three. I was about 2 when this was on. I spelled his name wrong. I called him Supperman instead of Superman. Amazing I can still remember this.
That's why The Adventures Of Superman will still be playing around the world in reruns and videos in the year 3023.
You can say that again, Thomas!
maybe even on Mars!
@@roberti8116 Cornsilk! It's the best!
The world won't exist in 3023
YES
He was the best Superman. Nobody compared to George reeves. And a hell of an actor.
Indeed
Amen, brother.
Christopher Reeve is the best. He can separate Clark and Superman's identity. Clark is mild mannered and clumsy while Superman is on different level.
@@direkramseychikboy9102 Agreed. Chris played a bumbling comedic Clarke Kent, while his alter ego was just the opposite. Pefect disguise.
They did keep the dork factor with Taylor on Superman & Lois
What a wonderful way to spend 21 minutes... especially on the night before George's birthday! Amazing he would have been 109... and how great that so many of us were together for what was the centennial of his birth nine years ago! Thanks for helping me remember the fun his Clark Kent had almost giving away his secret identity!
Thanks, Steve. George made it look soooo easy.
109 eh? I wonder what that is in Kryptonian years?
Taken away from us way too soon and a few years before I was even born.
One of your very best videos yet, Jim. I know a lot of time went into all this research. Brilliantly done. I loved it!
Thanks for the nice comments, Albert. I do appreciate that
@@jimnolt-TAC
You deserve them!
Thanks for this ive been a huge Superman since I was little and to me, George Reeves is the only true, Superman that I'll ever recognize as being the one and only Superman.
That's the same way I feel, Bob.
Damn straight brother 🦸
The dialog in this show was as good as the feats of Superman. Totally missing from today's versions. They depend too heavily on special effects.
Happy memories from my Youth! Thank you, Jim Holt.
I remember fondly in the scene starting at 12:19, Lois asking Clark how the deck of cards caught on fire. Clark replied, "Maybe it was a hot deck."
No matter the goofs, we always loved Superman!!
I grew up watching these on TV and I really wanted to be like him
And I picked up a lot of the values I still have from him. He had his own style.
That pretty much matches my own feelings, Clayton.
It was a great series. Close enough to the original comic. The actors were all a perfect match.
Except for Phyllis Coates. Way to abrasive and bitchy.
thanks
And once the show went color after the first two seasons, they were really cooking on all cylinders. Jim Nolt, you're the best!
Noell Neil was just Beautiful. I would love to see her a young Noell in 2023. The 1950's hid too much of her sexy look.
Superman was my favorite show as a kid in the 50s, every Monday night at 6:30. Those were the days.
I was able to see it twice each week. Monday at 7 on WCAU-TV and Wednesday at 6 on WGAL. Yes, those were the days.
Great compilation, Jim. You know, when you see these scenes all together like this, it really is amazing no one put 2 and 2 together!! 😆
Thanks. Of course, that was the point... we were in on his secret, a secret no one else could figure out. And with his wink, he'd let us know that.
@@jimnolt-TAC, this is a delightful presentation! I smiled and/or laughed several times! Clark Kent/Superman surely could dance delicately around the truth! Sometimes he reminded them that he is MILD MANNERED/CLUMSY as Mr. Kent!
☺
Great video! Showcased some of the classic Clark/Supes moments from the show. My friend and I got to meet Noel Neill at ECCC (comicon) in Seattle in 2009. He had always talked about meeting her. She was well into her late 70's and such a sweet lady. We both got a pic with her and he bought some pics from her table. Funny thing, he bought 2 but she only charged him for 1. Anyway, my friend died later that year, so at least he got his wish.
Always nice seeing George Reeves.
George Reeves plays the best Clark Kent. He had the perfect attitude, everyone else plays Clark as a simpleton and fool, but George kept him manly and kind of sly about it. Such a great tongue in cheek attitude when called for.
Spot on, brother!!!
"...everyone else plays Clark as a simpleton and fool..."
Source?
@@r0bw00d source? The movies. Watch them.
Edit: to be fair Chris Reeve played Kent as a buffoon. I loved it as a kid and showed Reeve’s skill as an actor but everyone else played it differently.
@@Brakdayton Yes they did, hence why I asked for the source.
I have to correct your assessment there. Christopher Reeve intentionally played Clark as bumbling and awkward to offset against superman. This wasn’t the 50s anymore and a pair of glasses just wasn’t going to cut it on the big screen. You literally see Clark becoming superman before your eyes when he drops Lois back to her balcony and then knocks at the door as Clark. Glasses or no glasses he is literally two completely different people. Following reeve, yes I agree that there has never been another actor come anywhere close to either reeve or reeves. But I think you’ll find the layer actors are copying reeve without properly understanding “why” he played Clark as he did. It was his height change, his voice change, it was as complete a transformation as it’s possible to physically achieve with your only prop being a pair of glasses. I think you’re being a bit unfair to what Chris reeve really achieved in doing that. Certainly from an acting pov
I like this version of Clark Kent. He's whimsical, good-natured, upbeat and pleasant. As a real person he would be a pleasure of a coworker. He seems to have more personality than his alter ego, and is just as likeable (if not more).
VERY enjoyable! THANKS!!!
Audience super knowledge is one way to break through the fourth wall
Definitely playing to the young audience....little did they realize the adults and seniors today it plays to..
When I had lunch with Whit Ellsworth in 1980 he said he was surprised that people are still watching the show. I wonder what he'd think now.
@@jimnolt-TAC I think he'd thought that everybody has gone daffy...in a good way though.
In a lot of those scenes, you kind of get the sense that George had a lot of fun doing them.
Absolutely!
But undoubtedly the most fun he had was in 'The Face and the Voice', where he got to play a dumb thug who impersonated Superman. Dual roles like that are always fun for the actor, a chance to get out of character.
@@majkus Agreed.
What an amazing compilation of episodes. You did a great job! Since I came back from oblivion I could not miss this.
This series on which all action series of Superman is based and movies have a connection to are due to George Reeves and his skills as a actor and yet no one has ever tributed him really to those movies or TV series that followed, and of course his tragic death was a shame and very sad, and it is about time a true tribute to his on screen presence in those series should be topped as a mark of respect.
George was a talented actor and who can stay if had lived what would he have done after that role? Possibly played Jor El the father of Superman or something else? Celebrate Superman but never forget those who brought him to live like Christopher and George the best of many?
Excellent work Jim. Don’t ever stop. Please.
Comments like yours help to keep me going! Thanks.
please!
Famously, he gave Superman his punch line smile and wink, which these you from time time. George Reeves has to be honesty the best Superman for the 50s in all his playing both Superman and Clark are a pleasure to watch. It's such shame he didn't receive the praise he should of he died to soon I think if had lived he would have done some great movies and might of appeared in the Superman of the 70s as Jor El Superman's father or Perry White? Gone but not forgotten George Reeves the Man Of Tomorrow Superman remembered.
He was always my Mother's favorite Superman
The animated Superman of the 1940s also had the punchline smirk at the end of each one.
The scene where he changes the population on sign and tells Lois..."If she's good...Someday he'll tell who the little bird is" Is an admission that *It was Superman. * And, Clark knows who Superman is. But this was never pursued.
Clark is generally such a nice and straight laced guy that the few times he acts a little smug make it that much funnier.
George Reeves was the best Clark Kent reporter, Christopher reeves was too goofy as Clark Kent that no one would take him seriously as a reporter if he was investigating. George Reeves's reverse psychology was more clever as you can see.
Could not agree more. 😀
Amen, brother!
100% agree. I couldn't stand how they made Christopher Reeves "Superman" such a doofus! George's "Clark Kent" was smooth as silk!
I love adventures of Superman.
The voice on the opening theme song "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...."
was done by Bill Kennedy. He also did any narration if any was needed. In the movie, 'Superman And The Mole Men' and the very first episode 'Superman On Earth' it was Jack Narz who did the narration.
The great Jack Narz of game show fame!!
@@Bigbadwhitecracker Yes! Concentration in the 70s...and brother of fellow game show host Jim Narz (known to us as Tom Kennedy).
I still smile when I hear the steam locomotive sound as the diesel locomotive passes in he color version of the titles!
Born in 1952, TV was my babysitter. The week would seem to drag on forever waiting for the next installment of Superman played by George Reeves. No television program had as much impact upon me as did that one, as I still wish above all else that I could fly. Back then many life insurance agents came to the home to pick up the monthly insurance premium payments. Our agent, Mr. Conroy, looked exactly like Clark Kent and my preteen mind thought it was actually HIM! He probably wondered why that Tillman kid was always smiling and winking whenever he came to the house. That was my way of assuring him that I knew his secret and I would not betray him by revealing it to anyone. I never told anyone back then.
George Reeves would be astounded to know the influence he had on us. So very astounded.
I remember watching this on UHF back in the 60s , coming home from grammar school. Real innocent times as a boy.
I yearn for those days of old, with the greased-down hair, and unadulterated by modern technology.
Phyllis Coats, (Lois Lane before Noel Neill) is still alive at 96 years old.
Thanks for putting this together. It reminds me of how much I enjoyed watching that show growing up. With all his super powers this Superman used his wits as well in bringing murderers and other criminals to justice. All without the latest super powered enemy for him to get into endless fistfights with.
Loved Watching Superman as a child: I'm 71 now & am still watching this!....
Loved the entire cast, & George Reeves died so tragically......
Thanks for posting this.
🙏☺️
Thanks for sharing all these great old videos of the Adventures of Superman. For years since I was a child, I thought George Reeves was the original Superman until I started watching the old serials on VHS back in the 90’s featuring Kirk Alyn as the original Superman. Also found out from the serials that Noel Neill was the original Lois Lane, not Phyllis Coates. In my opinion out of all the actors that portrayed Superman, George Reeves was the best. A history fact for those who don’t know: Superman’s costume in the B&W shows were grey and brown.
This will never get old to the people who see it know madder how many times you see it
I've always wondered whether Superman has everyone he encounters under some sort of super-post hypnotic suggestion so they don't notice he and Clark are the same person. Every once in a while, Lois starts breaking out of her super-hypnotic state and Clark then does something to distract her - like entertain her, shake her, pull her into the water, etc. - which puts her under again.
Could be. I never thought of it that way, but could be.
Great clips- how fitting to have “All that Glitters” as the last clip. In looking at all of the different clips, I was thinking about Season 1 Episodes 3 “The Case of the Talkative Dummy” where Clark steps away and Lois questions Inspector Henderson and wonders where Clark is going and Henderson replies “Maybe he runs into an alley and takes his glasses off and turns into Superman”.
this is the way it was done in the comics for years, until DC decided to reduce the numbers of super powers Superman had, removing super hypnosis, intelligence, and other slightly more mystical powers- leaving him with the set we are more familiar with today.
Metropolis was one of those cities that people could not recognize a person when they removed their glasses. It’s called “Metro-Syndrome.”
There was a comic book story, "The Master Hypnotist of Metropolis," early in Julie Schwartz's run as editor on Superman comics after Mort Weisinger retired in 1970. It held that the Kryptonian-glass lenses in Clark's glasses hypnotized everybody into thinking that Clark didn't look like Superman at all. The story didn't quite explain how Clark also looked different in photos and on video. The thing is, the disguise works because stories about Superman require it to do so.
Jack Larson appeared in episodes of Superboy and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman ( there he played a elderly Jimmy Olson, transformed by a machine)
George reeves Clark was the best hiding being Superman didn’t mean Having to hide being a man. Writers should also be applauded I forgot about how he teased everyone with his private jokes. Thanks for the video.
Im interested in watching this, he seems very charismatic!
The toying with Lois and Jimmy about the identity of Superman was always very funny.
Lois sometimes seemed to suspect, and even be trying to set him up to give himself away...
At times it comes across as though people in his circle - Lois, Jimmy, Perry, the inspector - all do know - and there's just some etiquette or conventional reason for not talking about it.
@@jessicalillianweinberg4401 I agree completely.
@@wayneyadams That they do know?
@@jessicalillianweinberg4401 No, that sometimes it seems like they know, not that they necessarily do.
I just learned (honest!) from "The Adventures of Superman Second Season Goofs" video of RUclipsr Tvcrazyman that in issue #330 of the Superman comic book, Superman explains that he uses unconscious super-hypnotism to look different to other people when he is Clark. So, it looks like whoever wrote this comic book story in the late seventies beat me to the punch.
This is great, Superman was my favorite back then as a child. Subscribed.
This is one of the best Superman montage’s I’ve ever seen
Phyllis Coates was a good Lois Lane, but when Noel Neill showed up to play Lois, I was so gob-smacked by her, I fell in love. She was feisty and beautiful!
@@PunchBuggyDreams I realize romance was done differently in those days - but even allowing for that - there's not a lot of indication that Clark/Superman really has feelings for Lois on this show.
@@jessicalillianweinberg4401 Yes and I always thought that those feelings were a little ambiguous. Was it platonic? Was it romantic?
He cared about his fans. Mostly children.
Best Clark Kent ever
Oh my gosh. Such fantastic memories. Wish I could rewatch them all. Thanks
Reeves really was great at this role. He played Kent to a T, and of course he was great as Superman, His physique was not overbearing. But that is fine. I also noticed while watching this, None of the other men in any scene was as tall or taller than George Reeves, He was 6'1"
Great, I forgot how much I enjoyed this show as a kid. Watched it every day!
KENT'S mother was still alive so he could not risk his idenity
George Reeves IS Superman. And he IS also Clark Kent.
I love George Reeves.
Part of my childhood right there. :)
Clark Kent was a super sneaky guy.
The way Kent made a fool out of Gunner Flinch while playing poker kind of suggests that good ol' George might have known his way around a poker table or two.
"ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG"😥....R.I.P. GEORGE😇
This has got to be one of best compilation of Superman series I've ever seen. Great Job!! I was a little young lad growing up & use to watch Superman after school which was hosted by Captain Jack & Officer Joe Bolton. Those were the day of innocence. By far George Reeves best Superman & Clark Kent was played with charisma, humor & not a bumbling nerd. Before the suspicions death of George Reeves, Jack Hamilton who played Jimmy Olden said they planned to bring back the TV series.
RIP My pal George Reeves
I remember Ray Heatherton, The Merry Mailman; Captain Jack McCarthy, whom I met in person at The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as he told stories about each county that marched in the Parade. . And finally Officer Joe Bolton; later Chief Joe Bolton.He hosted The 3 Stooges Comedy show and Cartoon- Show.
DC should have made a spin-off comic book featuring Mr. Kent like they did for Lois and Jimmy.
What a clever disguise. He'd put on those glasses and nobody would recognize him except every kid in America.
the glasses with no lenses never tipped them off?🤔
Best of times. Thanks for the memories !
Such a great tv show, wish it was still available
Best! Superman!! Ever!!!
Love this series. Clark Kent seemed more like Superman when he was dressed in his street clothes. Clark Kent IS Superman.
God Bless George Reeves the Best Superman Ever
It's a tragedy what happened to George Reeves. And it's sad that he felt trapped by the role of Superman. The show really displayed his quality acting skills. I strongly suspect he was a very likeable man in real life.
Yes, he really was that. I've spoken with many people who knew him, included his ex-wife. No one I ever spoke with had anything negative to say about him.
@@jimnolt-TAC I can well believe that.
@@Scottie_S I did, it was amazing.
@@thefurrybastard1964 Yes, it was! There is one thing I took form the movie and also from the information of the time: "You don't pull the trigger twice to kill yourself".
@@Scottie_S The best scene for me is when the little boy wants to see bullets bounce off Superman, and he has to talk him out of it.
Brilliant ❤
Thank you for the video im 68 and still watch Superman
When my father was a kid, he watched American Superman TV show. 👍🇺🇸👍
George Reeves is the best Clark Kent......Metropolis Clark anyway.
Kent’s glasses are amazing. He looks nothing like Superman! Lois was a investigative reporter and she couldn’t figure out the connection with Clark and Superman.
Are you telling me that Clark Kent is really Superman? WOW!!!
Thanx for posting these gems...I watched this show as a kid..They were showing it on MEtv,but replaced it with the 3 Stooges.Bring this and the original Twilite Zones..On MWtv but late night.
" Panic in the Sky" and "Superman in Exile" are my favorite episodes. Thank you for all you do. I enjoyed these clips.
The two that stand out to me are "The Magic Secret" and "The Perils of Superman".
Does anyone know what episode it was when Superman said, "Inspector, you're going to find a lot of missing people in that basement".
@@02chevyguy Clark Kent, Outlaw.
The way ladies dressed backed in the days was with so much class.
Noel Neill was so gorgeous and she lived to be 95!
Why did people even think that Superman had another identity? Batman, okay, he wears a mask. He's got to be somebody else. But Superman is just Superman.
For some reason, Superman told everybody he had a secret identity. Ghod only knows why he did that. If he hadn't, everybody would have assumed he was Superman all the time. Clark revealed his identity to the world toward the end of the Man of Steel run.
That was fun.
i don't wear glasses ..so one day i walked it my house with glasses on ....no one recognized me...not even my mother...
George Reeves talents are really unbelievable: his humor and wit, his focus, his charisma, his timing, and, oh, that SMILE and the twinkle in his eye; Reeves was an extraordinarily gifted actor and this role really was his magnum opus. The best EVER.
@c.a.g.3130 I love your description and agree with you whole-heartedly. If you care to look, I have some videos on my Facebook page (search for jimnolt). The videos were taken last July when about 90 of George's fans met at The Garland in North Hollywood to remember George Reeves and 70 years of the Adv of Superman. You'll need to scroll down to Feb 25, 2024 for the first of them, but there are still images even before that.
He was just so cool. Nobody better. Someday maybe we'll learn who killed him.
Correct. most people don't know that George Reeves was murdered. All swept under the rug.
The fact that Superman had nothing better to do then sort out bar bets really defines him as an American.
I have a question that I don't know if you can help me with. With your knowledge of the 1950's Superman TV series when Phyllis Coates was in the Series, would you by any chance know if any of the original "Daily Planet" newspapers used/seen in the show were saved and/or preserved? In many of the earlier episodes when they show the front page of the newspaper with the large headline pertaining to the Episode being shown, there are many other articles that can be seen on the page that would probably be fascinating to read if the newspapers were still in existence. Someone in Production back in the 1950's went to a lot of trouble to create those complete "Daily Planet" newspapers with those accompanying articles. If any of those original "Daily Planet" newspapers still exist, they would be priceless. Thanks for any help/info you can give! --- John L.
johnwoa, I don't have any specific knowledge of those "newspapers" and their headlines, but I suspect they were printed by an outside company that worked with many different TV productions. I say that because there is on "story... Building Code Under Fire... that shows up several times on the front page of The Daily Planet, and I spotted it again when a newspaper headline was shown in an episode of Perry Mason.
@@jimnolt-TAC Thank you very much for your reply, sir! Thank you for your knowledge on this and your insight. I watched Perry Mason as a child with my parents, but I did not pay any attention to any newspaper being shown as I was only interested in the "Daily Planet" newspaper that I saw on the "Adventures of Superman" television show. I have loved reading newspapers ever since childhood and the "Daily Planet" newspaper I saw on the TV show intrigued me and still intrigues me to this day. When I watched the "Adventures of Superman" back when I was very young, I could clearly see that the newspapers were complete, full-size newspapers and I would not know if they were custom-made "by an outside company" or if (maybe) a Los Angeles daily newspaper was sandwiched between a front page depicting the "Daily Planet". With your inside connections to the TV show, if you ever get additional information regarding this, PLEASE send me a note! I have wondered about this for nearly 60 years. I have seen Images on the Internet of "Daily Planet" newspaper front pages, but these are from the modern-day Superman movies and I immediately notice that those newspaper front page images were created by people today in prop departments who don't have the love and the feel for the authentic appearance of a newspaper that I do and people that don't put the effort into creating a "Daily Planet" newspaper that had a real and very authentic "detailed" appearance from top to bottom as the ones in the show did back in the 1950's when newspapers were king, especially when Phyllis Coates was in the show. I hope I'm not boring you with this. I wouldn't be surprised if specimens of those "original" Daily Planet newspapers exist in someone's prop collection. Again, it would be a priceless Superman artifact. Sorry so Lengthy! --- John L.
@@johnwoa Same beef here. Movies based on comicbook properties always seem to have newspapers that are chalk white and on large, thick paper that almost looks like cardstock. The producers apparently think this unrealism "fits the form."
Wait just a minute...
Clark...would you mind removing your Glasses.?...COULD IT BE..???....what do you think Jimmy..?? GEEE LOIS ...CLARK AND SUPERMAN BOTH USE BRYLCREAM..!!
Say CLARK...DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF RED FRUIT OF THE LOOMS..?
Thank you for the memories. I am still watching full features every Sunday morning on Heroes & Legends.