Tim James of St. Ann, Missouri

What was your first reaction to George Reeves and/or the Superman series?
Although I cannot remember the first time I watched the show, when I look at pictures of my childhood it is clear to me that the series it changed my world. I was born in 1954, so I guess my first episode must have been in late 1956 or early 1957. Almost all of my pictures feature me with a cape safety pinned around my neck. One of the most treasured items I kept from my youth was the handmade Superman outfit my Mom made for me. The pants are long gone, but the shirt is tucked away for posterity. I think the thing I liked the most about George was that he was so natural, so real. Unlike other shows designed for kids my age where the characters were exaggerated, or seemed to talk down to kids, George, with that great wink at the end of many episodes, seemed like a personal friend, and a Super one at that. I remember well the day he died, and my folks tried to help me through it. They did their best, but it was like I lost my best friend. Although I still watched the show religiously, everytime I saw him on the screen there was a tinge of sadness. That faded some with time, but I still get that feeling sometimes to this day.

What are some of your favorite scenes from the series?

• Clark and Jimmy discussing the ball game with the White Sox in "Night of Terror."

• The opening scene between Mr. White and Jimmy in "The Evil Three" when the mosquitoes were biting.

• The wonderful take off from the observatory in "Panic in the Sky."

What interesting mistakes or inside jokes have you detected?

• The shadow against the outdoor scenery in "The Haunted Lighthouse."

• The springboard in the shot on the take off from the woods in "The Evil Three."

• The reflection of the crew on the side of the car in "Five Minutes to Doom."

Aside from Superman/Kent, who was your favorite character on the show and why?
It is a toss up for me. On one hand, John Hamilton was one of the best character actors I have seen. But Jack Larson had a gift of adding a certain something special to his character. Whether it was finding a button to close a scene or simply listening to the other actors, he was always in the game and always interesting.

How do you view the series today, as an adult, differently from when you were a child?
As a child I wanted to be so much like George/Superman. I remember well, during hide and seek games after dark, wishing not on a star, but on the planet Krypton, that I could fly! As an adult, and a professional actor since I was very young, I look at the series from the actors' point of view. As a kid the best thing in the world would be donning a real Superman suit.( In fact I tried to wear mine to school under my white uniform shirt and got busted before I left the house.) Now I look at it from George's perspective, as a classically trained actor, who had to don tights instead of starring in "A" list features. I marvel at his professionalism in treating a comic book character with respect and dignity and making his moments on film as real as possible. That same respect filters through the entire cast. They were pros--all the way.

Why have you continued to watch the show and George Reeves?
Part of the answer is reliving the carefree days of my youth. It seems each episode can be tied to an important step in my young life, and watching the show again seems to crystallize otherwise hazy memories. I also want to experience the Action, Adventure, and Mystery again. As far as George is concerned. he has always just been my friend, and, aside from his great work as an actor, it makes me feel good to see him.