Who are the fans of George Reeves and the Adventures of Superman? Why, more than 40 years after its television debut, do we continue to watch? Through the years I've discussed this with many people and have now decided to invite fans of George Reeves to put their thoughts in writing for this page. If you'd like to contribute, give the following questions some thought and e-mail your answers to me. I'll post them here so we can compare our thoughts and reinforce our devotion to George Reeves and the entire cast and crew of the Adventures of Superman. In addition to the questions below, there is one other I'd like to include: "If you could meet George today, what would you most want to say to him?" To read about people who actually did meet George Reeves, check out the Close Encounters page.

#4 -- Roy Stuts of Westchester County, NY

What was your first reaction to George Reeves and/or the Superman series?
Well, like most of your visitors to your web site, I must have been about five or six years old when I first saw Superman. We only had a black and white TV at the time, so I thought all the shows were in black and white. When we did get a color television, it made the color episodes stand out from anything else in film or television of that era. It still amazes me that the series creators had enough pride in their work to think that it would appeal to many generations and that color television would be something real and last. The color film used in the 1950's was so bright and this was enhanced by many bright colors in the scenes, such as George's Superman outfit and all the beautiful 50's cars with their large fins (rear fenders). Even though I like the color shows, I feel the quality of the story did suffer when the series went to color. Most of the color shows were, at times silly and the villains were too stupid to be scary. I really love the black and white episodes the best. I remember as a little kid that these black and white shows really scared me, but I loved that feeling and to see Superman fly in out of nowhere and put the crooks where they belong. The music in the series was especially well edited and you could tell something was going to happen when the music changed.

George Reeves was so good at playing his part as Kent/Superman. If you notice throughout the series, he does not use the words "I don't know," or "I am not sure" very much. He was that certain, serious, and knowledgeable. It is just a terrible shame he did not live many years after the series to really see the effect he had on people and the series had on the world.

What are your ten favorite episodes?

Wow. Only pick ten episodes? Well here are mine:

• The Stolen Costume
• The Perils of Superman
• The Mystery of the Broken Statues
• The Wedding of Superman
• Mystery in Wax
• The Machine That Could Plot Crimes
• Shot in the Dark
• Around The World With Superman
• Panic in the Sky
• The Man Who Could Read Minds

What are some of you favorite scenes from the series?

• "Panic In The Sky" when Kent tries on the Superman outfit with his Clark Kent glasses, finally regains his memory, and rushes out to the observatory.
• "The Stolen Costume" when the crooks mistake Candy as Kent and take him to their apartment. Kent begins to loosen his tie and take off his hat and coat ready to change into Superman when he realizes the crooks have his costume. Then running up the stairs through the door and punching Candy out to talk to the crooks.
• "Shot In The Dark" when the woman comes into Kent's office claiming he is Superman. He is so embarrassed and ready to prove he is not Superman. Also Jimmy Olsen's interest really peaks to see Kent prove he is not Superman.
• "Around The World With Superman" -- the scene inside the apartment when Kent takes off his glasses and tells the blind girl that he is Superman. He looks into her eyes to see that a piece of glass from the car accident is blocking her vision. He first has to convince her that he is Superman. He does so in a very touching manner, showing love for the girl and trying not to scare her. A very touching scene.
• "The Case of the Talkative Dummy" at the performance when Kent leaves to listen in on the phone call about the next armored car robbery. Both Lois and Henderson get up. Lois says, "Inspector, where does he disappear to all the time?" and Henderson replies, "I don't know. Maybe he runs into an alley, takes of his glasses, and turns into Superman."
• "The Human Bomb" when Superman arrives on the window ledge and walks along the edge to go into the window. "Where are you going?" Superman replies, "Inside. It makes me nervous to see Miss Lane out here!" Lois exclaims,"It makes you nervous!"
• "Beware the Wrecker" at the amusement park when Kent uses the sledgehammer to hit the bell and knocks it right off the tower. He is so embarrassed and tried to downplay it.
• "The Golden Vulture" when Kent boards the ship and begins asking questions. Soon the whole crew is out to stop Kent, and he does not have enough time alone to change into Superman. As he is being chased, Kent says "Superman, where are ya?"
• "Lady In Black" -- the second to last time Superman arrives at the house where Jimmy is staying to help calm him down. As he is leaving, he tells Jimmy he must get back to the office. Jimmy says,"The office?" and Superman replies, "Yes. Kent needs me and he can't start without me!"

What interesting mistakes or inside jokes have you detected?

In "No Holds Barred" as the crooks head back to Mortimer Murray's place their we see an overhead shot of the car pulling up to the curb. If you look closely, you'll see that the film was reversed -- the steering wheel is on the right hand side! Also just before the scene ends, this car with the steering wheel on the wrong side, begins to roll backwards! The parking brake was not set!

Another early show has one of the first flying scenes. The copy that Nick At Nite ran shows Superman as he jumps out the window. We see over George's body and the background of Metropolis as he flies. Look closely, the cape is over his head flapping in the breeze! Maybe they weren't sure the shot would work or look good.

On "The Mind Machine" watch the outside shots when Superman takes off as he tries to stop the bus with the mad man driving it with school children inside. You can plainly see George being pulled up with a pulley and his legs hang as the pulley first lifts him.

Now my favorite "mistake." On "The Big Squeeze" when Dan Grayson is locked in the fur vault, Superman appears through the window in the room. When Superman pulls the vault door off and places it on the floor, he has to hold the door up against the wall so it does not fall. He tries to let go of the door, and it starts to fall, so he holds it in place. He finishes his lines and as Superman leaves the scene, the door begins to fall to the floor. The scene cuts to show Superman leaping out of a window. When the scene returns to the vault door and Dan Grayson, it is up against the wall, but this time leaning at a steeper angle so it stays there.

Aside from Superman/Clark Kent, who was your favorite character on the show, and why?

My favorite character would have to be Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson). I love his young attitude. He's eager to learn and jumps right in there with the veterans to get the bad guys or write the story. I like both his naivete and frustration when he is left at the office to answer the phones or some other menial task. It reminds me of almost anyone I see fresh out of school on their first job or at a first internship eager to prove they have what it takes to get the job done. He has great chemistry with Perry White (John Hamilton) but also has great chemistry with any of the characters, even the bad guys.

How do you view the series today, as an adult, differently from when you were a child?

I feel the shows have stood the test of time and have not aged at all. They are not topical like "All In The Family" or "Laugh In" which rely on then current issues for their humor. Superman relies on some of the basics of story telling: good versus evil, heroism, some romance, some thrills and mystery. I also see the clothes fashions of the fifties and the beautiful cars from that era which seem so simple compared to living today with our sophisticated electronic communications and gadgets. We are better equipped today, but our lives are much more complicated than in the 1950's.

Why have you continued to watch the series and why do you consider yourself a George Reeves fan?

Viewing the series today has still given me many surprises. For many years I thought I had seen all the shows. It wasn't until Nick At Nite ran the series that I realized at least half the black and white episodes were held out of syndication. I work in the television business, so I know first hand that a few Perry Mason episodes were held out of syndication (including the only episode in which he lost a case). Knowing this and viewing the shows that I had never seen before, I realized why they might have been held back. Some of these shows are very intense for young children to see, and some episodes don't feature all the characters, or some of the special effects don't come off looking too good.

I consider myself a George Reeves fan because of how he handled that part. He really commanded that dual role, which is difficult to do. It is almost like getting two actors for the price of one. I hope they paid him for two roles because he certainly deserved it! Any modern attempt at Superman has been no comparison to George Reeves. I had high hopes for Christopher Reeve -- having a similar name was a good omen I thought. But I now know that no one can do what George Reeves could do. He was, and still is, Superman as far as I am concerned.

If you could meet George Reeves today, what would you most want to say to him?

If I could meet George Reeves, I don't think I could speak, but I would hope to tell him how much I admired him. I think you pick up life influences early in life. It was about this same time I found out about the Beatles music group and I really enjoy their music to this day. George Reeves was an early influence on me to be honest and truthful. I was brought up this way, and I feel it really uncomplicates my life. I don't have to lie and cheat to get what I want. A lot of times if I can't get it fairly and honestly, I don't want to have it after all. I would tell him that he influenced me in this way helped me to learn that telling the truth and fighting for what is right is the only way to live. How wonderful it would be to let him know.

#3 -- Thomas Boud of Bloomingdale, New Jersey

What was your first reaction to George Reeves and/or the Superman series?
I was five or six years old when I first encountered the series. I was addicted on the spot. The funny thing is, it was really Bill Kennedy and Leon Klatzkin who first got me hooked because I was swept away the very moment I saw the opening sequence. The classic opening was so thrilling, that as a young boy, I jumped up and down and clapped my hands in excitement!

As for George, the very first thing that grabbed me was his no-nonsense, straight jaw, granite face. Because of this, he had the ability to say he was Superman without uttering a single word. Secondly, it was his knock'em dead speech delivery. George radiated power through his mouth with lines such as, "You're just wasting your ammunition, Blinkie!", "You don't seem to understand! I'm the real Superman!", and "I'm going to give you one last chance to stop acting like Nazi storm troopers!" Thirdly, George literally didn't pull any punches when it came to dealing with crooks, and was literally a smashing success when it came to handling walls. Lastly, George always treated decent people with respect, even to the extent of deferring to trigger happy Mr. White.

What are your ten favorite episodes?

• "Crime Wave"
• "The Perils of Superman"
• "Panic In The Sky"
• "The Face And The Voice"
• "Jimmy the Kid"
• " Divide And Conquer"
• "The Stolen Costume"
• "The Mind Machine"
• "Superman Week"
• "Around The World With Superman"

What are some of you favorite scenes from the series?

• The scene in "Panic In The Sky" when Superman is flying up through outer space to rendezvous with the asteroid (to put it mildly).
• "The Face And The Voice" when Superman confronts Fairchild, pretending all the while to be the phony Superman. This is, in my opinion, the number one classic scene of the series.
• I just love the scene in "The Prince Albert Coat" where Superman leaps off the side of a warehouse dock. I also love the following sequence of action scenes, which culminates five Klatzkin fanfares later when those two third-grade crooks comically wind up on the floor without Superman's help.
• "Divide And Conquer" where Superman and his double decide to reunite.
• "Crime Wave" where Superman, who is pretending to be dead, rises up from the floor and knocks the lights out of Walter Canby and company.
• "The Stolen Costume" when Clark Kent rushes up the stairs and bursts through the door. I also relish the next scene when Clark is smiling after being shot at.
• The part in "The Town That Wasn't" where Superman does a pre-takeoff sprint along the side of a white farm fence. This wowser is also present in the "Stolen Elephant."
• Another gem is the beginning of "Jimmy The Kid" where Jimmy Olsen comes face-to-face with his carbon copy, Kid Collins.
• "Around The World With Superman" when Superman is flying the girl over some of the world's most famous landmarks.
• "Through The Time Barrier" when Superman confronts gangster Turk who is hilariously decked out in prehistoric duds as Stone Man.
• "Peril In Paris" where Robert Shayne plays the role of a French police inspector.

What interesting mistakes or inside jokes have you detected?

• In "The Golden Vulture", the scene aboard the ship is at night. However, there's a brief scene of a small boat shoving off from the ship which is shown in broad daylight.
• At the end of "Panic In The Sky", Superman lands on the asteroid to plant a destruction device. Here, you can hear birds chirping.
• In "Jimmy The Kid" the whole episode happens at night, but the flying sequences of Superman are at day.
• In "The Dog Who Knew Superman", there's a shot of Superman flying into the ground to rescue Corky. Here we can plainly see a Superman doll on a string diving into the ground.
• In "The Mind Machine", Superman zonks the crooks at the end. He flawlessly deflects gunfire, only to duck when a pistol is thrown at him.
• As for inside jokes, I like the end of "Perils Of Superman" when Clark says,"If it weren't for Superman, I wouldn't be here."
• On the same score, I also fancy the scene in "Flight To The North" where Clark Kent shakes hands with Superman, who in this episode is really a country bumpkin from Skunk Hollow County.

Aside from Superman/Clark Kent, who was your favorite character on the show, and why?
That would have to be Perry White (John Hamilton). He had great chemistry with Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson). That is to say, Perry White's temper together with Jimmy Olsen's naivete gave rise to a great many laughs, let alone Perry White's "Great Caesar's Ghost" and "Don't call me chief" punch lines.

How do you view the series today, as an adult, differently from when you were a child?
The only difference for me is that I have come to see the Adventures Of Superman more as an inimitable masterpiece. When I was young, I always assumed future Supermen would be like George Reeves. But as the years went by, I saw the relatively lame Chris Reeve, and the totally lame Dean Cain. I now know how rare a George Reeves type Superman is. Thus, I can duly appreciate the Adventures Of Superman as a timeless treasure of vintage acting and action.

Why have you continued to watch the series and why do you consider yourself a George Reeves fan?
The Adventures Of Superman is in a class by itself. No actor could touch George Reeves. George could beat any of the other Supermen using the tip of his pinky. Furthermore, no one can equal John Hamilton, Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill, Jack Larson, or Robert Shayne. On top of all that, no announcer can top Bill Kennedy, and I dare say no composer will ever come up with a more spectacularly stirring Superman theme than Leon Klatzkin.

If you could meet George Reeves today, what would you most want to say to him?
I would tell him that he was the greatest Superman there ever was, period. I would definitely want to hear his opinions about Kirk Alyn, Chris Reeve, Dean Cain, and what he thinks of Nicolas Cage playing the role without the traditional blue and red costume. I would also ask him what were his favorite episodes. Finally, I would ask him how he felt to see himself on television flying to the tune of Leon Klatzkin's score. Then, I would give a steel-firm handshake and a giant heartfelt thank you for all the joy he brought to millions of people.

#2 -- Brad Shey of New York, New York.

What was your first reaction to George Reeves and/or the Superman series?
I was probably five or six years old when I saw my first episode of the Adventures Of Superman and I was immediately hooked. I think what impressed me the most was that George Reeves made me believe he really was Superman. He brought the character to life and protected the secret identity of Clark Kent with a passion like it was his own. One of the things that always amazed me and still does is how different George looked with and without eyeglasses. To me he is and always will be the one and only Superman.

What are your 10 favorite episodes?

• "Superman on Earth"
• "The Stolen Costume"
• "Shot In The Dark"
• "The Face And The Voice"
• "Panic In The Sky"
• "The Big Freeze"
• "The Wedding of Superman"
• "The Town That Wasn't"
• "The Big Forget"
• "Superman's Wife"

What are some of you favorite scenes from the series?

• The scene in "Panic In The Sky" when Clark returns to his apartment and opens his shirt with Jimmy in the background. Another is from the same episode when he is wearing the Superman suit and Kent glasses then realizes who he is.
• "Around The World With Superman" when he talks with Ann Carson alone trying to convince her that he is Superman.
• The opening scene in Kent's office from "Shot In The Dark" when Harriet Harper visits him and addresses him as Superman in front of Jimmy Olsen. I think it's priceless the way George reacts with "You may think I'm Superman but I can assure you I'm not!" and the way he tries to explain the photo of him changing into Superman.
• Another would be from "The Face And The Voice"... George stating "I look like Superman why don't I sound like Superman?"
• I was always amazed how Lois & Jimmy couldn't recognize Clark as Superman when he would remove his glasses. My favorite scenes which show this are from "Five Minutes to Doom." Clark jumps from the moving car he and Lois are driving when his x-ray vision discovers a bomb under the back seat. His clothes are ripped apart from the explosion, exposing his costume, and he asks Lois to toss him a trench coat from the back seat. When he comes up the hill to the car she is looking right at him without the glasses and doesn't recognize him as Superman. Clark removes his glasses again in "The Clown Who Cried" and "The Jolly Roger" but Lois & Jimmy don't recognize him.
• I love the part in the "Big Forget" when Clark, Lois, Jimmy and Professor Pepperwinkle are tied up and Clark bursts out of his ropes declaring "I guess there's no use keeping this a secret any longer" Jimmy says.."Golly, Mr. Kent really is Superman"

What interesting mistakes or inside jokes have you detected?
In "The Man Who Could Read Minds," Clark, Jimmy, and Lois are chasing the phantom burglar and shots are fired. Clark and Perry White are driving in a car looking for them. Clark is looking in the distance to see how Lois and Jimmy are doing and tells White to stop the car. At that point the film also stops -- there is about a five-second freeze frame of Kent and White in the car. Another oddity of this episode is that the outdoor scenes are supposed to take place at night and you can see the sun is clearly shining.

Aside from Superman/Kent, who was your favorite character on the show and why?
I would say John Hamilton aka Perry White. I loved the way he yelled at Jimmy all the time. "Don't call me chief" and "Great Caesar's Ghost" were priceless. He had some other classic lines too "I guess the only thing left for me to do now is fire myself" and "People come and go around here all day and tell me nothing."

How do you view the series today, as an adult, differently from when you were a child?
I think the only difference for me today is I am aware of the history and background of the actors who make the show so special. Aside from that the show still captivates me and has a magic that will never fade.

Why have you continued to watch the series and why do you consider yourself a George Reeves fan?
The series is timeless. I think it will go on forever with new generations of fans. No matter how many times I've seen each episode it's like watching it for the first time.. every time. I never get tired of it. George Reeves was a great man who, I'm sure, would be proud today of the impact his work had and the joy it has brought to so may people. He will always be my hero.

If you could meet George Reeves today, what would you most want to say to him?
First I would tell George how much I admire him and what a great actor he was. I would thank him for all of the joy I have received from the Adventures of Superman from early childhood until today. I'd also want to discuss his recollections of specific episodes and ask him if he imagined that the series would still have such a strong following forty years later. I'd be curious to get his opinions on the portrayal of Superman by his successors, Christopher Reeve and Dean Caine...and what he would think of Nicolas Cage being the next in line to assume the role. I would also ask George one question that has always puzzled me and I don't think has ever been answered: Where does Superman put his Clark Kent clothes when he changes into Superman so he can change back to Clark Kent again? Lastly I would thank him for bringing the magic and mystique of Superman to life in such a way that it still captivates my imagination today.

# 1 -- Paul G. Smart of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Paul writes: Herein are my answers to the questions you sent me by e-mail. I had a great time answering them. My wife guessed my favorite episode right off the bat! She is a real supporter of me collecting items from the Adventures of Superman. Coincidentally, she has quite a collection of Gone With The Wind items including photos which feature Reeves as one of the Tarlton twins. Following are my responses:

What was your first reaction to George Reeves and/or the Superman series?
It is the first television program I recall seeing. I was born in 1958 so I first saw it as a rerun. I believe I was four or five years of age. Even at that age I recall the series to be a serious show, definitely not a kiddy show. I was fascinated by Superman and surely must have believed he was real.

What are your 10 favorite episodes?

• "The Human Bomb"
• "The Mind Machine"
• "Superman In Exile"
• "The Stolen Costume"
• "The Secret of Superman"
• "The Birthday Letter"
• "Panic In The Sky"
• "Crime Wave"
• "The Golden Vulture"
• "Shot In The Dark

What are some of you favorite scenes from the series?

• "The Stolen Costume" when the rope burglar accidentally discovers Superman's secret closet.
• "The Mind Machine" when Clark supposedly helps "that poor woman in the car," changes to Superman, and begins to fly.
• "The Birthday Letter" when Superman flies into Cathy Williams' window while she's reading a Superman comic book and when Superman flies Cathy over Metropolis. This is undoubtedly the most realistic flying footage of Superman with another person ever made for television or movies.
• "Crime Wave" when, upon Superman's arrival at Dover's Cliff near Willow Falls, the two henchmen and the professor bait Superman into the specially constructed concrete room. The henchmen dare Superman to enter, "What's the matter" Are you afraid?" Superman smiles, "No, I'm not afraid."
• "Superman in Exile" when Superman is at his cabin near Mount Blue Peak and, while listening to the radio, realizes that lighting could be that "counteracting shock of some kind" which is needed to reverse his radioactivity.

What interesting mistakes or inside jokes have you detected?
Other than Clark's references to himself and Superman ("Six of one, half-dozen of another") and occasional glimpses of wires, none.

Aside from Superman/Kent, who was your favorite character on the show and why?
Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane. She had great chemistry with Reeves. Her aggressive Lois played well against both Kent and Superman. She never hesitated to speak her mind. When she was stuck out on a ledge in "The Human Bomb" she didn't hesitate to protest to Superman about leaving her there. She would slap or step on the toes of a bad guy, if he got in her way, as well.

How do you view the series today, as an adult, differently from when you were a child?
Today I want to know who wrote and directed an episode, who wrote the music, who the guest stars were, which flying sequences were used, and I check to see if I can see the wires on the flying harness. Other than my curiosity about the production of the show, I enjoy is much the same now as when I was a child.

Why have you continued to watch the series and why do you consider yourself a George Reeves fan?
The first couple of seasons made this a darn good series. The acting was good, the directing was good, the stories were good, and the special effects were exceptional for their time. The shows contained drama, suspense, action, amusing tongue-in-cheek moments and occasional human interest stories. I have always wanted to say this, and I think many agree -- George Reeves' fun and jump takeoffs for flying are superior to any other portrayals on the screen. Also, I believe the show's depiction of Superman flying in the first season is superior to any depicted since. No matter how good the special effects are today, to show Superman flying at a rapid speed without his hair blowing or his cape tightly stretched is absurd. I'll take George Reeves flying, wires and all, above anything else I've seen. I am a George Reeves fan because he was my first hero. His Superman knew the difference between right and wrong, and he acted without hesitation. George Reeves, himself, seems to have been a genuinely kind person and a likable individual. He was a fine actor. Thanks for the opportunity for me to share my views of George Reeves and the Adventures of Superman.