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Superman on Television!
"Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful that a locomotive!
Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!"
Robert Maxwell was given the reigns as head of this latest Superman production.
National also drafted Whitney Ellsworth from the New York offices to prepare a pilot
script. The producers decided to launch the project as a motion-picture
in the event that television failed to catch on.
Filming began in the summer of 1951 on the back lot of a movie studio in Culver City,
California.
The movie was called
Superman and the Mole-Men and was filmed in twelve
days. The
project was produced by
Barney Sarecky. Radio and
film veteran George Reeves was cast in the lead role of Superman.
Phyllis Coates was cast as Lois Lane. Superman, Clark Kent, and Lois Lane
were the only regular cast members included in the film as
Robert Maxwell was still in the process of finalizing the rest of the casting
for the series. The movie was a blend of science-fiction and social
commentary and provided plenty of opportunity for Superman to establish
himself as the ultimate action-hero.
This feature picture was designed to
be the first of a series of television episodes made specifically for syndication.
It had been begun shortly after the release of Superman's second
Kirk Alyn movie
serial in 1950 and while the Adventures of Superman radio program was still being
broadcast.
After director Lee Sholem completed filming for the feature movie
introduction of Superman, Tommy Carr joined the production team. Within two
and a half months, he had directed
fifteen of the first season's offerings while Sholem had directed the remaining
nine. Superman and the Mole-Men was edited into a two-part episode
called The
Unknown People which completed the first set of twenty-six episodes.
Filming for the entire first season had been completed before the end of 1951.
In November of 1951 Superman and the Mole-Men was released theatrically and became an immediate success. The story was a plea for tolerance on behalf of a subterranean race and the public was impressed with the affable dignity and earnest conviction that George Reeves brought to his interpretation of Superman. The television episodes were edited, special effects elements were added, and the background and theme music added. These episodes were introduced to the airwaves in early 1953. The first episode, Superman on Earth, featured Superman's origin much as it had been presented in the George Lowther novel: Krypton's ruling council was lead by "Ro-zan" - unlike the Ro-zan of the movie serials, who was a young contemporary of Jor-el, this Ro-zan was an elderly, white bearded statesman. The council was located in the "Temple of Wisdom" and Clark Kent's foster parents were named "Eben" and "Sarah" Kent, names taken directly from the novel. The show was an instant success and its popularity grew both by word-of-mouth and by the frequent attention that it garnered in the print media:
Monday nights are thrilling nights on channel 7, with famed "Superman" and his
unequaled feats of daring bringing to TV viewers entertainment of the highest
order. Bows go to George Reeves, who won the stellar role after more than
200 candidates were auditioned and interviewed. Reeves brings to
the character of "Superman" an absolute believability that at first glance
would seem to be beyond the powers of a young actor. Reeves completely fulfills
the conception of the fabulous character known to millions.
Phyllis Coates was not available to reprise her role as Lois Lane, so the production was in need of a new actress. Ellsworth turned to the perfect replacement, someone with just the right experience: Noel Neill was brought in to reprise the same role that she had portrayed for Sam Katzman in the 1948 and 1950 Superman serials at Columbia Studios. In 1953, Whitney Ellsworth produced another 26 episodes. Color was introduced in 1954 and would be used for the remaining 56 episodes, produced from 1954 to 1957. The standing sets got a fresh coat of paint and the wardrobes were reconsidered for their appearance on color film. The first thing to be replaced was George Reeves' chocolate and gray Superman suit - now Superman would be outfitted in his traditional red and blue action uniform. The new color suits, however, were designed to still provide enough contrast between the red and blue to suggest the different colors in the black and white prints that were initially made. 1954 was still ten years away from color television broadcast capabilities being commonplace and viewers would not actually see Adventures of Superman in color until years later. By the time the series ceased production in 1957, George Reeves had become the definitive Man of Steel for generations of television viewers.
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"Superman is a legend. We had no idea that we were involved with
anything that would go on and on, and I'm sure it will still be
going on long after we're all gone."
- Noel Neill 2010 update: Jim Nolt Remembers George Reeves |
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Pictures and article from
Superman on Television by Michael Bifulco with
additions from Superman: The Complete History by Les Daniels.