Memories of 1950's Television ~ "The Adventures of Superman"

We loved our black and white televisions because we knew no better. Did we ever dream back then that we could have so much technology in a few years down the road?

What kid back then did not expect Superman to come flying through a window whenever they needed help? At the beginning of each program the narrator would say the same words that we knew by heart; "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings at a single bound -- " Then we would be told to look up in the sky. Was it a bird or a plane? No, it was Superman!

Superman was another television program that evolved from the radio series of the same name. A pilot episode aired in December of 1951 but the full series did not start until nine months later in September of 1952. The series went on until April of 1958.

The theme of the show revolved around the city of Metropolis and the newspaper called The Daily Planet. Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen were reporters who worked for their boss; named Perry White. Perry White was a hard driven old coot who seemed to have trouble reining in the likes of Clark, Lois and especially Jimmy, the cub reporter. When he got mad, he would shout; "great Caesar's ghost!" and then you knew he was really mad.

Clark Kent was really Superman and after six seasons they still could not figure it out. I guess the reporters back then did not have as much suspicion about people as they do nowadays. Lois Lane was in love with him and although the series ended in 1958; the legend has lived on with many movies and subsequent television shows and comic books and conventions keeping the spirit alive.

George Reeves did not play Superman on the radio series as several actors transitioned their role from radio to television. He did however take his part very seriously. He even quit smoking so as not to influence children who may see that the super hero smoked. Too bad his life ended at only 45 years of age. His death was ruled a suicide due to depression, but there are still questions surrounding his death that point to the contrary.

Sources:

http://www.crazyabouttv.com/adventuressuperman.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Reeves