Explore the Adventures of Superman TV Series

[@JamesBrown-i2e]

I grew up watching Superman. Years back I wrote Noel Neill and Jack Lawson and they both sent me their autographs. I still have them in an album.

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

Two things about Jack Larson that surprised me was the fact that he was Jewish and that he was gay. Personal life, Larson was the life partner of director James Bridges from 1958 until Bridges' death on June 6, 1993.

[@davesutherland9165]

I'm only 52 so I missed the first airings but I've been watching now on TV every Sunday afternoon❤

[@frankporter6169]

I will always remember that June afternoon when I got home from school and read that Reeves was dead. Shattered my world to bits. Thank you for your sincere efforts Mr Reeves.

[@larrymcclure3842]

I was a kid back in the 50,s and this was my favorite show.

[@DarrylRuiz-s1w]

For my generation George Reeves was Superman May he Rest in Peace

[@williamantico7768]

Yes, but was his death a suicide or Murder ? What do you think ?

[@AFMMD-q8]

@@williamantico7768Hmm, excellent question, I reckon we will never know. There’s an excellent interesting film on this regards (murder or suicide?) a movie call Hollywoodland where George Reeves (played by Ben Affleck) is at the center of the story. I highly recommend watching it, it plays like a documentary, with Adrian Brody, Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins.

[@RobertMelman-s4j]

Yes!

[@maynardsmoreland]

When Mole Men weapons were made out of Electrolux vacuums, oil funnels and gasket thingabobs. And we liked it. And all was right with the world.

[@GodsMan500]

lol back in the day, special effects were so crude and we loved them. There was something about the imperfections of devices, stop motion animation, and traveling mattes that was WAY more exciting than the “perfect” CG of today.

[@daler.steffy1047]

@@GodsMan500 Such improvisations made these filmed episodes seem like plays being performed on the stage, and where there was a minimal budget for props; because what really mattered were the actors performing well in their respective roles. But the simplicity is what gave it this show its beauty--and strength, and that is what you are talking about in your comments above, which, by the way, are great comments/insights.

[@Pratman]

They still amaze me how they still did the effects in those days 😀

[@tvcrazyman]

Yeah, it has always fascinated me too.😀

[@jimdep6542]

WPIX Channel 11 New York used to show The Adventures of Superman everyday when I'd get home from school. Great memories. Easy to see now they had a lot great supporting actors for guest stars over the years.

[@mikepasko7493]

me too

[@SteveBrant55]

That's where I watched it too!

[@lccdan1]

That is where I watched it also as a kid in City Island (North Bronx) NY !

[@LouThePro]

Same here

[@3122-t6h]

I came to Canada when I was eleven, in 1968. It was still on the air then, but I think that was the last year. Shows like Gilligans Island, Hogans Heroes, McHales Navy and Star Trek became popular.

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

One of my all-time favorite TV series. George Reeves is an icon. He could never be replaced.

[@bobtipton4431]

There is just something about George Reeves. I can’t put my finger on it. It’s a mix of charm and likability and being comfortable in his skin. He was so great in this show. No one else would have been this good.

[@johnjames-glover4630]

Another fascinating video. Despite all the mistakes, I still love these old shows. Best wishes from England.

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks, I love the old shows too. They are always fun to re-watch again and again.

[@MikeS-um1nm]

One of my favorite TV shows ever! I couldn't WAIT till after school, to watch the reruns in the 60's. The theme music still gets me excited! I too wish they saved the outtakes. Those bloopers would be comedy gold!

[@Victor-gi3dy]

In 1993 i got to meet Noel Neill she was so nice RIP 🙏🏼

[@jimdep6542]

OH !.......you lucky dog you.

[@UncleDavesKitchen]

I met her a few times, too, and Jack Larson and the other Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates

[@tomryan914]

@@UncleDavesKitchen Noel (cute), Phyllis (sexy).

[@gregorycoates9643]

I’m 75 years old and loved this show. I had a Superman lunchbox. Watched it after school on a B&W 13 inch Emerson TV.

[@tvcrazyman]

That lunchbox would be a cool collectible to have today.

[@genefinz19]

@@tvcrazyman So would the TV! 😉

[@thetinkeringold-timer6934]

It's fun to see how different viewing things like this as a kid vs being old. It seems campy now but that's part of the fun.

[@Wallace-z8i]

Tvcrazyman: I have the entire "Adventures Of Superman" TV series on DVDs and I enjoy watching them on a regular basis. I have seen what could be described as minor bloopers in numerous episodes from the series, but most of them were so insignificant to the plot of the episodes that trying to reshoot the scenes probably wouldn't have been financially worth the time. The series was really good regardless of the limitations that they had to contend with at the time that it was made. I am a fan of the "Adventures Of Superman" TV series and I have a number of both Superman and Action Comics that I have collected over the years. To me both George Reeves and Christopher Reeve are the best Superman of their times and of all time.

[@1949LA-ARCH]

Awesome 😎

[@cadeevans4623]

Love this classic show have it on dvd such classic effects

[@philwilliams8328]

I remember the good old Electrolux vacuum cleaner when I was a child. It didn't have wheels, but instead had to be dragged on the carpet on wire rails. Other than that. never missed an episode of Superman back in the 50's on a TV built into a cabinet that must have weighed 200 lbs.

[@stewartrussell1951]

This was throughly enjoyable. I loved the show as a kid and still do. George Reeves was simply marvelous and the other characters too.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

I loved watching Superman

[@carydavidhoffson6014]

This was the greatest show ever done after all the years that gone by and the music for the show and the writing of the show

[@colinduff2922]

My favorite TV series of all-time. Cheers from Sydney, Australia.

[@daler.steffy1047]

This isn't on the subject of Superman, but in recognition of your acknowledgment of living in Australia, I would love to visit your country sometime, especially the Outback, including Alice Springs, (other) sheep stations and some billabongs. My primary travel focus would include exploring the provinces of Northern Territory and Queensland. (And as an aside: I am a huge fan of the "Crocodile Dundee" movie franchise. Paul Hogan was really funny, smart and just plain entertaining in his three movies; andI think he is an intelligent actor, along with the many co-stars, and additional character actors, all who gave outstanding performances and support to the main actors, while adding their own unique richness and further believability to the films' various plots.)

[@colinduff2922]

@@daler.steffy1047 I hope you do get the opportunity to visit our beautiful country. I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed.

[@ZilogBob]

@@daler.steffy1047 I've lived here all my life and never seen any of the places you're interested in. Maybe you should look for some episodes of "Bush Tucker Man".

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

The show was before my time, I was born in late December 1957. I was 60 years old before I got the complete series on DVD and finally got to see it! Wonderful show! I wonder what it would be like now with all our advances in special effects technology!

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

@tomchris60 I literally lived in the Boonies! We got 1 channel, CBS, Black and White, until late 1969 when we finally got 3 channels and a Color TV. I missed a LOT of Great Shows, due to young age or it being on ABC or NBC. I was also 60 before I got to watch Get Smart, Batman, Rat Patrol, and Addams Family!

[@tomchris60]

I'm surprised. I was born in 1960. For well over a decade, The Adventures Of Superman was an afternoon favorite on WPIX in New York. I assumed kids (and adults) enjoyed the show elsewhere. But then again, I never saw an episode of the Lone Ranger until WPIX ran them in 1976. Glad you enjoyed them!

[@theessentials450]

It was not before your time. It aired endlessly in reruns. Hell the reruns are on today!

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

@@theessentials450 Not in my area it didn't. All we ever got was endless reruns of I Love Lucy and the Dick Van Dyke show! We never got reruns of anything good. Okay, those were good shows, but after you have seen the same episode 8 times? Local station was too cheap. That's why on Saturdays and Sundays it was all Country Music from 9 in the morning to 9 at night! Endless episodes of Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Grand Old Oprey, Hee Haw and others! And at night, on Saturday, it was Johnny Cash, on Sunday, Mac Davis. It's no wonder I can barely stand Country Music at age 66!

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

Oh, and our town was so Stone Age, we didn't even have a Rock Station until 1972, it went off at 8:00 PM, and it was all soft Rock. The only Rock I ever got to see was on Ed Sullivan. And not even that all the time. Parents sent me out of the room for the appearance of the Doors!

[@thomaschacko6320]

For a low-budget show of 1951, the flying effects were damn good! Even with the big bucks, I don’t think the Christopher Reeve effects were all that spectacular!

[@jimdep6542]

Next time, you might want to include the scene where Superman is letting all those bullets bounce off of his chest but then ducks when the thug throws his gun at him.

[@tvcrazyman]

Check it out. I put that one on my first Superman goofs video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6nSg6N3fKuEsK8si=6sEK_ivQnFjNnoWz

[@jimdep6542]

@@tvcrazyman Cool.........that's probably were I saw it from. Thanks !

[@jimdep6542]

@@BlondieHappyGuy I give you credit for standing your ground by resisting the urge to brag about the wisdom you had in your youth. I think I would have been overpowered by my poor impulse control .

[@andyjay9346]

Yeah, in Australia George Reeves was the most popular Superman.

[@danaMccabe-dagmarK]

Oh how I loved this show as a kid. George Reeves’ Superman was my first celebrity crush 😁. Thank you…enjoyed this a lot! ❤️

[@tvcrazyman]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@patfisher6210]

I think most kids who had TVs in the 50s like me enjoyed especially the Three Stooges and Superman

[@1949LA-ARCH]

George Reeves best Superman ever. Flip shots means transposing the negative 😊

[@SteveBrant55]

I always enjoy your videos. You respect the subject matter while obviously having a good time reporting on what you've seen. I particularly liked that you found an example of when you could see the support bar on the belly pan in a flying scene!

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks, I grew up with these shows in re-runs. They never get old.

[@m.f.m.67]

Doing so much with such a tiny budget. George was great.

[@petesmith9472]

Best Superman ever. I would race home to watch this and I have watched every episode over the years since.

[@securityrobot]

It’s not just the lines in the background, the contrast and the studio lighting are the instant giveaways.

[@JOSEPHDECROSS]

My first Superman on re runs. All emotions as a kid. Did enjoy him a lot.

[@PaulHayman-tq5kb]

Back in the early days of TV they are a head of their Time with The special effects

[@joemazloom7664]

George was the best Superman ❤

[@steveconn1375]

I remember the cartoon of superman in the 60s along with the lone ranger cartoon s in the 60s also casey Jones and cannon ball late 50s I believe as a TV series show they done pretty well for the effects side but of course there wasn't any video rewinds to stop or pause to check out the mistakes but fun to watch today interesting reeves same name as Christopher in the 78 movie superman my favourite Christopher reeves and miss Lane played by the beautiful maggot kiddler at the time but all those 50 and 60s Cannon ball lassie Casey Jones like the puppets fire ball stingray all had great bloopers and goofs thank you again

[@dcsensui]

Superman was my hero when I was 5. Thanks for getting all this material together.

[@bobbova8708]

Thanks for another fun look at Superman , tv crazy man it is always neat to learn about a favorite subject and adds further enjoyment when watching again.looking forward to your next subject!

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@chrismnutone8421]

So many fine memories - thank you!

[@tvcrazyman]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bedfordforrest8853]

Beginning at about 7:15, where you point out the reverse "S," it also appears that they decided to hide the flying tray underneath the costume.

[@Shootingstarcomics]

My favorite episode is the one with the criminal hiding in that indestructible cube. I also like the meteor episode where he loses his memory, he lands out in the middle of nowhere and steps behind a rock to change into his suit and hat that were apparently waiting on him there.

[@maxlebow7373]

George Reeves had a great screen presence. Watch him in movies - he could have been a star.

[@lucianprescott8357]

You have to be amazed how the technical people created this. It was the early days of using materials for that time to create illusion. They were the true inspiration for what we have today. Today it doesn’t require a lot of thinking. All you need is a 15 year old in front of a computer and a AI/CGI program to create special effects.

[@kurtarron6482]

YOU have bloopers??? I would have never known. Lol that was great. Thanks for the superman memories. Good times

[@tvcrazyman]

You should hear all my bloopers as I narrate. 😀

[@leonardbragg7910]

Ha,ha. My mom had that Electrolux vacuum!

[@tonynardini1472]

I couldn’t wait to get home from school and watch.

[@xnavynuc]

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman! Faster than a speeding bullet….

[@briggsfilm]

When I first viewed this channel, I thought it was a piss take on the old shows. I soon realised where you were coming from and have enjoyed them ever since.

[@tvcrazyman]

Glad to hear it. 😀

[@catkeys6911]

Well, this really took me back, and the behind-the-scenes info was fascinating! I never missed an episode when I was a little kid - a VERY long time ago (71). The image quality of t.v.'s back then was very poor and mostly black & white, so they could get away with a lot of stuff that you just couldn't detect while watching it on an old scan screen b&w t.v. No digital tech, high definition color flat screens back then.

[@glenpolen5562]

Great video. It amazes me even today how editors have 1 job to do and still miss things. 😑. Like the diving board that Reeves jumped on to do a take off. The cameraman should not have had the camera that low, and the viewer could still see the jump. I could see the bar Reeves used to go through a window. Thankfully we can watch and laugh at the goofs and bloopers. 😂😂

[@tvcrazyman]

Thank you very much!

[@SoundJudgment]

Time and Money. It is all a matter of having enough of each... to clean up an Edit... or finish a Production session.

[@wayneyadams]

9:33 Of course his arm would move since he was holding the halter as we see in the previous shot. In fact, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for his arm not to move! That is not a goof, it is perfectly natural!

[@johncaldwell-wq1hp]

We got T.V.-in Sydney Australia in 1956,-one of the first shows,was Superman !!-(in black/white-)-it was a "Sensation"-one of the kids a school,had a "Super-man"T--Shirt-with Superman "Breaking a chain"--Man-I was so Jelous-!!-(he was a short-ass-fat kid too.)-with one of Beanies-with-a-Propeller !!--did you have "Jet-Jackson"-the flying Commando ??-

[@jlnbroadcast]

When many narrators make you cringe, yours is very good, pleasant, and informative.

[@wonderdrummer]

Love it! Enjoyed watching these episodes and how they were made. Might be interesting to do a video on the Cars and Trucks of the Series which were pretty cool to see when they were used in the episodes if you had not done one yet.

[@tvcrazyman]

That would be fun to try. That would definitely take a lot of research though.

[@Vic-lk1zq]

Excellent! I was hoping to see the scene where the bad guy attempted to stab Superman, and the knife bent, defying all laws of physics. I distinctly remember seeing it, on TV, as a kid and thinking "What the Hell". Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed your video.

[@tvcrazyman]

I do talk about that scene on a previous video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGbcXot5hsyCf80si=SIBjQyi8v0SjuPPe It's about 2 -3 minutes into the video.

[@mikegrappone9078]

Well done. Thanks for creating

[@tvcrazyman]

I appreciate it.

[@winnon992]

I remember coming home from school and watching Superman and Three Stooges . I liked them both .

[@roycem4945]

in the episode Dagger Island - when Superman goes into the pit / well - he repeatedly punches the wall to try to find water. You can see that the brick wall resists to break and it clearly hurts his fist / hand.

[@blitzplix01]

I remember hurrying from school and watching "The Adventures of Superman" and "The Mickey Mouse Club".

[@davidmathis-xd6nf]

I miss Superman. RIP George Reeves.

[@giovanninatale9436]

Great Scott. The saying was an interjection for Surprise.

[@stevencruz4738]

Enjoying these, takes me back to those days.

[@m.f.m.67]

Use the door like everybody else? Ha! I'm pretty certain there's a late episode where, after Superman busts through the wall, Jimmys even asks him why he didn't just use the door. George said something to the effect that "Well, Jimmy, I thought my way was a little more dramatic!" Funny stuff and George could pull it off with just enough tongue-in-cheek.

[@tvcrazyman]

That sounds just like what Reeves would say. I can't remember what episode that would have been, but I do feel like I've seen it.

[@daler.steffy1047]

You have a great eye for detail, especially when you are able to notice so many of the mistakes/errors that were made during the filming of all of these shows that you've been presenting to us through your video compilation. And while also providing us, your viewers, with interesting technical points as they arise in your program selections, you are also a good researcher!

[@tvcrazyman]

Thank you very much.

[@daler.steffy1047]

@@tvcrazyman You are very welcome!

[@JackMcClendon]

My wife and LOVE your channel ❤ Thank you sir

[@tvcrazyman]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it

[@maynardsmoreland]

Man, you've got some great back issues, including the classic cover of Superman 233 from 1971!

[@tvcrazyman]

thanks

[@tvcrazyman]

I hope you all enjoy my latest look at the Adventures of Superman. I found some new goofs and I look more in detail into the special effects of the series.

[@Daud76]

Very funny! My favourite Superman goof is still how he stands tall to bullets and yet ducks when someone throws an empty gun at him. 😄

[@detpak]

Hey Crazyman.. do you have any info on the pinky ring George Reeves wore as Clark?

[@Wallace-z8i]

@@detpak I believe that George Reeves' pinky ring was a gift that he received from an old girlfriend years earlier, he would leave it in his dressing room when he was playing Superman.

[@detpak]

@@Wallace-z8i Ok Thanks for the reply, I also noted Deforest Kelley also wore one in all the Star trek series and movies.

[@tommywestmoreland6113]

brother we still love it and thanks again!

[@Pharoset]

Outstanding! Really kept my attention.

[@carydavidhoffson6014]

This shows how greatest it is

[@GodsMan500]

That mole men episode always freaked me out. It had such a strange vibe to it. At least as a little 6 year old. I wonder if it is available to view. At age 67, perhaps I would be a little less freaked out.

[@bsharp3281]

They animated super flight then like they do today, by swapping out the actor with an animated version! Only today the animation is in 3D. But it's basically the same idea

[@MrDeveron28]

14:07 nice to put a face to the voice Mr Crazyman, looking buff too 💪🏼💪🏼😮

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks

[@HalloranIllustrations]

I thought they used a glass plate that was a little reflective. They then would shine the light on the subject, Superman, and it would look like he was duplicating himself.

[@tvcrazyman]

Could be. I know typically they used to use split screen for putting doubles in a room on TV, but for the initial splitting off part they may have used something like that. I haven't ran across any specific information for that scene.

[@billthestinker]

Excellent work

[@3122-t6h]

Thanks for that, I must say that I enjoyed that.👍

[@mikemayberry7121]

It's a shame there aren't any bloopers from this show. At least we have the Star Trek ones. I used to work at the Superman museum in Metropolis Illinois long ago. It's still there, bigger and better than ever. I'm going to share this video with their Facebook group. It was most excellent!

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks. I've been through there a couple of times. I need to go again.

[@angelaasfour1056]

all the scenes where Superman is flying you are slowing the footage down on video or DVDs which you can ONLY see when you slow it down! remember in the 1950s people were watching superman on TV so they were not able to slow the picture down to spot blooper & analyze the scenes, that's why it worked.

[@feralbluee]

I just loved George Reeves and Superman - and all 4 of those guys. Lois was a role model - she stood up to everybody :) 😊👩🏻‍⚕️🕵🏻‍♀️💙🌷🌱

[@Oldgreycowboy]

This was the first time your videos were suggested to me. I’m in !!!

[@Pratman]

Also love your goofs at the end lol 😂😂

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks. Yeah, I figure if I'm going to goof up my lines I should get some use out of it. 😀

[@chrisjeffries2322]

YES! The old Electrolux Vacum Cleaner, I have one in my shed. Any takers?

[@tanmaz8006]

.. good video like all ways .. 👍

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks

[@stanzelko5243]

Even as a kid you could pick up on the corny special effects, but you would remember the good ones.

[@heels-villeshoerepairs8613]

Well done!

[@jeffrenman4146]

I liked your video I found it interesting And it was fun… I would just like to say thank you for sharing with us this old TV show that was really cool

[@arphaxadarphaxad1592]

Dang! (6:06) served that man a 2 piece hot and spicy... w/ no drink!

[@wanaraz]

Saturday morning TV was the best.

[@wadebarnett2542]

I especially liked the shot of the stand-in on the body pan apparatus. Also, it's too bad a shirt with the reverse emblem wasn't created. That way, when the film was flopped, the "S" would appear to be right. Maybe AI can fix that goof for us someday.

[@rosariorose9]

I met Jack Larson just before he passed away. I mentioned to him how much I admired his work as a playwright, and he couldn't have been more pleased.

[@chifan7]

One scene not mentioned here I found a little perplexing. The episode where Superman has to levitate Lois to shield him from Kriptonite rays. They were way down in a shaft of some kind. How do they "walk" up the walls to get out?

[@Ecto_Eric]

This episode is amazing Bravo 👏👏👏

[@kennatelli9778]

These treasures are show on METV (memorable television) on Sunday morning from 11AM to 1 PM

[@williamantico7768]

I used to watch those episodes when I was a kid. We noticed a few of the special effects that were used like to wires and fake walls. However, can you talk about the transition from B&W to Color ? When and why did they decide to start filming in Color, when Color TV's weren't on the market yet ?

[@tvcrazyman]

Thanks. I'll try and remember to address that in my next Superman video. They were definitely thinking ahead by a few years. I do wonder if it caused the production value in other areas to shrink though just a bit due to the expense.

[@capnhawk51]

@@tvcrazyman Yes, it did. The number of episodes per season shrunk from 26 to 13 for the color seasons.

[@wayneyadams]

One of the things that always drove me crazy, even as a child, was the fact that Superman had super strength, yet he would draw back his arm and punch people as hard as he could which should have killed them while throwing their limp bodies hundreds of yards. In some episodes he does visibly pull his punches, but far too often he does not.

[@tvcrazyman]

I guess, Reeves was trying to add the extra movement for dramatic effect, but that is a good point.

[@CapitanFantasma1776]

Thanks!

[@tommywestmoreland6113]

Watching the opening where the speaker said "Look, up in the sky! Is it a bird, its a plane? No, it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet, Superman, faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to bend steel with his barehands, who disguised as a mile mannered reporter for a great metroplitan news paper,, fights for for truth, justice and the American way! I was so proud as he stood with the American flag in the background waving. I believe that introduction was when I really began to learn what love for one's country is all about. I dreamed of being Superman, rounding up crooks, fighting aliens, and for law and order. Maybe we should require all children to watch the reruns. I still do today when I can find them. Thank you Tvcrazyman, I am 75 now and cherish the memories. I also wanted to be the Lone Ranger and have a sidekick like Tonto. These are the programs that inspired our country to have pride in being Americans.

[@tvcrazyman]

I do seriously believe that parents should monitor closely everything their kids watch these days, and old re-runs like Superman would not be a bad idea. It's safe and you don't even have to worry about what the kids see while their watching it.

[@merlemasse7882]

I loved that show. My first screen hero.

[@paulweston285]

" No comment until the time limit is up "

[@loupasternak]

lol, epic line

[@captaintruth3219]

Now you tell me 65 years later that he couldn’t really fly⁉️👈👀

[@tvcrazyman]

Well, I uh...hmm.🤔😀

[@tommywestmoreland6113]

@@tvcrazyman I remember my grandmother making me a cape. I thought the cape would make me fly. I remember her telling me "now fly Superman! I took off running with clinched fists!

[@Skaramine]

The Sterling Holloway boost was Superman using his super breath. Super breath was a default for moving anything in 50s and 60s comics.😉 Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter blew or inhaled all manner of things around. Sorry for being such a comics nerd.

[@tvcrazyman]

I could see that as an explanation. I have several boxes of Superman comics myself.

[@Skaramine]

@@tvcrazyman I noticed that behind you.

[@SherylJ-y6n]

Thanks for this! Very interesting!

[@tvcrazyman]

Glad you enjoyed it!