Superman: Radioactive forever

In 1953 Superman was called upon to save Metropolis from a nuclear disaster. I never thought about how real such a situation could be until 1979's Three Mile Island incident (close to where I live).

[@davidfinch7407]

Remember, kids, if something is dangerously radioactive, just make sure you stay at least three feet away from it...

[@organchoirman9698]

or find a desk to hide under

[@davidlong1786]

@@organchoirman9698 Duck and turtle...uh I mean duck and cover,

[@Ecosse57]

and wear a mask you bought at walmart.

[@davidlong1786]

@@Ecosse57 Halloween masks are half off....no wonder you got sick if they only covered half your face.

[@johnbrown4568]

Or...stop...drop...and roll.

[@SteveGore-cy3zr]

One of the two or three BEST episodes ever

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Cannot disagree. This particular one is still relevant today ... as is "Panic In The Sky."

[@kosmokritikos9299]

I liked the one where the freaky little bald midgets kept crawling out of the ground. They were also radioactive. I believe that is why Superman admired them so.

[@davidh9844]

Terror in the Sky was and remains my favorite. Supes against the radioactive asteroid followed by Clark's amnesia.

[@CuteLesbo69]

I remember watching this as a little girl and my stomach was in knots thinking Superman would be radioactive forever lol

[@kevinshumaker3753]

I hope the scientist Superman saved wasn't named Bruce Banner...

[@JGG1701]

It was.🟩

[@davidtucker3008]

Yep, just what I thought too.

[@terrellbaker1660]

@@JGG1701 Superman is in DC comics. Hulk is in Marvel comics. It was not Banner.

[@JGG1701]

@@terrellbaker1660 I stand corrected.

[@tuckerdrake2218]

@@terrellbaker1660 humor. It is a difficult concept.

[@VoightComp]

I watched the original broadcast of this episode and was so impressed with the image of Superman's fingerprints glowing on the candlestick telephone he use during his isolation. Indelible memories from my youth.

[@moboutmen]

The black and white episodes were superior. This in in the top 3.

[@howardhays8044]

Years ago had chat with Noel Neill (told how Bing Crosby hit on her promising to help her career when she was young chorine on Paramount lot in late-1940s) - explained how when Kelloggs took over sponsorship and series went color, went more for that silly “Professor Periwinkle” stuff, and away from that grittier film-noir atmosphere of the earlier black-and-white episodes.

[@damienthorne861]

Absolutely agree

[@whochecksthis]

I always heard they were filmed in color, apparently the first 52 episodes were filmed in black and white.

[@jonesy4588]

and for some reason he was a lot stronger in them

[@CarlosFernandez-r8o]

Exactly.

[@margaritalorenz9350]

This episode really ahead of its time and fascinating in the context of the 1950's. Especially later shot when he is above Metropolis looking down , isolated.... "You haven't quite figured out how to handle it..... the radiation- no. The radiation has become concentrated in me.".. I have been rediscovering all these episodes . I realized how much a part of my childhood they were and how much I really missed them. Sent my grand nephew the whole series for his birthday. I am looking forward to, Around the World with Superman which is on this weekend. Thanks so much Jim. 3:34

[@JosephPeluso-ce4tm]

They gave Superman big stuff to do in season two. It was the best season of the series. And none of it would have worked without the great George Reeves. Thank you, George. You gave millions of kids the gift of hope.

[@calebb8355]

I remember watching this as a kid. Someone please tell me I am not the only guy in his 20’s who has childhood memories of this show.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Caleb, you are definitely not the only one. Many people, young and older remember George Reeves and Superman. If you have time, check out my Facebook page "jimnolt" or join my FB group "The Adventures Continue."

[@richardhahn4067]

One of my favorites.

[@CarlosFernandez-r8o]

Third favorite episode of all time,after Around the World with Superman and Panic in the Sky.

[@marshallviliesis]

I must have slept through this part of Oppenheimer

[@jw8160]

😂

[@Frank_in_Iowa]

Later he finds that stepping into a super hot furnace destroys the radioactivity. Always a happy ending.

[@bas4903]

Danger no admittance..door unlocked 😂

[@martyvanduzer9263]

Its amazing he never got his cape stuck in the door.

[@bobtis]

Remember this one from 1955. Great effects for the time. Always love George. If he only knew what an impression he has made over the past 70 years. What about the other poor slobs on the floor. Toast.

[@birdman7135]

He got better.

[@davidlong1786]

Thank goodness, being a newt forever would have been just darn awful.

[@anthonymascia4267]

"Superman in Exile": great episode. Many of the best scripts in the entire series were from Season 2, like this one.

[@lancetuckey6403]

Superman seemed to struggle a bit moving that scientist...

[@billthestinker]

Great upload poor Superman had radioactive gonads after this mishap

[@1956pms]

Thanks for the clip. A classic show.

[@JimSib1]

Superman was my inspiration to start lifting weights lol.

[@StephenFlynn-xl2fw]

My inspiration to wear tights.

[@jamesbutler8821]

​@@StephenFlynn-xl2fw My inspiration to call myself SuperJim

[@mebeingU2]

My inspiration to wear a cape.

[@Sr89hot]

My inspiration to became irradiated.

[@williamw422]

George Reeves is the best Superman.

[@JaimeNegron-hd3ev]

True

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

Correction: George Reeves IS Superman!

[@williamw422]

@@RumbleFish69 Then go comment on one of those other videos where "Superman" fails to stop an exploding jar of pee, if that's your thing.

[@RumbleFish69]

@@williamw422 You mad? Why you mad, bro? Is it because your radioactive Superman is a joke. I grew up on this Superman, but unlike you, I don't let this ridiculous clip tickle my nostalgia pubes. And yes, I'm sure that your worthless Superman can't stop an exploding jar of pee, so thanks for pointing that out.

[@RumbleFish69]

@@williamw422 Hey man, you're right.... Sorry for the jerky comments. Sometimes I say stupid and regrettable things. This is clearly one of those times. So, I'm sorry if my stupidity caused you any aggravation.

[@kevinlucas8437]

Oh, I lived for this show❤❤❤❤

[@JerryN7970]

This could have been a perfect place for a DC/Marvel crossover if the guy he dragged out of there turned into the Hulk from all the gamma radiation. But I don’t think Marvel had come up with the Hulk yet. 😂

[@keittkatranch5167]

Great idea!

[@TimCassaday-jb8ul]

They didn't come up with the hulk they took the idea from the book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde..

[@13thwho]

This was filmed in 1952, 10 years before the Hulk was created.

[@davidh9844]

Thinking the exact same thing! That's gamma rays for you.

[@rosenasser5943]

Superman needs to take potassium iodide immediately!

[@markhatfield5621]

Too late, have to take it before exposure.

[@calvinhandley2373]

It wouldn’t affect him. If he can drink poison and breath in poison gas without being affected, then potassium iodide wouldn’t do anything either.

[@rkish1969]

Bah Hulk SMASH fireworks That hurt

[@larryfloyd4993]

BEST SUPERMAN EVER

[@Bionic_Fonzie]

:15 change it to .25x and you can see George jumping off the ladder or ledge...whatever he's standing on

[@josevanderleisantiago1337]

Como bom recordar super-homem antigo minha infância e adolescência❤❤❤

[@chrissmith3369]

My childhood hero !!!!

[@babuzzard6470]

And 73 years later, not much has changed!

[@SarahOstrin1]

*LOL* Notice that all wore PPE except Superman. Given the risk of gamma rays it behooved him to put one on. I wonder if, as Clark Kent, he also wore a watch with luminous radium hands. 😉

[@markking8228]

My favorite episode!

[@tomfuller5585]

This was my favorite show when I was five years old, and...odd...back then it wasn't corny!

[@billlozier5551]

Yeah, you were five. What was corny when we are five?😂

[@vulcan2882]

If that guy was full of gamma radiation he would have melted away in seconds.

[@jimhills1920]

They’d all be dead just by being near him, but this was the 50’s. You weren’t looking for actual science, were you?? 😆

[@vulcan2882]

@@jimhills1920 .. I know they would all be dead, but back in the 50s most people believed what they saw on TV.

[@neilkurzman4907]

Dr. Banner didn’t melt away

[@vulcan2882]

@@neilkurzman4907 ... I guess you didn't read my comment. Real gamma radiation would have melted him.

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@vulcan2882 You do know who Dr. Banner is? That would be the one who became the incredible Hulk. So he didn’t melt. As far as Superman goes, I have no idea what the radiation resistance of Kryptonians is. We’re not talking about reality here.

[@banshee6k]

The TRUE origin of the Incredible Hulk.

[@haroldrisch1725]

You beat me to it.

[@jw8160]

Superman later imprisoned the Hulk in the Phantom Zone, but a inter-dimensional rift formed releasing Hulk into the Marvel Universe.

[@soteriamediaproductions6165]

The only reason Superman showed up is because Chuck Norris wasn’t available.

[@ikemartin6500]

I grew up watching George Reeves' Superman. I still remember the front page headlines from the New York Daily News when he commented suicide. I was very young and didn't fully understand that he was gone forever. It saddened me and gave me my first thoughts about life and death.

[@richardbalducci4490]

George Reeves’ SUPERMAN was another Satanic Ritual Sacrifice disguised as a “suicide”; George Reeves died exactly 444 DAYS after the premiere of the LAST episode of “The Adventures of Superman” - - - 66.666 x 6.66 = 444 DAYS - - - In “The WITCHES’ Gematria” the name “LUCIFER” adds up to 444.

[@discobear5752]

Most likely he didn't commit suicide. Search KZbin for videos about his supposed "suicide" and you will learn how ridiculous the story is. Several shots from the gun were heard. How many bullets does it take for a man to kill himself?

[@kurthotelling6606]

Read up on the details. It's pretty clear he was murdered -- the police investigation was an incompetent mess.

[@davidsmith385]

I watched this show in the 60's. I remeber seeing Gone with the wind and seeing Reeves in that movie.

[@babtist58]

He was also the bartender in from here to eternity

[@tlldrkhndy]

"We're all doomed." Dooooooooomed!

[@BadGVideoGames]

It wasn't 3 roetgen. It was 15,000.

[@rttoonist4275]

That’s not great, but it’s not horrifying.

[@BadGVideoGames]

@@rttoonist4275 I've been told it's the equivalent of a chest X-ray.

[@jimmiesmith5811]

Get me a geiger counter

[@CastorDavidson]

Do as he says.

[@MuzixMaker]

@@CastorDavidsonYes, sir.

[@larryaldrich4351]

Like Star Trek TOS, we'll never burn out on Adventures of Superman.

[@keithwilson6060]

Loved this show as a kid. I found all the “effects” completely believable.

[@CaneFu]

"Your whole body radioactive forever"... Well, I can see how that might be a problem. Did anyone see the whole episode and how Superman was decontaminated?

[@JaimeNegron-hd3ev]

Great times for sci fi and superheros🎉❤😊

[@larrybrown8180]

If there is radioactive plasma being vented from the reactor, I decline to service said equipment.

[@TacitusR]

😂

[@bas1010]

I want to read those posters on the back wall!

[@dtnetlurker]

I think the show would have had a much better chance of staying on the air for at least another season or two if it had stayed in B+W. Though it was cutting edge and helping to secure future syndication, the technicolor filming was a huge unneeded expense. The show started in 1952 and went on to 1958. Color TVs wouldn't be widely used by the majority of TV owners until 1968. Yes that late. So yes color TV started in 51 but the major color transition wasn't until 65 but again most people wouldn't ever see any of those color shows until 68 because most people still didn't own a color TV in 65 and even in 68 it was still only half that had color TVs. It was the early 70s before most people owned a color TV set.

[@ronaryel6445]

The shw was very popular even in color. The reason the show didn't last had nothing to do with technology. It had everything to do with George Reeve's suicide.

[@donaldhaldenbaughman5967]

I loved the color episodes

[@donaldhaldenbaughman5967]

​@@ronaryel6445or his murder

[@donaldhaldenbaughman5967]

​@@ronaryel6445I don't believe he did suicide

[@StevenMilne-sm4fk]

Love love loved this show as a boy❤❤❤

[@garysouza95]

"He's dead already."

[@davidh9844]

Great episode I had forgotten about long ago. How naive they were, and how spot on they were. Wish it were that simple. They had a great deal yet to learn when it came to nuclear reactors - the writers of the episode unwittingly actually used to Soviet model, with almost the same results.

[@ericpode6095]

Now I want to find out how Superman gets out of this one.....

[@thiagoavilagameplay]

This was made the year my dad was born.

[@stevefisher8323]

Love the bad special effects of the nuclear reactor :)

[@cinemaipswich4636]

As an 8 year old at the time, I did not know anything about Nuclear Science. But Superman came to the rescue. Now I know that Protons would have definitely kill anyone.

[@jeremybear573]

Its very difficult to find this Superman serial here on YT 😊

[@chrismathis9240]

Remember when you were a kid and the only worry you had is if you could get your stickball game over before Superman came on, LOl!

[@michaelconley7958]

It’s so corny I remember it when I was a kid back in the 50s and sixties,great memories 😂

[@jeffw1267]

A man can't be "loaded with gamma rays". Gamma rays pass right through the body and do a lot of damage. But a body can't retain them for any length of time.

[@DavidLS1]

Gamma rays pass through a normal body.

[@tlldrkhndy]

Oh yeah? I'll bet Superman has a thing to tell you about that! Bahahahahaha

[@poocrayon4588]

Wrong - what did we just watch?

[@Ecosse57]

worst documentary ever.

[@donandrew3230]

George, where's your manners...? "Get me a geiger-counter, a beer, and a fat cigar I'll never have to relight!"

[@majkus]

Like many of the most memorable episodes, this was penned by Jackson Gillis.

[@traildoggy]

Dude could never get though airport security after this. Pretty much had to stick to trains and the bus.

[@Jack-fs2im]

well done Superman

[@jayrosen6663]

The lead scientist was The Crimson Ghost, Republic, 1945.

[@刘譞翾]

好爱他！心疼他！😍💔

[@michaelphillips7282]

So.......The scientist is still alive, but the fire was enough to push Superman against the wall. Makes perfect sense.

[@sammygirlie345]

We had Tom Tuchy who did that here in uk at windscale stood at side of pile on fire with hosepipe and safety tie

[@steveconkey7362]

That guy is already dead….

[@marisaelenenadiejamusiccom3974]

Wow🌹

[@billcook4768]

Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few

[@NicolasDifroscia-jc8sn]

Go super man go.

[@tjp1451]

I’m getting up there and my belt is almost worn as high as Supe’s now.

[@renecorrea1008]

I guess Superman didn't exile himself to the same cabin where he took Ace and Connie.

[@LTDANMAN44]

I LOL WHEN THEY TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS

[@roberthuff3122]

Prequel to Doctor Manhattan?

[@jonesy4588]

later on in the tv series , when he stops an atomic explosion , he says his body cancels out radioactivity and removes the radiation from 3 people ?

[@mafirearmsafety]

Start calling him RadioActive Man!!

[@Damone7653]

This happened to my wife.

[@amaree9732]

Okay, thanks Superman... Now get out.

[@DaxVJacobson]

Superman got some time off, he should have stayed radioactive and got some rest from the non stop crime fighting.

[@trainerman1]

Superman EATS radiation like its candy.

[@rogerjones332]

Now he's Superscrewed

[@nonsuchfabio]

What is Jimmy Olsen pointing at at 2:30?

[@MuzixMaker]

At 0:15 you can see George stepping off the platform just out of frame. I’m so disillusioned…

[@austonboston4361]

Powdered Toast Maaaaan!

[@nawankcrossline4593]

Well, that guy will be the DC's Hulk right??? Exposed by Gamma rays. Superman said

[@captsorghum]

It would have been worse if he hadn't used the unconscious guy as a shield on the way out at 1:30

[@ts-900]

I hate when that happens.

[@davidholman48]

Well, rats. How does Superman resolve the situation?

[@brooksellis3891]

A lot of energy - lightning in a thunderstorm.

[@hirokomlm131]

I know this is the 1950s, but they couldn't find a way to not have Superman struggle to drag one guy out of a room?

[@redbarchetta8782]

They really didn't know much about radiation back then did they?

[@charlesanderson32]

The Gov says 6 feet Is safe!

[@freeagent8225]

Its a very thick door.

[@MGower4465]

No admittance door isn't even locked?

[@billybillee8160]

OMG what will become of super man

[@charleskadletc2431]

This my favorite episode aswell. Does anyone know the title of the closing and opening theme song?

[@jimnolt-TAC]

If you mean the series' theme song, that is "Superman March."

[@markgraham2312]

So, how did they solve the dilemma? I remember seeing this episode when I was young, but can't remember the solution.

[@fredderf3152]

He flew through a storm and lightning neutralized it.

[@markgraham2312]

@@fredderf3152 Thank you. I really appreciate the info!!!

[@itsamemario8014]

But don't expose yourself, hardly a place or time for the scientist dude to expose himself anyway, unless the old fella makes a habit of that kind of behaviour.