Panic In The Sky: Professor Roberts! The observatory!

After he suffers amnesia, caused by his collision with an asteroid, and almost reveals his secret identity as Clark Kent, Superman eventually comes to his senses in this scene from "Panic In The Sky," episode #38, 1953.

[@larryaldrich4351]

That shot of George in costume with Mr. Kents eyeglasses is priceless.

[@ryanhunter130]

The visual of a confused Clark Kent wearing the Superman uniform WITH the swelling of this music made for some compelling imagery.

[@chrisn7259]

And Reeves played it beautifully.

[@ZilogBob]

Let's not forget Leon Klatzkin who composed the Superman music. 🎵

[@wellingtonsboots4074]

This came up in my reccomendations. Can remember watching this all those years ago as a kid. Loved the music and the sounds of him flying through the air and the landing

[@jimnolt-TAC]

And those elements continue to thrill me even today.

[@gabevee3]

This show and the music always delighted me as a kid and still does. Who used to tie a towel around their neck and run around pretending to fly? 😊

[@jjs2351]

I did ! and it brings back great memories. George Reeves' Superman was my hero ! I was also thrilled when the Christopher Reeve film came out. I went to the theater to watch it over and over.

[@KohtaEX]

@@jjs2351 Me too! My late younger brother and I would tuck pillowcases in our shirts. This was in the early 90's watching Nick at Nite reruns. A special memory for me.

[@ArthurHILL-xp8bv]

The Adventures of superman season 2 panic in the sky in the black and white in colorized in the bluray. Gilligan's island season 1 black and white in the dvd. Also the Gilligan's Island season 1 is in colorized in the bluray.

[@jsusna1972]

Not just run around, but jumping off a shed! Never did stay airborne.

[@dennishalford5763]

​@jjs2351 I was the first one in line at the theater the very first day the Christopher Reeve Superman movie opened and sat through it twice.

[@markmcgovern4361]

One of the very best episodes of the series, with certainly the best flying shots!

[@geraldgoll]

George Reeves portrayed Superman’s character perfectly. He was the best of all the actors who played Superman. His version of Clark Kent was the same, head and shoulders above every other actor.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Nice words. I do wish we could have told him that.

[@davidh9844]

My favorite episode of all time, Superman and the rest of the gang at their absolute best. Loved it in the '50s, still love it half a century later.

[@jonesy4588]

the music on these shows was amazing

[@jimnolt-TAC]

We are surely in agreement on that.

[@mkassis713]

I watched "Superman" in the early 1970's , the series was already 20 years old , but even these days it never goes out of style.

[@darrylruiz2573]

Unlike the later shows this is dead serious a real threat and a job for Superman!

[@toshiojohnston3732]

Loved the entire series but the 1st 2 seasons were the best.

[@kevinmadden1645]

@@toshiojohnston3732 Without a doubt!

[@superman12340]

George Reeves is the one & only Superman...Hands down

[@ECO473]

AMEN!!!

[@2painful2watch]

He is forever Superman. My hero

[@markgiardina1303]

Superman jumping out the window and flying across the city was great special effects; especially for 1950s television.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

The flying scenes, especially in the first and second seasons, maybe not have used the very best technology, but they were, nevertheless, awe inspiring.

[@howiecricket52]

@@jimnolt-TAC, George Reeves was VERY athletic, the most awesome actor to portray SUPERMAN! He's my all time favorite!

[@im1who84u]

I was wondering if that place he was in was, where he lived? If so, well then, we got to see Superman's place.

[@feedme7751]

The window scene was him jumping off a springboard and landing on a mattress.

[@im1who84u]

@@feedme7751 Good catch, nothing gets by you.

[@davehad-enough2369]

Hahahaha - my favorite lines from all the Adventures of Superman. Professor Roberts! The observatory! One of the best episodes.

[@josephvitielo1693]

Professor was Mr Dithers from Blondie movies

[@larryaldrich4351]

Great leap from the bedroom window.

[@majkus]

And a good reminder of how just a little camera cleverness and (especially) suitable sound effects can sell a scene. Frankly the often-used shot of Reeves running up to the ground-level camera and leaping over the camera to take off was quite ingenious.

[@2painful2watch]

I remember reading that George was in pretty good shape when he did his flying leap jumps and landings.

[@ZenFox0]

I loved this show as a kid.

[@RoyalBard]

My favorite sequence in the series.

[@RoyalBard]

The acting is so well done. One of early television's best moments.

[@thomaschacko6320]

Great take-off! George Reeves was so good at these - among other things!

[@Bootmahoy88]

Indeed, he was good at those initial jumps. You could see that the jump followed through to flying, when in reality, Reeves landed on a big cushion. That's not an easy thing to pull off, to give the illusion the jump was leading directly to flight.

[@thomaschacko6320]

@@Bootmahoy88 Absolutely! With the springboard, the somersaults, and the mattress, he made a difficult stunt look easy. His take-offs from the observatory balcony were amazing!

[@davidahlstrom7533]

For 1950s TV, these are very good special effects. Superman always looked like he was taking off, and he lands pretty hard. George Reeves insisted on doing that stunt and making it look as real as possible. No CGI in those days.

[@m.f.m.67]

Yes, he really nails the landing in this shot. No stumble or extra step to catch his balance. George was a big man, and those flimsy costume shoes offered no support for his feet. He was great.

[@frankserrago4866]

Still the best ever GEORGE REEVES SUPERMAN

[@asmautollc]

I prefer Christopher Reeve overall but this show is great and there probably wouldn’t be a Christopher Reeve Superman without George Reeves.

[@johnwood551]

I was born in 1952 when Superman started and was one of the first TV shows I remember watching. I remember this one where he lost his memory .They were amazed he passed out in the shower and broke the glass but didn’t cut himself. What great shows ..Kids learned to try and be good citizens and help people and obey their parents . Unlike every TV show today aimed at kids to ruin their childhoods and indoctrinate them.

[@bobbly7132]

One of his best take-offs and landings--beautiful--and just an overall great scene and episode!

[@jonathangoode546]

Even in 2023 he’s simply the best. Also NEVER FORGOTTEN .Rest in paradise George Reeves.

[@howardmoore1332]

My all time favorite episode!

[@ayokay123]

I can't remember how many times as a kid I would run and do the superman jump take-off.

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

I wonder how George Reeves held up after all those landings and takeoffs. They must have dropped him hundreds of times.

[@georgesenda1952]

In the episode with the runaway school bus you see George not only do his great leaps but for a second each time you actually get to see him fly briefly afterwards. I like to think that George, Kirk Alyn, and Christopher Reeve if they had the mental ability to do so would have somehow become Superman for real because what they did changed peoples lives as we loved their acting and in Georges case I always loved how he would go out of character and give a nod to the audience as if to say WE know who Superman really is, dont we but its our secret and they will never know ? RIP to all of these great actors. Their legendary performances still live on and will until one day film will be no more. And they are all still loved as well.

[@moboutmen]

How I would love to hear a full orchestral treatment of the Superman music used in the TV show! Can you imagine...violins and harps, then ten trumpets herald the start of the theme!

[@apagan65]

This IS my favorite Adventures of Superman episode!!

[@pejmankooklanfar2674]

I still watch🎥📽️🎞️old show

[@joebloggs8636]

Probably my very favorite episode . especially as a kid ..yeah, in retrospect the effects are cheap to today's audience but if you watch( like you do with silent films with exaggerated acting, no sound ,you gotta get your point across..you understand why kids of my generation KNOW that George Reeves will forever be "our Superman" .

[@jimnolt-TAC]

When I watch those Superman episodes, I travel to a different time where those effects are new, the technology is up-to-date, and the cars on the highway are awesome.

[@alanstein3394]

Probably one of my favorite scenes from the entire series. The moment when the dawn of realization hits home that he is Superman is one of George Reeves’ finest acting moments. And his jump out the window is high-flying and one of his best. Let’s not forget the unforgettably haunting “canned” music which also adds so much to the scene. Great post, Jim!

[@georgesenda1952]

There are 3 men who portrayed Superman. Kirk Alyn, George Reeves & Christopher Reeves. All others are mere shadows compared to those legends. RIP.

[@davidviton1065]

I also used to watch those episodes when I was a kid I couldn't wait to see the next episode when I do see those episodes today I would give my left lung to go back to those days!

[@georgesenda1952]

@@jimnolt-TAC And Clark drives a cool Tesla convertible.

[@johndorch2333]

This is a great scene from my favorite episode. Dialogue, acting, music all work. If the show could have lived up to this the rest of the time, it could have gone on indefinitely. George Reeves.... still my favorite Superman.

[@SOCORROSILVA-in7px]

George Reeves played the role of Superman down to perfection while DC Comics had him for the title role. Please post positive comments here. ©® May 23, 2023 @ 11:05 pm ©®

[@MrDXRamirez]

Imagination fills in where film magic leaves blank is the best thing about Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman TV series.

[@amberpolumbo6693]

Considering it was almost 70 years ago n television in its infancy and the limited budget ..they all did a great job..George was really a handsome guy n pushing 40 towards end if series & both actresses who played Lois Lane incredibly beautiful

[@walterbransford]

superman you are the best

[@kamdan2011]

0:00 Always loved this music cue.

[@ChristineVella-uq7nl]

My favourite Superman

[@philipbrailey]

I wish they showed all the episodes in full.

[@SarahOstrin1]

Thank you, Jim!

[@keittkatranch5167]

One of my favorite episodes! And a recurring theme, it seems. The '40s animated series did one before this, Gerard Christopher did one on "Superboy", and Dean Cain on "Lois and Clark".

[@LordZontar]

"The Magnetic Telescope" was the Famous Studios cartoon version and I believe the first such. In that one, it took multiple attempts for Superman to impact the meteor attracted by the out-of-control instrument to try to prevent it from colliding with Earth, and when that failed he had to use his own body to bridge the broken circuits so Lois could throw the magnetic ray into reverse polarity and push the meteor back into outer space.

[@moboutmen]

Best episode. Loved the TV in the corner.

[@seamoreplant]

My mom would safety pin a bath towel around my neck in 1959 and I would run around so the towel would flap in the wind behind me! I loved Superman!

[@billthestinker]

Excellent upload

[@Flint92]

Will the explosives destroy the string also! LOL Classic effects, have to love them!

[@gerrybonshor4150]

Oh my gosh! I thought they were done for sure.

[@wildman2012]

The sound effect of Superman landing is one of my most favorite childhood memories!

[@vegasguitars]

What a wonderful episode!

[@davids9520]

What the hell? You left it hanging. Does Superman survive? Oh the humanity!

[@timothykozlowski2945]

George Reeves loved jumping and landing

[@georgesenda1952]

The music in the beginning of this is the one cut they left out of the music soundtrack cd. There is only one Superman and his name will always be George Reeves with a nod to the Immortal, Christopher Reeve and Kirk, Alyn

[@UFOBobTV]

All the actors who played Superman were great. In his later years, Kirk Alyn played Pa Kant in the short film “Superbman: The Other Movie”.

[@clrobertson13]

True hero!

[@triggerfish6619]

I love black and white Superman. 🙏✌️♥️🇺🇸 The music when Superman is flying is awesome and inspiring... patriotic American stud!!

[@hamiltonwalker8760]

This was the case with all our TV shows and cartoons. When you have time look up some of your old favorites. Have fun 🍺

[@SeamusMcGillicuddy0]

R.I.P. George Bessolo ! You are missed ❤

[@simonovessimon4242]

hello jim,hope you are well,in this era,you are the 5th beatle in the superman series..its you and phyllis coates as references,thanks for all you care about superman,and george reeves ...all the best for all the work you do in vids

[@jimnolt-TAC]

I'm doing well, thanks, and as of this writing (June 5, 2023) I'm planning another George Reeves luncheon for this summer. Prior to the actual luncheon, many of us will visit Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook where parts of "Mind Machine" were filmed.

[@simonovessimon4242]

@@jimnolt-TAC . best regards on George Reeves luncheon.i believe that he,george was taken out by the studio mafia squad,,as well as joe flynn,,as he was asking the studio heads for residual right on shows for crews and stars of tv shows..and the last thing execs and heads of studios like is departing of money..superman here in australia was shown back to back at least 10 times in the 60s and 70s..as a child i was glued to it.. as well as mchales navy and jungle jim..all the best,,melb aus

[@DON_QUARLO]

Backwards 'S' in the mirror. Like 'Bizzaro Superman.'

[@gregobrix]

Very few things can make this 59 year old man tear up like watching Superman run and take off.

[@clrobertson13]

Know what you mean. I feel the same way about Superman and also for, “Who was that masked man? Why that was the Lone Ranger!” 😁

[@SOCORROSILVA-in7px]

Thank you very much, Jim Nolt, for uploading this video so that I can see it again. Please have a nice day today. ©® May 23, 2023 @ 11:25 pm ©®

[@steveneisen8057]

Hi Jim it's Steve in Maryland. Hope you're doing well.Yup they did more special effects in this episode than any other. The only boo boo is when the birds were chirpin in the background. I got a kick out of seeing George in his glasses with the Superman outfit on. Sure would like to hear more singing. By the way my latest addition to my collection is getting a photo from him dressed up a publicity photo from Gone with the Wind and it's signed George Besello.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Hey, Steve. Nice to hear from you. I hope to be at the convention again this fall, but my plans are not certain yet.

[@jaelge]

Superman has absolutely no compunction of sacrificing his life for mankind, and would do so without hesitation.

[@fredyells5648]

One of my favorite episodes

[@thomaswolf723]

I thought about this episode when I heard reports that an asteroid may hit the earth in the next few decades. Unfortunately, there is no Superman around.

[@makeminefreedom]

Panic In The Sky, The Big Freeze, and Superman in Exile are my favorite Superman episodes.

[@rickelliott3683]

Amazing how relevant and ahead of it's time this episode was. Hardly anyone was thinking about the potential danger of asteroids at that time. Whereas now it is a significant concern to be pondered. The writers of this show were very imagentive.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Jackson Gillis wrote "Panic In The Sky" and several other excellent Superman scripts. "Panic" was later redone for the Superboy series and for "Lois & Clark." Another of my favorite Gillis scripts is "The Face and the Voice."

[@stevenlitvintchouk3131]

Well, sci-fi had been thinking about it. "When Worlds Collide" was published in 1934.

[@user-wp4ju4hp5w]

I was a youngster when Superman TV show was on. I loved the Opening with its stirring music and with iconic voice over dialogue which I memorised

[@thecreator1455]

Man, I turned 60 years old in October this year I remember when I was a little boy sucking on a charms blow pop watching this show. Running around with a towel around my neck Pretending to be Superman.

[@RSTI191]

All these years later and Mr White's jowls still hanging down to his knees..

[@joseyeastwood]

I wish i could watch the full episode.

[@13thwho]

This is why, at least for me, George Reeves is the definitive Superman.

[@canecorsolady1014]

He's my Superman ❤

[@TomTimeTraveler]

I agree that this was the BEST episode of the entire series.

[@kevinmadden1645]

Several fan clubs over the years agree.

[@dj2bklyn]

The meteor looks good hanging on a string lol

[@TrustNot]

0:48 Using a spring board it was the greatest Superman take-off I ever saw.

[@richardstephens8374]

I think the last name makes you a good Superman.

[@georgesenda1952]

The music in this clip was the only one left out of the music from Superman CD years ago. It will be 72 next week Saturday and it’s still three owes me to hear the Superman music and George Reeves flying to the rescue there’s no one better except maybe Chris Reeves with a Kirk Allen and Dean Cain.

[@vebnew]

THANKS

[@unclecreepy4324]

As a seven year old in the 1950s I ate this shit up.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

And for me, at least, as a 77-year-old, I'm still enjoying it.

[@jamesb.9155]

When he used the spring board to leap into the air, he must have had like a mattress to soften his tumble landing? Glad he never hit his head leaping up out of those windows!

[@larryaldrich4351]

We need a Superman picture that takes place in the '50s with LA serving as Metropolis and resembles the TV show only better.

[@majkus]

One of Jackson Gillis's great memorable episodes-so memorable, in fact, that the plot was recycled (without credit) in an episode of 'Superboy' and then again (this time with credit; perhaps because network TV is different from syndication) in 'Lois and Clark'.

[@krunk6962]

I shouldn't remember this but I knew he would sit down and slam the side table out of frustration...so where did I put my eyeglasses.

[@MuzixMaker]

Asteroids hanging by a thread!

[@richardpeterson1398]

Where Danger Lurks, by Ronald Hanmer, is heard at the beginning of this clip. … . . . . … . . . . … . . . . … . . .

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

It was true for us back then, we believed in truth and justice and the American way. And bottom line, George Reeves IS Superman.

[@ZachChanning]

Superman had the best manners

[@LordZontar]

One of the best episodes of the series, as Superman is nearly destroyed trying to save the Earth and is so affected by the collision with the asteroid he temporarily loses the memory that he is Superman -- with the asteroid spiraling down in a decaying orbit. The script builds up lots of tension as Clark struggles to regain his memory in time to be able to do something and again puts his life at risk since he may not be indestructible against the asteroid. The best Superman stories were always the ones where he was powerful but not all-powerful and had limitations he had to work around.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Yes, a very good script from Jackson Gillis. Another equally good script from Gillis is "Around The World With Superman."

[@majkus]

@@jimnolt-TAC I have become something of a posthumous Jackson Gillis fan in recent years. You find his name on all sorts of shows, from Perry Mason (where he was script editor for a while) to 'Lost in Space' (one of the few really good episodes, 'The Magic Mirror'), to 'Lassie', to 'Columbo', and his scripts were almost always interesting and imaginative.

[@johnadams9044]

Hey bud, you're gonna pay for bustng that antique end table!

[@206or16]

Luckily for Superman, window screens had not yet been invented 😉

[@azurerainbow4637]

Thie Superman TV-Series starring George Reevs should've had an episode in which he creates the Fortress of Solitude, his own private citadel with his own type of weapons and things that he saved from his adventures.

[@whaheydelee]

Superman reaches the asteroid: "Crap, which switch did he say that was?"

[@kevinmadden1645]

With the exception of The Unknown People/ Superman and the Mole Men, this is the most expensive episode of all 104.

[@JA_WILL]

Have seen all 104 episodes at least twice since childhood. This is a favorite episode along with "No Holds Barred", "Crime Wave", "Jungle Devil", and "Test of a Warrior" among others.

[@kevinmadden1645]

​@@JA_WILLJimmy Olsen refers to a guided missile. Was there any such thing in 1953?

[@JA_WILL]

@@kevinmadden1645 Robert Goddard did a Rocket in the 20's, IIRC and there were jet Airplanes at the end of WW2. Sound Barrier broken in 1947. As the professor said they were not up to snuff yet.

[@kevinmadden1645]

@@JA_WILL Thank you for the information.

[@user-ou5hz2sp3s]

When Superman came back to Earth and lost his memory, how come he did remember to change back into Clark Kent?

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Some people suggest it was instinct. Amnesiacs do remember some things.

[@howie9751]

I wonder when Superman watches the TV?

[@calvinhandley2373]

There was a remake of this episode in the first season of Lois & Clark The New Adventures of Superman.

[@pauloneves4274]

Todos os filmes ,o Superman, só voa pra direita. Observem.

[@PassivePortfolios]

The missile defense against rogue asteroids had not been perfected yet but miniature nukes had.

[@richardhawkins4621]

I often wondered why superman put his tights on then his pants last this is so so funny😊

[@Kaynos]

We can see the hooks holding the asteroid....

[@michaelshada262]

Well, crap! Now I want to see the rest to see if he saved Earth!😂 Loved it as a kid and still watch OTA when it's on. George Reeves is the only Superman🦸 but in the movies, I think Christopher Reeve easily became the new Superman 🦸for a new generation. (and me) RIP to both.

[@jimnolt-TAC]

Superman came through ... you can bet on it.