The Adventures of Superman (1952-58) and starred George Reeves as Clark Kent/Superman. Serving as one of the first small-screen series to broadcast the crime-fighting antics of the famed superhero, it was well-received by audiences of all ages. Sadly, the show came to an end prematurely for multiple reasons.
Check out these facts about the beloved series.
Colors of the first costume
When you think of Superman, you undoubtedly think of his tight blue costume with the red “S” set upon a yellow background on his chest, accompanied by a red cape and yellow belt. This primary color combination makes up one of the most iconic costumes ever created, but Superman didn’t always sport them.
When filming first began on The Adventures of Superman, George Reeves wore a brown, gray, and white costume, instead. This was so producers could get the right monochromatic tones on-screen back when TVs were still airing in black and white.
A wind machine made George Reeves fly
Back in the day, producers had to get creative in order to portray Superman flying through the sky; without CGI, they had to physically make it look like he was soaring.
Using a mechanical arm and a piece of plexiglass, several crew members manipulated the tool to make it look like he was flying. A wind machine was switched on, the camera would pan from one side to the other on a hydraulic dolly, and the background would move to make it appear as though George Reeves was truly soaring through the sky.
There was an uptick in child injuries
Children have long wished to be like their heroes, and watching Superman on TV only made this dream stronger.
When stores began selling Superman capes, kids really started to believe that, once they tied it around their shoulders, they’d be able to fly like their hero. Unfortunately, the accessory didn’t give children the ability to fly, and some sustained serious injuries.
Learning of this, George Reeves begged the capes be taken off the market, and he even starred in a public service announcement, warning kids that “no one, but no one can do the things Superman does. And that goes especially for flying!”
Two actresses portrayed Lois Lane
Over the course of its run, The Adventures of Superman featured two different actresses in the role of Lois Lane.
Originally, the part was played by Phyllis Coates, but following her departure after the first season, it was taken on by Noel Neill. Apparently, producers tried to negotiate with the former to have her stay with the production, but she couldn’t be persuaded.
One of the reasons Coates left the series was her fear of being typecast. She’d committed to a pilot for a comedy and left to pursue that. She also cited difficult working conditions on set that pushed her away.
George Reeves’ death came as a shock
On June 16, 1959, George Reeves was found dead in the bedroom of his home in Benedict Canyon. He was found with a gunshot wound to the head and was said to have died around 2:00 AM, during an impromptu party at his residence.
While the authorities concluded his death was self-inflicted, many believe he’d actually been murdered. One of the main suspects was his fiancée, Leonore Lemmon, but she insisted his passing was the result of depression, caused by his “failed career.” Another suspect was Toni Mannix, Reeves’ former mistress. He’d broken things off with her to pursue Lemmon, and it’s reported she had become so enraged that the actor had to file a restraining order against her.
To this day, the true nature of his death remains unclear.
Trying to carry on without George Reeves
Prior to George Reeves’ shocking death, The Adventures of Superman had suffered a big loss. John Hamilton, who portrayed newspaper editor Perry White, unexpectedly died on Oct. 15, 1958. They cast Pierre Watkin to serve as his replacement for the final two seasons they’d planned to film, but Reeves’ death secured the end of the show. Replacing one person was doable, but replacing the main character would be a real challenge.
In the end, the sixth season was unknowingly the series’ last.
Lois Lane and Clark Kent couldn’t be seen in commercials together
The Adventures of Superman aired, thanks to its sponsorship by Kelloggs. During commercial breaks, advertisements for the food brand were broadcast, featuring characters from the show, but neither Superman, nor Lois Lane ever made it into them.
Why, you ask? At the time of their airing, producers believed showing the two eating breakfast together would be too sexually suggestive. Knowing they were love interests in the series and seeing them sharing breakfast could only mean things were also going on off-screen, even if they weren’t explicitly shown, so they avoided it altogether.
Superman really needed glasses
We all know Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, wears glasses. This is effectively what hides his superhero identity from the public. Glasses were considered nerdy back then, and having Kent wear them created two different versions of the same person: one who was supposedly weak and lame and one who was super strong and suave.
In the earlier seasons, George Reeves is seen wearing glasses with no lenses in them. However, as the series progressed and Reeves aged (he was 38 when he started playing Superman), he actually ended up really needing to wear glasses. In the later seasons, the actor can be seen wearing glasses with lenses in them, thanks to the reflection of the light.
Japanese Emperor Hirohito’s favorite show
The Adventures of Superman was such a smash hit with audiences that it transcended territorial boundaries. The series became a hit in Japan, with the program being dubbed over. It’s no surprise, then, that Emperor Hirohito, the 124th Emperor of Japan, was a big fan of the series.
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Hirohito loved it so much that he actually wrote a fan letter to George Reeves, calling the show his “ninkimono,” meaning it was his favorite program.