• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Superman Season 1 on DVD in Oct

Re: "The Adventures Of Superman" Season 1 on DVD in Oct

I suspect that there have been a lot of requests over the years to release "The Adventures Of Superman" on DVD.

Hopefully, this will be followed by three more "Superman" DVD box sets:

* Season two (1953/1954), which consisted of 26 half-hour episodes in black-and-white.

* Seasons three (1954/1955) and four (1955/1956), each season consisted of 13 half-hour shows in color.

* Seasons five (1956/1957) and six (1957/58), each consisting of 13 half-hour shows in color.

And there might even be a "deluxe set" consisting of all four box sets and all 104 episodes.

Perhaps there can also be a DVD release (if it hasn't been done already) of the 1966-68 "Superman" cartoons produced by Filmation. Overnight in the Fall of 1966, Filmation's then-newly-filmed "Superman" cartoons turned CBS from a distant third to a dominant first in the Saturday-morning TV ratings. Watching a DVD set of the 1966-68 "Superman" cartoons would provide an interesting contrast to the 1950's live-action series.

FYI: I have heard an "urban legend" that shortly before George Reeves died in 1959, there were rumors that production of "Superman" would resume with 26 half-hour episodes in color for the 1959/1960 television season. Is this true?? Was production of "The Adventures Of Superman" indeed about to resume when George Reeves died??
 
> Season 1 of The Adventures of Superman, filmed in 1951 and
> released in 1953, will be available on DVD October 18th
> according to tvshowsondvd.com. Extras include the movie
> version of "Superman and the Mole Men" and Kellogg's spots.
>
> Posting at -
> http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=3609
>

Those were the best of the "Adventures of Superman" series. The black and white episodes featuring George Reeves and Phyllis Coates. After Phyllis left, replaced by Noel Neil and "Superman" was filmed in color, the series lost its edge.

The early episodes were geared more towards adventure while the later episodes were more docile and in some cases just plain stupid.

It also didn't help that George Reeves started putting on weight and losing his hair. <P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
 
Re: "The Adventures Of Superman" Season 1 on DVD in Oct

>> FYI: I have heard an "urban legend" that shortly before
> George Reeves died in 1959, there were rumors that
> production of "Superman" would resume with 26 half-hour
> episodes in color for the 1959/1960 television season. Is
> this true?? Was production of "The Adventures Of Superman"
> indeed about to resume when George Reeves died??
>

It's not an urban legand. Noel Neill has confirmed that in interviews.
 
> > Season 1 of The Adventures of Superman, filmed in 1951 and
>
> > released in 1953, will be available on DVD October 18th
> > according to tvshowsondvd.com. Extras include the movie
> > version of "Superman and the Mole Men" and Kellogg's
> spots.
> >
> > Posting at -
> > http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=3609
> >
>
> Those were the best of the "Adventures of Superman" series.
> The black and white episodes featuring George Reeves and
> Phyllis Coates. After Phyllis left, replaced by Noel Neil
> and "Superman" was filmed in color, the series lost its
> edge.

I think Phyllis Coates was a bit impulsive as Lois. Noel Neill added some style to Lois' spunk and penchant for getting into trouble. But I am glad the show is finally coming to DVD.
>
> The early episodes were geared more towards adventure while
> the later episodes were more docile and in some cases just
> plain stupid.
>
> It also didn't help that George Reeves started putting on
> weight and losing his hair.
>
 
Re: Reeves Was Ready To Repeat His Role As Superman

> FYI: I have heard an "urban legend" that shortly before
> George Reeves died in 1959, there were rumors that
> production of "Superman" would resume with 26 half-hour
> episodes in color for the 1959/1960 television season. Is
> this true?? Was production of "The Adventures Of Superman"
> indeed about to resume when George Reeves died??
>

It is true that George Reeves had signed a contract to do more “Superman” shows that were to air starting in 1960. This is why some skeptics dismiss the theory that Reeves killed himself because he couldn’t find work.

After Reeves death the producers decided instead to air “Superboy”, which failed miserably.
<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
 
Re: Reeves Was Ready To Repeat His Role As Superman

Mark noted:

> After (George) Reeves' death the producers decided instead to air
> “Superboy”, which failed miserably.

I thought only a pilot of "Superboy" was made around 1960, but it never became a series.

I also thought that the "Superboy" pilot, like the later episodes of "Superman", was filmed in color but only black-and-white prints of that pilot survive today.
 
Re: Reeves Was Ready To Repeat His Role As Superman

> Mark noted:
>
> > After (George) Reeves' death the producers decided instead
> to air
> > “Superboy”, which failed miserably.
>
> I thought only a pilot of "Superboy" was made around 1960,
> but it never became a series.
>
> I also thought that the "Superboy" pilot, like the later
> episodes of "Superman", was filmed in color but only
> black-and-white prints of that pilot survive today.
>
True on both parts. By the way TV Shows on DVD has this official announcement about Superman:

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=3610
 
"The Adventures of Superboy" pilot (1961)

> Mark noted:
>
> > After (George) Reeves' death the producers decided instead
> to air
> > “Superboy”, which failed miserably.
>
> I thought only a pilot of "Superboy" was made around 1960,
> but it never became a series.
>
> I also thought that the "Superboy" pilot, like the later
> episodes of "Superman", was filmed in color but only
> black-and-white prints of that pilot survive today.


Only a pilot, "The Adventures of Superboy" was filmed in 1961.

According to the site below, the pilot never aired on television, but may be available through a company called Video Rarities. 13 episodes were written for the proposed series.

A 23-year-old actor named John Rockwell played Superboy and Clark Kent in that pilot. Time flies -- if Rockwell is still alive, he would be 67 this year.

A picture of Rockwell as Superboy as well as other information is available at:

http://www.supermansupersite.com/superboy61.html
 
Re: My Mistake-Superboy

Please accept my apology for my error. I mistakenly thought that Superboy was a syndicated TV show that never made it past the first season in the early 1960s.

What I found amazing, and somewhat frightening, is that the actor, who was 23 at the time the show was to debut, is now 67. Talk about time flying by.

Thanks to everyone who pointed out my error.

<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
 
Re: My Mistake-Superboy

> Please accept my apology for my error. I mistakenly thought
> that Superboy was a syndicated TV show that never made it
> past the first season in the early 1960s.
>
> What I found amazing, and somewhat frightening, is that the
> actor, who was 23 at the time the show was to debut, is now
> 67. Talk about time flying by.
>
> Thanks to everyone who pointed out my error.


No need to apology, Mark.

When I checked the information, I thought a Superboy series existed sometime in the early '60s too. Not sure why I thought that.

Maybe I wanted it to happen at that age :).

The pilot episode would be interesting to see. From the still photo of Superboy, it looks much like the George Reeves series.
 
Re: My Mistake-Superboy

>
> No need to apology, Mark.
>
> When I checked the information, I thought a Superboy series
> existed sometime in the early '60s too. Not sure why I
> thought that.
>
> Maybe I wanted it to happen at that age :).
>
> The pilot episode would be interesting to see. From the
> still photo of Superboy, it looks much like the George
> Reeves series.
>

When I saw that black and white photograph of the actor who played Superboy I first thought he looked like a young Alec Baldwin. I wonder if that fellow ever found other acting jobs or did he go into another line of work?

I think where I made the mistake is remembering there was a Superboy series on TV, but that was much later than 1961. That on ran in the late 80s early 90s I believe. There were two actors who portrayed Superboy. One got canned after the first season because he asked for more money or something like that.


Another thing I also have wondered over the years is why the Adventures of Superman was syndicated rather than having one of the networks pick up the series? It certainly was a popular program, especially among children. One would have imagined that a network, like NBC, CBS or ABC would have made tons of money selling cereal, or other products marketed for children.

<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
 
Re: My Mistake-Superboy

>>
> Another thing I also have wondered over the years is why the
> Adventures of Superman was syndicated rather than having one
> of the networks pick up the series? It certainly was a
> popular program, especially among children. One would have
> imagined that a network, like NBC, CBS or ABC would have
> made tons of money selling cereal, or other products
> marketed for children.

ABC did run "The Adventures of Superman" from October 1957-September 1958 Monday afternoons at 5 PM ET as part of a "Checkerboard" Block of different adventure series Monday-Friday just after American Bandstand and before Mickey Mouse Club at 5:30 PM
 
Re: "The Adventures Of Superman" Season 1 on DVD in Oct

Here's some more info about the first season of "Adventures of Superman" on DVD with a "very interesting" photo as well...

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2005_07_02.html#010043<P ID="signature">______________
"Be seeing you..."</P>
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom