More “SUPER” Rarities…
More “SUPER” Rarities…
So many people liked yesterday’s post, I thought we’d look deeper.
‘The Adventures Of Superman’ ran from 1952-58 and was a syndicated show sponsored by Kellogg’s. The show’s first two seasons (episodes 1–52, 26 titles per season) were filmed in black-and-white; seasons three through six (episodes 53–104, 13 titles per season) were filmed in color but originally telecast in black and white in first-run syndication. Television viewers would not see Superman in color until the series was re released in 1965.
Below left, we see a scene being shot in Clark Kent’s office at The Daily Planet. In the center is star George Reeves atop a short ladder that he used to jump off of when making a “flying” entrance. On the left is Reeves in rehearsal, without the cape, practicing a take off on the springboard and landing on the pad.
Occasionally, Superman would take off without the springboard and a running start. In those sequences, that start in a flat footed crouch, wires were used. Reeves would perform the move and make a leap, but then a stunt double was brought in with his wire harness to repeat the move which was shot from a different angle to hide the face.
I really loved this show when I was a kid..a few years ago I bought the entire series and I still enjoy it..more please..
Except for the time he took off in the same manner from the “alley”. That is the jump that George’s wires snapped and you can see him start to drop in the last frame or 2 of the shot. After that shot, all of George’s takeoffs were sans wires.