Adventures of Superman - Phyllis Coates First Scene

[JENDALL714]

They sort of used this scene in Superman the movie when Lois opens the bottle and it goes all over Clark.

[impassable]

all you guys thinking Coates was so hot..I'll take Durance any day

[JT8800]

I'd have to agree with many of the posters-Phyllis Coates played a tougher, more determined character than Noel Neill. She was great in those early, darker episodes. I know that watching the series as a kid that I wouldn't see Coates as much as Neill did the majority of the TV series as opposed to Coates who did what, one season? I have an autograph from Ms. Coates, but it's not signed to me! I understand she's reluctant to sign. If anyone out there knows where I could mail it to her...

[bashbrannigan]

I bought the first season of Superman. I was easily the best season. Coates was the best Lois they ever had. In the remaining seasons and even the movies decades later, Lois was just a doofus who kept getting in trouble and Supe had to rescue.

[EbonItalo07]

@bashbrannigan Superman's first season was the best.It was jammed packed with action mystery and thrills..One of the first TV series which used Film Noir/Gangster Style to excite the audience..Pressure from the FCC pushed the directors and producers of the show to change their format in order to make it more entertaining for the general audience,due to its violent content of the 1st season..Hahahaha in regards to Phyllis Coates being the best Lois Lane on TV is totally mutual :)

[kdemonde]

Reverend Alden form Little House on the Prairie LOL!

[02chevyguy]

Phyllis had her moments...but it seems they wanted someone less aggressive, so that's why they went with Noel Neill. She was my favorite.

[02chevyguy]

Isn't it weird how there are similarities to the scene where Superman saves this guy and in the first Superman movie the way he saves Lois when she falls from the helicopter?

Those glares that Lois flashes Clark...LOL!

[palmspgs]

Phyllis Coates is my favorite Lois. Tougher and definitely sexier. The first year of Superman was "almost" serious. The it got more like the comic books.

[palmspgs]

Great memories of being a kid.

[scoop8881]

You got to admit, George Reeves was a truly charismatic actor. One of the main reasons these old episodes are worth watching is that, no matter how ridiculous the script, the man's acting is always compelling.

[jimmyjoe7777]

Phyllis wasn't just hot...... she was smokin hot.

[JonathanDaddy]

Coates' portrayal of Lois is definitely harder and edgier than Neiill's -- just as the series was in the first season was darker and edgier.

In the later seasons, the show was softened. It was made deliberately less dark and scary. Neill's Lois Lane was perfect for the warmer, fuzzier, more gently funny tone the show took after the first year.

As a child, I preferred Neill's Lois -- probably because of the tone of those shows generally. But each, I think, was great in her own way.

[vegasguitars]

Phyllis Coates was the FIRST Lois Lane to appear with George Reeves. She is also first Lois Lane in a feature motion picture - Superman and the Mole Men. She is without a doubt the best Lois Lane of all time. I wish she'd make more personal apprearences.

[vegasguitars]

Phyllis Coates was the FIRST Lois Lane to appear with George Reeves. She is also first Lois Lane in a feature motion picture - Superman and the Mole Men. She was without a doubt the best Lois Lane of all time. I wish she'd make more personal apprearences.

[gleekurtlover3]

Also noel niel plays lois's mom on the train the the 1978 movie wen lois sees clark running in the train

[corfan99]

Just realized that in both this first episode and in the 1978 film, Superman's first rescues someone hanging from a flying vehicle and catching them as they're falling....here the man hanging then falling from a blimp and in the '78 film it's Lois hanging then falling from a helicopter.

[ziggycat999]

"Speed up on it Jimmy"......."The speed limit is 35 Miss Lane I don't want to get a ticket"......."Your'e right Jimmy". What planet is Superman supposedly landed on. The wonder he's faster than a speeding bullet there.

[MickeyRushton]

At Lois Lane's wedding to Superman in Lois & Clark

Phyllis played Lois Lane's (Teri Hatcher) Mother

[FilmGeekandProud]

@MickeyRushton and Teri Hatcher played Lois Lane's (Erica Durance) Mother in Smallville it's a nice tradition.

[bronxperson1966]

Both Noel Neill (who did the Superman Serials) and Phyllis Coates were great in their own ways of the portrayal of Lois Lane. The first season (always a syndicated show) was filmed in the summer of 1951 and it was shelved until about 1952 (according to some sources it didn't go to air in some parts until 1953) by that time Phyllis Coates was committed to another series.

[ericinwisconsin]

Not that I didn't like Noel, but I always preferred Phyllis' portrayal of Lois. Still, Noel was very short and petite and I just love petite women. :)

[fromthesidelines]

Perry White may have called for TWO photographers to accompany Lois and Jimmy- but the series' production budget dictated only ONE be shown in the car! And to pay for a "crowd" of extras watching the blimp above probably would have shut down the entire series...

[kdemonde]

The second Lois, Noell Neil had nothing on Phyliss Coates potrayal of Lois Lane. She was better looking and a better actress, she put more emphasis on Lois's character as ambitious, inquisitive and aggressive,the only thing she lacked was the affection the Lois character has for Superman but i dont think the producers of that show wanted that in the first couple of seasons she could've accomplished that feat as well. George Reeves wanted her back but she left the show for other committments.

[15899550]

I agree, Phyllis was a good looking lady and fine as vintaged wine.

[JT8800]

I've managed to get her autograph...nothing else.

[vantalge]

Perry White talks into a speaker phone, but you can't hear the guy at the other end, and he doesn't leave enough time for the question before answering. Still, these early episodes were really good. Too bad they couldn't keep Phyllis Coates!

[planetiowa]

Perry White orders TWO photographers, but only one gets into the car.

[vantalge]

@planetiowa Jimmy Olson also was a photographer.

[planetiowa]

@vantalge Yes, Olsen was a shutterbug, too. But, he isn't carrying a camera when he goes to the car. Maybe it was already there. Maybe the other photographer had it. It doesn't matter very much.

[DeedsResearcher]

@planetiowa Jimmy Olson was also a photographer. That fact was also borne out during the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeves. Olson never seemed to stop taking pictures. lol

[tuxguys]

The guy who almost fell...

Dabbs Greer. You've seen him a hundred times, in at least that many movies and episodes of TV shows...

[fromthesidelines]

Why the switch, Dave? There was a production gap between the end of season one [November 1951] and the beginning of season two [July 1953]. By the time Whitney Ellsworth replaced Robert Maxwell as producer, and was ready to film a new season, Phyllis Coates was unavailable, as she was filming a new series called "THE DUKE" [with Paul Gilbert], which lasted just 13 episodes on NBC in 1954. Noel Neill, who first appeared as "Lois" in the 1948 and '50 theatrical "Superman" serials, got the job.

[Astraldragon1]

That last bit of Clark saying :maybe I'm a Superman Ms. Lane.

Reminds me of the clip from youtube I found from Superman the animated series. Lois asked the same type Question and Clark tells her the truth and she says..your sick Clark..and he responds with. you asked. that was funny.

[MrJasonjewell90]

love all the seasons

[flapdoodle64]

Lot better than that crap on Smallville, that's for sure.

[mavivirgie]

GREAT JNGLE BELLS

[ramblergarage]

Love the Nash Rambler!

[citywide44]

Dabbs Greer is one lucky man..saved from the blimp & in another episode saved from the electric chair!

[Nickcat5]

Never understood the Stress Levels of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. They were forever being Kidnaped,shot at,knocked out,threatened.etc. Loved the show!!!!

[ramblergarage]

phyllis coats was in the very first episode of the patty duke show in the 1960s. she played patty's father's secretary

[danielm1967]

Like some of the others have said, Phyllis Coates was great. I only remember seeing here one other time after Superman - that was on Perry Mason - she was the murderer.

[MickeyRushton]

@danielm1967 Just got the Perry Mason dvd with Phyllis Coates was gonna watch it today thanks for the ending

[planetiowa]

Interesting. In this clip, Lois got the top off Perry's pitcher. In the 1978 movie, Lois opened Perry's bottle after he failed.

[1952kid]

1958 CHANNEL 11 , 6;30 PM . FROM MY 1958 nyc tv guide. The original run was on channel 4 . The last episode April 1958. I guess it was the start of reruns on nyc wpix 11, or the last few episodes. in 1958 i was 6 ,so i could have watched a real ' new '' episode.

[1952kid]

Its funny how we just accepted two Lois Lanes. In the late 1950's and early 1960's i must have watched each episode 20 times over. I always thought it was an old show as a kid, but it wasnt that old when i watched it. I noticed the same cars in the tv show were still around in the real world.

[Superbatfan]

Adam West's Batman had three Catwomen (two on the show and one in the 1966 movie), there were two Darrins on Bewitched and even two Captain Marvels on the rarely seen Shazam TV show of the 1970s. People are used to it nowadays. Also, as noted with the two Lois Lanes, different actresses put their own spin on the charcter. Julie Newmar's Catwoman was sexy, but I liked Eartha Kitt's "P-U-R-R". Continued...

[Superbatfan]

I am using the 60s Batman show as a comparison because both are superhero shows, and at least by the time I saw the Adventures of Superman for the first time in the 1970s, KCOP Channel 13 in LA ran Batman followed by the Adventures of Superman. TV Land also did that a few years ago as part of their TV Land Kitschen. They ran an hour of Batman, followed by a half hour of Superman and a half hour of the afforementioned rarely seen Shazam TV show. I wish they still did that.

[kdemonde]

Reverend Alden (Dabbs Greer) from Little House on the Prarie hanging from the plane... he lived a long life and had many many roles, a very accomplished character actor....

[Superbatfan]

He was also in the Brady Bunch pilot episode, playing, you guessed it- the minister that married Mike and Carol Brady. He returned to Bradyland in 1990 to marry Bobby Brady and his bride (played by MTV VJ Martha Quinn) in "The Bradys". He also made a few guest appearances on The Andy Griffith Show, among others.

[kdemonde]

He also played Tom Hanks elderly character in the "The Green Mile" i think that was his last role before he died, i'm not sure. He was a good actor with a great career. Thanks for the information

[EbonItalo07]

Personally,despite Noell Neil being the original Lois Lane I prefer Phylis Coates 10 times over,even if Noel Neill was good,Coates played the part with much more spitefulness

[kdemonde]

Correct, Phyllis Coates was one of many 40's and 50's actresses that could have elevated to the top in Hollywood. The problem was that there were so many good actresses back then: Maureen O'Hara, Barbara Stanwyck, Theresa Wright, Dorothy Mcguire, Joan Blondell and these were not top billing actors in that era like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford or the beautiful Ingrid Bergman. So i acn imagine the competiton back then with so many talented woman. Oh i forgot to mention Ida Lupino and Ann Sheridan.

[kdemonde]

In my opinion i liked Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane mainly because she depicted the character very well, tough, persistent, no- nonsense kind of female reporter. Noel Neil came off meek and co- dependent upon Superman. Plus Phyllis was better looking than Noel she was a good actress that's why George Reeves wanted her back but she had already committed herself to other projects..... i wish she had stayed on.

[nealadams70]

i agree..she(Coates) was a holdover from the type of woman you saw in 40s movies : tough, no-nonsense,but if the right man came along..pow! She could love a Superman...on her terms...

[lajas46]

@nealadams70 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN PHYLLIS COATES HAD TOP BILLING OVER THE TITLE ALONG WITH GEORGE REEVES. SHE WAS MORE LIKE THE WOMEN OF TODAY. SHE WAS A MAJOR PART OF THE SHOW (STORY-LINE WISE). I REMEBER HER BEING IN A MOVIE SERIAL (THERE WAS A GIAGANTIC CRAB WHICH ATTACKS HER)), EARLY 1050-51COATES WAS ALREADY AN ACCOMPLISH ACTRESS WHEN SHE CAME TO THE SUPERMAN SERIES, THAT'S WHY THE TOP BILLING.

[legacyofthedead]

@lajas46 search your computer for the leading women of the 40s-Barbra stanwyck,Lauren Bacall, Rosalind Russell, Katherine Hepburn, Betty hutton..these were smart and resourceful women, who didnt take crap from anyone (male or female)..screw the women of today

[Dave78m]

@lajas46 so why the switch to Noel Neill, who was never as dramatic?

[vantalge]

@Dave78m Phyllis Coates left the series after the first year because it didn't look like it was going to be continued. She had a handicapped child and had to work and took other jobs.

[SpreadTheWord11]

He's dead lets leave it at that....no wait he was murdered!!!!!!

[dizyootum]

perry was the man made me laugh like crazy

[tss77]

Think about this Phylis Coates was the real thing for George Reeves because she got equal billing Noel Neil did not.

Just a matter of opinion but for Me Phyllis Coates did not take anything off of anyone and was not overawed by Superman or Clark Kent in her role as Lois Lane.

[Spectra92]

1. Sheesh! Talk about "greasy kid stuff" ! You could fry an egg on Clarks head!

2. As kids, my sister & I called Phyllis Coates "The Stupid Lois Lane" -- Noel Neil was the real thing!

[hugatag]

speed limit is 35 miss lane i don't wanna get a ticket. LMAO

[diddymuck]

:Phylis was a lot more attractive and had a more feminine voice. than Noel. Don't know how she lost the role. I loved Noel but she was only a couple notches above Shultzie (look it up).

[JimNuccio]

Jimmy Olsen was gay. Of course a 1950s TV show wouldn't out him.

[Timmyfunk1]

Phyllis Coates' attitude alone makes you want to do her. I have a publicity still of Coates in a Santa's elf costume. You'll feel like a compass after you see it.

[fromthesidelines]

Phyllis' "Lois Lane" was less vulnerable than Noel's; more aggressive and definitely "Clark Kent's" equal, right down to the arguments they occasionally had. She wasn't above scuffling with the bad guys on occasion (and getting knocked out for it, as in "Night Of Terror"), and proved herself more versatile and sensible in opening a jar than "Perry White", as seen here [after he said, "Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!", she probably muttered behind his back, "Who says you aren't?"].

[thedigitalcollective]

perry white is a funny man

[tss77]

If a vote were taken Noel Neil would win but I liked Phyllis Coates the best.

[ROBERTDALECODY]

I liked noel neil as lois lane. But phyllis coates was the best.

[starVol]

Phylis Coates was a cutie. LOL

[faceman68]

I am in agreement with you on that. You could make a good argument about who was the cutest. I would say that Noel Neill had great looking legs, and she looked good in heels. As for Phyllis Coates, from what I have seen, not only from what I have seen from the show, but from other clips that I have seen on Youtube, I guess I could say that Ms. Coates had that it factor as well.

[njvol2]

i hope daabs greer wrote a book

[tss77]

You forgot about Inspector Henderson?

[charlessavarese]

Damn right, she was doable as all hell. Jimmy Olsen was to much of a sap to be hittin' it, Perry White only cared about the paper, so that leaves Clark Kent. Nothing like a childhood in the '60's. Where the hell did the years go? Out the window, like Superman.

[dizyootum]

phyllis coates was hot

[bobszvetics1]

@dizyootum THE BEST LOIS LANE EVER