For the past year or so I've spent a few hours a week watching clips of these old shows from the 50's, 60's and 70's. Superman, The Untouchables, Lassie, Lost In Space, Beverly Hillbillies, Combat, Hogan's Heroes, Dark Shadows, Gunsmoke, Petticoat Junction, Carol Burnett, All In The Family, Columbo....the list goes on.
And I've come to one conclusion: TODAY'S TELEVISION SUCKS.
The special effects have improved greatly over the years, but to quote Jack Larson, "George Reeves' take-offs and landings are the best", and have yet to be equaled.
George was the best superman. He looked like the classic golden age superman of the time, had the voice and personality, had the acting skills and didn't overplay clark, and was obviously athletic and spot on on how he took off and especially was able to land. If this show had a better budget and he could have built himself up just a bit more and lost the padding he would have been perfect.
I talked to Noel Neill some years ago and she said George Reeves owed the mob a lot of money in gambling debts and he couldn't pay. Was he murdered? Get in debt with the mob and you'll get the answer. They'll even make it look like suicide if you like.
@comcreature The Problem with that is "The Mob" doesn't like heat and a High Profile Crime, I don't think I would buy that fully. People do things for money, but at this time, even if they killed him, they would not get ther money.
They would have had a better deal getting it as he paid it.
Really, I agree this should have been included on one of the Superman DVD sets - it's a great collection of shots from the second season - slightly lighter in heart than Season One but still great - a little later on some of the episodes got a little silly due to the demands of Kellogg's cereal as a main sponser but they were still entertaining to watch, and after all we were all kids - GEORGE was the BEST Superman and an underated actor...
The effects they used on this show were very good for the time. Also George Reeves was adamant that he should appear to be able to do all of the things Superman can do. Look at his takeoffs. He really appears to be ascending.
@josemanuel599 See if you can locate a copy of Jan Alan Henderson's "Speeding Bullet." It is the most exhaustive study as to the events on June 16, 1959 that I know of.
@josemanuel599 I've followed this story for years. He was murdered for sure!!!
I'll get you the forensics on the ballistics weapon test and the motive of the real murderer. This man had too much to live for. The story for years, told only what they knew then.
@josemanuel599 i believe it was murder. i had to do an research paper on him once... because i was an dear loving fan of his. but some things don't make quite sense..... i heard that toni mannix confessed to it, at the church, she said something about she hired someone to do it. when she was having some kind of cancer, appoligizing to god, and george reeves, for what she did. that's all i know.... other wise, they ruled it an suicide. i believe it was made too look that way.
@josemanuel599 Speeding Bullet By Jan Alan Henderson provides the best information gathered about this mystery and allows the reader themselves to draw their own conclusion on George Reeves death.
Yes,fond memories growing up.If you had UHF TV,you were doing good!Life was simple,we some role models to look up to when we were kids.NOW,We live in a friggin SEWER!!!!
@wackzack369 You think Korean, vietnam war was simple, living with the atomic bomb, the cold war, human rights issues for women etc etc all this and more going on all around you and life was more simple then WOW! or were you just a child ignorant of this things?
I still believe he was murdered and justice will be handed out by the greatest judge, I truly loved George Reeves as superman, he will always be the real superman. RIP.
Gotta' disagree with you guys - if only slightly: Yes, George Reeves was a GREAT superman ...but to me, Christopher Reeve was the best. He seemed to have the look and persona down, while George Reeves had the persona, but just didn't look like the ripped, musclebound man of steel. Now, before you all "rip" into me - let's ALL agree that the last superman (the guy who played him in "Superman Returns" - Brandon Routh - was just NOT AT ALL good or close to George or Christopher.
@anonyms404 George made sm into a human being,with compassion for a society way behind the Civilization he came from,they spoke of this in the Chris Reeves version,but CR couldn't pull it off,GR could and did.CR had the benefit of the FULL hollywood high budget major feature film budget Treatment,bringing in the great Marlon Brando to mumble a couple of lines,so it Should be a Superior Product. George Reeves made superman into a human being.
@myleftnutts - YES ... George did - I couldn't agree MORE on everything you said, except about Christopher Reeve ...he did it just the same, and further, he made Clark into the ideal "mild-mannered" person he was always supposed to be. George's Clark Kent was just a regular guy - not a bumbling milquetoast which is what the term "mild mannered" was supposed to infer and suggest. But all of this is beside MY original point: CR was ripped and also LOOKED the part. George only had the persona.
I might have the minority opinion, but George Reeves is still the most believable Superman. Christopher Reeve had the benefit of better special fx and he gave it a solid effort, but I always thought he was secretly "winking" when he played the part. George took it completely seriously. Also, the first season of the 50s TV Superman is easily the best.
Yep .. George is the man .. by god, wouldn't you've loved to have him come home for dinner & a good night's chat .. a most likeable gentleman, on & off the screen .. that's the word, on good advice ...
Great clips, lotsa fun. Check out George's expresson on :22. The bad guys are in deep trouble. And Noel's smile @ 2:10 is simply adorable. Thanks for posting.
If these previews were aired before the credits rolled, which I beleive to be true, it really amazes me how much time they had to do so in the early days of television. Looking at television today, when they air classic shows such as this one, they usually edit scenes, or speed certain sequences to allow for more commercials, such is true of TV Land, which rolls the ending credits and the final scene simultaneously, destroying the enjoyment of the shows final scenes.
Dear SuperBatFan, I hope that Mr.Welling will wear "The Superman"costume..otherwise..it's not a "Superman"movie but just an extension of"Smallville"..which is just a ripoff of
I also like Tom Welling's interpretation of Superman to be Clark Kent. Way better than Brandon Routh. Hopefully, if there is another Superman movie, it will be with Tom Welling.
Dear GeekyMarianne, Mr.Cain has stated that his interpretation of"Clark Kent was the real guy and Superman was the made up character". It's a different characterization from Messers:Collyer,Alyn, Reeves and Reeve. But..It's a more realistic and a good one.
Dean Cain's Superman was the version I grew up with, and I really enjoyed that the character of Clark Kent was made interesting (and portrayed as the guy's true personality). Portrayals of Clark as the bumbling, stammering fool, a mere disguise of Superman's, have always seemed a little unrealistic and shallow in comparison.
Actually, I the think Chris Reeves clark was quite genius because he seemed the least likely to be superman in disguise. Only clothes & glasses seperate the two men. So the clumsy act helps to fool people even more.
Kirk Alyn was good, and Christopher Reeves and some of the newer movies aren't bad... but George Reeves will always be the best, and the real Superman.
Actually, this is a "new" preview, created especially for the series several years back, feauring highlights of all 26 episodes from season two (1953-'54). The original "Previews" aired only during season one, and they usually lasted about a minute or less, concentrating on one or two "upcoming episodes". The running time for this one suggests a "special filler" was needed for the end of one episode, and this was it...
Back in the early days of TV, they actually had the time to play these previews after the actual showing of the program, then they would roll the credits. That practice seemed to go all the way till some 15 years or more ago. The intros to some shows even told the show's story, like Gilligan's Island and F Troop amongst many. Today's Tv is just the opposite, now the intros are less than a minute,and they want to advertise during the show and in the credit roll.
All of the scenes here are from the second series (1954). I really miss the film noir feel, and of course Phyllis Coates, who in my opinion, was a much better Lois Lane, from the first series (filmed in 1951, but not shown until 1953)... In it's defense, however, I believe this second series had the best flying scenes.
I agree.I didn't know this set of previews exsisted.I've seen 2 sets of 1951 previews.One set followed "The Birthday Letter" The other followed "Mystery in Wax"or "Human Bomb",I believe.Thanks to Geezersinc for posting this.
This has been flagged as spam show
For the past year or so I've spent a few hours a week watching clips of these old shows from the 50's, 60's and 70's. Superman, The Untouchables, Lassie, Lost In Space, Beverly Hillbillies, Combat, Hogan's Heroes, Dark Shadows, Gunsmoke, Petticoat Junction, Carol Burnett, All In The Family, Columbo....the list goes on.
And I've come to one conclusion: TODAY'S TELEVISION SUCKS.
benhurfanclub 1 month ago
The special effects have improved greatly over the years, but to quote Jack Larson, "George Reeves' take-offs and landings are the best", and have yet to be equaled.
Jimbo700 3 months ago
George was the best superman. He looked like the classic golden age superman of the time, had the voice and personality, had the acting skills and didn't overplay clark, and was obviously athletic and spot on on how he took off and especially was able to land. If this show had a better budget and he could have built himself up just a bit more and lost the padding he would have been perfect.
steelflame1 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
DO A WEB SEARCH ON:
charles h. miranda OR:
charlesthepoet2003
THANKS.
charlesthepoet2004 7 months ago
he was a good guy i grew up watching this guy i loved him this guy was great he was the best guy to play superman in the world i loved him
RlphSBrt 7 months ago
I talked to Noel Neill some years ago and she said George Reeves owed the mob a lot of money in gambling debts and he couldn't pay. Was he murdered? Get in debt with the mob and you'll get the answer. They'll even make it look like suicide if you like.
comcreature 8 months ago
@comcreature The Problem with that is "The Mob" doesn't like heat and a High Profile Crime, I don't think I would buy that fully. People do things for money, but at this time, even if they killed him, they would not get ther money.
They would have had a better deal getting it as he paid it.
RJBFIRECHIEF1 5 months ago
I sure miss all the good shows of the 50's. Thank you for sharing... :-)
dkp1948 9 months ago
Man i sure miss these dayz!!! TV will NEVER b da same!!
corymartin100 9 months ago
Really, I agree this should have been included on one of the Superman DVD sets - it's a great collection of shots from the second season - slightly lighter in heart than Season One but still great - a little later on some of the episodes got a little silly due to the demands of Kellogg's cereal as a main sponser but they were still entertaining to watch, and after all we were all kids - GEORGE was the BEST Superman and an underated actor...
JohnnyGNV 9 months ago
@JohnnyGNV You are so right. There is only one SUPERMAN... GEORGE REEVES. :-) This was a great clip.
dkp1948 9 months ago
This should have been on the DVD set.
LODGE4444 11 months ago
Awesome.
poolboyinla 1 year ago
this is so cute
OlaNaTungee6 1 year ago
Thanks for the great compilation. I think George Reeves is still the best TV Superman, and I'll allways love Noel Neill...the best Lois Lane ever.
rolex452 1 year ago
@rolex452 And Best Wishes to Noel Neill on her 90th Birthday, also.
Mr76Yearsago 1 year ago
@rolex452
Mr76Yearsago 1 year ago
@rolex452 I agree. And Best Wishes to Noel Neill on her 90th Birthday, also.
Mr76Yearsago 1 year ago
The effects they used on this show were very good for the time. Also George Reeves was adamant that he should appear to be able to do all of the things Superman can do. Look at his takeoffs. He really appears to be ascending.
jtkirkfan2002 1 year ago
Are these clips from season one?
iLuvAkeys4ever 1 year ago
@iLuvAkeys4ever No. Season# 2. (1953)
geezersinc 1 year ago
anyone knows the truth. He was murdered or was suicide????
josemanuel599 1 year ago
@josemanuel599 See if you can locate a copy of Jan Alan Henderson's "Speeding Bullet." It is the most exhaustive study as to the events on June 16, 1959 that I know of.
geezersinc 1 year ago
@josemanuel599 Neither, it was an accident !! Reeves had over 15 drinks in the fours hours prior to his death.
He was so fall down drunk he did not know what he was doing..
Mr76Yearsago 1 year ago
@josemanuel599 I've followed this story for years. He was murdered for sure!!!
I'll get you the forensics on the ballistics weapon test and the motive of the real murderer. This man had too much to live for. The story for years, told only what they knew then.
TheBacmaster 1 year ago
@josemanuel599 i believe it was murder. i had to do an research paper on him once... because i was an dear loving fan of his. but some things don't make quite sense..... i heard that toni mannix confessed to it, at the church, she said something about she hired someone to do it. when she was having some kind of cancer, appoligizing to god, and george reeves, for what she did. that's all i know.... other wise, they ruled it an suicide. i believe it was made too look that way.
123sweetgigimusic 5 months ago
@josemanuel599 Speeding Bullet By Jan Alan Henderson provides the best information gathered about this mystery and allows the reader themselves to draw their own conclusion on George Reeves death.
mythid12 5 months ago
George Reeves is one of two actors who can be called Superman. The other actor had a simular last name. To me, its a tie between the two of them.
Superbatfan 1 year ago
Wat ever happened 2 50s elevision, now its bullshit shows
1888Gilly 1 year ago
Yes,fond memories growing up.If you had UHF TV,you were doing good!Life was simple,we some role models to look up to when we were kids.NOW,We live in a friggin SEWER!!!!
MrJoeyd57 1 year ago
Growing up with him, the Best, that's when things were simple.
wackzack369 1 year ago
@wackzack369 You think Korean, vietnam war was simple, living with the atomic bomb, the cold war, human rights issues for women etc etc all this and more going on all around you and life was more simple then WOW! or were you just a child ignorant of this things?
iLuvAkeys4ever 1 year ago
I still believe he was murdered and justice will be handed out by the greatest judge, I truly loved George Reeves as superman, he will always be the real superman. RIP.
Krylogenic 1 year ago
He's still my Superman. All the others are just actors!
joefilm 1 year ago
Ah, being a kid was somuch fun back then. Who needed a Xbox!
mikem4454 1 year ago 3
Gotta' disagree with you guys - if only slightly: Yes, George Reeves was a GREAT superman ...but to me, Christopher Reeve was the best. He seemed to have the look and persona down, while George Reeves had the persona, but just didn't look like the ripped, musclebound man of steel. Now, before you all "rip" into me - let's ALL agree that the last superman (the guy who played him in "Superman Returns" - Brandon Routh - was just NOT AT ALL good or close to George or Christopher.
anonyms404 1 year ago
@anonyms404 George made sm into a human being,with compassion for a society way behind the Civilization he came from,they spoke of this in the Chris Reeves version,but CR couldn't pull it off,GR could and did.CR had the benefit of the FULL hollywood high budget major feature film budget Treatment,bringing in the great Marlon Brando to mumble a couple of lines,so it Should be a Superior Product. George Reeves made superman into a human being.
myleftnutts 1 year ago
@myleftnutts - YES ... George did - I couldn't agree MORE on everything you said, except about Christopher Reeve ...he did it just the same, and further, he made Clark into the ideal "mild-mannered" person he was always supposed to be. George's Clark Kent was just a regular guy - not a bumbling milquetoast which is what the term "mild mannered" was supposed to infer and suggest. But all of this is beside MY original point: CR was ripped and also LOOKED the part. George only had the persona.
anonyms404 1 year ago
@anonyms404 He couldn't even ride a horse!
RJBFIRECHIEF1 1 year ago
@RJBFIRECHIEF1 not cool or funny ... both the actors met with tragic ends and it's not something to joke about in either case.
anonyms404 1 year ago
@anonyms404 He couldn't even ride a horse!
George reeves was The Original not ..
RJBFIRECHIEF1 1 year ago
I might have the minority opinion, but George Reeves is still the most believable Superman. Christopher Reeve had the benefit of better special fx and he gave it a solid effort, but I always thought he was secretly "winking" when he played the part. George took it completely seriously. Also, the first season of the 50s TV Superman is easily the best.
bashbrannigan 1 year ago
I met Ms. Noel Neil in Metropolis Illinois. She is a classy, and wonderful lady.
When I asked her about our favorite newspaper editor Perry White (Mr. John Hamilton), she aswered that he was a very serious actor on screen and off.
It was a real pleasure to talk with her. Thanks Ms. Neil.
RJBFIRECHIEF1 1 year ago
Still the BEST
BeachBoysGuy1 1 year ago
One of my favorites show as a kid, I agree George Reeves is Superman
ncast54 1 year ago
The clipings were better than the series.
ziggycat999 1 year ago
you bet!!!!!!!!
irvingm58 1 year ago
nothing good on tv, movies, these days. even tho im 17 lol. i understand.
123sweetgigimusic 1 year ago
Lot better than any of the crap coming out nowadays.
flapdoodle64 1 year ago
27, :1:45 and 2:15 Need to say anymore?
You are so right! They need to stop trying make remakes, because there was only one Superman, George Reeves!
RJBFIRECHIEF1 1 year ago
Yep .. George is the man .. by god, wouldn't you've loved to have him come home for dinner & a good night's chat .. a most likeable gentleman, on & off the screen .. that's the word, on good advice ...
colindominy 1 year ago
Great clips, lotsa fun. Check out George's expresson on :22. The bad guys are in deep trouble. And Noel's smile @ 2:10 is simply adorable. Thanks for posting.
Aquaman1054 1 year ago
@ 1:50, that was a pretty good angle. They were ahead of the time there.
bobisdark 1 year ago
If these previews were aired before the credits rolled, which I beleive to be true, it really amazes me how much time they had to do so in the early days of television. Looking at television today, when they air classic shows such as this one, they usually edit scenes, or speed certain sequences to allow for more commercials, such is true of TV Land, which rolls the ending credits and the final scene simultaneously, destroying the enjoyment of the shows final scenes.
prausch65 2 years ago
THIS IS GREAT BUT WHY WASNT THESE ON THE DVDs WARNER VIDEO SUCKS
mavivirgie 2 years ago
@mavivirgie
themaskedreddemons 2 years ago
These are home-made and were never part of the actual series.
themaskedreddemons 2 years ago
I disagee they were made from the series and showed at the end of each show i saw them on channel 9 wor in new york many years ago
mavivirgie 2 years ago
Permit me to clarify...the FIRST SEASON episodes originally had PREVIEWS and were included at the end.
The SECOND SEASON (1953) previews posted here on You Tube are home-made in the same style as the FIRST SEASON previews.
The same guy has also done some COLOR EPISODE home-made Previews as well, but they, too, were never a part of the original series.
themaskedreddemons 2 years ago 2
THANKS FOR THE INFO
mavivirgie 2 years ago
Yes, they were made from the 1951 series episodes only first season,not the 1953 episodes.
JSG1951 2 years ago
christopher Reeve was my superman
and George Reeves was my father's superman.
deadman00 2 years ago
Dear SuperBatFan, I hope that Mr.Welling will wear "The Superman"costume..otherwise..it's not a "Superman"movie but just an extension of"Smallville"..which is just a ripoff of
"The Twighlight Zone"Tv Show.
143AC 2 years ago
I also like Tom Welling's interpretation of Superman to be Clark Kent. Way better than Brandon Routh. Hopefully, if there is another Superman movie, it will be with Tom Welling.
Superbatfan 2 years ago
Geez, do you have to use the same musical segment 3, 047 times?
It's like a broken record...
ShockDoc 2 years ago
Dear GeekyMarianne, Mr.Cain has stated that his interpretation of"Clark Kent was the real guy and Superman was the made up character". It's a different characterization from Messers:Collyer,Alyn, Reeves and Reeve. But..It's a more realistic and a good one.
143AC 2 years ago
I remember a lot of instances, though, where George Reeves's Kent could be just as assertive as his Superman.
RoyFive 2 years ago
this was from season 2!!
brenwicru 2 years ago
clever diamond???
Ratt1971 2 years ago
WOW, The special effects were better here than on superman 4 which was made 34 years later.
Rossypossy131277 2 years ago
I loved George's interpretation of TV's"Superman"..but I also
enjoyed Chris Reeve's and Dean Cain's versions of the roles.
143AC 2 years ago
Dean Cain's Superman was the version I grew up with, and I really enjoyed that the character of Clark Kent was made interesting (and portrayed as the guy's true personality). Portrayals of Clark as the bumbling, stammering fool, a mere disguise of Superman's, have always seemed a little unrealistic and shallow in comparison.
geekymarianne 2 years ago
Actually, I the think Chris Reeves clark was quite genius because he seemed the least likely to be superman in disguise. Only clothes & glasses seperate the two men. So the clumsy act helps to fool people even more.
brodimaggio 2 years ago
Kirk Alyn was good, and Christopher Reeves and some of the newer movies aren't bad... but George Reeves will always be the best, and the real Superman.
arcturus33333 2 years ago 5
George Reeves was, is, and always shall be THE Man of Steel... SUPERMAN!!
spideyhaswebshooters 2 years ago 13
@spideyhaswebshooters Actually thats Chris but hey George came second right RIGHT? :D
DarPower1 1 year ago
This man was the rEAL Superman. Especially the black and white episodes
BeachBoysGuy1 2 years ago 6
He was and is my Superman!
MickeyT54 2 years ago 8
Actually, this is a "new" preview, created especially for the series several years back, feauring highlights of all 26 episodes from season two (1953-'54). The original "Previews" aired only during season one, and they usually lasted about a minute or less, concentrating on one or two "upcoming episodes". The running time for this one suggests a "special filler" was needed for the end of one episode, and this was it...
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
To me Mr. Reeves was to TV , what Mr. Buddy Holley was to music. Just a big damn hole that never, never can be filled...
blueticecho 2 years ago 6
Back in the early days of TV, they actually had the time to play these previews after the actual showing of the program, then they would roll the credits. That practice seemed to go all the way till some 15 years or more ago. The intros to some shows even told the show's story, like Gilligan's Island and F Troop amongst many. Today's Tv is just the opposite, now the intros are less than a minute,and they want to advertise during the show and in the credit roll.
prausch65 2 years ago 2
This is just MY opinion and take it for what it is worth, but to me...George Reeves will ALWAYS be SUPERMAN...the others don't even come close.
manny5442 3 years ago 4
i couldnt agee more
mavivirgie 3 years ago
I agree 100%
JSG1951 3 years ago
I totally agree!!! RIP George Reeves!!
JSG1951 2 years ago 3
i agree. same here.
BigFanDaysOfOurLives 2 years ago 4
That is one fantastic preview.
Timmyfunk1 3 years ago
All of the scenes here are from the second series (1954). I really miss the film noir feel, and of course Phyllis Coates, who in my opinion, was a much better Lois Lane, from the first series (filmed in 1951, but not shown until 1953)... In it's defense, however, I believe this second series had the best flying scenes.
oakandwillow 3 years ago
I agree.I didn't know this set of previews exsisted.I've seen 2 sets of 1951 previews.One set followed "The Birthday Letter" The other followed "Mystery in Wax"or "Human Bomb",I believe.Thanks to Geezersinc for posting this.
JSG1951 3 years ago