Lois Was Banned from Appearing on Commercials with Clark Because It Was Too Suggestive
The Adventures of Superman was a popular television show that aired from 1952-1958. The series starred George Reeves as Clark Kent/ Superman which followed his adventures as he fought crime to aid his friends at the Daily Planet. The American hero came face to face with notorious bad guys in Metropolis.
As a news reporter by day and a crime fighter by night, Superman kept the city of Metropolis safe. During its run one star died from heart failure and after Reeves tragically committed suicide, the show was cancelled. Here are some interesting facts about the series…
A sponsorship by Kellogs, the cereal giant, was one of the reasons The Adventures of Superman was able to get on the air in 1952. Characters from the show appeared in the Kellog commercials alongside each episode that aired. However, Superman and Lois Lane did not appear in the commercials.
Superman's First Suit Was Brown?!
Lois Lane was essentially banned from the television commercials because it was believed that having both Lois and Superman appear together would have been too suggestive. It was a different culture in the 50's and the producers of the Kellog commercials had to be sensitive to their viewers. If Superman and Lois lane shared a bowl of cereal together, what else could they be doing?
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Superman is the iconic blue suit with the red "S" on the chest and the matching red cape. Back in the 50's, they were dealing with monochromatic broadcasting which made it difficult to get the proper tones. Superman's costume was anything but colorful.
Season One’s Metropolis Was Actually Mayberry
Instead, it was a drab brown, gray and white suit. This was common practice during those days. This was similar to the production of Car 54 where the police cars were actually red in order to stand out during filming.
The first season of the series was shot at RKO-Pathe Studios and on the RKO Pictures "Forty Acres" backlot. The "Forty Acres" backlot is widely familiar to most as the quaint downtown of Mayberry. This town was the fictitious place that would become popular as the setting for the television sitcomThe Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.D.F.
Low Production Budget
It is a surprise to many that the small North Carolina town could double as the bustling Metropolis. Another fun fact...years later, Star Trek would take a visit to Mayberry as well!
The producers cut costs wherever possible. It was not uncommon to see the actors wear the same outfits throughout the entire episode. Nowadays it's not uncommon to see actors have costume changes throughout an episode.
“Panic in the Sky” Had Bloopers Galore
Another budget cutting move was to reuse sets throughout the series. If you pay close attention, you will see that Clark and Lois have the same office, with some minor changes in decorations and name plate.
Because of the budget constraints of The Adventures of Superman, producers had to save money in various ways. In the episode “Panic in the Sky,” you can hear the residents of Metropolis stomping down the sidewalks on plywood instead of concrete. When Superman lands on the flying meteor, you can hear the sounds of birds chirping in the background.
It Was The Number One TV Show In Japan And Favorite Show Of Emperor Hiroshoto
And at one point in the episode, Superman showed himself to Jimmy, Lois, and Perry without wearing his signature glasses, which were the main component of his disguise. He also failed to carry a notebook, which was pretty standard for newspapermen in those days.
It Was The Number One TV Show In Japan And Favorite Show Of Emperor Hiroshoto
Television has made a strong impression on the Japanese which started with Emperor Hirohito. Hirohito himself wrote Reeves to proclaim that The Adventures of Superman was his favorite television series.
After Children Got Hurt Trying To Fly Like Superman, Reeves Warned Kids On Air That Flying Is Impossible
Nowadays 99 percent of Japanese television is American. This love for American TV started with The Adventures of Superman.
The love for Superman was remarkable! Merchandise was flying off the shelves. Every child wanted to be like Superman.The most popular item was the costume cape.
The Original Lois Left After Just One Season Because of Too Much Alcohol on Set
Many children were reported putting on the cape and tragically leaping off houses thinking it would make them fly. After hearing this news, a concerned Reeves pleaded to have the capes taken off the market. Reeves gave a public service announcement to children in a video reminding them that they could not fly like Superman.
Phyllis Coates who originally played the part of Lois Lane in the first season of the American superhero series. After she voiced her issues with the set, she was offered an increase of five times her salary to stay in the cast, however, she decided to move on. Phyllis voiced that she did not particularly like all the drinking that was occurring on set.
The Show was Broadcasted in Black And White Even Though Several Seasons Were Shot In Color
Her family had a history of alcoholism and with her close interactions with Reeves whom drank a bit she feared that it would have a negative effect on her life. The actress had been offered a role as a star in another TV series.
The first seasons of the series The Adventures Of Superman were filmed in black and white. By 1954, the show began being filmed in color.
The Producers Even Tried To Continue The Series After George Reeves Death
Because of the high costs of broadcasting color film, episodes were broadcast in black & white until the show’s conclusion in 1958. Once color television became more prolific in the 1960s, viewers were finally able to see Superman in his iconic blue and red suit in 1965 when reruns began to air.
In 1959, actor George Reeves died from a gunshot wound to the head. After this tragic incident, it was suggested to Reeve's costar Jack Larson that he carry the torch and continue.
Jack Larson Struggled to Find Work Following Superman’s Cancellation
They planned to use stock footage and look-alikes of Reeves. Larson nixed that idea immediately.
When the series first was created, Jack Larson originally didn’t want to play the young newspaper reporter Jimmy Olsen. He feared the role would typecast him. Larson eventually took the role because his agent told him he would get a decent paycheck.
When the show was canceled, his fear came true of being typecast. This led Larson to give up acting and become a producer and playwright of The Candied House, Chuck, and The Astronaut’s Tale. He ended up being the first playwright to be awarded a grant by the Rockefeller Foundation.