Superman Plaque In Tarzana, California

by Armand Vaquer

Tomorrow's early morning (well, not that early) task is to order the plaque commemorating the 100th birthdays of George Reeves and Superman creators Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster. The plaque dedication will be held on the morning of August 16.

The plaque will have this photo (created by Steven Kirk):

And, the text (by Jim Nolt and Armand Vaquer) will read:

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN Production years: 1951 - 1957 Producers: Robert Maxwell/Bernard Luber and Whitney Ellsworth Episode #29 "The Man Who could Read Minds." Script by Roy Hamilton.  Directed by Tommy Carr.  

A portion of this episode was filmed in June, 1953 at 5400 Wilbur Avenue, Tarzana, CA., and is the only location scene to feature all five main characters:  Editor Perry White - John Hamilton; Reporter Lois Lane - Noel Neill (who replaced Phyllis Coates after the first season); Cub reporter Jimmy Olsen - Jack Larson; Inspector Wm. J. Henderson - Robert Shayne; and Reporter Clark Kent/Superman - George Reeves. 

A police stakeout scene was filmed at this location and a fight scene between Jimmy Olsen and the phantom burglar were filmed on Wilbur Ave. Additional chase scenes were filmed on Linnett Street. 

Dedication of this plaque, provided by fans of the "Adventures of Superman," was held on August 16, 2014 to commemorate the 100th birthdays of George Reeves and Superman creators Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster and over sixty years of the "Adventures of Superman." 

If there are any changes to the above, they will only occur if there are problems with space on the plaque. 

Phyllis Coates To Be Honored At Cinecon 48 September 2

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Phyllis Coates and Armand in 2007.  Photo by Carl Glass.

Actress Phyllis Coates will be honored with a Career Achievement Award September 2 at Cinecon 48 in Hollywood.

 From Cinecon.org:

Phyllis Coates, Samantha Eggar, Carleton Carpenter and Richard L. Bare will be honored with a Cinecon 48 Career Achievement Award at our celebrity banquet which will be held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel (formerly the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel) on Sunday evening, September 2, 2012.   

Above, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates.

Coates played Lois Lane in the Superman and The Mole Men (1951) full-length motion picture, which served as a pilot for the Adventures of Superman television show starring George Reeves.  She played Lois Lane in the show's first season.

For more on Cinecon 48, go here. 

Superman Plaque Project 2014

by Armand Vaquer

Things are moving pretty fast and productive with the Adventures of Superman historical marker/plaque project.

Plans are taking shape to celebrate the 100th anniversary of George Reeves's birth in 2014 and part of the celebration is to dedicate a plaque at the spot of a location shoot for the 1953 episode, "The Man Who Could Read Minds."

Today, I am pleased to report that I obtained the verbal okay from the property owner of the house where the stake-out for The Phantom Burglar was set up to place the marker/plaque on his property in Tarzana, California (above photos).  We will formalize this later.

The plaque dedication will take place in August 2014.  The actual date will be on or about August 16.

Besides this, what remains to be done is to set the dedication date, raise the funds to have the plaque made and make it, and organize the dedication ceremony.  Jack Larson has already indicated that he will participate in our celebration events as will Beverly Washburn.

We will solicit contributions for the making of the plaque from the fans.  Details will follow on how much we'll need to get it made once a design and cost are determined.

Since the Hollywood Walk of Fame now charges $30,000 for each star, having a marker in this manner is a lot more cost-effective.  The marker/plaque's text will name the show's actors.  I am also planning to work in Phyllis Coates into the text as she was the first season's Lois Lane.

This is like old times!  11 years ago, I worked with The Adventures Continue editor and publisher Jim Nolt on "Superman Week" at the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.  Now we've teamed up again for this project!

On This Date: "Adventures of Superman" Premieres In L.A.

by Armand Vaquer



It was a hair under a year before my time, but on this date in 1953, the Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates, Jack Larson, John Hamilton and Robert Shayne premiered in Los Angeles on KCEA-TV Channel 7 (the forerunner of KABC-TV).

The premiere episode was "Superman On Earth," which chronicled Jor-El and Lara's sending the baby Kal-El to Earth before the planet Krypton exploded.

The episodes that followed were the ones that Robert Maxwell and Bernard Luber produced. These were rock 'em, sock 'em crime dramas and not kiddie shows.

"Adventures of Superman" Anniversary Day

by Armand Vaquer


Sixty (60) years ago today, filming began on the feature film Superman and the Mole Men at the RKO-Pathe studios in Culver City. It featured a new Superman/Clark Kent, George Reeves and a new Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates.

Above, a lobby card for Superman and the Mole Men.

The movie served as a pilot for the television show Adventures of Superman, which ran from 1952 to 1957.

Above, Supervisor Antonovich with Jack Larson and Noel Neill.

Fifty years later (or ten years ago), a special ceremony was organized with the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary. We called it "Superman Week" as a nod to an episode of the same title. It was held at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration at the Los Angeles civic center.

Above, Supervisor Antonovich and Robert Rockwell (Jor-El). I am sandwiched in-between the two and Jack Larson is in the background at right.

It was the biggest reunion gathering of Adventures of Superman veterans since the show ended production. In attendance were actors Jack Larson, Noel Neill, Jeff Corey and Robert Rockwell. Also partipating were Bette Shayne (Mrs. Robert Shayne) and her daughter Stephanie Shayne Parkin. Also on hand were Joanne Siegel (Mrs. Jerry Siegel) and her daughter Laura Siegle Larson, DC Comics VP Paul Levitz and Warner Bros. VP Michael Walbrecht.



Right, Jack Larson and Noel Neill interviewed by the press.





A luncheon followed the ceremony at Cafe Pinot, located next door to the L.A. Central Library in downtown Los Angeles. DC's Paul Levitz was kind enough to pick up the tab for everyone's lunch.

Above, Paul Levitz and Joanne Siegel at the Cafe Pinot luncheon.

Those who attended still cherish the fond memories of that day. It is a little hard to believe that ten years has already passed.

Above, the Los Angeles Daily News photo article on the ceremony.

Introducing "Adventures of Superman" To Newbies

Introducing "Adventures of Superman" To Newbies

by Armand Vaquer

I was perusing an Adventures of Superman message board in which a member was introducing his wife to the show. He sought out recommendations from other fans on which episodes to show her in order to get her hooked. All of the recommendations are good ones and I am echoing them and making my own recommendations.

To start off, Adventures of Superman was the show for baby-boomers. George Reeves to the boomer generation was the Superman for them. While many liked Christopher Reeve's portayal of Superman (many disliked his Clark Kent, though), it really was George Reeves who captured their hearts.

The first season was filmed in 1951 and starred George Reeves (Clark Kent/Superman), Phyllis Coates (Lois Lane), Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen), John Hamilton (Perry White) and Robert Shayne (Inspector William Henderson). The 1953-57 shows are essentially the same cast, except Noel Neill replaced Coates as Lois Lane as Coates decided to pursue another television series.

Now, getting back to what episodes to introduce the show to someone who never saw the show, such as a young child or even an adult living in a vacuum. Most of my recommendations are from the 1951 and 1953 black & white shows with the final two from the color years.

1. "Superman On Earth" (1951) chronicles the story of how Jor-El and Lara rocketed their infant son Kal-El to Earth just before the planet Krypton was destroyed and how Clark Kent got hired at the Daily Planet.

2. "The Birthday Letter" (1951) is about a crippled little girl who writes a letter to Superman asking him to take her to the county fair. Unfortunately, she falls prey to some counterfeiters.

3. "Five Minutes To Doom" (1953) is about a man who is framed for a murder and is about to be executed unless the crack Daily Planet staff finds the evidence to save him and nail the real killer.

Above, "Superman In Exile."

4. "Superman In Exile" (1953). After getting a runaway atomic reactor under control, Superman finds himself radioactive. He has to find a way to rid himself of the radioactivity in time to save Lois from some jewel thieves.

Above, "Panic In The Sky."

5. "Panic In The Sky" (1953) has the Earth threatened by an asteroid (possibly a huge chunk of Krypton) that Superman must stop. Superman loses his memory after his first encounter. Will he regain it in time to stop the asteroid?

6. "The Dog Who Knew Superman" (1953) has Superman befriending a mobster's dog and trying to prevent his secret identity from being exposed.

7. "The Machine Who Could Plot Crimes" (1953) has Sterling Holloway as an inventor of a mechanical brain who has the talent to plot successful crimes. Some location work in downtown Los Angeles is featured.

8. "Semi-Private Eye" (1953) has Jimmy Olsen becoming a shamus to solve Lois Lane's kidnappng. Jack Larson's favorite episode.

9. "Around The World With Superman" (1953) has Superman trying to convince a blind girl that there is a Superman and restore her eyesight to take her on a world tour.

10. "The Seven Souvenirs" (1954) has Superman trying to figure out what is behind a plot involving souvenir knives sold by a quirky old man.

11. "The Wedding of Superman" (1955) has Superman proposing marriage to Lois Lane, but some criminals have other plans for the couple at the wedding. Noel Neill's favorite episode.

All Adventures of Superman episodes are now available in four DVD box sets, including the original theatrical version of Superman and the Mole Men (1951) and the special U.S. Treasury promotional episode Stamp Day For Superman (1953).

Phyllis Coates Celebrates 82nd Birthday Today

Happy Birthday Phyllis Coates!

by Armand Vaquer

Actress Phyllis Coates was born in Wichita Falls, Texas as Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell.

She moved to California in 1941. Shortly afterward, Gail Getterman, a producer at MGM changed her name to Phyllis Coates. Mr. Getterman thought the name Phyllis sounded rather classy, and the name "Coates" came from the sign on a passing truck.

Among Phyllis's first works are Ken Murray's Blackouts in 1943 and 1944, but she is best remembered as Lois Lane (top photo) during the first season of the Adventures of Superman and the pilot movie, Superman and the Mole Men. She shared star billing with George Reeves.


Above, Phyllis Coates and Armand in Burbank, California in 2007.