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Now it's time for the Man of Steel! The alien from the planet Krypton. The first serial
was 1948, simply entitled "Superman". The second one 1950 "Atom Man vs. Superman". Kirk
Alyn, that's spelled A-L-Y-N, was the protagonist, but for some reason despite a very detailed
cast list in each episode, they did not show his name. And I would have objected had that
been me. Now, in chapter four of that original series "Superman" he had to reveal his identity
to an astronomer because he was dying by being exposed to Kryptonite which, of course, is
lethal for him. But, after that chapter we never saw that scientist again. Nothing more
was made about that very important revelation. Now let's fast-forward to the TV series "The
Adventures of Superman" starring George Reeves. In the very first season there were two episodes
where his identity was actually discovered. In chapter ten "The Secret of Superman" Peter
Brocco, a villain, had hypnotized Lois Lane played by Phyllis Coates in that first season,
and determined that Clark Kent was actually Superman. But conveniently he was killed in
a shoot-out with police. The identity problem was never further explored there. Fast-forward
to chapter thirteen "The Stolen Costume" in which a cat burglar finds Superman's costume
in a hidden closet. Clark Kent had to go for a physical exam so he left the costume in
the closet in his apartment. The cat burglar was killed, but before he died he gave the
costume to Vita Anborg and Dan Seymour, two criminals and they were trying to blackmail
Clark Kent. So you know what he did? He flew them to the top of a mountain, telling them
that he would bring them food later on. Well, of course they didn't trust him, and they
tried to climb down the mountain and were conveniently killed. So, in a sense Superman
was responsible for their deaths. That very first season, I thought, of the TV series
was the best. Some very serious episodes for individuals such as villains being killed,
and of course these two episodes: outstanding. Phyllis Coates played the role of Lois Lane,
just for that first year, did an excellent job, but then was replaced by the gal who
was also in the two serials and the series took a lighter tone then afterward. Then it
went to color and I felt that this deteriorated to an extent. That first year of "Superman"
was superb. George Reeves, Phyllis Coates.