TAC, Jr. #2
From the publisher of The Adventures Continue
www.jimnolt.com

Professor Pepperwinkle worked all night, and this morning the web page
is operational again.

1. LOOK CAREFULLY --
Some of you readers have very sharp eyes. It was recently suggested to me
that I watch "The Man Who Could Read Minds" again and check out the scene at
the end in which Superman collars the crooks. If you look very closely, you
will see that Superman is wearing Clark Kent's pinkie ring. I had to watch
it several times, but it is there.

Also watch "Panic In The Sky" with a critical eye. Not only did the
kryptonite (or some other element from cosmic space which even Superman
couldn't handle) affect Superman's mind, it also did a job on his costume!
If you look carefully when Clark opens his coat and shirt (with Jimmy
standing in the background), you will see that the Superman shirt has no
sleeves! Also, move you eyes to the area just above Superman's waist and you
will see the stitching in the costume where the "crotch piece" is sewn to
the shirt.

Frank Smullins may have been the greatest natural born reporter to come
along in years, but he wasn't the only Metropolis citizen who was there when
important stuff happened. Watch as the diver is shot in "Perry White's
Scoop," look carefully at the crowd of people who gather around Henderson
after Superman collars the crooks in "The Seven Souvenirs," and tell me that
little guy in the background doesn't have a nose for news. (He's best seen
when the camera moves in on Olsen and Henderson.)
I know he appears in at least one other second season episode, but I can't
find it right now. If any of you have noticed him, let me know. (Now check
"Perry White's Scoop" once more and note who's looking into the back window
of the car just after Superman crashes through its roof!)

2. NEWS FROM THE PAST --
Ordinarily I will not be sending out issues of TAC, Jr. so close together,
but last night I was looking through some correspondence and came across the
first letter I ever received from Whitney Ellsworth, dated September 17,
1979. I thought you might find it interesting.

Dear Jim,

It continues to be a source of wonderment to me how many good people like
yourself still take the trouble to write about the Superman show more than
20 years after we filmed the 104th episode. I find it very moving, not just
for myself, but for all the people who worked so hard on both sides of the
camera -- including, of course, George Reeves. He was indeed a fine chap,
and his loss was a great blow to those of us who worked with him, as well as
to those who were his fans.

It pleases me particularly to read in your letter words of appreciation for
the other members of the cast. I have not seen Phyllis Coates for many
years, as she no longer lives in the Los Angeles area, and of course great
old John Hamilton has long been gone, but I talk regularly on the telephone
to Noel Neill and Jack Larson, and occasionally we see each other. Bob
Shayne has also found his way to Westlake Village a time or two, and looks
very little different than he did in 1954. Amazing!

Jack phoned a month or so ago. He said he had been watching some of the old
Superman shows which were running here every afternoon, and just thought
they were really "darned good." He went on to say that it was "just a job"
when we were making the shows, and that sometimes he had felt resentful
about the "long hours and hard work and not enough money," but that looking
at the product dispassionately after all these years he was struck by the
fact that the stories were good ones, and he wanted me to know that he was
proud of having been a part of it all. I'm sure you can imagine how pleased
and proud I was!

I have been retired since 1970, and live with my wife of 42 years in this
attractive suburb of Los Angeles. Between arthritis and emphysema my health
is not too great, and we stay fairly close to home. Except for continuing
relationships with Warner Communications, owners of the Superman property, I
have little contact with the entertainment industry except as a "viewer."

Thank you once again for your good letter.
Sincerely,
Whit Ellsworth

4. RELATED NEWS --
The Adventures of Superman may have been our favorite show from the 50s, but
I'm sure George Reeves isn't the only personality who left an impression on
us. I was recently saddened to learn of the passing of Gail Davis, TV's
Annie Oakley. She died of cancer on March 15 at the age of 71.

Don Porter (Ann Sothern's boss in Private Secretary and The Ann Sothern Show
and Russ Lawrence on Gidget) died on February 11 at the age of 84.

Marjorie Reynolds (Chester A. Riley's beautiful wife on The Life of Riley)
died at her home in California on February 1. She was 80.

5. WERTHERS WORTH WATCHING --
If you enjoy Werthers candy, you might think it's out of this world ... and
it might very well be. After all, the grandfather in one of their
commercials is Jor-El, Krypton's leading scientist, otherwise known as actor
Robert Rockwell.

That's it for this time, but stay tuned...

Jim

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The Adventures Continue . . .
. . .with George Reeves

www.jimnolt.com