TAC, Jr. #6
From the publisher of The Adventures Continue
www.jimnolt.com

Thursday, May 15, 1997

Contents:
1) UNSOLVED MYSTERIES - PART III
2) UNSOLVED MYSTERIES - PART IV
3) METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS
4) TAC READER ATTENDS CHRISTOPHER REEVE STAR CEREMONIES
5) FORTY-SIX YEARS AGO
6) FAN MAIL
7) OPENING SEQUENCES FOR SUPERMAN

1) UNSOLVED MYSTERIES - PART III
Hilary Roberts just phoned me with the sad news that Unsolved Mysteries has
been canceled after nine years on NBC. She asked me to thank all of you who
bothered to send e-mail to the network and invited you to send similar
letters to the television editor or your local newspaper. She feels that
there is still a possibility another network may be interested in picking it
up. In any event, she's been told to clean out her desk by tomorrow
afternoon.

2) UNSOLVED MYSTERIES - PART IV
I've now posted part of the www.jimnolt.com/um.htm page at my website.
More will follow as I'm able to work on it. I'll also be adding the
June dates to the calendar page sometime in the coming week.

3) METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS
Every year the town of Metropolis, Illinois, hosts a Superman Festival. This
year's even will be held from June 12 - 15. The featured guest is Noel Neill
who will be there on Saturday. Another guest is George Lindsey, though not
in any way related to Superman, is surely fondly remembered as Goober on The
Andy Griffith Show. If you go to Metropolis, be sure to stop by the Superman
museum there to see some of the memorabilia from the Adventures of
Superman - George's color and b&w costumes, the lead mask from "Man In The
Lead Mask," the body mold George lay in to do the flying scenes, and a few
other items of interest.

4) TAC READER ATTENDS CHRISTOPHER REEVE STAR CEREMONIES
Last month Chris Reeve received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and
TAC reader and contributor Jim Bowers was on hand for the ceremony. Jim has
been active in the past couple years helping to raise money for spinal
injury research. Some time ago he had two "S" shields made up which he will
present to Chris after they've been autographed by many of the people who
worked with Chris in the Superman movies. After the outside ceremonies were
concluded a reception was held in the Hollywood Entertainment Museum.
Attached to this newsletter is a photo of Gerard Christopher (TV's
Superboy), Jack Larson (TV's Jimmy Olsen), Marc McClure (Chris Reeve's Jimmy
Olsen), and Jim Bowers.

5) FORTY-SIX YEARS AGO
If you have your 1997 George Reeves calendar tribute, you'll see that
exactly 46 years ago next Wednesday, May 20, Bernard Luber and Robert
Maxwell formed their television production company which would begin
production on the Adventures of Superman two months later.

6) FAN MAIL
Almost everyday someone sends me regular mail or e-mail telling me how much
George Reeves and the Adventures of Superman has meant to him/her over the
years. This note from Jim DeLorenzo is worth sharing. Most of us long ago
hung up our home-made Superman uniforms, but Jim found another way to
remember George in his daily life.

"I've been a big fan of The Adventures Continue since the very first issue,
and congratulate you and your associates for all your hard work. Thanks also
for TAC, Jr. In your first TAC, Jr. note you mentioned the Clark
Kent/George Reeves pinky ring. When my father gave me his junior high class
ring it didn't fit on my hand anywhere except on my pinky. So, knowing about
George Reeves' ring and wanting to honor my dad as well, I've been wearing
it on my left hand ever since."

7) OPENING SEQUENCES FOR SUPERMAN
As you watch episodes of the Adventures of Superman from various sources,
you may note that the opening sequences for the first two seasons are not
always the same. Researcher/writer Michael Hayde has supplied the following
information. Pay close attention and as you watch episodes of Superman see
if you can pick out which opening sequence is used. If you find one that
doesn't fit any of these descriptions, please let me know.

a) First Season - Maxwell edit - copyright date is MCMLI. The title card
appears, but there is no voice over. Pan up the tall building is steady.
Flying shot is first season "free fall." Steve Carr's hand shoots up and
points. Superman/Kent poses are those filmed for Superman and the Mole-Men.
Bill Kennedy says, "And now, another exciting episode in the Adventures of
Superman" at the fade. This opening, though the first to be filmed, was not
seen until after 1960.

b) First Season - Kellogg's edit - Charlie Lyon says "Kellogg's, the
greatest name in cereal, presents... the Adventures of Superman" over the
title card. The visuals are the same as in the Maxwell edit. Only music, no
announcer, is heard at the fade. This was the opening for the first season
episodes when they were broadcast between 1952 and 1960.

c) Syndication variations on first season openings - i) same as "b" above,
except the Kellogg's intro is removed and the title stars with the comet
crashing and Lyon's voice saying the Adventures of Superman. ii) opening
title is a b&w print of a color title with copyright 1957 and Charlie Lyon
announcing the Adventures of Superman; the title cuts to either a) or b)
above.

d) Original Second Season - Charlie Lyon announces "Kellogg's, the greatest
name in cereal..." but the copyright date is MCMLIV. Building shot holds at
the bottom of the building then quickly pans upward. (At the bottom of the
building, the following inscription can be read: "Let us always remember
that right makes migh - Abraham Lincoln") The flying shot is a second season
profile through clouds. Steve Carr's hand is already pointing. Superman/Kent
poses are different from the first season, and George blinks just before the
fade. This was the opening as seen on the second season shows broadcast
between 1953 and 1960.

e) Syndication variations on second season episodes - i) same as b) except
Kellogg's intro is removed; title stars with the comet crashing and Lyon's
voice saying "the Adventures of Superman." ii) Same as d) except the
Kellogg's intro is removed; title starts with the comet crashing and Lyon's
voice saying "the Adventures of Superman." iii) opening title is a b&w print
of a color title, with copyright 1957; Lyon says "the Adventures of
Superman"; the title cuts to either a) b) or d) above. iv) entire color
opening appears in black and white.

Columbia House's episode of "Beware the Wrecker" features an edit unlike any
above. It opens with the MCMLI copyright date, features a second season
flying shot, and then finished up with the first season Maxwell edit.
NICKELODEON also used this print. And finally, just when you think you've
seen it all , check the opening to "The Haunted Lighthouse" used in the
Superman Marathon used to kick off the series run on NICK. After the
gunshot, it cuts to the aerial shot of the train used in "The Monkey
Mystery," then back to the closeup of the train wheels. When the camera
reaches the top of the building in the next shot, it freezes. We hear the
flying sound effect, but THERE IS NO FLYING SHOT!

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

www.jimnolt.com