Roy Wall

What was your first reaction to George Reeves and/or the Superman series?

I was first exposed to TAOS in 1964 in reruns for a year or two. I did not see the series on again until WAXA brought the series back to my area in 1985. It was probably my favorite show in 1964 until Star Trek came along in 1966.

What are your 10 favorite episodes?

• The Evil Three
• The Mind Machine
• Czar of the Underworld
• Night of Terror
• The Deserted Village
• Double Trouble
• Riddle of The Chinese Jade
• The Secret of Superman
• Ghost Wolf

What are some of you favorite scenes from the series?

• I love the introduction of “The Evil Three” at the Bayou Hotel. One of the most bizarre ways to introduce villains in a TAOS episode.
• The chase sequence in “The Mind Machine”. TAOS action at its best.
• Superman’s visit to Luigi Dinelli’s apartment. I especially love Superman’s reply to Luigi, “Hey... What’s the big idea?” Superman “Oh, the window….I was in a hurry so I took a short cut.” (Or something like that.)
• The finale to “The Night of Terror”. Probably George’s best “clean up” of hard core villains.
• The finale of “The Golden Vulture”. My favorite episode outside of Robert Maxwell’s shows. Jimmy and Lois expression of concern for Clark (after walking the plank) is very well done…and I love Peter Whitney and Vic Perrin in this one. A classic episode.
• The reaction of Lois in “Ghost Wolf” to Perry’s announcement that Clark, Jimmy and Lois have fifty-three and a half minutes to catch their plane. Lois: “I haven’t a thing to wear.” Perry: “What woman ever did?” This just tears my wife up, “Typical male writer.”

What interesting mistakes or inside jokes have you detected?

These are so well documented at the Glass House that I will pass on this one…but it amazes me how many errors that “The Mind Machine” and “Panic In The Sky” contain given their high reverence among fans.

Aside from Superman/Kent, who was your favorite character on the show and why?

Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane was my favorite. Her sex appeal and determination added to the drama of those early hard nosed episodes.

Also, Steve Carr deserves mention for all those small roles as both good and bad guy in Maxwell’s shows.

Jack Larson and John Hamilton certainly endeared themselves too…but Coates as Lois was my favorite of the group.

How do you view the series today, as an adult, differently from when you were a child?

As an adult….like many fans…I prefer the shows produced by Robert Maxwell but enjoy many of the episodes penned by Jackson Gillis and Leroy H. Zehren produced after Maxwell left the show.

I watched all of them as a child back in 1964, but even then I preferred the episodes with Phyllis Coates. I guess it was the action, music, and occasional preview that made these shows much more appealing.

I have to agree though with the experts of TAOS that the acting was probably better in season two, and George certainly seemed more comfortable in the role during that second season.

Why have you continued to watch the series and why do you consider yourself a George Reeves fan?

TAOS is like many of the shows from the 50s and 60s such as The Andy Griffith Show, The Fugitive, Have Gun Will Travel, The Twilight Zone, Star Trek and others….a classic always endures. If you love TAOS…you gotta be a George Reeves fan.

Janet and Roy Wall at an overlook on the
Blue Ridge Parkway