As of this writing it's mid-afternoon September 11, 2011. The day began with breakfast and turning the television set on to watch a number of programs dedicated to the memory of those lost in the 9-11 attacks on the United States of America. It's important to watch these segments out of respect for the innocent lives that were tragically lost. The block composite you see above was created as a need to take my mind elsewhere after watching several hours of the tributes and watching the towers fall over and over again. While it may not seem an appropriate time to begin this year's review, to relive seeing the many lives senselessly taken away has inspired me to not take any day for granted or friends and family who are very important. So now, it is time to roll up the sleeves and get started. Like past years, the main focus of these reviews is to thank the contributors for their efforts.

So here we are again and hopefully you'll be happy with this year's page with its acknowledgements and extra goodies. Welcome to this Year In Review presented by....

....Jim Nolt's The Adventures Continue.

As I've presented in the previous five years, there is no specific order for which the varied information below is issued. However most important, I want to reflect on the people who made lasting impressions.

From time to time, I've had the honor to meet some very special people. I consider Joanne Siegel one of those people. This past February the world lost this great individual. I met Joanne Siegel only once and I was immediately impressed. I really want to say that it was a true delight to meet Joanne, along with her daughter Laura. I really appreciate how friendly they were to everyone and it's obvious that these are really good and considerate people. Attached to this link is the New York Times obituary for Joanne. If you haven't read it , please do so.

One thing that impressed me about the Siegels was that they made you feel like a friend.

When in 2001, a small group of fans organized and celebrated Superman Week with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on July 10, we had the opportunity to met so many wonderful people. The event included Noel Neill, Bette Shayne and her daughter Stephanie, Jack Larson, Jeff Corey, Robert Rockwell and his daughter Alison, and also Dabbs Greer the day earlier. It's now over 10 years since we celebrated the 50th anniversary when cameras rolled for the first season of the Adventures of Superman. George Reeves, John Hamilton, Robert Shayne, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster couldn't be with us to celebrate this occassion, but to all who attended knew they weren't far from our thoughts. With respect for the creators of the iconic character, one could never overstate their importance.

Mr. Siegel and Mr. Shuster were true pioneers in their field. The entire comic book industry, plus the super-hero film industry, which includes Marvel Studios, owe their gratitude to these gentlemen. There has been many outstanding characters created amongst the four color pages of comic books. All are derived in one form or another from Superman. I think it's safe to say that the impact that Superman has had on the comic book industry is equal to what the Beatles did to Rock & Roll. And, Superman has been around a lot longer and going strong.

While the royal cast members from the Adventures of Superman started in 1951, Joanne's life came together with Superman more than a decade earlier. For Joanne's kind words at the Superman celebration, refer to this YouTube link: SUPERMAN WEEK. I believe you will walk away from this segment knowing this was a very sincere and special lady and Mr. Siegel did quite well by falling immediately in love with her. It was an honor meeting Joanne Siegel. Thanks go out to Jim Nolt for posting this YouTube segment.

Thanks go out to Jim-(A Kid From NYC) for reminding me of the following three TAoS alumni who passed away this year. They are.

Don Diamond, Harry in "Close Shave," episode 86. Mr. Diamond born June 4, 1921 and died this past June 19. While Mr. Diamond appeared as a regular in Disney's television series Zorro starring Guy Williams as one of the soldiers, he is best remembered as Crazy Cat in the 1960's television show F-Troop. He is also noted as the regular sidekick on TV's early "The Adventures of Kit Carson."

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Dolores Fuller, the woman in the beauty parlor in "The Wedding of Superman," episode 73. Ms. Fuller was born March 10, 1923, and died May 9th.

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John Crawford, henchman in "The Man in the Lead Mask"- episode 37. Mr. Crawford was born on September 13, 1920, and died on May 9. Mr. Crawford played a henchman on the 60's Batman, the episode with the Bookworm. He is also remembered for his the role as the Mayor of San Francisco in Clint Eastwood's film "The Enforcer." He was also a semi regular on the long-running show, The Waltons as the county sheriff.

Image (left) from Jim Bowers Caped Wonder Collection.

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Sid Melton, who appeared in "The Deadly Rock," passed away in November at age 94. Mr. Melton is best remembered as a regular on shows such as Captain Midnight, The Danny Thomas Show, and Green Acres, as well as guest appearances on The Gomer Pyle, The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Golden Girls. He is also remembered for appearing in the science-fiction film "The Lost Continent."  Mr. Melton appeared in the Adventures of Superman episode, "The Deadly Rock."

The New York Times reported in his obituary the following:

He played the funny man in most of the 140 movie and TV roles. He once told a reporter that he "would have loved to do drama, not comedy. I'm not a comic." He told the Christian Science Reporter in a 1970 interview. On the other hand, he added, he liked the steady work he had in comedy, and he had come to accept what he viewed as the professional limitations dictated by his physical appearance. "I am not too tall and handsome." he said.

Robert Easton, a master of dialects, coached Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, Ben Kingsley, Al Pacino, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Forrest Whitaker and Drew Barrymore to name a few. As an actor , some of his televison credits include My Little Margie, Gunsmoke, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Father Knows Best, Get Smart and The Bionic Woman. He appeared as Marvin in the 1951 TAoS episode "The Runaway Robot."

Mr. Easton's friends often would congratulate him for a fine job he did with Meryl Streep's accent every time she made a movie. But he would have to apologize by saying, "No it wasn't me, but I wish it were."

Mr. Easton passed away on December 16 at age 81.

Hello Boss, ah, duh, I mean a XP127Y4. You're clear to screen run.

As stated in last year's review, TAC would present several film reviews of George written by Janeen Christensen. While Janeen is no longer with us, just the same she deserves a thank you from TAC. In 2011, we began presenting from the ground breaking and historical hardcopy issues, "So Proudly We Hail," "Rancho Notorious," "Jungle Jim" and "Lydia." It is our hope you are enjoying these reviews as we pull from the past and look forward to releasing the balance in 2012. Like yourself, Janeen had a tremendous love for George Reeves.

Please visit Janeen's George Reeves film review     THANK YOU JANEEN

From Here to Eternity

Researchers: For the record, George Reeves was not cut from "From Here To Eternity." A note from Jim Nolt:

Jack and I talked about this maybe three or four years ago. Here's what we concluded: Jack went to the preview, and people did, indeed, say something like "It's Superman." But Jack didn't see the film again until it was shown on television. It was then he noticed that George wasn't "all there." Well that's not surprising as we all know TV stations edit films to fit in a time slot. To summarize... Jack was comparing the premiere or preview he attended with a viewing, many years later, on TV.  It doesn't surprise me that he noticed a difference, but that's hardly a fair comparison.

MARCH MADNESS

Mid-February, Carl Glass of Glasshouse Presents let it known to TAC that he was taking his website in a new direction. In order to move in this new direction he offered numberous established works relative to TAoSuperman to TAC. My first reaction was yes, of course. If these features need a place, The Adventures Continue is that place. But oh boy, with 80 features to transfer, I knew this was going to be a lot of work and I wasn't looking forward to it dominating the year by taking me away from other projects. I had to do this quick, and easy. The first step would be to consolidate the images, rather than place them in zigzag text boxes. This worked effectively for Bruce Dettman's and Colete Morlock's features, however it didn't lend itself to the features by Alfred Walker and Dave Orbach. In all, it was a challenge and the fun was getting a bit artsy with some of the consolidated images. I did my best imitation of the British magazine vendor from the episode "The Ghost of Scotland Yard." In all, working a a rapid pace, it took a month to complete the 80 feature. March madness to say the least.

Thank you Bruce, Colete, Thom, Alfred and Dave for the time you initially put into these and we are glad they have a new home at TAC.

By Bruce Dettman IN RETROSPECT
This is an amazing entrance into a life as seen by Bruce's younger years as it progressed and developed along with his fascination with the Adventures of Superman. Bruce continues for forge ahead with his goal to write about each episode and where and when it weaved into his life. Since generating the In Retrospect pages, TAC has added "Peril by Sea," "Flight to the North" and "Money to Burn." Anyone who is familar with Bruce and his writings not only at TAC, but elsewhere on the Internet know all too well he is a thriving force bringing intelligent and interesting stories to the readership. But as of late, even Bruce has finally admitted the need to slow down a little. He'll still be the "Iron Horse" by my standards.

On a side note, I'm hoping by chance someone out there might have printed Bruce's review of "The Secret of Superman" and "Drums of Death" because we are missing these personal recollections from our line up. Unfortunately, I made the error by not grabbing these from GHP and by the time it was realized they were lost when Carl permanently removed them from his site. If someone has printed a copy of these episode reflections we'd greatly appreciate you forwarding a scanned copy so we can recreate it at TAC.

By Colete Morlock and Thom Hamilton LADIES OF TAOS : Colete and Thom pay wonderful tributes to the many gracious and respectable ladies who have appeared throughout the Adventures of Superman. Since generating the page, TAC has added an excellent feature in the name of Joi Lansing. Joi is a fan favorite for her stunning looks. But Colete and Thom give us far more than her looks. They provided something I think Ms. Lansing herself would be especially proud to know she is being recognized for attributes other than her stunning appearance. I think you will all agree that Colete and Thom gave us a whole lot more than we knew about Joi Lansing, and we are better for it. Thank you Colete and Thom for a wonderful feature.

By Alfred Walker Alfred Walker's Basement  : Have you ever spoken to a comic book collector who is mostly all about buying vintage comic books, or even modern copies simply for the investment. Usually, they are latecomers into the interest and often know very little about comic books and the characters at all. All they know is they have number one issues of Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, or The Avengers, or The Flash. Well, Alfred is not one of these kind of collectors. You can be sure if you have a discussion with Alfred about comic books, he is going to know a great deal about them. His favorites of course are the Superman titles of the 50's and 60's. So when you are watching the Adventures of Superman and come to the closing credits with it's narration, "Superman is based on the original character appearing in Superman magazine," think of that little fellow named Alfred Walker who was watching those episodes with a small stack of Superman comic books at his side. Read Alfred Walker's Basement. The journey is worth it as Alfred takes us through his favorites stories.

By Dave Orbach X-FACTOR : Have you ever wondered about the various slight changes Superman S Chest Shield over the course of 6 years of episodes? Well, maybe not. But in case you did, be sure to read Dave Orbach's feature showing the evolution of the S on Superman's chest. Dave also presents a study of Superman's muscles. Well, actually the fake muscles worn beneath George's Superman costume. There's also stunts to examine, color processing results of episodes, reviews of the Warner Brothers DVD boxset releases and personal review of the film Hollywoodland.

Thank you Carl Glass for offering these features to TAC. TAC is fortunate to add these features to it's line up and better for it. We also wish the very best for Glass House Presents. Personally, I feel a little sad GHP will no longer stand side-by-side with TAC in the effort to bring to the community features relative to the Adventures of Superman. I always felt there's so much to tell, and for me it took a little pressure off TAC by not having to be all things George Reeves and TAoS. I never felt our sites, along with George Reeves Forever created and owned by Richard Potter were a competitive threat to each other. If that was the case I would have lost interest long ago. Competition worked for Lennon and McCartney, but it doesn't work for me. Let those who can do better shine for it.

In the image above, you will see a news headline which I have overlapped on the forefront of the laptop. Be the fifth e-mail response repeating the correct headline and you will win a mint copy of The George Reeves Companion Book by Peter Murano.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

As mentioned above, July 10, 2011 marked the 60th anniversary of when filming began for Superman and the Mole Men. November 23rd marked the 60th anniversary the film was released in theaters nationwide.

It would be in the pages of The Adventures Continue no. 14, Summer 1997 where Pat Ellsworth would tell the story of when her father Whit developed the first script draft for Superman and the Mole Men. During the brainstorming and writing, the Ellsworth family were traveling from Greenwich, Connecticut to Los Angeles, California.

For more of the story behind this film, as well as the entire TAoS series, be sure to read Michael J. Hayde's book, Flights of Fantasy.

I'm not sure if this anniversary received much, if any nation-wide attention from the media. But our good friend Jerry Z did cover the story in a Long Island local newspaper. Thank you Jerry and Newsday for not forgetting our Superman. Here is the article.

He didn't come to Earth with special powers and abilities. But he certainly had values far beyond those of mortal men. Over the years there has been a number of excellent articles written on Robert Shayne and his career. Speaking as a fan of Robert Shayne and his work on the Adventures of Superman, I'm so impressed with the extended feature provided by Colete Morlock and Thom Hamilton. Assisting Colete and Thom with this feature was Stephanie Shayne, daughter of Robert and Bette. Ms. Shayne provided many incredible insights into this wonderful man.

Mr. Shayne stated he had no idea Superman's popularity would last. Of course, Mr. Shayne is referring to the Adventures of Superman television show. It should be said, that if not for the dedicated efforts of all the cast members, including Robert Shayne, the show wouldn't have left its indelable mark on its audience. Mr. Shayne is equally responsible for creating a respectable program that can be enjoyed many times over. Today's numbers who continue to enjoy the show certainly don't rank near the 33 million it did during the show's 1950's peak, but I'm sure half that amount who were there in the beginning will recall it with their fondest of televison programs memories.

What I enjoyed most about the feature is that Colete and Thom had all the right questions to ask Stephanie. The responses are delightful recollections of a father who loved his family more than anything in the world.

Here are some reader responses I want to share with you:

From Djamal Versteeg: This tribute to Robert Shayne was really well done by Thom and Colete. Their levels of commitment to excellence in writing this project stand out and of course we're all most grateful to Ms. Stephanie Shayne for being able to take time out of her busy schedule to collaborate with Thom and Colete. Congrats guys on a job well done!!

From Richard Potter: My thanks to Colete and Thom for this wonderful article about Robert Shayne. They did a fantastic job. TAC continues to shine!

From John Raspanti: Kudos to Colete and Thom for an excellent article on Robert Shayne. I really enjoyed the attention paid to some of Mr. Shayne's less famous roles. Great job!!! Congrats are in order for all the great comments you're getting for your piece on Robert Shayne. They are well deserved!!!

THANK YOU Colete, Thom and Stephanie for Robert Shayne: A Tribute to a Fine Actor. Our good inspector would be most proud of your feature detailing his life and career.

This year Dettman Documents provided us with Trevor Bardette, Dale Van Sickel, Elisha Cook Jr., Peter Whitney, Lou Krugman and in doing so Bruce once again gives us far more than expected. By that I mean we get to learn new details about each actor presented.

It has been told that the Adventures of Superman employed the very best of character actors to fill the roles of villians and other required parts. I never really knew what this meant until I got to reading Bruce's mini-biographies. Many of these actors who'd worked with George Reeves had already come from an excellent background. The actor with the most notoriety within this year's group is Elisha Cook Jr. He is well known for his part in The Maltese Falcon (1941) and equally so to horror fans for House on Haunted Hill (1959). It's not uncommon to find out there is quite a bit more to learn about these individuals.

It is now six years that Bruce has been producing these biographies and I've not once ever been disappointed with these releases.

THANK YOU BRUCE

Bruce wrote to me with this list, stating "it is unlikely I'll get to all of these but we'll see."

Robert Rockwell, Edmund Cobb, Syd Saylor, Frank Jenks, Leonard Penn, Russell Johnson, Stanley Andrews, Jane Adams, Jean Willes, Hugh Beaumont, Maudie Prickett.

Both Jim and I really enjoy adding to the Superman Costume Page. This year, we added Steven Shapllo and Jay Pearlman. Both sporting excellent color photos.

In last year's review I mentioned that we had an image of a youngster in a Superman playsuit posted with no name or story to go with it.

Jim Nolt was able to come up with both. That person is Charles Glynn.

SUPERMAN PLAYSUIT STORIES

"The Stolen Costume" alternate story could have Ace, played by Dan Seymore suit up to impersonate Superman to strongarm Metropolis. OK, maybe not. But Connie might not have looked too bad in the Sup. costume.

Perhaps, something like this ------------------------->

That brings us now to Steve Allen, TV talk show host. Mr. Allen has often be kidded about looking like Clark Kent. So of course this only fueled Mr. Allen's good natured sense of humor. He even made it into the Superman syndicated daily newspaper comic strip.

Thanks again go out to Carl Glass who last year placed us in communication with a gentleman named Jason Michaels, TAC benefited by having the honor to present to you a gallery of Billy Nelson of photos. If you are a stickler for who's who from the Adventures of Superman television show then Mr. Nelson needs no introduction.

His role as bad guys with names like Sully, Knuckles or Muscles has always rated as one of the top favorites along with Ben Weldon. He is often playing the smooth, nothing bothers him type of heavy.

He's got that kind of face that one minute looks clownish and jovial, and other times rugged and ruthless. He was after all a character actor, who kept slightly busy throughout the 30's, 40's and 50's. He never had that breakout part that would thrust him to super-stardom. But yet still, he left an indelible impression with the TV Superman viewers. Mr. Nelson appeared in "The Dog Who Knew Superman," "The Talking Clue," "The Machine that Could Plot Crimes," "The Big Forget," and "Joey." He also appeared in a special segment titled "Stamp Day for Superman" which was distributed through the public school system.

TAC thanks Jason Michaels for all the images he has provided for The Billy Nelson Gallery. Releases came in two separate lots. After the first release on January 1, Jason appreciated the presentation and the reader responses and thus provided a second lot which was released in September. I have to say, that was extremely generous of him.

Thank you Jason.

THE PDF FILES

Click Here to access Files

[The above link does not work because
Lou has since requested that these files be deleted from the TAC website]

The contemporary newspapers of June 1959 could not contain themselves with exploiting ironic headlines of the man who played the part of an indestructible comic book character. Sadly the word "SUPERMAN" dominated the headlines and one has to wonder why so many editors of newspapers would be so lacking in sensitivity.

On June 16, the anniversary of George's death, TAC released a series of news clippings related to the events surrounding the death of George Reeves. I chose to release these articles on the same date that they were published back in 1959.

There is an abundance of circumstances of the case that is bothersome. Far more than I will list here, but consider that the police called to the scene conducted a superficial investigation and appeared willing to wind up the case. Thus, terming the death a suicide because there was no subsequent evidence to disprove this theory. The police accepted the explanations given by the "friends" at the house, even though they are described as "had been drinking for some time and couldn't give completely coherent accounts of the events." This is a quote that was issued by Chief William Parker on June 27.

The PDF files included a page from LIFE magazine dated June 22, 1959 with EBW because I wanted readers to see who the high profile attorney was standing in the wings for Miss Lemmon.

For many years, I've searched all information about George regardless of how small or how seemingly insignificant it may prove to be. When I first read the below excerpt I was immediately suspicious of one statement, leading for the need to pinpoint the fight date. Taking my research further I found the July 6, 1959 issue of Sports Illustrated.

In the above excerpt from the book The Man To See, which details EBW's career, author Evan Thomas had stated EBW received a phone call the night before the Floyd Patterson - Igemar Johansson boxing match. Referring to the July 6, 1959 Sports Illustrated magazine this bout took place on June 26. According to the book, EBW advises Lenore Lemmon to call the police. For those not keeping track, by June 25, Lemmon was already back home in NYC. So why would such advise need to be given long after the night of the 16th? If such intructions were given, it would make sense it took place on the 16th, prior to the police arriving. Lemmon having taken the time to call Williams lends credance to one of more viable reasons why the police weren't called right away following the minutes of George's death. Unless, of course the author simply has his date references mixed up. The police being called long after the body lay deceased is not an issue to be overlooked.

One other reason for the late call to the police is Lemmon's failed attempt to have Carol Van Ronkel and Bob Condon taken away. As told in Lemmon's May 1989 full length interview, Carol had already arrived at the house when Bill "Bud" Bliss arrived. Van Ronkel and Condon did not leave the house. My guess is the neighbors may have started to gather at curbside and therefore leaving the premises may not have gone unnoticed. Thus a lie was told early in this weak investigation that Van Ronkel arrived with Bliss. In the police report Carol is quoted as not being in the room when Reeves argued with Bliss due to the late hour arrival. If she arrived with Bill, wouldn't she have been in the presence of the argument? Her claim she wasn't present supports Lemmon's interview statement that Carol and Bob were together elsewhere in the house. It's understandable to be skeptic of Lemmon's 1989 comments regarding Van Ronkel's whereabouts, however it seems Lemmon had far less reason to lie about this issue than she and the others in the house did the tragic night.

To make matters worse, Chief Parker reacts only when Geisler and Helen press for explanations. As a result, more bullet holes are found, and furthermore, a second and thorough post mortem was performed. This time, an autopsy. Oops. A disadvantage to George is the fact that Helen was not nearby at her Pasadena home. While Jerry Giesler is representing Helen, her interference is limited until she arrives in LA nine days later, on the 25th. Prior to her arrival she had also put a stop to the cremation with a Western Union Telegram. But the damage was done when the body was embalmed almost immediately after the death. Perhaps something that could have been controlled had she not been in Galesburg, Indiana.

If it reads like I'm leaning towards Miss Lemmon being responsible for George's death and conspired a cover up, well, lets take a moment to consider an alternative: There are many who suspect Toni Mannix being the person most responsible and much has to do with the estranged relationship between her and George. Plus all that is represented by the presence of Miss Lemmon in the home Toni helped George obtain. Consider for a moment if you will that Miss Lemmon was not fabricating the story that George was planning to change the beneficiary of the will. No one has ever come forward to support her claims since she stated she heard George mention it to others. But it if where true and word got back to Mrs. Mannix, this may have caused a bit of anxiety within the Mannix household. Enough to conspire a murder? Perhaps not. But perhaps enough to cause threats and maybe this is a case of a scare tactic gone wrong.

As long as this case remains open ended, which seems inevitable, it will always be something to analyze. The newspapers are the starting point of reference. Contained in these pages is valued information.

Here's an item that didn't make the June PDF release.

Many news statements suggest George had pending work in contrast to he being out of work. At best it suggest he had sources of revenue. However, personal appearances are not the kind of work he was craving for. George's ambition was to act in major motion pictures. To his credit, he was an accomplished performer with all the the right skills and a photographic memory for scripts.

The above article appeared alongside another with the news of George's death. It states George was to appear at Kennywood Park, and had signed a contract only three days earlier.

There's no sure fire solution to knowing if George took his life or not. Just because LAPD states their findings indicated suicide, there is no reason to believe it to be true. Especially since much of the evidence, as well as the lack of collecting it remains open to interpretation and suspicion. Basically, LAPD accepted the explanations of intoxicated people as viable witnesses. The case is just so subjective and any argument over most details of the case can be made in either direction. In a majority of suicide cases, individuals are known to conduct their life accordingly, as if nothing were wrong. When in fact they are battling inner emotional conflicts. Maybe this was the case when George signed the contract on June 13. Or, maybe not.

To think about the article above, one might consider that in 1959 George was still connecting himself to Clark Kent / Superman with personal appearances. If he was trying to shed the image to avoid typecasting and be eligible for other film roles, it's not unreasonable to suggest he wasn't all too concerned about still being known as Superman.

The George Reeves Celebration Weekend in New York City

This year Jim Nolt assembled his second gathering of closest friends to celebrate the life and career of George Reeves and the Adventures of Superman. The guest of honor was Stephanie Shayne, daughter of Robert and Bette Shayne. Please follow the link for a background on this wonderful event as told by Mr. TAC himself, Jim Nolt.

Enter Here

Poster board size graphic created and presented to Stephanie Shayne by Eddie Caro

I'd be overjoyed if I could write you with lots of information about Noel this year. In previous years, it was more about keeping up with our little "Lois Lane" of the personal apperance tour circuit. But this is not the case this year.

Indeed, Noel has carried the flag for her Superman of 50's television show and there's no one that has ever served more as an ambassador than she has year after year. Of course this was a source of income for Noel. But she has always been extremely generous and genuine with meeting her fans.

Noel did make an appearance in July at a Heroes and Villians Comic Book Store in Arizona. She was well received by fans and especially a group of Girls Scouts who recognized her for being a true positive role model for young girls and woman. How right they are. After attending the event, Mike Goldman had this to say:

Noel's popularity and her natural warmth not only transcends all generations young and old alike...but she transcends centuries as well. While we're all 20th century fans of hers, this is a group of her 21st century fans. That's right, these kids are not only a new generation, but a new century as well, yet Noel's popularity endures. She is timeless.

Earlier this year Steve Brant created the Unofficial Fan Page for Noel Neill. There, fans are sharing photos of themeselves taken with Noel as well a sharing their experiences and favorite episodes.

In November, TZM.com showcased a then and now celebrity image on their Memba Them?! page which featured Noel.

Ain't she somethin?

It would be understandable if Noel's appearance days are a thing of the past. But please, don't take this as an official statement. One can never predict what this amazing little lady will do next. Most important, we wish Noel all the best of health, peace and happiness.

On that note, I'll leave you with a block of images from some of my memorable moments with Noel and her wonderful and generous smile.

George Reeves was known to his friends as "The People's Friend." In many ways, one could say Jack carries himself well enough to hold that honor. In May, in honor of Memorial Day, Jack Larson asked if I could extend his request for our group to view a very special YouTube segment in tribute to his friend Jerry Shup, who served and died in the Korean War. I want to thank all those who offered sentiments for me to forward to Jack. He was very much overwhelmed by the many responses and greatly values you all for your kind words. Last time I checked, the segment is no longer posted.

There is at YouTube a number of segments featuring Jack Larson. There you will find those wonderful WWOR Thanksgivings introductions for the TAoS marathons from the late 80's. Most recently is a 3-part segment titled A Hollywood Partnership, where Jack discusses his work with film director James Bridges. In addition, Jack discusses his early life, how he entered the film industry and so much more. This extensive interview is approximately 2 hours - 25 minutes. So if you want to have a few nice laughs with Jack, be sure not to miss A Hollywood Partnership.

One thing that has separated the United States from most others, is its excitement for fads and crazes. We all remember fondly the Hoola-hoop, the Frisbee, Tops, Yo-Yo's, long sideburns, Hotpants, Slinkies, Streaking, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Today, the nation has become fixated with electronic phenominas. There's Twitter, IPods, IPads, IPhones, Blackberries and also Facebook. TAC has joined in the fun.

Ever since Jim Nolt took TAC to the Super-Highway way back in 1994, George Reeves fans have been communicating with each other via various message boards and e-mails. One night over dinner my daughter made the statement, "Dad, you should set up a Facebook page for TAC." Of course I immediately told her she was right. Except for one thing. I thought Jim Nolt would be more suitable to do the creating.

Click on image above to route you to TAC's Facebook page.

True to form, Jim loved the idea and I don't think anyone is having more fun with Facebook than he is. There, Jim will test the memory of the best TAoS fans with his trivia and MP3 videos of the show. The fans are responding extremely well and they too are enjoying all that Jim offers. Here great lines are recited, scenes a recollected and well as illogical moments such as why at times would Clark need to change into Superman? For example, in the episode The Unlucky Cat, Clark transforms into Superman and races to the basement to keep the floor joist from collapsing with people above. After saving the day, he emerges back on the main floor in his Clark Kent attire, with not a one the wiser. It's a point Steve Pica brings to attention. Facebook is also a place where fans speak of favorite scenes from favorite episodes. Steven Springer commented on one such moment.

My favorite scene in Panic in the Sky is when Clark is in his apartment, still without his memory, dressed in his Superman costume with his glasses on. The look of frustration on his face, and the incongruity of the uniform and glasses as he smashes the small table, is just a great moment and George pulls it off beautifully. The only thing in the Superman canon to rival it is Chris Reeve in the first of his films when he shows up at Lois's apartment after the night flight, when he takes off his glasses and stands completely straight and tall. Almost as if the moment was being passed from Reeves to Reeve.

TAC's Facebook page is thriving very well as you can see from just a one week example in September. So, thanks to the many of you out there participating and enjoying the TAC-Facebook page. Please keep doing so and ride the craze.

We Can Still Imagine

Those chaps Hastings and Brooks have done it again. They have created more amazing imaginary stories to wet our appetite for continued Adventures of Superman. This year we have the pleasure of adding and enjoying the following:

The Stolen Costume – Part II by Kirk Hastings

The Stolen Costume - Part III by Kirk Hastings

And Justice For All - By Kirk Hastings

Everybody Comes To Tony's - by Stephen Brooks

The Ghost of Chelsford - Kirk Hastings

I have to marvel at the way both writers capture the spirit of the show. It takes people with incredible writing skills, imagination and a love for the subject to be able to present stories such as these.

In addition to Kirk's imaginary stories, he presented a series of examples where National Comic book stories crossed over into the live action world. Or visa versa depending on which came out first. Enjoy the fun at From the Comic Pages to the TV Screen. Overall, using Michael J. Hayde's Flight of Fantasy for reference, I counted a total of 19 stories. Kirk presented a dozen, plus a couple of extra goodies for fun reading.

TAC thanks both Steve and Kirk for sharing their expertise and the Adventures of Superman appreciation to the readership.

Inspired by Kirk Hastings's The Stolen Costume Part I and II, comes this late in the year addition to TAC titled Superman and the Mob Men by Bruce Kanin. Bruce has provided an introduction to the work he has planned to release in three installments. I recommend readers keep an eye on this one. Click Here to Enter

In late 2008, Bill Dillane submitted a wonderful article that he found of a George Reeves personal appearance. You may recall the January 18 - 27, 1957 The Hartford Courant. In 2009, because the image was a bit weak, I asked Randy Garrett if he could re-create the image using his extraordinary powers beyond those of mortal men. In true form, fit and fashion, Randy came through and the illustration was used to cap off the closing of 2009's Year In Review. Earlier this year, while skimming through some vintage Superman comics I stumbled across a splash page illustration created by legendary artist Wayne Boring that bore a very similar configuration.

I sent this image to Randy and this is what he had to say:

Lou, You amaze me with the comic book tie-ins that you can dig up. RG

In the last year or two I've taken an interest in all things similiar between the comic book titles Action Comics, Superman of the 50's and the Adventures of Superman show. You'll notice a number of examples throughout the 2010 and 2011 Photos of the Month. All I can say is that it amazes me when I come across these kind of things. I'm just happy I can share them with people like Randy and folks such as yourself who are still tuned into 50's TV Superman and George Reeves.

Everyone who has read about George's capabilities knows all too well he preferred to do his own stunts in the spirit of making the heroic scenes appear as believable for his audience.

Early this year it had occurred to me it was time to set the record straight that once and for all that while Superman did avoid a gun thrown by a crook, it was not George Reeves bringing rounds of laughter from viewers.

For more details about the "Thrown Gun" in "The Mind Machine," please refer to SUPERMAN DUCKS FROM THROWN GUN

For those interested in DaleVan Sickel's impressive career only need to review his resume at IMDB.com.

Real Life Heroics

Since we are on the topic of George's heroics, I thought you'd be interested to read this newspaper clipping.

Yes, indeed he truly was a Superman.

Make Room For Danny

Here's a news bit that has appeared on the message boards from time to time.

If you are a fan of the Adventures of Superman then you've probably watched episodes many times over throughout the years. In doing so, you may have wondered why some first season episodes scenes are varied from one broadcast to another? Much has to do with television broadcast stations compromising scenes for commercial time. Other reasons have to do with altering the episodes to satisfy a potential sponsor.

Using "The Monkey Mystery" as an example, Mike Goldman, Don Holmes and Jim Nolt joined forces to breakdown various scenes and how they were altered from three versions.

Be sure not to miss this amazing series of MP4 video clips as they are showcased under.....

........."The Monkey Mystery" Mystery.

Be sure not to miss your opportunity to purchase The Original Silver Screen Superman and The Original Superman on Television by Mike Bifulco. If Mike's name sounds familiar, it should. Mike has been a staple in the George Reeves Community for many years. He has produced other books, most notably with Jan Alan Henderson with Speeding Bullet, The Life and Bizarre Death of George Reeves and The Crimson Cape, The Cinema of George Reeves, also authored by Steve Randisi.

In addition, Mike has written and published Spaceman Lost, a fictional story using characters similar to George Reeves and those involve in his death. Anyone who has ever purchased any of the books mentioned can attribute Mike with producing quality books. This is Mike's 3rd edition of Superman on Television. His 1st edition was released in 1988, followed by a 10th Anniversary edition in 1998. If you lost out on those additions, or you're new to the interest, don't miss this opportunity to purchase these new books. Click on here for more details.    TOSSS     TOSOT

PHOTOS OF THE MONTH

One of the special interest I have at TAC is its Photos of the Month. I really enjoy coming up with something I hope is totally unexpected for the readership. I feel this year I accomplished that much. One idea did come from Steve Maurer just a couple of weeks before the final episode of Smallville starring Tom Welling as Clark Kent. Steve asked as a tribute to the modern show if I could create an image and place Clark and Martha Kent played by Annette O'Toole beneath the Smallville Bus Depot sign from 1951's episode Superman on Earth. I liked the idea, however when I began working on the image it took a life of its own. I found an image of the Smallville mother and son and thought "Wow, wouldn't it be cool to place the figures in parallel with the TAoS players which were already in the image beneath the "Smallville" sign." It saved from having to remove George and Francise Morris. Hey!! This is a George Reeves website, so removing him didn't sit all too well for me. I also thought the Johnathan-Eban character needed to be included and since the characters were (in tradition) deceased at the time Clark leaves his boyhood hometown for Metropolis, placing the two counterparts in a sort of floating manner seemed appropriate. In almost no time I had myself a bona fide artsy-style image created in the first rendition. Meaning, I didn't have to move everyone around until I found the right balance. It was complete the first go-round. I'm quite happy TAC has paid tribute to Smallville's final episode. As a result, we have in our own way bridged the two shows separated by concept and generations.

It's well known, a new Superman film is on the horizon. Henry Cavill will assume the role of the Man of Steel, who is also disguised as a mild-manner reporter for a great Metrolopitan newspaper.

Many loyal fans of the Smallville show feel the perfect candidate for the upcoming silver screen is Tom Welling. I can't say I would argue this idea. Those final minutes of the last episode were impressive. The producers of the Smallville show had always contended that their audience would never see the day Mr. Welling would wear the Superman costume. In it's final episode, a series which lasted an astonishing 10 years by today's standards, fans did get to see him in costume for only a moment. Those final minutes spoke volumes in the way that Mr. Welling proved his capabilities and appeal, thus successfully solidifying his place in Superman history. It seems unfortunate for those fans of Welling that they will never see what this actor can do having grown up with the role. At least the producers rewarded their loyal audience of 10 years by showing Clark strut his stuff in the Superman costume.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this year's monthly photos.

In past years, TAC links to favorite web-sites where done simply with text. I'm happy to have created Banners instead. These are some of our favorite places to visit.

Last thoughts: In addition to dedicating this page to Joanne Siegle, I want to mention a person that all of us do not know. This person's name is Zurana Horton. Until October 22, 2011, I'd never heard of her. As you all know from the presentations featured at The Adventures Continue, this site is not about a little boys who grew up still fantasizing about a make-believe super-hero in blue tights. It's about recognizing a very special man, who did special things in an unselfish manner. In addition, we've also come to recognize those many individuals who've worked along side with George Reeves. Especially Noel Neill, Jack Larson, Phyllis Coates, Robert Shayne and John Hamilton. Thanks to Bruce Dettman we've come to know better people such as Ben Weldon, Anthony Caruso, Billy Nelson, Tris Coffin, Jonathan Hale and so many more. In addition, Colete Morlock and Thom Hamilton got us closer to the wonderful ladies of the Adventures of Superman. Names such as Elizabeth Patterson, Gloria Talbot, Veda Ann Borg, Mabel Albertson, Sarah Padden as well as others. We recognize these individuals because of the enjoyment they brought to us and thus we feel they deserve to be remembered. So you see, it's not all about the man in blue and the make believe acts of heroism. TAC is about people.

What we've come to learn about George Reeves is that he was a humanitarium. He was a type of person who gave to others, even if it meant helping them first before himself. His acts of kindness showed no limits. We know he visited children in hospitals with a genuine interest that they meet him and know he cared about them. Sadly, many of these children suffered life threatening illnesses and it was important to George to help take their minds off their situation and extend his support by telling them to be brave. George invested his personal time and these visits were not a product of a PR agenda. Heroes come in many forms. But none moreso than one saving the life of another, especially children. This is where Zurana Horton comes in.

While reading through the New York Times; I came across a headline, Gunman Kills Woman Trying to Shield Children Near School. I had to understand what had happened. In short, Zurana Horton was picking up her child from school in Brownsville, Brooklyn when a gunman from a five-story building rooftop open fired on a rival group of teenagers. The gunfire propelled Ms. Horton into action. She was seen hovering over several school children to protect them as the shots were fired. Tragically, she did not survive this senseless and careless act of violence. Ms. Horton was age 34.

It's a sad state of mind to think our amazing and fascinating world has not yet overcome the desease of human destruction towards others. For a nation of people so collectively connected to rightousness, what kind of example are we setting to other countries when we exterminate ourselves with local wars. There seems no hope we will ever see this way of existence end. Superman disarming a gang of hoodlums is pure fantasy. So is the thinking the leaders of our communities, our cities, our state and country could act in that capacity. Martin Luther King had a dream that one day all God's children would walk hand in hand. If we are to truly accept these words, let's not forget these words go especially for not killing each other. I don't know who Zurana Horton is. I suspect she was an average, everyday mother doing a thousand things a day by dedicating herself to her children and family. There is one thing I know is certain about Zurana Horton. Her bravery knew no bounderies. Let's hope she will never be forgotten. I plea to mankind; Please lay down your guns.

Since 2008, we have been fortunate to close each year's review with a Randy Garrett illustration. I like to consider it our gift to you for taking the time to visit us and keeping George's good name and spirit alive. Randy has once again answered the call to arms by lending his unique talent to the pages of The Adventures Continue.

The illustration below is a hybrid of sorts. Earlier this year an excellent box art for a 1/6 scale action figure rendered in the likeness of Superman - Christopher Reeve was making a buzz on the Internet (see right). This had some George Reeves fans expressing their wish for a true likeness George Reeves figure. Thus, a discussion between myself and Randy Garrett escalated into Randy wanting to recreate the Aurora Plastic model kit box art with the likeness of George Reeves. Makes perfect sense since the model kit was released in the early 60's during the height of the show's syndicated broadcast run, thus the kit being dubbed "The George Reeves kit." While the original box art is impressive, I think many of us fans wished it included George. Thanks to Randy's extraordinary professional talent we now can set our imagination aside and realize how it could have looked like. For a full scale version, please refer to the link here.

Be sure to visit Randy's Art Site for a look at his diverse range of illustrations.

In closing, Jim and Lou thank you all for surfing here at TAC and we hope you all stay well and have the very best year to come. We hope it includes you watching those amazing episodes of the Adventures of Superman.

Good-bye 2011.

Welcome 2012.

TAC Wishes Everyone a Safe Holiday Season.

This page is dedicated to the memory of

Joanne Siegel

Zurana Horton

Thanks for Watching.

Lou - December 23, 2011

"Like The Only Real Magic -- The Magic Of Knowledge" 

The Adventures Continue (TAC) is a website devoted to George Reeves and the Adventures of Superman. All contents copyright© by Jim Nolt unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Nothing from this website may be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part (excpet for brief passaged used solely for review purposes) without the written permission of either Jim Nolt (owner) and/or Lou Koza (editor).

Superman and all related indicia are trademarks of DC Comics, Inc. and are reproduced for historical purposes only. Use of the name of any product or character without mention of trademark status should not be construed as a challenge to such status.