Yesterday marked 71 years since the Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves hit the airwaves for the first time. It aired on Chicago's WENR.
Filmed in 1951, the syndicated series languished until a sponsor could be found. Eventually, Kellogg's Cereals of Battle Creek, Michigan stepped up and became its prime sponsor.
The into included Kellogg's sponsorship:
Dennis Hays posted the following on Facebook:
On this date September 19, 1952 the Adventures of Superman makes its television debut on Chicago's WENR.
The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California on RKO-Pathé stages and the RKO Forty Acres back lot. It was sponsored by cereal manufacturer Kellogg's. The show was produced for first-run television syndication.
As a syndicated show sold separately in every market, Adventures of Superman did not have an official national premiere date. Here are some of the dates and markets for the launch of the series.
September 19, 1952 at WENR in ChicagoFebruary 9, 1953 at KECA in Los Angeles (later known as KABC).April 1, 1953 on WJZ in New York (later known as WABC).And various other dates in smaller markets.
On April 8, 1953, Variety reviewed the April 1 New York premiere, writing, "It's to National Comics credit that its television version is restrained on the scripting side and well done technically ... Filming is top-notch, with no expense spared to get those special effects. George Reeves, who acts Superman, doesn't have too much of a role in the initial pix, since most of it deals with boyhood of the hero, but he registered nicely as the meek reporter and as the hero. Phyllis Coates was okay as Lois Lane, the girl reporter, while John Hamilton fits the fictitious concept of the editor. Other roles were well handled."
It is kind of hard to believe that the show is over 70 years old. Then again, I will be hitting 70 next year and I drive a Willys Jeep that's 71 years old. That's also hard to believe sometimes.
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