Way back when, film critic Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert managed to give a mini review of Superman's first feature film, Superman and the Mole Men (1951) starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates and Jeff Corey.
Their review was favorable, although they poked some fun with the Mole Men, saying they "looked like midgets wearing shower caps." They liked the nostalgia aspect of the movie.
They also take a look at Kirk Alyn's Superman (1948).
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| Above, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates photo from Superman and the Mole Men autographed by Coates. |
Last evening, I viewed this review of the "pilot" movie to the Adventures of Superman, "Superman and the Mole Men" (1951) starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates, Jeff Corey and Walter Reed. It was the first Superman feature movie.
The story involves an oil well in Silsby, Texas that was the deepest oil well at six miles deep. The mole men came to the surface from the well.
Here's the review:
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| Above, Phyllis Coates and Armand in 2007. Photo by Carl Glass. |
The first press report on the passing of actress Phyllis Coates has been posted by the Hollywood Reporter.
It begins with:
Phyllis Coates, the first actress to play Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane on television, only to leave the Adventures of Superman after just one season, has died. She was 96.
Coates, who also appeared in Republic Pictures serials and in such films as I Was a Teenage Frankenstein, died Wednesday of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, her daughter Laura Press told The Hollywood Reporter.
A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Coates first portrayed the headstrong Lois opposite George Reeves as the Man of Steel in the dark sci-fi movie Superman and the Mole Men (1951).
To read the full article, go here.
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| Above, Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane in 1951. |
Sad news has been announced in the world of Superman.
Phyllis Coates, the Adventures of Superman Lois Lane during its first (1951) season, has passed away.
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| Above, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates in Superman and the Mole Men. |
Jim Nolt posted the following on Twitter (now known as X):
Phyllis Coates, the last of the Superman's regular cast, has passed away at the age of 96.
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| Above, Phyllis Coates in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I met Phyllis Coates at a Hollywood collectors show in 2007.
I would never post the following while Noel Neill was still alive as she was a friend. Of the two Lois Lanes in the Adventures of Superman, Phyllis Coates was my favorite. Objectively, she portrayed a newspaper reporter with a steel spine and the chemistry between her and George Reeves was unmatched. Noel did an excellent job with the scripts she was given, but I thought Phyllis brought more realism and believability to the role.
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| Above, Phyllis Coates and yours truly in 2007. Photo by Carl Glass. |
While it is sad there's no remaining cast members left, but their work will live on in film for generations to come.
My condolences to the family and friends of Phyllis Coates.
UPDATE:
Jim Nolt posted the following at the Adventures Continue Facebook page:
Bruce Dettman received word early this morning that Phyllis passed away at 1:07pm PT on October 11. I don't have any further information.
Here is an anniversary that, thankfully, is a tad before my time.
Adventures of Superman historian John Field posted this a little while ago on Facebook:
Did you know that this year is the 70th anniversary of Superman having premiered on t.v.?
This predates me by a couple of years, but it is a weird feeling that we're at 70 years since the Adventure of Superman television show starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates, John Hamilton, Jack Larson and Robert Shayne premiered on television. It took a while for it to get a sponsor (Kellogg's cereals). The first season was filmed in 1951 following the theatrical feature, Superman and the Mole Men.
The only cast member who is still with us is actress Phyllis Coates, who was the first season's Lois Lane.
It would be interesting to see who of us are still around when the show hits 100 years in 2052.
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| Above, Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane. |
Over at The Federalist blog, actress Phyllis Coates (television's first Lois Lane) has be named this week's "Saturday Sultress".
According to the blog post:
Phyllis Coates (born January 15, 1927) is an American actress best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men and in the first season of the television series Adventures of Superman.
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| Above, yours truly with Phyllis Coates at a Hollywood collectors show. Photo by Carl Glass. |
To read more, go here. (Beware, it is a political blog.)
