The Adventures of Superman

The Adventures of Superman was the first attempt to bring the character of Superman to television. First aired in 1952 and running until 1957, it starred George Reeves as Superman and, originally, Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane. In 1953, Noel Neill replaced Coates. Jack Larson played Jimmy Olson and John Hamilton was Perry White.

Phyllis Coates returned to the genre in 1993 when she played the part of Lois Lane's mother in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Noel Neill had played Lois in a movie serial, called simply Superman, in 1948.

The opening narration of the show set the stage:

"Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! ... Superman ... strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way!"

The show was syndicated.

George Reeves became so typecast as Superman that it was difficult for him to find other roles. When he eventually committed suicide, much speculation resulted as to whether it was because of his failed career.