History Series / TheAdventuresOfSuperman

* MoralDissonance: In "The Stolen Costume", two crooks learn that Superman is really Clark Kent. His response: he abducts them and strands them on top of an isolated mountaintop. When they try to climb down, they fall to their deaths. That constitutes kidnapping and murder. There are never any consequences for this; in fact, the whole incident is never mentioned again. However, to be fair, Superman had every intention of returning to that mountaintop to construct them a shelter and provide them with what they needed to get by. He also very explicitly warned them about the height and treacherousness of their location. Whatever his ultimate plans for them, it was their decision to disbelieve Superman and their arrogant belief they could just make their way down that got them killed. They had already tried to extort him and had killed a friend of his. Still not a moral highlight of the series, but not cold-blooded murder.

* AdaptationalBadass: Clark Kent. Budget reasons required that Superman only show up in the last act, so the focus for most of the episode had to be on Clark. As a result, he was made less wimpy and less bumbling than in the comic book and became essentially Superman in street clothes. This interpretation of Clark as "reflecting the real person" was used by Creator/JohnByrne in his "ComicBook/PostCrisis" revamp of Superman's origin, ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel''. Byrne [[WordOfGod acknowledged]] George Reeves' portrayal as his inspiration. It subsequently found its way into more recent adaptations like ''Series/LoisAndClark'', ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and ''Film/ManOfSteel'' where Clark similarly isn't as wimpy.

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring Creator/GeorgeReeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Phyllis Coates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Creator/NoelNeill as [[Characters/SupermanLoisLane Lois Lane]], Creator/JackLarson as [[Characters/SupermanJimmyOlsen Jimmy Olsen]], John Hamilton as Perry White, and Robert Shayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that were still alive often had cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring Creator/GeorgeReeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Phyllis Coates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Noel Neill as [[Characters/SupermanLoisLane Lois Lane]], Jack Larson as [[Characters/SupermanJimmyOlsen Jimmy Olsen]], John Hamilton as Perry White, and Robert Shayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that were still alive often had cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

Sadly, the series is now mostly remembered for George Reeves' mysterious death[[note]]Fans are still arguing about whether it was murder or suicide[[/note]], which formed the basis of its own movie: ''Film/{{Hollywoodland}}'', where he was portrayed by Creator/BenAffleck.

* IHaveYourWife: In "Superman's Wife", Superman [[InvokedTrope invokes this trope]] when he ''pretends'' to marry Sgt. Helen O'Hara as part of a BatmanGambit. Mr. X, the mysterious crime boss of Metropolis, takes Helen hostage -- AllAccordingToPlan, so she can get close enough to his operation to help destroy it from the inside.

** "Through the Time Barrier" uses this as well; Clark and company are transporting a gangster when Professor Twiddle, who is sharing the elevator with them, chooses that moment to demonstrate his TimeMachine.

* CanonImmigrant: Inspector Henderson[[note]]And Perry White, and The Daily Planet, for that matter.[[/note]] was brought over from [[Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman the radio show]]; he actually showed up in the comics from time to time after this series. Twenty years later, so did Professor Pepperwinkle.

* IHaveYourWife: In "Superman's Wife", Superman [[InvokedTrope invokes this trope]] when he ''pretends'' to marry Sgt. O'Hara as part of a BatmanGambit. Mr. X, the mysterious crime boss of Metropolis, takes Helen hostage--AllAccordingToPlan, so she can get close enough to his operation to help destroy it from the inside.

** One episode featured a villain who was a dead-ringer for Jimmy Olsen, of all people.

** In "Czar of the Underworld", gangster Luigi Dinelli is upset about being seen as a criminal,. His response? Violent attacks on the set of a film being made about him called ''[[TitleDrop Czar of the Underworld.]]''
** In "The Mysterious Cube", not only does Paul Barton not have any reason to order Lois and Jimmy killed after he's declared legally dead, but also it would have gotten in the way of his plan of getting away without prosecution. While the police (and Superman) couldn't legally nab him for any crimes he committed before the seven year period, being responsible for the reporters' deaths would mean he ''could'' be prosecuted for that.

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: {{Averted}}... sort of. To its credit, the TimeTravel episode "Through the Time Barrier" featured no dinosaurs in 50,000 BC. However, it [[PlayedStraight plays it straight]] with regard to the cave people, who shouldn't be in Metropolis (or anywhere else in North America) at that date.

** An interesting straight example: "Jet Ace" features a reporter named Steve Martin. Not only is there a real Creator/SteveMartin, there's ''another'' fictional reporter from TheFifties with the same name (Creator/RaymondBurr's character in ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters1956 Godzilla: King of the Monsters!]]'').

* OpeningNarration: One of the most memorable, one that sums up everything you need to know about Superman. Very much based on that of [[Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman the radio show]]. And interestingly, the visuals accompanying them resemble those of the [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons theatrical cartoons]], complete with static shot of Superman transforming between Superman and Clark Kent.

* ArtisticLicenseSpace: In reference to the opening credits: How many moons does Earth have, again?

** In the episode "Drums of Death", the VillainOfTheWeek tries to use a wine press to dispose of Perry, Perry's sister, and Jimmy. Superman arrived and tore apart the bars, allowing them to escape.

* ArtisticLicenseAstronomy: In reference to the opening credits: How many moons does Earth have, again?

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring Creator/GeorgeReeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Phyllis Coates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Noel Neill as ComicBook/LoisLane, Jack Larson as ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, John Hamilton as Perry White, and Robert Shayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that were still alive often had cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

[[quoteright:312:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/george_reeves_superman_731.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:312:Oh, there he is.]]

* AfterShow: After George Reeves' tragic death, the producers shot a pilot on the same sets for ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperpup'' - using little people in giant dog head masks portraying such characters as "Bark Bent" and "Puppy White". Jimmy Olsen, meanwhile, became a smart mouthed mouse (a hand puppet) that lived in Bark Bent's drawer as well as narrated the story.

* ArtisticLicenseAstronomy: In reference to the opening credits: How many moons does Earth have, again?

* FlowersOfRomance: In the episode "The Wedding of Superman", Lois Lane awakes after dozing off to a delivery of flowers from Superman, and events quickly lead up to a marriage proposal from the Man of Steel.

* TheWallsAreClosingIn:
** Superman, Lois & Jimmy are trapped in a concrete bunker, with Supes out of commission due to a Kryptonite ray. Then the walls start closing in. Luckily there [[ChekhovsGun happened to be]] a discussion of hypnotism earlier in the episode. Superman hypnotises Lois, which [[HandWave somehow]] makes him able to levitate her (horizontally, as in the classic magician's "levitating woman" illusion). Somehow, this makes her body rigid and strong enough to stop the walls (her head stopping one wall, her feet the other). This allows Jimmy to climb up to the top and redirect the Kryptonite ray.
** In the episode "Drums of Death", the VillainOfTheWeek tries to use a wine press to dispose of Perry, Perry's sister, and Jimmy. Superman arrived and tore apart the bars, allowing them to escape.

* WhenIWasYourAge: Perry tells Jimmy that "when I was your age, a few mosquitoes didn't bother me."

The later TV series ''Series/LoisAndClark'' is also known as "The ''New'' Adventures of Superman", following this show's title.

The show also has a character page and a [[Recap/TheAdventuresOfSuperman Recap page]] which NeedsWikiMagicLove.

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring George Reeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Phyllis Coates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Noel Neill as ComicBook/LoisLane, Jack Larson as ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, John Hamilton as Perry White, and Robert Shayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that were still alive often had cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring Creator/GeorgeReeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Creator/PhyllisCoates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Creator/NoelNeill as ComicBook/LoisLane, Jack Larson as ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, Creator/JohnHamilton as Perry White, and Creator/RobertShayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that were still alive often had cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

* HilariousInHindsight: In the episode, "All That Glitters", Lois and Jimmy receive [[VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs Kryptonite pills]] created by Professor Pepperwinkle that will [[SuperSerum give them Superman's powers when taken]].

* [[SpeakOfTheDevil]]: In an episode, Perry White says his catchphrase, "Great Caeser's Ghost!" so many times, he accidentally summons Great Caeser's Ghost, causing his insanity to nearly unravel completely until said ghost is revealed to be a con artist.

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring George Reeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Phyllis Coates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Noel Neill as ComicBook/LoisLane, Jack Larson as ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, John Hamilton as Perry White, and Robert Shayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that were still alive often had cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

* {{Catchphrase}}: Perry White had "Great Caesar's Ghost!" and "Don't call me Chief!" to his credit. One memorable episode had him accidentally summoning Caesar's Ghost after shouting it too many times. ("Caesar" turned out to be a con artist.)

* ThrowingYourGunAtTheEnemy: Typified trope, in tandem with ShootingSuperman, above. Criminals would fire their guns at Superman while he'd just stand there with his fists on his hips while the bullets bounced off his invulnerable skin. Then, after failing to harm or impede the superhero, criminals would, rather comically, throw their now-empty guns at Superman, as if doing ''that'' could stand a better chance of stopping him than the bullets, yet Superman, ''more'' humorously, would always ''duck'' or ''dodge'' a thrown gun.

** IHaveYourWife: Superman [[InvokedTrope invokes this trope]] when he ''pretends'' to marry Sgt. O'Hara as part of a BatmanGambit. Mr. X, the mysterious crime boss of Metropolis, takes Helen hostage--AllAccordingToPlan, so she can get close enough to his operation to help destroy it from the inside.

* MoralDissonance: In "The Stolen Costume", two crooks learn that Superman is really Clark Kent. His response: he abducts them and strands them on top of an isolated mountaintop. When they try to climb down, they fall to their deaths. That constitutes kidnapping and murder. There are never any consequences for this; in fact, the whole incident is never mentioned again.
** To be fair, Superman had every intention of returning to that mountaintop to construct them a shelter and provide them with what they needed to get by. He also very explicitly warned them about the height and treacherousness of their location. Whatever his ultimate plans for them, it was their decision to disbelieve Superman and their arrogant belief they could just make their way down that got them killed. They had already tried to extort him and had killed a friend of his. Still not a moral highlight of the series, but not cold-blooded murder.