AGE OF
T V HEROES: Timeline
The
s This decade saw many American families purchase their very first television sets. It was only fitting then, that the original comic book hero should also have the first comic-based weekly TV program. Adventures of Superman proved to be a long-lasting series that is still fondly remembered.
Adventures of Superman - 1952
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN ©DC Comics. Licensed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The premiere comic book adaptation, ABC’s Adventures of Superman starred George Reeves as Superman, while Phyllis Coates, and then Noel Neill, starred as Lois Lane. Lasting six seasons and becoming one of the first programs to be filmed in both black-and-white and then color, Superman was a tremendous hit and set a path for countless future comic book adaptations. The famous character created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel would go on to star in three more major weekly television series. All six seasons of Adventures of Superman have been released on DVD. Superman is more fully covered in its own chapter, starting on page 24.
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle - 1955 The character of Sheena is lauded as the first major female comic book heroine. Her comic series debuted in early 1942, slightly before the first appearance of Wonder Woman. This early Sheena television series by Nassour Studios was only the second live-action comic TV adaptation, following Adventures of Superman. But it did not prove as popular as the Man of Steel and lasted only a single season from 1955 to 1956. Chosen to play Sheena was magazine cover model and actress Irish McCalla. Another attempt to bring Sheena to life on television was undertaken in the year 2000. Episodes of this ‘50s version of Sheena, Queen of the Jungle have been released on various budget DVD labels.
The legendary George Reeves as TV’s first Man of Steel.
PILOTS The Adventures of Superpup - 1958 A spin-off of Superman intended for the youngest crowd, this full-color episode incorporated live-action actors in giant, semi-animated dog head masks. The premise did not make it past the pilot stage. This very different production has been released as part of a fourteen-disc Superman DVD set.
Stunning Varga Girl model and actress, Irish McCalla made the perfect Sheena.
Bark Bent (Billy Curtis) and Pamela Poodle (Ruth Delfino). Bark Bent (Billy Curtis) at his desk at The Daily Planet.