PaleyArchive ColorBars TopBanner2

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, THE: JIMMY OLSEN, BOY EDITOR (TV)

Summary

One in this series which follows the exploits of Superman, a refugee from the doomed planet Krypton who uses his superhuman powers to help the inhabitants of Earth.

After a bout of insomnia, Perry arrives at the Daily Planet building to find his nameplate being taken off of the front of his office, upsetting him. Inside his office he finds Superman waiting for him; he tells Perry that several months ago he and the city council instituted a “boy’s day” program for business throughout the city, making Jimmy Olsen the Daily Planet’s editor for that day. Perry is furious, but Superman, Jimmy, and Lois convince him to go through with the idea, albeit begrudgingly. Jimmy faces a slow news day and decides to “make” a story by capitalizing on “Legs” Leemy, a criminal who was accused of masterminding a bank robbery but could not be convicted due to lack of evidence. The statute of limitations on his case expires the following day, but Jimmy decides to print a front-page story claiming that he has new evidence pertaining to the case. Legs reads the story in the paper and vows to take revenge on Jimmy if the story is true.

Perry is unhappy with Jimmy’s tactics and Clark helps him by switching on the intercom to the editor’s office, letting Perry know the goings-on in there. They listen in as Legs and his henchmen infiltrate the office and hold Jimmy and Lois hostage. Perry wants to rush in and help but Clark advises against it, believing that Legs won’t actually kill them. Clark guesses correctly and Legs gets Jimmy and Lois to admit that the story was a fabrication, although Legs doesn’t believe them. He decides to continue holding them hostage until midnight, at which time the statute of limitations will expire. Clark calls the police and they surround the building. Lois points out that the police could arrest him for possession of a firearm, but Legs is unconcerned, willing to take the relatively short jail sentence for such a charge. He also reveals that he has the money from the bank robbery on his person, amounting to more than two million dollars. Jimmy has Perry bring them sandwiches, and while Legs is distracted Lois tricks one of his men into handing over his machine gun, which she uses to hold them all up. She fires the gun at the ceiling, emptying it of ammunition. However, Legs pulls out a concealed handgun on them and prevents them from leaving.

Later, Legs divides up his stolen money and Jimmy and Lois note the serial number on one of the bills, realizing that it matches one described in the files they read about the robbery. Legs becomes angry and threatens to shoot Jimmy if he tries anything else. Clark finds an opportunity to slip away and change into Superman. He flies to a hospital to obtain a canister of anesthetic gas, and then flies back to the Daily Planet building to send the gas into the editor’s room via the ventilation system. Legs, his men, Jimmy, and Lois are all knocked unconscious by the gas. Superman changes back into Clark and heads in to the room with Perry to awaken Lois and Jimmy. The temporary boy mayor and chief of police arrive to arrest Legs. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: Syndication
  • DATE: February 13, 1954
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:29:24
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: B:15171
  • GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Women's Collection - Drama
  • SERIES RUN: Syndicated - TV series, 1952-1958
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV – Commercials – Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal
    • TV – Commercials – Sugar Pops breakfast cereal
    • TV – Commercials – Tootsie Roll candy

CREDITS

  • Whitney Ellsworth … Producer
  • Thomas Carr … Director
  • David Chantler … Writer
  • George Reeves … Cast, Clark Kent/Superman
  • Noel Neill … Cast, Lois Lane
  • Jack Larson … Cast, Jimmy Olsen
  • John Hamilton … Cast, Perry White
  • Robert Shayne … Cast, Inspector Henderson
  • Herb Vigran … Cast, Legs Leemy
  • Keith Richards … Cast, Henchman
  • Dick Rich … Cast, Toots
  • Anthony Hughes … Cast, Doctor
  • Ronald Hargrave … Cast, Boy Mayor
  • Bob Crosson … Cast, Boy Police Chief
  • Jack Pepper … Cast, Custodian