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Monday, October 29, 2018

Superman - My Hero



Growing up I had lots of television favorites.  Several of which I knew that l liked, although not fully aware at the time of why.  Annette Funicello was my favorite Mouseketeer. It was a few years later in my teen development before I realized why. At that age I had very little grasp on the nature of 'sex' however, just knew I liked her. Enough said. 

Old movies on TV were also a favorite after school.  After doing my farm duties, homework and while waiting for my Grandfather to get home from the general store, I watched and re-watched. I was fascinated by beauties dancing in flowing gowns and heels - Judy Garland with Fred Astaire in (Easter Parade), Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelley, (Singin' in the Rain)....

However, my all time favorite TV character was Superman. According to Tyranny of Style, "Superman first graced the small screen in the television show Adventures of Superman that ran from 1951-1958, starring George Reeves." If it was on, I was going to watch on my grandparent's DuMoint TV.


George Reeve and Phyllis Coates
the first TV Lois Lane.
"Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Disguised as Clark Kent... fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way."

It was not that he was a macho muscle man of steel, (something I was never going to be able to emulate) or that I had some secret crush on a guy.  Annette already had my heart. 

I can only understand the possible fascination now and this may be overthinking hindsight. First Clark Kent had a secret life and as obvious as it was to me, no one else knew (wink-wink). I was already working on my secret life. 

He could jump into a phone booth (remember those) and change into a completely different person. 

Lastly, the outfit was a little on the girly side with the leotard, cape  and boots. The costume was always underneath. Also as an extra, I liked Lois Lane. If I could not be Superman, then maybe I could be Lois with a quick change in a phone booth.  

Give me a break - I was only 8 years old....  

George Reeves' ultimate outcome was sad - Not the man of steel we envisioned.  
  
Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves, 1950's.






5 comments:

  1. Hi Rhonda. Years ago on Fresh Air in the course of interviewing Stan Lee ( head of the Marvel Comics empire ) Barbara Bogaev asked him why superheroes wearskintight costumes, a question asked simply enough but it's innocence belied it's depth. His answer was meaningless. What do YOU think? Why do super heroes wear skintight clothing...? Why didn't american comic book reading males consider them "pansies" a la ballet dancers who obviously also wear skintight clothing... for what reason?

    what's the difference between a civilization which could perhaps manufacture bullet proof pantyhose & 1 in which iron shirt chi kung was developed... ?

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  2. I remember when the very first Mickey Mouse Club episode aired. I was a four-year-old kid playing outside when my mother called me in to watch the show (she was more excited about it than I was, I think....and imagine a parent having to tell a child to come inside to watch TV!). I was more taken by Darlene than Annette, but Cubby was the one who attracted me to playing the drums. As I grew older, I was able to emulate both of them...even at the same time, though when I was much older.

    I watched Superman, but, even as a small child, I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to buy in to it. Even if he could defy gravity, I reasoned, what was propelling him through the air (I used different words then)? Also, a pair of glasses and a baggy suit just didn't make for a great disguise. Maybe he'd have done better had he come out of the phone booth as Lois Lane!?!

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  3. Annette indeed. Many a pre-pubescent lad was totally 'crushed' on
    Annette. While Annette was growing-up and OUT, much to the most natural fascination of Americas young men, Walt Disney was distressed at Annette's budding 'gender cues'. Disney had constrictive Mousketeer t-shirts made for Annette, in order to modify the image put forth on the 'ol DUMONT. Why would Walt Disney have a problem with her breasts? What could NOT be more WHOLESOME and NATURAL and AMERICAN than BREASTS? (I like mine, and they are SILICONE!)
    Meanwhile, back at the ranch, in 6th grade, I was like, totally crushing on Jenni as she was the first girl in our class to develop. Somehow, my subconscious mind responded to the stimulus before my conscious mind realized the 'truth'. Ah, sweet innocent youth..... Velma

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  4. Hey! What ever happened to SKY KING's 'niece Penny'? I had heard that J.Buffet wrote fan letters to her, but did he get a reply? Inquiring minds demand to know....

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    1. Good Question - I loved that show also. If I remember it came on later on Saturday morning. Here is what I found:
      Born: November 8, 1931 in Los Angeles, California, USA
      Died: August 14, 2010 in Vista, San Diego County, California, USA (complications from pneumonia)

      More at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0935930/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

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