This is a re-recording of the opening theme to the fifties TV show, the Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves as Clark Kent/Superman. The theme (sometimes called 'the Superman March') was written by Leon Klatzkin and was re-recorded by Neil Norman and his Cosmic Orchestra. It is the only cover of this theme that I know of, and it is in stereo.

Leon Klatzkin was a prolific film and television composer, orchestra conductor, soundtrack orchestrator and arranger. Coming to Hollywood, he worked in the music department of the Hal Roach Studios for eight years, and thereafter moved on to other film companies as well, especially 20th Century-Fox. He joined the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1952, and his list of compositions there number well over 600, nearly all of them themes for film and television, including Rawhide and the Wild Wild West.

Neil Norman is a musician and producer with numerous albums to his credit, including several Star Trek Albums. This track is off a 1980 album of mine entitled Greatest Science Fiction Hits. Neil played guitars, synthesizers and Theremin with a range of musicians playing the other instruments.

Adventures of Superman is an American television series being the first television series to feature Superman, and began filming in 1951 in California. The syndicated show's first, and last, air dates are generally accepted as September 19, 1952 and April 28, 1958. The show's first two seasons (episodes 1--52, 26 titles per season) were filmed in black-and-white; seasons three through six (episodes 53--104, 13 titles per season) were filmed in color but originally telecast monochromatically both on the ABC network and in first-run syndication. Television viewers would not see Superman in color until the series was syndicated to local stations in 1965.

In the 104 episodes, George Reeves showed gentlemanly behavior to his fellow actors. Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen, recalled that Reeves enjoyed playing practical jokes on the crew and cast, as depicted during a scene in the film Hollywoodland. Reeves insisted his original Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates, be given equal billing in the credits. He also stood by Robert Shayne (who played Police Inspector William "Bill" Henderson) when Shayne was subpoenaed by FBI agents on the set of Superman. (Shayne's political activism in the Screen Actors Guild in the 1940s was used by his embittered ex-wife as an excuse to label him a Communist, although Shayne had never been a Communist Party member. When Coates was replaced by Noel Neill (who had played Lois Lane in the Kirk Alyn serials), Reeves defended her nervousness on her first day when he felt that the director was being too harsh with her. On the other hand, he liked to stand outside camera range, mugging at the other cast members to see if he could break them up. According to Larson, Reeves took on-set photos with his Minox and handed out prints. By all accounts, there was strong camaraderie among the show's actors. (Summarised from Wikipedia).

I loved the TV show as a kid, and this slideshow video is dedicated to the memory of George Reeves.

Comments are invited.