Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 4 - Episode 6: "Jimmy The Kid"

Original Broadcast Date: April 28, 1956

Writer: Leroy H. Zehren

Director: Phil Ford

Guest Cast:
Jack Larson as Kid Collins
Diana Darrin as Maizie
Damian O'Flynn as J. Walter Gridley
Florence Ravenel as Mrs. Cooper
Rick Vallin as Meehan
Steve Conte as Pruett

"Jimmy The Kid"

Corrupt investment broker J. Walter Gridley is desperate to get his hands on evidence Clark Kent has in his office at the Daily Planet. His henchmen Pruett and Meehan had no luck finding anything before the night wactchman made his rounds. They went through everything except one case hardened steel cabinet with a pick proof lock. In spite of being angry, Gridley has another plan to help him steal the affidavits and other papers from Kent. Meehan and Pruett are introduced to Kid Collins, a gangster who is a dead ringer for cub reporter Jimmy Olsen. Should Collins succeed in fooling Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Perry White, he can easily take the files on Gridley, allowing the swindler to be unable to stand trial. Collins may even make Superman believe that he is Jimmy Olsen.

Jimmy is captured, and Kid Collins is taking his place. No one at the Planet thinks anything of his strange behavior. He whistles at Lois, bets on horses and mouths off to Perry. Clark, however, has no time to worry about Jimmy right now. A forest fire has broken out in the North Ridge area. He'll have to cover the story and phone it in to Jimmy because the re-write department has its hands full. Clearly, Superman will be needed to put out the blaze. What will he do if he discovers that the person posing as his young pal is not the genuine article?

Superman flies so fast that he puts out the flames in North Ridge. Clark phones in the story to "Jimmy", who also learns that some of the evidence against Gridley is also in Kent's apartment. Collins later writes the forest fire story, but his gangster slang makes the article unprintable. Perry yells at Collins. Yet it does not phase the hoodlum like it would Jimmy. He merely takes a cigar and leaves the editor's office after an irate exchange of words with the chief. Kid Collins could very well ruin Jimmy's life forever by acting tough with his friends. Even Superman may not be able to understand that the thug is not the eager cub reporter.

Collins has no luck in Clark's office finding the marked money or affidavits used against Gridley. Lois stops him before he can unlock the file cabinet. Collins does, however, hit paydirt in Kent's apartment. A neighbor named Mrs. Cooper, believing the gangster is Jimmy, lets him enter. The Kid finds the papers, but he also has another prize as he opens Clark's secret closet. Superman's spare costume is hanging in there. Kid Collins has just learned the world's greatest secret. He knows that Clark Kent is Superman. J. Walter Gridley is sure to pay handsomely for this information. Superman will need to plan carefully if he is to protect his double life.

Kid Collins is meeting Gridley and his men in the alley across from the Daily Planet in thirty minutes. Jimmy, in the meantime, has been bound and gagged to a chair in Gridley's office. Collins' girl Maizie, thinking he is the Kid, frees Jimmy. This seems to work to his advantage as he tells the buxom woman that Gridley owes him money. Jimmy leaves in a frantic hurry. Impersonating Kid Collins will be his best chance of rescuing his friends, for everyone he cares for, even Superman, could be in grave danger if the real gangster succeeds in his plans to aid J. Walter Gridley.

Lois Lane is about to go home for the night when she catches "Jimmy" trying to open Clark's locked file cabinet. When she notices that he doesn't know what a banner headline is during their conversation about the forest fire story, Lois realizes that Kid Collins is not Jimmy Olsen. Meanwhile, Clark has found that his spare costume and the evidence against Gridley are gone. He will have to act fast if he is to discover the truth about Collins.

As he struggles to unlock the file drawers, Collins reveals to Lois that Clark is Superman. Lois unsuccessfully attempts to escape and lets it slip that only Clark and Perry, who is still in his office, have keys to the cabinet. Now Kid Collins has two hostages. If Perry doesn't help him get the remaining papers Clark has, both he and Lois will pay the ultimate price with their lives.

Jimmy has even made J. Walter Gridley believe that he's Kid Collins. However, it is not enough to save him from his evil double. Collins pistol whips Olsen unconscious in Perry's office. To save Lois and Jimmy, the chief reluctantly gives him the key to Clark's cabinet and agrees to allow Collins to have a ten minute head start before calling the police. Superman is going to need every ounce of his tremendous speed if he is to prevent Kid Collins from giving Gridley everything, including the Man of Steel's secret identity.

Having left Superman's spare costume in Perry's office, Kid Collins leaves with the affidavits. He and Gridley head for the latter's office in the Barkley Building. Superman arrives at the Planet to hear Jimmy say Gridley's name as he regains consciousness. The Metropolis Marvel is in hot pursuit of Gridley and Collins. Can he bring them to justice before his greatest secret is revealed?

Gridley is in a panic. He must get money from his safe before the police surround the building. Unfortunately, the door won't open with the combination he created. Superman is actually holding it closed from the inside before confronting the gangsters. Kid Collins fires his gun at the caped hero as the vault door is ripped open. The bullets bounce all over the room as Superman delivers knockout punches to Meehan, Pruett, J. Walter Gridley and Kid Collins. When they awaken, they will be in prison. Another group of criminals has been brought to justice thanks to Superman.

The Daily Planet has the scoop of Gridley and his gang being arrested. Now, everyone wants to know how Superman's costume got into Clark's apartment. Kent claims to have needed it for an article for the Sunday supplement section. For now, everyone believes him, but Lois Lane will surely find another means of proving that a certain mild mannered reporter is the Last Son of Krypton.

Rating - 4 (out of 5): Diana Darrin was in Slither and Reform School Girls. She also played various roles in the short fims of The Three Stooges.

Damian O'Flynn is best known for the role of Doctor Goodfellow in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. You may also recall him as Doctor Ralph Harper in season two's "Jungle Devil".

Florence Ravenel mainly played bit parts in films like All in a Night's Work and television series like My Three Sons.

Rick Vallin will be back in season six for "Three in One".

Steve Conte can be seen in such cult classics as Teenage Zombies and The Wild World of Batwoman.

Jack Larson is the second actor to play a guest character who is a twin of a main cast member. George Reeves also did this in season two's classic "The Face and The Voice".

Look closely when Maizie unties Jimmy. She continues to loosen the rope after he is free.

This episode is adapted from the story "Jimmy Olsen's Double" that appeared in Superman #93, cover dated November 1954.

"Jimmy The Kid" truly merits a five as it really seems out of place in this mediocre season. It could have worked stupendously in the first two years of the series. However, something I will discuss momentarily prevents it from receiving a perfect score. The acting and story itself are stupendous, but one part in particular sticks out like a sore thumb.

Kid Collins stealing Superman's costume from Clark Kent's apartment was a great element in the episode, and it feels like the powers that be wanted to go somewhere with it. It just somehow ends up being a huge red herring. Even Clark's excuse for having the suit seems half-baked. This leaves the audience disappointed because the plot thread feels like it's cut before it has a chance to become interesting.

Aside from that major flaw, there is a lot to enjoy about "Jimmy The Kid". Jack Larson really goes all out to play the villain. He is over the top in some points, but that works well in this episode. The rest of the cast also pulls off some splendid performances that really make the script come to life. So far, season four has merely been average, but, if more entries are like this one, it will hopefully get better.

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