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2006 TV News Archives

June 7, 2006: Noel Neill Talks About Working on Superman

Wizard Universe has published an interview with Noel Neill, in which she talks about attending the annual Superman Festival in Metropolis Illinois, her role in "Superman Returns", and working on "The Adventures of Superman" TV series. Here's an excerpt from the interview...

What was your favorite memory of working on the old "Adventures of Superman" series?

It's hard to say because we worked hard and fast for no money. But everyone was so nice to work with. I mean, John Hamilton and George [Reeves], of course and Jack Larson, we got along fine. And we did two shows a week, and it was about eight to eight. We'd be on at eight in the morning, but they'd have to let us have twelve hours off in between.

There is one funny thing. I think they always say it was too cheap. I say, "Well that's the way it worked." To have a hair dresser... I was, you know, a redhead. Gradually, I had to try and find a hairdresser that worked on Sundays. So a couple of times I've seen the old series and say, "Oh my God! I look like Lucille Ball; I'm orange. Oh, that's the weekend I did my own hair." But everybody was very nice, the company itself and New York.

We had an interesting contract, you know. We would do, let's see, 26 shows in 13 weeks. And then our contracts gave us almost two years off. And then they'd call us and say, "Let's make some more." So that's why we worked in '51 and '53 and then two years off and '55, two years off. That's why everyone went off and did other things. I did Westerns, and Jack went to Europe. So it was kind of nice. And then we'd get back together. It was a family group, so that made it kind of nice.

Read the complete interview at Wizard Universe.