The Bootleg Superman

Here’s an interesting little TV curio. Over on News From Me, Mark Evanier discusses this article about a bootleg Superman.

Actor John Frederick claims that he made 18 full episodes of Superman when George Reeves was giving the studio bother.

Frederick, now busy in retirement in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., says he filmed 18 episodes of the popular television series in the late 1950s as a studio threat to Reeves, who was increasingly unhappy in the role and felt he was being type-cast and excluded from better parts. Reeves allegedly was threatening to walk out on the series, Frederick says in his autobiography, "Name Droppings on Your Head."

It’s an odd tale and Mark Evanier, for one, thinks this story is far fetched. I’m sure he’ll follow it up in subsequent days.

Here's Frederick's IMDB entry.