Adventures of Superman/The Case of the Talkative Dummy

The Case of the Talkative Dummy
Season 1, Episode 3
Airdate	October 3, 1952
Screenplay by	Dennis Cooper and Lee Backman
Directed by	Tommy Carr
Produced by	Robert J. Maxwell and Bernard Luber
Stream
← 1x02 The Haunted Lighthouse	1x04 → Mystery of the Broken Statues
Adventures of Superman — Season One

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The Case of the Talkative Dummy is the third episode of the first season of Adventures of Superman.

Armored cars are going missing in Metropolis and Clark believes that a ventriloquist act that is being repeatedly interrupted might somehow be connected.

Starring: George Reeves (Clark Kent / Superman)

and Phyllis Coates (Lois Lane)

Featuring: Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen), John Hamilton (Perry White), Robert Shayne (Inspector Henderson)

and Tris Coffin (E.J. Davis), Syd Saylor (Ventriloquist), Pierre Watkin (Mr. Green), Robert Kent (Safe Mover), Phil Pine (Usher)

Plot Overview

On Jimmy Olsen's birth, Clark and Lois take him to see a ventriloquist act. There, the dummy starts saying that are't coming from the ventriloquist's mouth. Frustrated, the ventriloquist walks off stage. Lois, Clark, and Jimmy follow him backstage and ask him what is going on. Clark thinks that someone in the audience was speaking for the dummy.

Back at the Daily Planet, Perry White tells Clark and Lois to follow up on the story of the missing armored car. They go to the armored car company and interview and photograph Mr. Green and his associate Mr. Davis for a story in the newspaper. That night, another armored car is stolen. Clark figures out that someone in the audience is passing on information about heists by speaking for the dummy. This way everyone in on the scheme is anonymous to the others. Olsen goes to follow up more on the story and receives the pictures from Mr. Green. He overhears Mr. Davis in conversation with one of the robbers, who identifies Davis as a participant. Davis finds Olsen and locks him in a safe.

The safe is being transported out of the building. They lower it from the window using a pulley system, but Olsen's added weight causes the ropes to snap. Luckily Superman is nearby; he catches the safe and lets Olsen out to safety. That night at the ventriloquist show, Clark and Lois are accompanied by Inspector Bill Henderson. Clark identifies the usher as one of the robbers. However, they plan to let the heist go down so that they can set a trap. Clark thinks Green is in on the heist in addition to Davis and needs proof.

Back at the armored car company, Davis is holding up up Green because he feels that Green made him the fall guy. Superman flies in through the window, and although Green attempts to shoot him, Superman takes both men into custody.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• X-Ray Vision: Superman uses X-Ray vision for the first time in this episode. He uses it twice: once to find that Jimmy Olsen is trapped in the safe, and a second time to find the stolen money stashed away in the safe.

Characters

• First appearance: This is the first appearance of Inspector Bill Henderson. However, Henderson seems to already know the two top reporters for the Daily Planet, as he refers to the way that Clark is always rushing off.

Referbacks

• Olsen in trouble again: When Jimmy Olsen goes missing, because he was kidnapped by Mr. Davis, Clark comments that Olsen is always getting into trouble. In the previous episode 1x02 - The Haunted Lighthouse, Jimmy had gotten locked away in cave by smugglers.

Trivia

The Show

• When Mr. Green is attempting to shoot Superman, the viewer can see Mr. Green shooting his pistol, but when the camera is on Superman nothing is shown as hitting him.

Memorable Moments

• Lois is joking around with Clark about how his detective skills had been right so many times on the armored car case. She sarcastically asks him who is on the line with Inspector Henderson, who had just gotten a call. Clark correctly says that it's Perry White, and that if they don't leave immediately they might lose their jobs. They leave, and Henderson turns around from his desk and prepares to hand Clark or Lois the phone, because the call was from White, but they are already gone.

Quotes

• Lois Lane: If it hadn't been for Superman, why... How is it you always manage to show up at the right time?

Superman: That's my job, Ms. Lane.

• Lois Lane: Well, there he goes again. Inspector, where does he disappear to all the time?

Bill Henderson (sarcastically): I don't know. Maybe he runs into an alley, takes off his glasses, and turns into Superman.