This episode should have been called The Fireman's Friend, because the episode is centered on two men, Slim and his partner who call themselves The Fireman's Friends. They listen to a police radio that announces fires. Using their truck, they set up a stand to serve coffee and doughnuts to firemen. Slim stays in the truck giving his partner trays with the coffee and doughnuts on them. There is a compartment in the trays that conceals a fire-proof asbestos suit. Slim's partner wears the suit to go into the burning buildings and steals payroll funds that are left in the safes.
The episode begins with the Daily Planet's warehouse on fire. Jimmy, Lois and Perry watch as Perry tells them that there is a twelve thousand dollar payroll in the safe. Behind them is the Fireman's Friend truck and Lois asks Perry if he would like a cup of coffee. Perry shouts that he never drinks coffee. (This is a mistake because in earlier episodes, such as The Secret of Superman, Perry does not drink coffee).
Jimmy asks Slim's partner about the Firemen's Friend business. He explains that it is a hobby and he and his friend serve coffee and food to the firemen for doing such a fine job. He then makes a joke saying that it is a "Hot Idea" and laughs. He then gives his tray to Slim, who is in the truck and tells him that Jimmy is a reporter and that Perry is the editor. He then makes another joke saying that "He must be plenty burned". Slim gives his partner another tray and tells him his wise cracking is going to get them in real trouble.
In the next scene, Clark is at the Planet reading a note that Perry left for him explaining about the fire and that he, Lois and Jimmy have gone there to observe. Clark then changes into Superman and flies to the warehouse. Meanwhile, Slim's partner is inside the burning building and puts on the fire-proof suit to steel the twelve thousand dollars that is in the safe. Superman comes to them, picks up a hose, asks Jimmy to turn the water on and flies into the building to put out the fire. The Fireman's Friends clean up and shut down their truck, leaving with the pay-roll money.
Perry was detained by the district attorney, arson squad and insurance investigators. Perry tells Clark, Lois and Jimmy that he is being accused of embezzlement and that they think he started the fire to cover it up. Perry then puts Clark in charge of the paper while he goes and investigates why the money disappeared. He visits The Firemen's Friends to see if they saw anything unusual. Slim's partner said "I saw a dog run by, I was thinking he might become a hot dog" Perry did not think that was funny. Slim told him that they didn't see anything.
Perry notices that Slim's partner was not wearing a hearing aid and that he was the night before. When Perry asks him about it, Slim lies and says that his partner is an excellent lip reader and that he mostly needs it outside with all the other distractions. What he did not tell Perry is that the hearing aid is a high power aid to let Slim's partner hear the lock tumblers click on the safes.
Perry goes outside and investigates their truck. He finds the fire-proof suit and then gets locked in the truck by the two crooks. The two men get in and drive off to the next fire. Back at The Daily Planet, Clark leaves Lois in charge, while he looks for Perry. There is another warehouse fire and Superman catches Slim's partner with the suit on. The crook makes a deal with Superman telling him that Perry is in the safest place possible and he would call the Planet building to let someone know where he is if Superman gives him one hour to leave. Superman lets him go.
Superman then changes to Clark and walks up to The Fireman's Friend truck to ask the two if they have seen Perry. Slim's partner said he served him coffee the night before and then with a joke said he said that he saw "White turn red" Clark realizes by the voice that he was the man in the fire. Clark returns to the Planet and remembers the remark "Safest surroundings available" and leaves. Clark figures out where Perry is, changes to Superman and releases Perry from the burnt safe. He then goes after the two men.
Slim and his partner pack their bags to leave and when try to walk out the door Superman is there. They turn to leave the other way and Superman is there to block them. They try to go out the first door and Superman is there again. He tells them he gets around faster then they do. Superman picks both men up, Perry walks in and Superman tells him to call the police to pick them up while he is holding them in the air.
When you think of the title Money to Burn, you think of the episode where Jimmy Olsen receives a million dollars and later has to burn the money to get out of trouble that he had gotten himself into. That episode is titled Olsen's Millions. That is why I stated at the beginning that this episode should have been called The Fireman's Friend.
This was a very good episode. This one used humor, ingenuity, and again Superman did not need to use violence to stop the crooks. One very good show for the whole family to enjoy.moreless
Episode Summary
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The Daily Planet's newsprint warehouse has a fire, and the payroll disappears. Perry White is accused of embezzlement and arson.
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GUEST STAR
Mauritz HugoSlim
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GUEST STAR
Dale van SickelSlim's Partner
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GUEST STAR
Richard EmoryFire Marshal
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George Reeves
Clark Kent/Superman
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Noel Neill
Lois Lane (9-18-53)
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Jack Larson
Jimmy Olson
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John Hamilton
Perry White
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (2)
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Goof: When Superman arrives to help put out the fire, he uses the fire hose. But, although it's supposed to be spraying water, it seems to be spraying steam.
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GOOF-Perry White is said to not drink coffee in this episode although it was clear that he did in "Great Caesar's Ghost" when the delivery boy brough in his sandwich and coffee and also from "The Secret of Superman" in Season One when Perry is at his club and the waiter brings hims some coffee laced with truth serum.
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QUOTES (0)
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NOTES (0)
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