Ep 8. The Mind Machine

In the eighth episode of season one of The Adventures of Superman, titled "The Mind Machine," we see Superman (played by George Reeves) investigate a strange occurrence at the Metropolis Museum. A new exhibit featuring a 5000-year-old statue has been unveiled, but strange things have been happening at the museum ever since. Guards have reported feeling dizzy and weak, and the museum curator, Professor Pepperwinkle (played by Richard Gaines), has been acting strangely and claim to have seen the statue move.

Clark Kent, reporter for the Daily Planet newspaper, is assigned to cover the story and notices that Professor Pepperwinkle has a unique device on his desk. The device, a helmet-like contraption with wires and knobs, seems to be the cause of the professor's erratic behavior. Clark is suspicious and decides to investigate further, but is caught by the guards and taken to the professor.

As Clark tries to reason with Professor Pepperwinkle, the villainous Dr. John Darcy (played by Maurice Manson) appears. Darcy, a former colleague of the professor, has been using the mind machine to control Pepperwinkle and use him to steal valuable treasures from the museum. Darcy reveals that he plans to use the machine to control the minds of powerful people and become rich and powerful himself.

Superman arrives just in time to save Clark and stop Darcy's plan. He uses his strength to disable the mind machine and apprehends Darcy. The episode ends with Superman cautioning the professor against using such dangerous machinery and returning the stolen treasures to their rightful places.

Overall, "The Mind Machine" is a classic episode of The Adventures of Superman, showcasing the Man of Steel's abilities to outsmart and defeat villains, while also warning against the dangers of messing with the human mind. The episode has a good mix of suspense, action, and moral lessons that make it an enjoyable watch even today.