Two minutes from my childhood

[EddMarkStarr]

Lost in Space and Star Trek share something in common, in 1964 both series had their pilot episodes rejected by network broadcasters but were given a second chance if recommended revisions were made. For Lost in Space, this gave 20th Century-Fox an opportunity to replace the large 4ft. diameter "Gemini 12" spaceship with a smaller scale "Jupiter 2" that included onboard running lights. One of the issues with the large-scale model was the way it never appeared to have the same shape depending on the backdrop, lighting, or broadcasting filters used in post-production. That the Gemini 12 looked different shapes, scene to scene, remains one of the strangest optical effects no one could adjust for!

Lost in Space became the most heavily promoted TV show on CBS for 1965. That summer, no one could escape the image of the Jupiter 2 heading for a crash on an alien planet as CBS ran promos all day, everyday. Filmed and broadcast in black & white added to the show's "spaciness", in my opinion.

Episode One drew a huge audience as viewers wanted to see the entire crash scene. That the Jupiter 2 didn't crash in Episode One caused a spillover effect for Episode Two.

I'll never forget the excitement in the air as the end of Episode Two hinted at the "Crash to Come" in Episode Three. The final two minutes at the end of Episode Two show the only remaining footage of the original spaceship. Note the lack of operational lights on the model and how the poor quality YouTube upload completely washes-out all visual details of the Gemini 12. Apologies for the poor audio quality too. You may need to boost the volume to hear anything!

I was 8 years old when I first saw this.

 

[Dargelos]

At the same time as Lost In Space, 1965, Gerry Anderson had already completed a series of Stingray and had started on his most famous work, Thunderbirds. That was the quality of the model work that I had grown up with, so when we got to see Lost In Space, the modelling looked comical by comparison even though they had a vastly higher budget. Though of course the acting was better. The thing that hits me today is the way that the women, even on a hostile planet, millions of miles from anywhere, always looked like they had just stepped out of a hair salon.

 

[Peloso]

I lived for that show when I was a kid. Every weekday at 4:30 pm on channel 5. I used to staple two paper plates together and make my own Jupiter 2.

A couple years ago I got the complete series on DVD in a boxed set for $5 at a garage sale.

 

[Maklaar13]

I love the show too. I have so many wonderful memories watching it. In the country I grew up in they would only show half an episode at a time around 5:30 pm. I also have all the dvd. Not long ago we started watching it from the beginning. So much fun.

 

[gsdx]

Jonathan Harris played an evil Dr. Smith in the pilot, but Harris realised that he wasn't long for the show if he continued to play that character. He decided to camp it up and even rewrote his lines. Of course, Dr. Smith became the cowardly shipmate who seemed keenly interested in using Will Robinson's body as a shield. Of course, Harris quickly became the star of the show with the other adults aboard taking a back seat to him.

And who can ever forget the carrot?

 

[EddMarkStarr]

At the same time as Lost In Space, 1965, Gerry Anderson had already completed a series of Stingray and had started on his most famous work, Thunderbirds. That was the quality of the model work that I had grown up with, so when we got to see Lost In Space, the modelling looked comical by comparison even though they had a vastly higher budget. Though of course the acting was better. The thing that hits me today is the way that the women, even on a hostile planet, millions of miles from anywhere, always looked like they had just stepped out of a hair salon.

The way Irwin Allen complained, Lost in Space was lucky they had a model spaceship to work with at all. 20th Century-Fox had a reputation for tight budgets and the Lost in Space production team had many go-rounds with Fox and CBS. The stunning model work from television shows around the world became glaring as the 60's progressed.

It was 1963 when Fireball XL5 made it to the States and the model work was complimented by original music. The whole watched the show every Saturday morning.

 

[EddMarkStarr]

I lived for that show when I was a kid. Every weekday at 4:30 pm on channel 5. I used to staple two paper plates together and make my own Jupiter 2.

A couple years ago I got the complete series on DVD in a boxed set for $5 at a garage sale.

That's Excellent!

I remember the episode, "Invaders from the 5th Dimension". It was the only episode deleted from regular rotation when Lost in Space went into syndication after 1969.

 

[smokeshadow]

What most people didn't realize is that John Williams, the composer behind the music from Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Empire of the Sun and Superman was also the composer for the original Lost in Space TV show theme; both the original and the latest incarnation

 

[EddMarkStarr]

I read YouTube comments about the music from TV shows, so I sometimes run videos with the screen minimized - and just listen to the music.

 

[Peloso]

That's Excellent!

I remember the episode, "Invaders from the 5th Dimension". It was the only episode deleted from regular rotation when Lost in Space went into syndication after 1969.

It's on the disc.

 

[pigface]

The language may be incomprehensible, but this is what the South African TV industry was capable of - way back when competent people were running it.

(We never had a black & white TV service , it was colour right from the start. But obviously imported shows made in b/w had to be broadcast that way. Once such was the German series "Adventures of the space ship Orion" )

 

[Dargelos]

Amazing! I had never heard of this show before. There is a very strong "Thunderbirds" influence here but, being 15 years later the technology has been much refined.