SPACE PATROL

1. US tv serial (1950-55). ABC TV. Prod Mike Moser (1950-52), Helen Moser (1953-5), dir Dik Darley, starring Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn, Ken Mayer, Virginia Hewitt, Nina Bara. Written Norman Jolley. 210 25min episodes. B/w.

   One of the many SPACE-OPERA serials on TELEVISION after CAPTAIN VIDEO, and possibly the first to feature FASTER-THAN-LIGHT travel to the stars, SP began as a 5-times-a-week 15min programme on local tv; soon after, itwent on RADIO and network tv. The patrol leader was Commander Buzz Corry. Viewers were invited to "become space cadets of the SP" (join the fanclub) and to buy special SP cosmic smoke guns, etc. Like most such programmes of the time SP was transmitted live, and with some ad-libbing. Special effects were minimal, but a mild attempt was made to keep thestories scientifically plausible.

2. UK tv series (1963-4). National Interest Picture Production/Wonderama Productions. Created/written RobertaLeigh, prod Leigh and Arthur Provis, dir Frank Goulding. 2 seasons, 39 25-min episodes in all.

   This was a SPACE-OPERA series for children produced with animated puppets, not unlike the various SuperMarionation series made by Gerry ANDERSON, and indeed created by one of Anderson's former colleagues. Main characters were Captain Larry Dart, Slim the Venusian and Husky the Martian in the spacecraft Galasphere 347; alsoimportant were Haggerty the genius inventor and Gabblerdictum the Martian parrot.

   PN