ALL SCI-FI Forum Index ALL SCI-FI
The place to “find your people”.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964 - 1968)
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi on Television from 1950 to 1969
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 12:47 pm    Post subject: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964 - 1968) Reply with quote

This was created by Irwin Allen & produced by 20th Century Fox for the ABC TV Network.

It ran from 1964~'68 for 4 seasons and was the longest running of the sf television shows produced by Allen.

The first season was done in black and white while the later 3 seasons were in color.

Richard Basehart played the role of Admiral Nelson,genius scientist of the N.I.M.R(Nelson Institute for Marine Research)and creator of the futuristic submarine the Seaview.

David Hedison is the sub's commander Captain Crane.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Hey, thanks for starting a thread for this series. I was surprised when I realized we didn't have one! Shocked

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your welcome, Bud. Yeah, I noticed we had 3 of the 4 sci~fi TV series created by Allen, but not VTTBOTS.

Fun Facts } The idea for VTTBOTS was suggested by Allen's girlfriend when she asked him why not do a movie about a big submarine?

Filming for the movie commenced on December 28,1960.
The budget was $860,000 for a 36-day shoot.

Military surplus equipment was for parts of the set of the Seaview.

Lake Sersen, a small body of water on the 20th Century Fox backlot was where filming of the miniature models for the feature film took place.

Disney utilized the same location for their 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea motion picture.

Irwin moved away from feature films to television. It was becoming more and more difficult to produce films.

In addition,Allen saw the up and coming medium of TV as the future.

He also enjoyed the fast pace world of television. He had always like TV.

Allen and his team felt that the smartest way to enter into the world of TV was to adapt his major motion picture of VTTBOTS to a weekly series.

By already having models, wardrobe, sets from the motion picture that could be reused for the TV show the production would save an enormous amount of $$$.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1877

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Seaview in the Sersen Tank.



Fred Sersen himself in front of his "lake" (covered).



_________________
...or not...

WayneO
-----------
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Custer
Space Sector Commander


Joined: 22 Aug 2015
Posts: 932
Location: Earth

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The 1961 first edition of the novelization, by Theodore Sturgeon, has a suitably dramatic cover:

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Paul Sawtell's wonderful title theme and the opening shot of the Seaview slowly descending did a great job of starting each episode off in a flashy manner! Very Happy
________________________________



___ Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Intro / Outro


__________

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Sep 17, 2018 2:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Krel
Guest





PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I believe that the movie was filmed in Sersen Lake, which was on the Fox backlot. Lake Sersen was the much larger tank and backdrop that was built for "Cleopatra" at the Fox Ranch. Sersen Lake was demolished after Lake Sersen was built. I wonder if any of Lake Sersen still exists now that the Fox Ranch is now a State Park.

VTTBOTS was a good show for the first season, and half of the second season, it was very enjoyable for the rest of the series. The show must have been hit with a budget cut. They no longer used the Seaview deck set, the Seaview dock set, the backlot towns and jungle set. I believe they might have lost those resources due to Fox selling off parts of the backlot. Fox was struggling due to the poor performance of "Cleopatra" and the money they expended. I have read that they lost the large underwater filming tank because of the selloff. The new tank was only a few feet longer than the large Seaview miniature.

Unfortunately, the budget cuts really hurt the show and made it sub bound for the most part. Del Monroe said that they used to go read the scripts in the Effects Department, because they got the scripts about nine days before the cast. By time the cast got the scripts, the accounting office made them cut down the expenses, it was a totally different script.

Irwin Allen used to complain that the Studio and Network kept asking why they didn't do more episodes off the sub, and he would tell them to quit cutting the budget. I.A. said that is why they had so many monsters. They were an inexpensive way to generate excitement. And to a kid they were.

I.A. said that the Seaview wasn't suppose to be where the story took place, the Seaview was suppose to be the vehicle to get to where the story takes place. The Flying Sub was suppose to get Nelson and Crane to the action faster.

The Seaview dock was a large set, I often wondered if it was built for a movie, and got reused for the show.

David.
Back to top
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 12:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the wonderful pics of Sersen Lake, Orzel-W.

Krel, the Seaview dock was originally constructed for the movie "Hell and High Water''(1954) starring Richard Widmark.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 12:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Episode # 1: "Eleven Days to Zero", Monday, September 14,1964.

This was the pilot for VTTBOTS and was one of the most expensive ones ever shot coming in at $550,000. It was filmed in color but broadcast in black and white.

It was filmed from November 18 ~ December 04,1963.

During filming the tragic news was announced about the assassination of President JFK. All work ceased on the pilot that day and everyone was sent home.

The mysterious villain Dr.Gamma, seen in the shadows was played by the terrific actor Theodore Marcuse. Dr.Gamma was intended to be a recurring villain. The concept was dropped because it was deemed old fashioned by the ABC Network.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I've placed the first three disc of the series on my Netflix list (and nine episodes), and I'm looking forward to getting them in about a week after I return three DVDs I currently have.

I was in the Air Force during the fourth season of the series, and I don't remember watching the first three series on a regular basis. For that reason, I'm looking forward to enjoying the series when the DVDs arrive.

Ironically enough, I tried talking Bulldogtrekker in watching them during the six years we enjoyed sharing movies and shows while chatting on Facebook, but he said he'd watched all the episodes a few times each in reruns a few years earlier, so he wasn't interest. Sad

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Krel
Guest





PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
The mysterious villain Dr.Gamma, seen in the shadows was played by the terrific actor Theodore Marcuse. Dr.Gamma was intended to be a recurring villain. The concept was dropped because it was deemed old fashioned by the ABC Network.

If you watch the episode, Dr. Gamma was played primarily by Theodore Marcuse, and in one scene by Werner Klemperer. It is a shame that they didn't keep the Dr. Gamma character. It would have been nice to have a personal adversary for Admiral Nelson to battle.

Pow, thanks for telling me about "Hell and High Water'', and the dock. I've never seen the movie, but after looking it up, I want to.

David.


Last edited by Krel on Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
scotpens
Starship Captain


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 871
Location: The Left Coast

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Custer wrote:
The 1961 first edition of the novelization, by Theodore Sturgeon, has a suitably dramatic cover:


The cover art depicts an early concept for the Seaview, basically a Skipjack-type sub with a glass-enclosed observation room behind the sail. This idea was quickly dropped.

And I love the fanciful "sea serpent" (or is that a deep-sea fish afflicted with gigantism?)


Bud Brewster wrote:

Paul Sawtell's wonderful title theme and the opening shot of the Seaview slowly descending did a great job of starting each episode off in a flashy manner! Very Happy

Thank God they didn't use the movie's title theme (crooned by Frankie Avalon) for the TV series!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Moat, 60 feet in width, 120 feet in length, 11 feet deep was a water area on the back lot of the 20th Century Fox Studios where the wharf for the Nelson Institute of Marine Research took place.

The Green Tank was where special FX legend L.B. Abbott shot scenes involving the miniature models.

VTTBOTS was able to benefit enormously from the production methods for shooting miniatures as well as humans undersea, learned by Disney Studios in filming their sci~fi classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

The 3 Seaview miniatures measured 4-feet, 8-feet, and 18-feet.

The largest model was only utilized for shooting scenes of the Seaview on the surface.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with you David regarding it was pity that the Dr.Gamma villain was eliminated as a recurring foe for the show. Gamma was to have had a henchman named Professor X.

ABC felt he was too much like a Bond villain. Bond was highly
popular and part of the reason was his larger-than-life adversaries that he battled.

Why the television would feel that's a bad concept is odd? Shows just how out of touch the suits at the network can be at times.

Theodore Marcuse was a superb actor and would have enhanced the series on any episodes he was featured in.
Marcuse himself suggested to Allen that Gamma could have been an expert disguise artist.

That way,Marcuse could have appeared looking differently in episodes as was required.


Last edited by Pow on Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:29 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Theodore Marcuse } Served with distinction during WWII as a lieutenant on board the U.S.N.Submarine Tirante.

Marcuse was awarded a Silver Star a numerous citations for his service.

He was also a graduate from Stanford College.

Quite a gentleman.


Last edited by Pow on Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:30 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi on Television from 1950 to 1969 All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  Next
Page 1 of 7

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group