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Lost In Space (1965)
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larryfoster
Space Ranger


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 104

PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 6:09 am    Post subject: Lost In Space (1965) Reply with quote

"Lost in Space is an American science fiction television series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Space

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Tired of waiting on NASA to adopt Flying Saucer technology! Sick of human political-representative government! I want 1970: COLOSSUS (The Forbin Project) A.I. - as World Control government! Providing flying saucer tech, "For the betterment of man."
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larryfoster
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did not find a thread for this original tv series - so I'm starting this one.

Lucky me... I get to start it 'my way', with an image of the (true) character cast. Note the absence of the Dr. Smith character from the publicity photo. That's why I choose it to start this topic thread. IMO... the Dr. Smith character inclusion ruined the series concept, by forcing it from a good adventure... to become a comedy.











While NASA was 'rocketing' men to the moon in tiny capsules... this tv series convinced me that 'flying saucers' to other Earth-like planets would be the next real space exploring development.

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Tired of waiting on NASA to adopt Flying Saucer technology! Sick of human political-representative government! I want 1970: COLOSSUS (The Forbin Project) A.I. - as World Control government! Providing flying saucer tech, "For the betterment of man."
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Bud Brewster
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Joined: 14 Dec 2013
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 12:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm still surprised every time I realize that countless movies and TV shows we once had massive threads for are now gone. So, the new board is virgin territory, ready for discussions like this one to be started from scratch.

Larry, you've certainly kicked off this one in the right way! I agree that Lost in Space was a huge missed opportunity for a serious, intelligent science fiction series that could have stood shoulder-to-should with Star Trek.

Alas, what we got was a sci-fi farce, with fat singing Viking women and endless episodes on the same small unconvincing set of an alien planet. The producers were so lazy they didn't even want the cast and crew to walk up the steps of the Jupiter 2 -- so they removed them and put the ship belly down in the sand.

This is what the Jupiter 2 should look like --



-- not like this.



Just one way in which this show pissed off fans who wanted a series that followed in the footsteps of Forbidden Planet.

I agree that even if Dr. Smith had remained a serious villain, his character was still a very bad idea. The premise did not need a mustache twisting Snidely Whiplash to make trouble for the Robinsons. Being lost in space was trouble enough, and the show's producers just didn't have the imagination to make the series that we really wanted.

Click on the first picture above and take a look at the "Sci-Fi Air Show" in a short documentary called Jupiter 2: Lost but not Forgotten.

According to the host, this is the original prop for the show, fully restored and on display!

You'll love it!

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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 Thu Nov 14, 2019 12:43 pm; edited 5 times in total
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Eadie
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Joined: 14 Dec 2013
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And to keep things complete, a re-post of the picture of the Jupiter II and the Fantastic Voyage brain set.

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orzel-w
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud Brewster wrote:
According to the host, this is the original prop for the show, fully restored and on display!

I have a bridge for sale, if you're interested.
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WayneO
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

orzel-w wrote:
I have a bridge for sale, if you're interested.


Oo, oo! Is it the one from the Enterprise? I've always wanted to own that one! How much do you want? Surprised

(Oops, I didn't listen carefully enough. He said it was the oldest surviving version -- as in "replica" -- still on display. Sorry . . . Embarassed)
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~ The Space Children (1958)
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orzel-w
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 6:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Perhaps this video will clarify:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vy2AVWfHvk
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WayneO
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aaaw, shucks. I knew a lot of the stuff in the Sci-Fi Air Show was FX, but I didn't know it ALL was.

Oh, well. It's great to look at. Thanks, Wayne (for bursting bubble . . . Sad )

Just kiddin'! Very Happy (You low down rotten --- )


No, no, I'm fine. Minor set back. I'll be okay.

* sob . . . Crying or Very sad
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orzel-w
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've figured that if I were to build any more models, that's what I would be doing with them, too. (Not an air show, but some kind of scene context.)
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Krel
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The show concept did change after the pilot. It was originally suppose to be Swiss Family Robinson in space. They were suppose to abandon the ship, then called the Gemini 12, because it was too badly damaged. The original design for the crashed G12 called for there to be a large hole in the hull, the damage that caused the G12 to go off course. In "No Place To Hide", Professor Robinson mentioned that they had no idea how long the G12 traveled due to the atomic clock being damaged. After fleeing the G12 because of the weather conditions they were suppose to settle in the southern location constructing their new home there.

Sometime after the pilot was filmed it was decided that they wanted the Robinsons to be able to leave the planet, so the G12 design was altered. They also made a second mockup, the lander. After they left the first planet, I wonder why the just didn't land the JII and use the lander mockup for the planet set and save the first set for interior shots and space scenes. I guess it was to save money, but the lander mockup couldn't have been inexpensive to make, or store. You would think that they would have wanted to get their moneys worth out of it.

The network wanted an antagonist that could a danger to the Robinson party. Apparently, having an unexplored planet wasn't danger enough for the Network. Doctor Smith wasn't a bad idea, but the problem was that he was so lethal from the beginning. With care they could have changed the character, but they didn't bother. This led Johnathan Harris to worry about the longevity of his character, and he started taking proactive action to protect his character.

Another problem was "Batman", which was on two nights aweek, one of wich was opposite LIS. "Batman" was a HUGE hit, and the Network wanted a piece of the pie. Which led to LIS getting what Guy Williams called a "case of the cutes". This was his term for "camp", which was invading other shows like "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.".

LIS and the other Irwin Allen shows suffered when Fox sold off most of the backlot. Watch the first season of LIS, and half way through the season they stopped outside filming. Butch said that besides the wilderness areas, and town sets, IA also lost the Seaview dock, Deck set, the big surface effects tank, and the large underwater tank.

I wondered why Fox used REMCO Monkey Division toys for the LASERs. Even at seven years of age, I recognized them for what they were. Butch said that it was a failed merchandising deal.

David.
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larryfoster
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Joined: 19 Sep 2014
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wish Irwin Allen had stuck with his original "Swiss Family Robinson" concept - which had no Dr. Smith antagonist. The alien planet's natural environment could supply all the antagonist needed. It could have been like a planet-sized and alien version of his 1960 "The Lost World" movie.

Abandoning the damaged Gemini 12 saucer would have been ok too. It had no living quarters in it anyway. With a proper episode plot... the Robinsons could have even 'found' a better ship on the alien planet. One having crew living quarters, and a humanoid robot.
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Tired of waiting on NASA to adopt Flying Saucer technology! Sick of human political-representative government! I want 1970: COLOSSUS (The Forbin Project) A.I. - as World Control government! Providing flying saucer tech, "For the betterment of man."
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Brent Gair
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Joined: 21 Nov 2014
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm a huge LOST IN SPACE fan. My affection for this show borders on mental illness Smile. The ONLY real collection is Lost in Space stuff. Oh, I enjoy a thousand other shows and movies and I build the models but I only collect LIS items.

I'll use this thread to post a few items from the collection.

I don't have much first generation stuff but one of the best items I have is this original lunchbox in exceptionally good shape.







I'm going to cut-and-paste a few fact here (again, I'm a lot lazy and a little busy right now so I'll steal someone else's hard work)

"The Lost in Space box is an example of a domed metal lunch box. A metal domed box is generally considered more desirable than other formats namely, plastic or metal square boxes. The dome actually serves a function and is not just for looks. A thick wire clasp inside the dome holds the metal thermos.

The Lost in Space box is a truly stunning piece of artwork and is considered by many collectors to be among the most beautiful boxes ever created. The artist responsible was an Italian guy named Nick LoBianco, who was also responsible for several other classic boxes from the era including The Munsters and The Adams Family. "
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Krel
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

larryfoster wrote:
I wish Irwin Allen had stuck with his original "Swiss Family Robinson" concept.

To be fair, I don't know if that was Irwin Allen's decision, or the networks. IA sold off shares on his shows to get them financed and made, so it is unknown how much decision making authority he retained. I have read that, that is one reason why it is so hard to bring his shows back, different people own shares of them.

Back when the movie came out, I read that one reason the movie got made, is because Irwin Allen didn't own it. He had been hired to oversee, develop and produce LIS. The new "Time Tunnel" pilot got made by being radically different from the 60s show. It was basically just the name.

People talk about the poor quality of some of the show's scripts and sets, but that was not Irwin Allen's fault. Del Monroe told a story about the how the scripts worked. He said that on VTTBOTS they used to go over to the spfx department to read the scripts, because the spfx got the scripts over a week ahead of the actors. He said that after the accounting department got through with the scripts, the scripts they got often bore no resemblance to the ones the spfx department had. It is also said that one Fox executive HATED LIS, could not fathom why it was popular, and did what he could to hinder the show.

David.
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Pow
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have to respectfully disagree regarding the quality of Irwin Allen's shows. It was his fault.

I've read a number of interviews with the individuals who wrote for IA's various sf TV series. According to them Allen would tell them that his (Allens') shows were "running & jumping shows. "This was interjected by Allen whenever the writers would attempt to create scripts with substance or depth.

"Don't quibble with me," was another fav line of IA when the writers would question him regarding their scripts & changes that made the episode in question illogical.

I enjoyed growing up watching all of Allen's productions. They had talented casts, impressive sets & overall production values.

The robot from Lost In Space & the Flying Sub from Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea remain stunning props to this day.

However, Irwin Allen was not, nor claimed to be, a Rod Serling, Leslie Stevens & Joseph Stefano, or a Gene Roddenberry & Gene Coon. Those men wrote to move an audience, to question, to create thoughtful & intelligent sf for television.

Irwin Allen wanted to entertain & nothing more than that.

I do not mean to come down on him. The man achieved the goals that he set & that was certainly his right, since these shows were his creations. At one time he had 4 sf tv series on & that most certainly is an accomplishment in itself.

But he was never aiming for anything higher than simplistic entertainment. His TV shows demonstrate that & those who wrote for him confirm it.
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noetic_hatter
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like we got the final episode this past week on MeTV ("Junkyard in Space"?). Starting 11/29/14, I think they are starting back over at the beginning.

Thank goodness. I love the look of season 3, but waaaaayyyyyy too much Will, Robot, and Smith Adventures for my taste (and not nearly enough Penny Adventures Mad, even if her hair does look awful that season -- and the less said about the entire show's lack of Judy Adventures, the better).

So many eps I have not seen, and I look forward to enjoying the excellent B&W season one. We're also in Star Trek season one, too, and soon we'll be in Wonder Woman season one. It's a good time for MeTV fans.
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