ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

This is definitely one of the more inspiring episodes, a concept kids could understand and get excited about. Skip Homer invents a revolutionary camera (portrayed by our beloved Gizmo) that takes pictures of the Moon in various wavelengths.

But what he discovers is disturbing.



He shows his photographs to a colleague and explains that the Moon is enveloped in highly radioactive dust! The two men take their evidence the dean of the university, but he doesn't accept Skips findings and requests more proof.

So Skips takes more photos — and makes a second startling discovery. Spacecraft are detected moving towards the far side of the Moon! What they're doing there is the big mystery this episode tantalizes us with.



The authorities in Washington are informed, and they're extremely interested in Skip's evidence of an alien presence hiding on the far side of our own satellite. He's invited to join a team of scientist who plan to launch a probe that will circle the Moon and transmit pictures back to Earth which show what's happening there.



But the massive amounts of radiation enveloping the Moon overwhelms the rocket, and it crashes on the lunar surface! However, Skip saves the day with a fresh series of photos, and they show a fleet of spaceships leaving the Moon.



The scientists theorize that the aliens were dumping their radioactive waste on the Moon — and these men discuss their belief that mankind may have to dump our own radioactive waste there sometime in the future.

That odd conclusion to this otherwise exceptional episode is disappointing, because we all know that dumping radioactive waste on the Moon would be a very poor use of our natural satellite, and there are much better methods for the disposal of radioactive material.

You can enjoy this full unedited episode on YouTube.
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

________________________________

I've restored the broken YouTube link for this episode, and I hope someone will take 25 minutes to watch it so they can post a comment on this interesting episode, one of the most intelligent stories in the series.
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

I wonder if this episode influenced sci~fi producer Gerry Anderson when he created the "Space:1999" television series?

[alltare]

By my rough measurement of the spaceships leaving the moon, each ship is equal in length to ~15% of the moon's diameter of 2160 miles. In other words, each ship is about 324 miles long.

In comparison, modern aircraft carriers, which are among the largest vessels on Earth, are only about 1/5 mile long.

[Bud Brewster]

________________________________

Good Lord, Steve, you're right!

And those two gigantic thumbs on each side of the Moon could only belong to . . . God!
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

__________________________________________________

YouTube has a number of episodes from this great show, and the picture quality suggests that they're from the restored DVDs sold by Shout Factory.

Science Fiction Theatre - One Thousand Eyes S02 E21


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