ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 9:58 pm Post subject: Rocky Jones, Space Ranger

I watched this wonderful show when I was a kid back in the 1950s. About the only thing I remember clearly are those cool scenes of the Orbit Jet landing majestically on its fins. Those scenes still look very impressive. The rocket descends smoothly, and the thrust flame emits no smoke which would make the rocket look like an obvious miniature.

This show is available on very low quality DVDs, but even these are extremely enjoyable for fans like me. Our hero and his loyal crew cruise around the solar system in their gorgeous rocket, and visit various planets. They fight to preserve the United Federation of Planets (the same used in Star Trek). They solve problems with brains rather than brawn (whenever possible).

If you're old enough to remember this show, or you've become a fan more recently by watching the less-than-perfect DVDs, please share your views.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bongopete · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:48 am Post subject:

This was the only one of the several 50's tv shows that I watched.
Didn't see them for years obviously until MST took aim...and they were wonderful for that as well!!!

Anyone remember an episode in which some ray or well...'thing' caused wood to disintegrate? I remember Vena and Bobby sitting back in the rear of the ship at Vena's console and the panel and controls start coming apart...and I remember thinking that this was a spaceship and had 'wood'?

Krel · Guest

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 2:27 pm Post subject:

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Wood in a high-tech spacecraft. Well, I guess it could have been worse. What if they'd used a bunch of flammable Velcro and faulty wiring, and then pumped it full 100% oxygen?

We all know what that leads to, eh?
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bongopete · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 2:31 pm Post subject:

yeah welllll.....it was like the Orbit Jet had termites.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:10 pm Post subject:

Excuse me, sir, but I think you meant nanites -- microscopic hi-tech mechanisms which can be programmed to repair or destroy.

Boy, Rock Jones was really ahead of it's time, huh? Shocked

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

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

The Orbit Jet was one of my favorite ship designs from the '50s TV space operas. (I judged all the shows on the basis of their ships.) The launch sequence and gantry structure (an electric power station) were also cooler than most others.

The scene of the instruments popping out of their wood frames does ring a bell. I have no recollection of the rest of that episode.
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WayneO
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Krel · Guest

Pegasus models has come out with a model of the Luna and the Cosmostrator. So I am hoping that they will continue the trend with other early rocket ships like the Orbit Jet.

David.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:38 pm Post subject:

Holly Crap, Randy! How did you manage to recover images from the old board? Surely you're joshin', Dude! Shocked

By the way, this isn't Anne Robinson as Queen Juliandra. It's Patsy Parsons as Queen Cleolanta. I've never found a really good picture of Anne like this one of Patsy. But Anne was absolutely luscious in that show.

This is the best I've found of Anne. And that black satin dress is split to just above the knee, even though you can't see it in this picture. Yummy.

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

Rocky Jones · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 1:07 pm Post subject:

Since I have some relation to this thread, I suppose I should blurt out a line or two here. This was my first space show and entirely inspired my childhood ambition to be a space traveler. In fact, as a kid I made a serious effort to nail together my own rocket for a trip to the moon (my aerospace carpentry skills were seriously lacking, however).

The rocket in this one was one of my all time favorites, too. I actually have an unbuilt resin model of it around here someplace I'll (probably) get around to building one day.

About the only down side of Rocky was the fact that his livelihood required pushing Ovaltine on we innocent kids. I couldn't stand that stuff.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 2:34 pm Post subject:

Rocky Jones · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 11:37 pm Post subject:

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:10 am Post subject:

Rocky Jones · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:59 pm Post subject:

Just one thing in all that is hanging in my mind: "Here Comes Tobor?"

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 3:14 pm Post subject:

Yep, a syndicated series staring Tobor and his loyal young friend, fighting the enemies of the free world, seen on your local stations, check listings for time and day. Very Happy

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