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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)

Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 17637 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 10:07 pm Post subject: The Man and the Challenge (1959-1960) |
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Here's another great show from the late 1950s that thrilled kids like myself. I haven't seen it since it went off the air in 1960, but I have fond memories of it. Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia article about it.
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The Man and the Challenge is a 36-segment half-hour television adventure/science fiction series which ran new episodes on NBC from September 12, 1959, to June 11, 1960.
It starred George Nader as Dr. Glenn Barton, a research scientist for the Institute of Human Factors, an agency that conducted experiments designed to measure human endurance for the United States government. The series was produced by Ivan Tors.
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Here's the link to the article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_and_the_Challenge
George Nader starred in another TV series which began just one year later. This one wasn't science fiction, but it was high tech (for it's time). The series was called Shannon. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it
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Nader stars as Joe Shannon, an insurance investigator for the Transport Bonding and Surety Company. Regis Toomey portrayed Shannon's boss, Bill Cochran.
Shannon drove a modern 1961 Buick Special, equipped with cameras, a dictating machine, tape recorders, weapons, and notably, a mobile phone (decades before cell phones) when car phones were rare. The car required a long whip antenna required for the phone.
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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 Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:46 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)

Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 17637 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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While looking for downloads of The Man and the Challenge and Shannon (unsuccessfully), I stumbled onto two episodes of a science fiction series from 1958 I'd never even heard of before!
It's called WOG (World of Giants), and it stars two of the most well-known actors from 1950s sci-fi — Marshall Thompson and Arthur Franz. Here's how Wikipedia describes the premise.
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American spy Marshall Thompson, while on a covert mission, shrinks to a height of 6 inches after an accident. This series stars Marshall Thompson as Federal Counter-Espionage Agent Mel Hunter, who uses his small size to infiltrate areas that a full-sized man could not.
When not on assignment, he lives in a specially outfitted dollhouse-like miniature. The series co-stars Arthur Franz as his full-sized partner, Agent Bill Winters.
______________ WORLD OF GIANTS: "Off Beat"
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__________ WORLD OF GIANTS: "Special Agent"
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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 Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:22 am; edited 7 times in total |
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orzel-w Galactic Ambassador

Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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Ah, yes. I have memory scraps of WOG. Thanks for the dredge, Bud. _________________ ...or not...
WayneO
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)

Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 17637 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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orzel-w wrote: | Ah, yes. I have memory scraps of WOG. Thanks for the dredge, Bud. |
Hot dang, I wish I could find downloads of all 13 episodes. The little I've watched of the ones from YouTube looks really interesting! _________________ ____________
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 May 04, 2017 2:44 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Pow Galactic Ambassador

Joined: 27 Sep 2014 Posts: 3739 Location: New York
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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If I recall correctly on WOG the miniature hero would be transported via a specialized attache case.
Ten years later Gerry Anderson produced a TV series called The Secret Service where the hero could shrink in size via the Minamizer device hidden in a book.
This character also had a specialized attache case for use when he was small. Unlike WOG though our hero could be restored to his normal height. |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)

Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 17637 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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Bulldogtrekker and I watched our downloads of the "WOG" pilot episode, and we loved it! It was extremely well done. We're both hoping to find a source for the other 11 episodes, and a better download for the one we haven't watched yet. _________________ ____________
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 Sat Dec 24, 2022 3:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)

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Pow Galactic Ambassador

Joined: 27 Sep 2014 Posts: 3739 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2023 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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I vaguely recall seeing this show as a kid and enjoying it.
I remember watching a black & white TV series where the lead character would be traveling in his car and could press a button, a camera on a rod would extend upwards next to him so he could film things. It might have been this show, but I'm not sure. |
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orzel-w Galactic Ambassador

Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865
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Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2023 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Pow: Sounds like the series Shannon, also starring Nader, which Bud mentioned in his first post above. _________________ ...or not...
WayneO
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)

Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 17637 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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The Shannoon thread is at this link —
https://www.allsci-fi.com/viewtopic.php?t=4509
— and it includes the one episode which YouTube has. The picture quality is pretty good, but the opening credits are missing. However, YouTube does have the 19 second opening in another video. _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958) |
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Pow Galactic Ambassador

Joined: 27 Sep 2014 Posts: 3739 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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You're right, Bruce, Shannon was the show with the high-tech camera in the car. I just read a description of the series on IMDB. I recall nothing else from the show at all. I sure do remember being very impressed with that camera deal in Shannon's vehicle as a kid. |
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Gord Green Galactic Ambassador

Joined: 06 Oct 2014 Posts: 3001 Location: Buffalo, NY
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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As I recall "The Man and the Challenge" was on the same night as "MEN INTO SPACE". Maybe even a hour package. Anyone remember? _________________ There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child. |
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