Space Patrol: Missions of Daring in the Name of Early Television

by Jean-Noel Bassior

The classic television series Space Patrol was a stellar success for ABC from 1950 to 1955. As a pioneer in the hair-raising world of live television, the show had a huge fan base of both children and adults. The magic hinged on the Commander Buzz Corry, Cadet Happy, Carol, Major Robertson and Tonga—five 30th-century personalities whose lives entwined with soap opera strength as they undertook "missions of daring in the name of interplanetary justice." A personal appearance by the cast at a Los Angeles department store drew 30,000 fans. But TV viewers had no idea that the actors and crew faced dramatic as well as galactic peril. In the course of producing an action-packed show live before the nation, with special effects in their infancy, what could go wrong usually did. Ed Kemmer, a real-life World War II fighter pilot shot down and captured by Nazis, who later starred as Commander Corry, learned to improvise for nervous, tongue-tied guest actors and to lean casually against scenery about to fall. This book recounts stories of early television and the risk-taking ABC crew who invented equipment and ingenious special effects that laid the groundwork for TV today. It tells of the personal heroics of Kemmer and other cast members, both on- and off-screen. Included are interviews with Kemmer, as well as TV writer Norman Jolley (who penned many classic series, including Wagon Train ); director Dick Darley; radio writer Lou Huston; and veteran announcers Jack Narz and Dick Tufeld. (Tufeld once announced the Grammy Awards from a men’s restroom—the tile walls and floor provided a great reverberating acoustic venue). The book also profiles William "Mike" Moser, the show’s creator, and provides details about how the early shows came together and the events in the first year that took Space Patrol from a local station to the network. Many details are given about the adventure that was putting on a live television show along with live commercials. Stories from fans demonstrate how Space Patrol gave them ideals and values they still hold today. The book explores changes in television that led to the demise of action-adventure shows that featured strong role models and tells how Kemmer, who portrayed the heroic Buzz Corry, came to terms with his impact on countless young lives. (Fifty years later, he was still receiving letters from grateful fans.) Included are episode guides covering the 210 half-hour network TV shows, as well as the radio shows, and memorabilia collectors can feast on the galaxy’s most complete guide to Space Patrol premiums.

448 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2004

Reviews

[Andrew Roach]

I was born 40 years after the debut of the TV show Space Patrol (almost do the day!) and I only found out about it from vague references in overviews of other shows, and from stumbling across a few episodes on youtube. The more I learned about it, the more I was hooked.

The show was live! 1300+ episodes over 5 years! It defined a lot of modern scifi tropes.

It was also, as far as I could tell, really poorly documented. There was very little information about the show online. What I could fine was often contradictory.

I was very thankful to finally find this book and be able to read it. It documents the rise of the show, the lives of the people involved, providing well researched facts, and fun anecdotes along the way.

The show deserved a writeup like this, and I'm glad it got one.

[Steve Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little bit too young to have taken in the original episodes of Space Patrol; or, I if did, I was too young to remember them. However, Jean-Noel Bassior's book strikes the nostalgia chord with me nonetheless. It's been a while since I first bought a sampling of vhs tapes in order to explore the innocent wonders of early Sci Fi TV. Buzz Corey and Space Patrol seemed like the most fun; so I went on to watch Space Patrol a lot more than the others. Thus, I eagerly awaited additional TV (and radio) episodes to arrive in the mail almost as I would think fans of the show did weekly in the 1950s.

Space Patrol: Missions of Daring in the Name of Early Television is written with tender loving care and is thoroughly researched.

(I'm honored that my name - as well as scores of others - were mentioned in Bassior's acknowledgements. Many of us - at least me - merely encouraged her via the ease of the internet. It was a nice touch, though.)

[Daniel Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ask yourself the following before reading this book:

Were you alive when Space Patrol (US) aired?
Did you/do you listen to radio dramas?
Do you have an affection for the way video entertainment was back then?
Do you feel overly cynical and lack joy in your life?

If you answered 'yes' to any of these, you should probably pick this book up.

I was born in 1987, so the crazy times that Space Patrol was born in were long gone when I came around. That didn't hamper my experience with the book, though. One very important thing about this book is that it gives us a lens to look at how the focus has shifted considerably for entertainment and role models in our media.

This book doesn't act like everything was golden back then, either. It promotes taking back some of the aspects of the role models we lost in the past, and putting them back into our culture.

[Andrew Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was born 40 years after the debut of the TV show Space Patrol (almost do the day!) and I only found out about it from vague references in overviews of other shows, and from stumbling across a few episodes on youtube. The more I learned about it, the more I was hooked.

The show was live! 1300+ episodes over 5 years! It defined a lot of modern scifi tropes.

It was also, as far as I could tell, really poorly documented. There was very little information about the show online. What I could fine was often contradictory.

I was very thankful to finally find this book and be able to read it. It documents the rise of the show, the lives of the people involved, providing well researched facts, and fun anecdotes along the way.

The show deserved a writeup like this, and I'm glad it got one.

[Kathy Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fond memories of watching Space Patrol with my dad. It was one of the few things my busy dad had time to do with his family of seven children. He was as enchanted as we were by the captivating characters and stories. I actually had forgotten how enormously entertaining it was to watch the cohesive band of space travelers show us what true friendship, team spirit, responsibility and respect were all about. Space Patrol opened our imagination and set a standard that is sorely missed today

Thank you Jean-Noel Bassior! Your book has touched my heart with this wonderful, refreshing look at a bygone era.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space Patrol was one of the Tv shows that inspired a generation of pre-pubescent engineers, scientists, and writers. The book gives insight into those involved in the show. It also discusses the many products (ray guns, code belts, para scopes, and more) as well as the greatest prize of all - the Ralston Rocket. A great tale.

[Roy W Kine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Window on a world that was and one that wasn’t but we wished it were

Of interest to anyone interested in the wild and wooly days of live early television. Great interviews with the actual folks involved in the Space Patrol series.