John T. Ryan LITTLEV DID WE know when we tuned in to all of these various images of "futuristic" space shows, that we were rapidly approaching the day when "Outer Space" would mean much more than just a bit of science fiction or fantasy. The year was 1950 and Sputnik (Soviet un-manned satellite), Muttnik (Soviet satellite with bowser inside) and Yuri Gargaran (man) weren't far off.THOSE Russian SUCCESSES sure shook up the nation and the United States soon followed with Alan Sheppard, John Glenn and the ultimate and eventual Lunar landing in 1969. It is our belief that the great sci-fi in our print and electronic media played a great part in accomplishing what we did in such a short period. (Of course it didn't hurt in having the likes of Dr. Werner von Braun and Willie Ley in our camp from the former Third Reich of Germany).ONE'S PREFDERENCE IN space shows revolved largely around the central character/hero and his appearance and personality. Hence, we had our choice of CAPTAIN VIDEO (father figure), TOM CORBETT (our brother) and SPACE PATROL's Buzz Corey (middle of the ground). Our fiction/fantasy made us believe as a people and we succeeded.OUR MEMORY OF this series is that each story was usually contained within its weekly episode. The characters, headed up by Buzz (Ed Kemmerer-a radio veteran actor and Cadet Happy (Lyn Osborn) were better equipped as a well tuned and meshed team. The roles of the two were as well defined as the others; but with two differences. First, their ages were close and secondly, Cadet Happy also provided some much needed comic relief.

bkoganbing Although Space Patrol is set 500 years beyond the Star Trek TNG series it seems to be as primitive as the 20th century. Our concept of space travel seem to center on the rocket, all the science fiction shows of early television had that concept be it Rocky Jones, Tom Corbett, or even Space Patrol. No one could conceive of a ship like the Starship Enterprise.Space Patrol has Ed Kemmer and his crew, Lynn Osborn, Ken Mayer, and Nina Bara working for an outfit called United Planets as opposed to Star Trek's United Federation Of Planets. This was a futuristic law enforcement outfit tracking down villains as yet not conceived 20th century standards. In that Space Patrol seems to have anticipated the Star Trek franchise.It still amazes me though that the computer seems to have no place in science fiction programming of the time. Not on the small screen in a show like Space Patrol or on the big screen are computers even acknowledged.Like its peers Space Patrol is a museum piece and a lot of indulgence must be given in watching it.

TimesPrince Space Patrol really started a long tradition of the love of science fiction and space adventure that continues to this day. As a youth in San Francisco I watched it every chance. From this experience, when I started reading in earnest it was science fiction that I turned to, and haven't turned back since.One of my most precious possessions from childhood came from a visit of the Space Patrol cast to San Francisco. There is a page in my autograph book that I treasure signed by each of the members of the cast in their screen name. My name is Robbie, and Robbie's signature on the cast page was made with a drawing of a rocket ship that formed my impression of what a true rocket ship should be like.Space Patrol was so much a part of my life that for Christmas my brothers constructed and gave me a "spaceship control panel" with view screen, lights, and microphone (all this before any modern electronics) and my friends and I played "Space Patrol" adventures. Looking back this show was one of my best childhood memories that influenced a love of reading, sci-fi, and eventually my career in the computer industry, as well as influencing me in what real teamwork was like.This show was awesome!

coker-2 If you craved thrills and action with not much science fiction underpinning, and an unabashedly total lack of realism, this was the early 1950s space adventure program for you. Square-jawed, intelligent and courageous Commander Buzz Corry and his comical sidekick Cadet Happy faced certain death in nearly every once-a-week Saturday morning broadcast. Done live, with very impressive sets, and a wide variety of Hollywood character actors as villains, this was almost always worth tuning in to. Almost all the programs survived on 16 mm and 35 mm kinescopes, and are readily available today from video retail sources.