the world of captain video


Welcome,
Space Cadet!
space heroes 1950 golden age of television

Space Cadet
Briefing:

Captain Video
More Captain Video
Tom Corbett
More Tom Corbett
Space Patrol
More Space Patrol

Space Hero Files
Video Sources
Books & Comics
"I Was There!"
Space Interviews
Space Reports
 Space Gallery

Space Album
Space Origins
Space Toy Box
Roaring Plastic
Serial Heroes

The 1950s
Cosmic Feedback
Colliding Heroes
Space Stamps
Roaring Reviews

Space Links
Space Notice

Model constructed by
Steve Whitting, art by
Tom Powers.

Photo Scans &
Additional Photos by
 Cadet Chuck Lassen
Additional Image
Manipulation by
Cadet Tom Powers.
Artwork by
Karstens Creations.
Page Design by:
 Space Sergeant
Drew Endacott.

Roaring Rockets

"CAAAAAPTAAAAIN VIIIDEEEEOOOOO! Master of space! Hero of science! Captain of the Video Rangers! Operating from his secret mountain headquarters on the planet Earth, Captain Video rallies men of good will and leads them against the forces of evil everywhere! As he rockets from planet to planet, let us follow the champion of justice, truth and freedom throughout the universe! Stand by for CAAAAAPTAAAAAIIIN VIIIIIIIDEEEEEOOOO... and his Video Rangers!"

"TOOOOOOOMMMMM COOOOOORRRBEEEETTTTT! SPACE CADET! Stand by to raise ship! Blast-off minus five... four... three... two... one... ZEEERRRROOOOOO! As roaring rockets blast off to distant planets and far-flung stars, we take you to the age of the Conquest of Space... with TOOOOOOOOMMMMM COOOOORRBEEETTTTT, SPACE CADET!"
"SPAAAAAAAAACE PATROOOOOOOLLLL! High adventure in the wild, vast reaches of space! Missions of daring in the name of Interplanetary Justice! Travel into the future with Buzz Corry, Commander-in-Chief of the... SPAAAAAAAAACE PATROOOOOOOLL!"
If your 10th birthday fell between the years 1949 to 1955, and your family (or the family of your best friend!) was lucky enough to have a TV set, and your fantasies were fuelled by planets, rockets and dinosaurs, then you watched and loved the three great live Golden-Age television programs aimed squarely at you: CAPTAIN VIDEO AND HIS VIDEO RANGERS, TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET, and SPACE PATROL.

The fact that the shows were done live, with Captain Video on 5 or 6 days per week, Tom Corbett on 3, and Space Patrol on Saturdays only, meant that kids could watch sometimes 10 programs per week! Being live meant that special effects and sets were primitive, camera angles were straightforward, and Space Heros were often hampered by space hatches that refused to open on cue, space helmets that fell off, or guest stars who forgot all their lines or recited the lines for another part. This only added to the charm of the broadcasts. Each show, apart from the thrills that were scripted, was a breathless race to end on time while overcoming all technical or human obstacles that cropped up. Over the years I have managed to collect and preserve some photos that bring these programs back to me vividly in memory, and I would like to share them with you here.

     Space Navigation Decoder Key

    Space Hero Files
    The most detailed and accurate Web source for correct information about the Golden Age of Space Adventure TV programs. Includes: TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET,  SPACE PATROL,  ROCKY JONES SPACE RANGER,  ROD BROWN OF THE ROCKET RANGERS,  FLASH GORDON,  BUCK ROGERS,  ATOM SQUAD,  MEN INTO SPACE,  and of course CAPTAIN VIDEO. Also, follow these links for the radio adventures of TOM CORBETT and SPACE PATROL.
    Space Interviews
    Offers exclusive interviews with pioneers of the Golden Age of Television who worked on science fiction and space adventure programs.
    "I Was There!"
    Frankie Thomas and Jan Merlin recall the daily grind of being TV space heroes.
    News You Can Use (as of 2011)
    Frequently updated, current to the week and the moment, fast-breaking news of interest to old Space Rovers can be found here.
    Space Reports
    Reports on the current activities and whereabouts, including personal appearances, of the pioneering TV spacemen.
    Video Sources
    Need a video tape of one of the early 1950s space adventure programs, do you? Good luck! But here are a few sources to get you started.
    Space Album
    Offers a collection of rare and unusual snapshots related to the Space Hero era... including one-of-a-kind action figures!
    Space Gallery
    Offers unusual, unpublished artwork, as well as ultra-rare photographs and images related to the Space Hero era.
    Space Toy Box
    Surveys briefly the box-top premiums offered by, and store toys tied into, the Space Hero programs.
    Roaring Plastic
    Discusses plastic model kits (or the lack thereof) inspired by the Space Adventure movies and TV programs of the early 1950s.
    The 1950s
    Offers a quick jump into the Time Machine. Believe us, and forget modern films and TV programs supposedly set in the 1950s... This is really what the 1950s were like. We all were there!
    Space Origins
    Discusses the (surprisingly few) printed and filmed sources for much of the design and imagery seen in the early 1950s Space Adventure TV programs.
    Cosmic Feedback
    Devoted to e-mail and other input from our treasured readers. The information-packed, memory-rich cosmic correspondence is in the order received, archived by year.
    Serial Heroes
    Devoted to the very brief but vivid overlap between movie serials and space adventure on TV.
    Roaring Reviews
    Honest, accurate reviews of recently available items of interest to old Cadets, Patrollers, and Rangers.
    Space Stamps
    A sort of trading card collection provided directly from us to you. No mail-in quarters or boxtops needed! Enjoy!
    Books & Comics
    A grab-bag of information, particularly on book and comic book tie-ins to the Space Adventure programs, as well as the very few (and generally unreliable) "reference" books around.
    Links
    Directs you to other worthy (and other-worldly) sites devoted to early 1950s space adventurers, and related matters.
    Space Roll Call
    Our attempt to contact anyone with a vivid memory from CAPTAIN VIDEO or any other live 1950s space adventure program, as well as any surviving members of cast and crew, or friends or family of cast and crew, or owners of artwork and props. Let us hear from you!!!
    SpacEmail to Roaring  Rockets.

A fond tip of the plastic bubble space helmet with crazy inflatable vinyl tubes and air tanks to Jean-Noel Bassior for valuable information, corrections and commentary; and, to Allen Harris for information and many rare photos; and, to Beth Flood for incredible one-of-a-kind photos; and, to George Proctor for lovely computer artwork. Most of all, our undying gratitude to Frankie Thomas (Tom Corbett himself!) and to Jan Merlin (Roger Manning in the flesh!) for their indispensable personal contributions to this website.

For time-sensitive space scoop, check out our SPACE NOTICE BOARD.

Comments? Corrections? Criticisms? Memories to share?
Intergalactic dispatches here.