Space Reports

Elliott Swanson At Williamsburg 2003	With Merlin in Mesquite!
Mike Elmo at W.F.F. '02	Space Reports II

 

Williamsburg Film Festival 2006

 

Cadet Chuck Lassen, reporting for debriefing!

 

At left, Jan Merlin and Frankie Thomas at the Williamsburg Film Festival, 2006.

The annual pilgrimage of Space Opera and Horse Opera fans to Williamsburg, VA began on March 8, 2006. It was the third Williamsburg Film Festival for me and the second in which I was privileged to play the role of "Cadet Astro" in a live re-creation of a "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" radio show. On stage with me were Jan Merlin, the original "Roger Manning," and Frankie Thomas, the original "Tom Corbett." And if that weren't enough, also cast in the skit were legendary western stars Ben Cooper, Jimmy Lydon, and Dick Jones! Ben did an outstanding impersonation of an enthusiastic and scholarly "Alfie Higgins," and Jimmy played "Captain Strong" so well it almost sounded like the late Ed Bryce was there. Jan and Frankie's voices are strong and unmistakably the same voices we heard on radio and TV over fifty years ago— "Tom and Roger" were really there! The story was entitled "Project Enigma" and was written by Jan Merlin especially for presentation at this event.

At the beginning of our one and only rehearsal, one of the staff told us that our one and only sound effects man had suffered a stroke the night before and was in intensive care. To lighten the mood Ben quipped, "Does this mean he's not coming?" That's exactly what it meant, and he had no backup person, so we had to do the show without any sound effects. Someone got the good idea of having Dick Jones verbally read the sound cues from the script to the audience, so they could get some idea of what was supposed to happen. The result was quite amusing— Dick was reading things like "Music theme up, then music under and out, blending into a low steady scanner beeping.…" Then he would make his own verbal sound effects: "Beep, beep, beep." It got the audience chuckling and we all had a lot of fun putting on the show.

The festival committee sold 15 copies of the script to the audience on a first-come, first-served basis. They were sold out in a minute, and everyone wanted all the actors to autograph their script. It was a weird feeling to have people coming up to me to get my autograph! (Video recordings of this sterling performance are available on VHS or DVD for $13 including postage, from: William Sasser at PO Box 524, Gloucester Point, Va. 23062— Dick Dyszel, who plays "Count Gore De Vol," made a high quality audio recording of the show, and intends to find and dub in the appropriate sound effects and put it on his web site for us to download. Look for it here.)

The event has also become a meeting place for Space Opera fans that, over the years, came to know each other through their interest in Cadet Ed Pippin's site, solarguard.com.

As usual, Ed hosted the “Solar Guard Reunion” by organizing a series of video screenings of our favorite old shows, as well as creating a display for the dealers’ room to hopefully recruit a few old cowboy fans over to the space crew. We had about thirty “Solar Guard Cadets” in attendance this year, the biggest turn-out to date. It was amusing to see about a dozen of us big kids running around in Space Cadet, Space Ranger, and Space Patrol jackets! And nobody thought a thing of it, as those who weren’t in space garb were dressed up as cowboys! (Cadet Ed's summary of the event, with a lot of photos, can be seen here. Another writeup with some really excellent photos can be found here).

The dealers’ room provided a great source of rare classic videos of all topics, as well as many types of collectible items, and was a popular hang-out for the crowd, as usual. Each guest star had a table where they met fans and signed autographs. They were all very accessible and friendly, something you don’t usually get at the big mega-sized conventions. Williamsburg Film Festival is small enough to maintain an intimate and comfortable atmosphere, while large enough to attract the bigger stars. The grand finale of the event was the Saturday night banquet, attended by several hundred fans and all the guest stars. After dinner, each star was called on stage for a few remarks, and this was followed by good entertainment—live western music, stand-up comedy, and a surprise appearance by the renowned jazz pianist, Monty Alexander.

Old space cadets and space patrollers will remember the XRC-1 rocket cockpit which was probably the best-known of all Space Patrol mail-order premiums, as well as the true star of three TV episodes with titles such as "The Theft of the Rocket Cockpit." In the TV series, Cadet Happy sat at the complex controls of a large box-lid-like cockpit and flew back 1000 years to 1950 where he got mixed up in an atomic bomb test in Nevada. What Cadet Mike Turco did was to re-create and greatly improve on this full-size cockpit, which in his version was covered with seemingly hundreds of working switches, dials, lights, screens and levers... very unlike the 25-cent cardboard premium we kids received in the early 1950s, where most of the controls were simply printed on! Almost every spaceman at the convention put in some time working with this amazing cockpit, including particularly Frankie Thomas and Clyde Lyman. Mike Turco with the working XRC-1. Cadet Tom Corbett takes the XRC-1 for a test run.

By the craters of Luna, I'll return again next year for the 11th annual festival! And I hope to meet YOU there!

Frankie Thomas and our correspondent Chuck Lassen.

SpaceEditor's Note: Alas, Williamsburg 2006 turned out to be the last hurrah for Frankie Thomas. He died on May 11, 2006 in a California hospital of complications following a stroke. You can read his Wikipedia entry here and the Solar Guard site's memorial page for him here.

Here goes... After a few weeks of letting things digest, the three-word summary would have to be, "It was unique." If you've ever been to a sci-fi con, you know how regimented and stodgy they tend to be. Williamsburg isn't like that. My brother joined me, driving in from DC, and he told me a day or so into the thing that he was expecting a bunch of geezers reminiscing about the good old days when life was better. Didn't happen. He had a ball. And the reason was accessibility. You could go up and shoot the shit with people you'd never met, and find something in common. Plus there was a bar nearby to grease the wheels of conversation. You could go right up to one of the guest stars and gab, without getting a brush-off.

William Schallert was intelligent, and had a first class sense of humor. Talked about working on "Science Fiction Theater" episodes. Signed bootleg copies of "The Man From Planet X" with wisecracks from the evil Dr. Meers penned in. (BTW, just to be clear, Schallert wasn't providing the video boots; there were literally hundreds of titles-- some very scarce stuff-- being sold openly in the dealer's room.) Schallert, besides being a Patty Duke icon, did a lot of voice work on commercials, and we held part of our conversation with me speaking as the Taggert character I performed in Jack's radio play and him speaking as "Mr. Toaster" from the advert campaign. He also did the voice for California Prunes.

Ed Kemmer is one of the gentlest, most humane people I've ever met. It had been about fifty years since I'd last seen him in person, back when the Space Patrol cast toured San Francisco. It was in I. Magnin's department store as I recall, and he signed the Space Patrol hat with flip-down sunglasses I'd bought with hoarded money from my allowance and my newspaper route. Jan Merlin is still Roger Manning-- a wiseguy and smart as hell. Had no idea he'd written so many books. Frankie Thomas wasn't feeling too perky, but he always had time to talk to people, tell a few jokes, and was proud to wear his original Tom Corbett uniform, complete with belt pouch that contained a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes just like it did when he originally acted in the show.

The majority of people there were from the western side of the aisle-- lots of people wearing western duds and doing quick draws with guns that looked suspiciously real. I told my brother it was kind of like being surrounded by Klingons, except they were cowboys. One of the stars was a singer named Johnny Western, who'd worked with the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry, and others. I was standing in a room listening to Bill Schallert and Joe Campanella doing a dialog, when Johnny and his attractive wife entered the room. Johnny W walked up to me, punched me hard on the arm (maybe I spent too long staring at his wife... or maybe he was just being friendly western style... I dunno), and asked, "How 'ya doin', bud?" He sang an incredible potpourri of TV western theme songs at the banquet.

While it may sound improbable, this array of space people and cowboys blended seamlessly. Everyone got along. Everyone seemed fascinated with each other's interests. In a way it was completely appropriate, because if you looked at the television media of the 1950s, the balance between westerns and sci-fi was nearly the same as at the Williamsburg film festival. A number of the stars had worked in both genres, so there was a lot of crossover between people in rooms viewing westerns and people viewing old "Tom Corbett" episodes. There was a surprise screening of Bob Burns' short film "Major Mars" and it was hilarious (Thanks to Mr. X for bringing it-- I should probably not name the source, but did want to acknowledge the showing).

One of my personal high points was actually acting in an original radio play (Jack McKirgan's "Water Rights" which combined the characters of "Tom Corbett" and "Space Patrol") and being part of a cast that included Ed Kemmer, Jan Merlin, Frankie Thomas, and Joe Campanella. (I was the bad guy Taggert, and doused my throat with Chloraseptic before the show so I could sustain the gravel voice I used for the character.) Jean-Noel reprised the Cadet Happy role, and wore an original Happy uniform. The show was a hoot. We all had a great time, the audience loved it (we played to a full house), and one of my treasures from Williamsburg is a copy of the script signed by all the cast members.

The lowest point of the festival was enduring some yo-yo performer called "The Chicken Man" while he did his overlong boring shtick during the banquet. But, divining the appearance of this apparition, someone at our table was there to calm us all down, passing around a jug of valium-laced Ovaltine to keep us from going postal on the guy.

However the very coolest thing was actually meeting a bunch of the people on the Solarguard list. What a great crew. Lots of bullshitting, yarn-spinning, project describing. Warren Cheney unveiled his new Space Patrol project and showed some of his new and restored Space Patrol cards, and Jack McKirgan showed his new fleet of scale-model Space Patrol ships. Since the eardrum-rupturing volume level of the bar band made conversation impossible at times, I even got on the dance floor, doing some hiphop with Jean-Noel Bassior. Also got to read some of her incredible upcoming and completely definitive book on Space Patrol. Managed to con Jack Hagerty out of a copy of his amazing book on space ships via high level trade negotiation-- if you don't yet have a copy of Spaceship Handbook, better get one while you can.

Laser, Mike, Jon, Ed, Allen, Jean, all the rest of you, it was a real pleasure. I don't know what else to say about Williamsburg, except you had to be there.

-- Cadet Elliott Swanson

ELLIOTT SWANSON AT WILLIAMSBURG 2003   (Click on a star to see the image.)

	Frankie Thomas (Tom Corbett) spreads out a display of stills in the Dealers' Room.
	Frankie Thomas in uniform after the radio play.
	Jan Merlin before the radio play.
	Ed Kemmer examines one of Jack McKirgan's models of the Terra V, while Jean-Noel Bassior looks on.
	Ed Kemmer (Commander Corry) and Jean-Noel Bassior (Cadet Happy), with Jean-Noel wearing one of Happy's original tunics, during the performance of "Water Rights," by Jack McKirgan.

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With Merlin in Mesquite!

Roaring Rockets'
Meeting With Jan Merlin

We here at Roaring Rockets have been corresponding with actor and author Jan Merlin since about 1999, via snail-mail and (after Jan acquired a computer) e-mail, but had never met face to face until July 20, 2002, when Jan appeared as a special Celebrity Guest at the 24th Annual Big-D Collectible Show, held that weekend in Mesquite, Texas. The venue was a bit isolated: on a hilltop across the highway from the very tiny town of Mesquite is a large hotel, with an adjoining exhibition hall where the Collectible Show was held, and just a few feet away there is a gigantic roofed rodeo arena, where a rodeo was in progress. Yes, as an old cowboy hero, sidekick and villain, Jan rode in the rodeo procession on the evening of July 19, greeting the crowd as he circled the huge arena.

Then, for two days, from about 10 AM to 5 PM, Jan sat at a large table with his charming wife Barbara, and made himself available for conversation, autographs, photos, and whatever else the fans had in mind that was legal in Mesquite. We noted that he took this job with his customary seriousness. He didn't take a break for lunch, and although he must have taken bathroom breaks, they were so short we were not aware of them... he was always there for the fans.

And fans there were. We sat part of the time with Jan at his table and conversed in the lulls between fans coming by, but there was a pretty steady stream. We'd say that all the fans we saw were circa 60 years old, and about 80% seemed to remember Jan best as Roger Manning, Space Cadet, judging from the 8 x 10 photos they selected for Jan to autograph. The other 20% were fans of Jan's long career in westerns, both on the silver screen and the home screen, again judging from their choice of stills or other items to be autographed.

Some fans were quite shy, and did not really venture to strike up a conversation... but the fans that did have something to say commanded Jan's full attention. As the conversation began, he always rose to his feet, and we noticed dramatic changes in his voice, posture and expression, as compared to his relaxed mode when "alone" with us and his wife. We did not eavesdrop or intrude on these conversations, usually taking the opportunity to snap some photos and then scout the show for pulp magazines and books, but we did note that Jan was fully attentive as long as the fan was interested in chatting. Many conversations were terminated only when the fan noticed other fans lining up beside him with their own selection of photos, and politely stepped aside in their behalf. Anyone who came to the show specifically to meet Jan Merlin will carry away very pleasant personal memories of this talented, warm and delightful man.

Because the show was not at all crowded or congested, there was time for a number of fans to have conversations that lasted 30 minutes or longer. A couple of Jan's relatives living in Texas also took the opportunity to come and visit with him and his wife, and one even brought a picnic box containing Polish delicacies and some Texas pecan pie for dessert!

There was absolutely nothing forced about Jan's intent concentration on those who came up to talk to him. As he had said to us earlier, "I never got to see any of my fan mail, not on SPACE CADET, not on ROUGH RIDERS...." Now, at last he's at the point in his life when he can talk to the fans in person, and he clearly gets a deep satisfaction in doing so.

Jan had copies of some of his recent novels for sale, and at another dealer's table behind Jan were videotapes of some of Jan's film and TV appearances, also for sale. In honor of Jan's personal presence, some dealers had made an effort to dig out and display TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET toys, and we saw one comic collector spend over $1,000 on a few of the Dell TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET comics and one of the Prize Publications TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET comics. Looking over this gentleman's shoulder we noticed that the Dells were going for from $50 to $75, and the rarer Prize issues were going for up to $250! [We were picking up both Dell and Prize issues 10 to 20 years ago for considerably less than $20... those were apparently the days, my friend!]

We were impressed by Jan's superb physical condition. As Space Sergeant Drew Endacott remarked a while ago, "He looks ready to run any marathon anywhere." Indeed, at first glance or even second glance, we'd put his age in the mid-50s, if we didn't know better!

On and off, we conversed with Jan from about 10 AM until 11 PM and he showed few signs of fatigue, even at 11 PM, and even though he had spent the entire day chatting energetically with friends, fans and relatives. He had many fascinating stories to tell, as only he can tell them. You can hear some of them yourself, first hand, at Jan's next convention or show appearance. We'll try to keep you informed of when and where.

 

JAN MERLIN AT THE BIG-D COLLECTIBLES SHOW   (Click on a star to see the image.)

	Jan rides in the Dallas Rodeo procession (July 19, 2002).
	Jan and Barbara Merlin at their table, July 20, 2002.
	Jan and his mouth-watering display of stills and books.
	Fans all got this warm and sincere greeting.
	Jan greets a typical fan of TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET, and of Cadet Roger Manning in particular.
	Jan with Roaring Rockets' own Old Spaceport Bum.

 

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Space Ranger  MIKE ELMO

Reports on
Williamsburg, VA Western Film Festival
February 28 - March 2, 2002

 

[SpacEditor's Note: Herewith Space Ranger Mike Elmo's characteristically enthusiastic report on the Williamsburg Film Festival 2002, where guests of honor included Frankie Thomas (in full Space Cadet uniform), Jan Merlin, Donna Martel and James Lydon, all of whom, of course, are veterans of the early 1950s TV space adventures. We have also heard, since the festival, from Jan and Frankie independently. Jan is a veteran of the Festival, having attended previously in 1999. (See a report from Chuck Lassen at the bottom of this very page.) We are told Frankie had the time of his life, and hopes to be invited back, along with Jan, for 2003. He's already planning for it! Perhaps a much larger contingent of us old Space Rats can be on hand in 2003, but it was delightful to hear that nearly 20 veteran Space Rangers and Space Cadets made the trek this year and got to spend quality time on the control deck with Tom Corbett, Roger Manning, Ranger Biffin Cardoza, and the still-beautiful space honey, Donna Martel. Thanks to Mike and also to Chuck Lassen for some great photos from the convention, which will also be found below. Seeing them is almost like being there... almost. Now over to you, Mike.]

 

Greetings Video Rangers and Fellow Cadets.

Space Ranger Mike E. here. Thought that I would give you a report of the XV20's recent visit to Williamsburg, Va. for the Williamsburg Film Festival, February 2002. What a great shore leave for the Crew of the Crimson Star! We teamed up with our DEAR Friends and Grand Cadets, Frankie Thomas and Jan and Barbara Merlin. As soon as our eyes met, BIG SMILES came over our faces and we hugged and embraced for many minutes!! We laughed and joked and caught up on the time that had passed since we visited them at the Merlins' home last Summer. Frankie introduced us to his lovely step-daughter, Julie, who accompanied Frankie to the convention and helped out at Frankie's dealers'-room table. What a super and sweet person Julie is!! I wish you all had the chance to meet her!! A real pleasure!! We look forward to seeing Frankie and Julie again this year, if we can swing a trip back out to Burbank, Ca.

In turn, we introduced the Grand Cadets to our new member of the XV20's Crew, Clyde Lyman. On loan to us from the Space Patrol, Cadet Clyde added to the real fun of our shore leave.

We arrived on Friday and were swept right up into all the activities of the day. We attended the Tom Corbett Panel and Radio Show Reenactment and loved every microsecond of it!! Cadet Chuck took up the roll of Astro during the show and did a super job!! What FUN, sitting there, in the hall and being transported to the far-off reaches of the Solar System! We were all sorry to have it come to an end!! But what a GREAT time while it lasted!!! After the Radio Show, they held the drawing for the BEAUTIFUL, HAND MADE SPACE QUILT!! Now, I must tell you Cadets, this contest was definitely not fixed!! And I won!! I could not believe it, I won!! This unique quilt will go in a prominent place in the Rocket Room back at Space Ranger Earth Base #3! I will transmit photos to Cadet Rory to display here at Roaring Rockets.

Back in the dealers' room, we were able to team up with both Jimmy Lydon and Donna Martell. Jimmy played Biffin Cardoza from the Planet Hurculan, who became Rocky's Co-Pilot in the XV3, Silver Moon, during the second season of ROCKY JONES, SPACE RANGER. Donna Martel played the ravishingly lovely daughter of a Chieftain of a far off Planetoid where Rocky was forced down in the adventure, "Blast Off." Ranger Kim, Clyde and myself presented them with custom-made Space Ranger hats, T-shirts and jackets. To say the least, they appeared thrilled!! I can't tell you what a great pleasure it was to see just how much enjoyment those goodies gave to our new friends!! We hope that they wear them in good health and spirits for many, many years to come!!

That evening after we chowed down, we were treated to a real treat. Cadet Mike Turco brought and set up his computerized telescope and we were treated to some viewing of Saturn, Jupiter and several other dazzling heavenly sights! Many, many thanks to Cadet Mike for a wonderful outer-space evening!!!

Saturday was a blur! We visited with our friends, toured the dealers' room and partook of the hospitality of our Cowboy Pals!! What a GREAT BUNCH!! Rocket Rangers and Texas Rangers mix well together!!

We were treated to a fine meal and great entertainment at the Banquet on Saturday night. The Reinharts, Lucky Bill and a host of musically talented others, made the night speed by! After all the festivities, we had to say our good-byes. As the old saying claims, "All Good Things...." We hugged and shook each other's hands and wished all a safe trip home.

Waiting for our next get together is going to be a LONG wait!! But, until then, our very, very best to all our Cadet Friends!!

Keep your sights on the Stars, Cadets.
Over and out from the XV20, Crimson Star.

MIKE ELMO AT WILLIAMSBURG '02   (Click on a star to see the image.)

	One of the hits of Williamsburg was the appearance of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, in the flesh and wearing his original uniform. Here he is, hanging out with his old sidekick Roger Manning, who models the space fatigues worn at the Space Academy on Mars, where Roger transferred back in 1953.
	At his table in the Dealers' Room, Jan Merlin flashes his million-Watt smile while autographing photos for the fans. Jan also had available the latest edition of his recent novel, SHOOTING MONTEZUMA, loosely based on his (mainly bad) experiences while making the John Houston film LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER.
	At their table in the Dealers' Room, Frankie Thomas and his stepdaughter Julie greet the fans. You could of course get an autographed photo of Frankie, but you could also get his latest collection of short stories about the immortal Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
	Here's Space Ranger Biffen Cardoza (James Lydon) as he appears today. "Biff" was the co-pilot of Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, at the controls of the XV-3 Silver Moon, during the second season of ROCKY JONES.
	Here are the always dapper Frankie Thomas, the ever-suave Jan Merlin, and the lovely Donna Martell at the convention banquet. Based on the photo, we think it is correct to say, "... and a good time was had by all."

[Addendum #1 from Cadet Chuck Lassen: The thing that struck me the most, while participating in the radio show re-creation, was how much the voices of Jan and Frankie retain the same familiar tones today, the tones we listened to raptly 50 years ago. When I spoke my opening line as Astro, and Frankie's voice, unmistakably that of Tom Corbett, responded, it was hard to suppress the goosebumps. And then I got to have a few typical exchanges with Roger -- "Awww, knock it off, Roger!" "Why, you big Venusian lunkhead, I oughta...." I felt as if I was transported into that make-believe world of long ago, FOR REAL!]

[Addendum #2 -- A Special Message from Mike Elmo:

Fellow Cadets, Rangers and Patrollers,

I can not say in words what it is like to spend real quality time with some of the people who made our childhood so much FUN!! As a friend to you all, I urge all of you to attend these conventions that our childhood heroes attend! The Good Lord can call them Home at any time -- or us too, for that matter -- so don't put it off!! GET THERE!! Wherever it may be, make every effort to swing a visit! If you don't, you will miss out on what might very well be your one chance in a life time!! Be selfish -- you owe it to yourselves!! And, your heroes need your love!! You've thought warm thoughts about their characters and their performances for 50 years -- but they'll never know that, unless you tell them in person.

If you hear of a convention that is, say, 2 to 4 hours drive from you and has a childhood hero appearing, even if you have to drag yourself down the highway with a broken leg, GET THERE!! Because, when you are there, something MAGICAL happens!! Take it from me, IT DOES!! You will not regret it if you go, but you WILL IF YOU DO NOT!!]

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