ABC’s Space Patrol premiered on March 9, 1950. It was not the first science fiction television show in the United States; that honor probably goes to the DuMont Network’s Captain Video and his Video Rangers, which premiered June 27, 1949. However, Space Patrol was one of the most successful early American science fiction television series with approximately 900 15 minute daily episodes, and 210 half hour weekly episodes produced over its five year run. The show was popular enough to become one of the handful of television shows to spin-off a radio version (Tom Corbett, Space Cadet also inspired a radio series and, like Space Patrol, featured the same cast on both new television while the western Have Gun, Will Travel did not).
Originally a 15 minute weekday serial following Commander Kit Corry (Glen Denning), Space Patrol was produced and aired locally by the ABC owned KECA-TV in Los Angeles. On December 30, 1950 ABC began airing a 30 minute weekly version on its national network in addition to the daily local shows. Like most programs of the time, Space Patrol was broadcast live but unlike many contemporary shows it was recorded on kinescope. There were a couple of comic books published by Ziff-Davis and an original adventure or two released as record albums but Space Patrol never saw novelizations or a newspaper comic strip. Instead, most Space Patrol merchandise came in the form of giveaway items offered through its sponsor Ralston.
After about 25 episodes and well before the national version began, Ed Kemmer replaced Denning as the series lead, portraying Kit Corry’s older brother Commander Buzz Corry. As the commander-in-chief of the United Planets’ Space Patrol Corry shared adventures with his apprentice Cadet Happy (Lyn Osborn), Tonga (Nina Bara), the special assistant to the Space Patrol security chief, and Carol Carlisle (Virginia Hewitt), a Patrol scientist who was also the daughter of the United Planets’ Secretary General. On both television and radio the valiant Space Patrol faced space smugglers, tracked escaped prisoners, explored inter-planetary ruins and rescued rockets in trouble. The 30 minute weekly episodes tended to be self contained stories, although the series slid into a few multiple episode arcs later in its run.
Creator and producer Mike Moser first envisioned Space Patrol while he was a pilot for the Navy during World War II. He wanted to create something that would be exciting for modern children as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon movie serials were when he was a child. Unfortunately, Moser was killed in a motorcycle accident in late 1954. The loss of Moser as producer may have led to the series cancellation on both television (ending February 26, 1955) and radio (March 19, 1955).
It has been claimed Space Patrol enjoyed a sizable adult audience. It very well may have. One of the earliest radio shows, The Hole In Space broadcast October 25, 1952, featured a spatial anomaly theorized to be a gateway to other dimensions finally controlled thanks to the fact certain metals gained superconductive properties when cooled to near absolute zero. This may have been a little over the heads of the children Ralston Purina was targeting with Chex cereal pitches and official Space Patrol Space-O-Phone sets (only 25¢ and a box top from “good, hot Ralston” cereal). The next month The Giant Bubble (broadcast November 11, 1952) centered on an attempt to use newly discovered plastic materials softened when exposed to certain electro-magnetic frequencies to create a bubble to contain an artificial atmosphere. On the other hand, though, Commander Corry did have “youthful sidekick” Cadet Happy… and the show was definitely pushing breakfast cereal and public service projects to kids.
Over its run the Ralston sponsored Space Patrol radio show would offer decoder belts, pins, Space-O-Phones (plastic phones connected by string), punch out cardboard play sets, space helmets (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkiPeUkYXyM), wearable space binoculars, signal rings (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMZ5XyDXeTU) and more (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N26Juv3XxuE).
Space Patrol also offered one of the greatest giveaways in TV history. After a few appearances by Space Patrol members across America in the Ralston Rocket, a life sized prop rocket ship, it was decided to give a lucky viewer their own rocket. After running a contest (to name a planet for an upcoming episode) the winning contestant received their own Terra IV rocket cruiser… which was a specially designed rocket shaped camper on a flatbed! (Both the Ralston Rocket and the awarding of the Terra IV can be seen in this clip collection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBwWzmTlEG4).
The legal status of Space Patrol today is a bit nebulous but many television episodes are available to stream free on TubiTV.com (at least in the United States), which is a legitimate service. The radio shows are widely available on the Internet on old time radio sites. As a modern viewer, I have to admit Space Patrol is not terribly intellectual or even unique science fiction. Both Tom Corbett, Space Cadet and Rod Brown have similar premises and storylines. Space Patrol definitely is a stepping stone, though, between the pulp space opera of the the early 20th century and the more mature stories of later part of the century. It strays away from the intergalactic threats and swashbuckling planetary romance found in earlier space opera and focuses more on smugglers, thieves and saboteurs in space.
Because it was a live production limited the special effects were utilized and most storylines were kept simple enough for its young target audience to follow and get resolved in the short time allowed in each episode. The main draw of the show today is its nostalgic “retro-futurism” and adventure themed plots. Unfortunately, many of the Space Patrol episodes on Tubi have been trimmed of the original Ralston cereal commercials and premium offers, much like when the alt-music and counter culture program Night Flight ran the series back in the late 1980s. This does, as far as I am concerned, take away from some of the fun. Most radio episodes available still have their advertising intact.
Space Patrol still has some visual appeal despite its primitive production values. The opening sequence of the television show, which shows the launch of space ships from a space base, is accomplished entirely with moving miniatures and models. Moving models of space stations and such occasionally pop up in episodes as well. The show apparently enjoyed a very large studio which allowed for multiple sets even the show was broadcast live. The radio series is able to move beyond the special effects limitations of the television show, though, and feature action, locations and fantastic equipment which would never be able to be shown on 1950s television. The radio show also seems to enjoy slightly more complex plots at times. It also seems to me Space Patrol may have influenced later science fiction television in a few ways.
Dick Tufeld, the announcer for the show, would later provide the voice of the robot B9 in the Lost in Space series and the 1998 film. His “Space Patrol” call to kick off the episodes would be reflected in Gary Owen’s announcing for Space Ghost. Star Ed Kemmer would go on to appear in a couple of other science fiction projects (such as Earth vs. The Spider) and would appear as astronaut Roy Selby in the ‘astronauts and their wives’ themed soap opera The Clear Horizon (CBS, 1960-1962). Co-star Lyn Osborn unfortunately died at the young age of 38 due to a brain tumor, but still appeared in several science fiction projects including Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) and The Cosmic Man (1959).
Space Patrol reminds me of Star Trek in a couple of ways. Patrol uniforms have little in common with the simple uniforms of Star Trek The Original Series at first glance, as they feature V-shaped front panels and insignia with small tunic or Mandarin style collars and no apparent rank indication. The jacket and striped trousers Space Patrol uniforms have a much more militaristic feel than the long sleeved pullovers and simple black pants of Star Trek. Like Star Trek, though, different specialties seem to have different insignia. Commander Corry’s uniform includes stylized lightning while Cadet Happy features an eagle and Major Robertson, the security chief of the Space Patrol, has a starburst design. Carol Carlisle’s uniform has a lightning insignia, but different than Commander Corry’s. The two female leads, Carol Carlisle and security operative Tonga also sport boots with surprisingly short skirts for 1954, much like Star Trek. Unlike Lieutenant Uhura, Carol Carlisle climbs ladders in her skirt!
Space Patrol featured sleek rocket ships and stuck to our solar system but it managed to foreshadow Star Trek in a couple of ways. The cast traveled back in time in multiple episodes, including an episode titled Errand of Mercy (a name shared by a Star Trek TOS episode). Much like Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek The Next Generation Buzz Corry has an interest in archaeology (as seen in the Lost City of the Carncans and The Hidden Treasure of Mars). Like Captain Kirk, Commander Corry was never one to avoid danger and led most missions himself. Commander Corry and Captain Kirk would eventually meet on Twilight Zone in the Nightmare At 20,000 Feet. Tonga and Carol were actual members of the team, not merely damsels in distress. It is also worth noting Ralston frequently addresses the boys and girls in their pitches.
To be honest, Space Patrol is not innovative science fiction nor is it particularly intelligent or forward thinking. It is undeniably a children’s show. Still, both the television and radio show are fun. They have the action emphasis found in pulp space operas but are beginning to show the desire to put the “science” in science fiction. They are also prime examples of mid century “retro-futurism,” with their silver rockets, lightning bolt motifs and V-shaped Eisenhower jackets. If nothing else, Space Patrol is worth watching for its place in science fiction TV history and to see what you used to be able to get for 25¢ and a box top).