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.
