Sit down, close your eyes and let your mind form the images as you relive the golden age of radio programs. Each week we'll feature a different and exciting program in MP3 format. Just click on the radio image below to be transported back in time.

This Week

Space Patrol

The Cosmic Ray Detector

May 9, 1953

One of several space shows for the boomer kiddies (who were living the beginnings of the real space future themselves), Space Patrol had the distinction of being on TV and radio both, so it was one of the few shows that kids could follow in both mediums. The story lines and characters were the same, and even more amazing, the same performers played both the radio and TV roles! Ed Kemmer played Commander Buzz Corey of the United Planets Space Patrol with vigor and enthusiasm. His sidekick was Cadet Happy, portrayed by Lyn Osborn as something of a futuristic Robin, with lines like "Smokin' rockets, Buzz!" Together they blast off on their ship Terra V to patrol the vast reaches of "outer" space. Of course, a lot of boys thought they might grow up to be like Cadet Happy. Girls liked Carol Karlyle, played by Virginia Hewitt, who was the daughter of a very important leader of the United Planets and was in on the adventures.

Of course, there were space bad guys. The evil Mister Proteus was one of the worst. Others were Dr. Ryland Scarno, an evil scientist, and Prince Baccarritti, AKA The Black Falcon. All have space thugs. There was a bad and beautiful space woman also. Nina Bara played the beautiful Tonga in the best space opera fashion. She was one of the first vamps on TV, and Gene Roddenberry must have been watching.

Space Patrol uses whooshy and rumbling sound effects instead of music. That's what the great movie Forbidden Planet did in 1956 too. The commercials by "Captain" Dick Tufeld for Wheatchex and Ricechex are really fun to hear, especially for the out-of-this-world Space Patrol stuff that all Space Patrollers will want to have! Since it's the future, things the Space Patrol use have cool names like spaceophones, projectoscopes and atomolights. The letter "o" is very important in the future.

"High adventure in the wild, vast reaches of space! Missions of daring in the name of interplanetary justice! Travel into the future with Buzz Corey, commander-in-chief of the Space Patrol! " Buzz Corey, Buzz Lightyear, coincidence? Space Patrol is a blast!

 

  Huntington Beach News