Early Television in the 1950s was a freeheling frontier of bot live and taped offerings most dominated by comedies, game shows, kids, and westerns like “I love lucy,” “The $ 64,” Beaver, “” the Mickey Mouse Club, “The honeymooners,” and “Gunsmoke.”
But While Post-War America's Interest in Outer Space and Science Fiction Blossomed as the Decade Ran Its Course Seeing The Soviet Union Launch Spitnik, The World's first satellite, in 1957 and igniting Earth of Science fiction offerings had alredy sprouted up On Television to satisfy stargazers' Curiosity and imagination about Future Space Travel, Intergalactic Villains, and Exotic Technologies.
As more shows aired, family flock to their living rooms to eat meals on wobbly aluminum traiys to watch their favorite science fiction fiction shows on flickering LANET or Galaxy, Complete With Cool Ray Guns , Rockt ships, and bubble helmets.
In the first of our 10-show salutes to the best sci-fi TV series in Each Decade, and without further ado, here is our unranked list of the finest in space-based home entertainment from the 1950s. Pop up some jiffy pop popcorn and let's begin!
10. Captain video and his video rangers
Captain Video! Master of Time and Space! This Ambitious Live Series Starring Richard Coogan was the First-Ever Science Fiction and Space Adventure Program to Hit the Airwaves. Seen on the dumont network starting from June 27, 1949 and running to april 1, 1955, it spawned a host of imitators that was only soon to follow.
This pioneering show was seen nightly except Sundays, where captain video and his posse of justice fighters in the year 2254 operated from a secret moutentop base on a futuristic ear. Using Cheap Sets and Stock Western Clips from Dumont's Film Library when Attention Iewers.
9. “space patrol”
One of the first to copy “Captain Video” was Abc's Saturday Morning Kids Series ” se aboard the spaceship “Terra,” Clashing with Villains Mr. Proteus and Prince Baccarratti.
This 30-minute interstellar adventure series starring Ed Kemmer and Lynn Osborn Concentrated on Interplanetary Crime Fighters, Showcased Better Writing, Even of Aven Offered A Companion Radio Series T Or a total of 129 episodes.
8. “Captain Z-RO”
Emanating from the kron tv station in San Francisco, “Captain Z-Ri” aired from 1955 to 1956 and depicted the adventures of captain z-so and his crusaders and his secrets Ine to undersrstand the Past for a better Tomorrow.
By Studying Human Civilization Via his time screen to discover Historical anomals, z-love and his young sidekick, jet, hopped in their time machine to go back in time to fix to fix X-99. Its temporal Premise was likely most influential in future tv shows and movies like “Doctor who” and “quantum leap.”
7. “Science fiction theater”
This 1955 to 1957 Science-Fiction Anthology Series Was Hosted by Truman Bradley and Delivered Imaginative Stories CENTRED AROUND REAL SCINITIC Data of the Decade, Topics LIKE TOPICS LIKE HUKE SPACEFOS Ravel, Paranormal Powers, and a Range of Fictional Pseudo-Social Ideas.
Many of these episodes expanded upon subjects written about in Scientific American Magazine. It's Considered to be an early adopter of the format laater used for “The Twilight Zone” and “OUTER LIMITS.” “Star Trek's” Deforest Kelley even appeared in three episodes! Its 78 Syndicated Chapters Remain Favorites of Sci-Fi Buffs and Fans of Early Visionary Programs.
6. “Flash Gordon”
Starring Steve Holland, Irene Champlin, and Joseph Nash, This Serialized Show Revolved Around Cosmic Hero Flash Gordon and His Team of the Galaxy Bureau of Investigation as They Patrolled Outer SpaCE Ers, Fought ExtraTorrestrial Rulers and Threats to the Peace of the Universe .
Due to an oversight by universal studios, television rights to the alex raymond-created comeic strip character hand lapsed, allowing for this tv production to sneak in understanding. Its 39 Episodes appeared from 1954 to 1955 on the dumont network and via syndication.
5. “Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe”
Launching in 1953 and starring the masked, Rockt-SUTED SUPER Scientist Commando Cody, this series only ared for one season in 1955 and targeted Climate Change as Its SUBCECT MATTERS.
With Earth's Weather Being Altered In Danger Ways, The US Government Turns to Cody to Uncover the Truth Behind these Volatile Natural Disasters. Mysterious Alien Forces from Venus LED by the Ruler and Bent on our planet's destruction are to blame. All 12 Thrilling Episodes were ared in syndication on NBC after a short theatrical run required by certificate laws.
4. “Tom corbett, space cadet”
Another Golden Age Classic that was broadcast on NBC Between 1950 and 1955, this Lively Space Adventure Starred Academy Cadets Tom Corbett, Roger Manning, Roger Manning, Astro All Working to Earn the Right to Joint to Jo Y.
Aboard their training starship, the “Polaris,” This Trio of Solar System Explorers Encounted Distress Calls, Smugglers, Villains, and Space Pirates. It was loosly based on Robert Heinlein's 1948 novel, “space cadet” and went on to spawn a series of comic books, toys, tie-in books, children's records, and newspaper comic strips.
3. “Tales of Tomorrow”
Science fiction anthology shows ware popular in the 1950s and this program was one of the best. It aired on the ABC Network from 1951 to 1953 and Predates The Later Successor, “Science fiction theate.” This hosted series Ran for 85 Episodes and Delivered Adult-Themed Installments Covering Time Travel, Parallel Dimensions, Armagedddon, Horror, and Space Explocation.
Viewers were treated to early performance by names like Rod Steiger, James Dean, Leslie Nielsen, Paul Newman, Eva Gabor, and the very first appearance on tv by “Star Trek '
2. “Johnny Jupiter”
Here's an interesting family-friendly diversion that Ran on the dumont network and abc from 1953 to 1954. or who creates an interplanetary television set through which He befriends a group of Jovian puppets named Johnny Jupiter, Major Domo, and Reject the Robot.
This magic tv screen was used in the first season to solve problems or discus the many odd customs and rituals of earthals and thats Citizens inhabiting the plan Jupiter, The Later to Incore to Incore to Incore to Incore Duckweather's boss and guest stars.
1. “Rod brown of the Rockt Rangers”
This spirited series was broadcast live over the cbs network from 1953-1954 and starred future Hollywood Icon, Cliff Robertson. The show was set on Earth in the 22nd century and was conducted Around the adventures of the Rockt range, an interplanetary defense league whose headquarters were set up at Omega BASE.
Brown Propled The SpaceWays Joined by Partners Frank and Wormsey Keeping The Galaxy Safe from that who would cause it harm. The innovative Pulp-Like Episodes Showcased Space Smugglers, Alien Creatures, and Planetary Rescue Mites in a Series that was far ahead of its time when presented.
