LOST IN SPACE (the original) & Irwin Allen's Lost in Space, The Authorized Biography of a Classic Sci-Fi Series.

[Jeffbert]

So, I bought the 1st 2 of 3 volumes in Irwin Allen's Lost in Space, The Authorized Biography of a Classic Sci-Fi Series.

It starts looong before LIS, in Irwin Allen's career, discuses films, TV series, actors, some of whom would appear in LIS, etc. Then , about 1/2 way through volume 1, LIS, itself. After reading the details about the 1st 5 episodes, I bought a bunch of them on PRIME. Watched 1st 5 on evening, ending about 1:30 AM. In the book, each episode is covered thoroughly, there are so many details here! TV ratings, what films are doing well, music, news items, etc., problems with the filming, scripts, etc. Wonderful book! Talks about writers, directors, their involvement with THE TWILIGHT ZONE, THE OUTERLIMITS, STAR TREK, etc.

Oddly, there was no mention of the flying saucer from THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (C-57?), which seems to have inspired the design of the JUPITER II.


But, 1st, I bought

Lost in Space Original Series Guide (Adrian Sherlock), & found it had no more in it, than I already knew. Fortunately Amazon accepted a return.
Both are Kindle Editions.


More to come!

 

[BAYLOR]

The show was more adventure than it was any kind of serious science fiction. Of the three seasons, the first was the best , the second was not as good as the first but decent enough and the third season ridiculously campy . In a number of episodes, the show verged into fantasy supernatural And there was prop reuse oil, footage to save money. But even at its worst , the show was entraining and the characters were lovable. They did manage to come with pretty good episodes and story concepts.

 

[Jeffbert]

Once ABC began running BATMAN from 7:30Pm to 8 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, LIS' market share dropped during Wednesdays during LIS' 1st half hour. But Irwin Allen was certain that LIS would outlast BATMAN. It seems these shows began competing for silliest program on prime-time. Both lost.

 

[paranoid marvin]

So, I bought the 1st 2 of 3 volumes in Irwin Allen's Lost in Space, The Authorized Biography of a Classic Sci-Fi Series.

It starts looong before LIS, in Irwin Allen's career, discuses films, TV series, actors, some of whom would appear in LIS, etc. Then , about 1/2 way through volume 1, LIS, itself. After reading the details about the 1st 5 episodes, I bought a bunch of them on PRIME. Watched 1st 5 on evening, ending about 1:30 AM. In the book, each episode is covered thoroughly, there are so many details here! TV ratings, what films are doing well, music, news items, etc., problems with the filming, scripts, etc. Wonderful book! Talks about writers, directors, their involvement with THE TWILIGHT ZONE, THE OUTERLIMITS, STAR TREK, etc.

Oddly, there was no mention of the flying saucer from THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (C-57?), which seems to have inspired the design of the JUPITER II.


But, 1st, I bought

Lost in Space Original Series Guide (Adrian Sherlock), & found it had no more in it, than I already knew. Fortunately Amazon accepted a return.
Both are Kindle Editions.


More to come!

If they didn't mention the saucer, did they say the robot was inspired by Forbidden Planet? Because surely it was.

 

[Jeffbert]

I recall something about the same guy Robot Kinoshita designing both Robby & B9 robots.

 

[KGeo777]

The shows with Robby the Robot were more interesting because of that design connection.
The revolutionary makeup appliance for Planet of the Apes was tested on the show too.

Many shows got silly thanks to Batman.
The Man From Uncle apparently had their spoof period, The Wild Wild West (although it had the least impact since they already had a humor element through Artemus Gordon and kept Jim West serious).
Lost in Space was almost completely derailed by it though--because it became the Smith and Robot show. The Robinsons became secondary characters.
Guy Williams said the show had a bad case of "the cutes."

The first season was pretty serious and they had a few episodes that were straight later on--but so many were about Dr Smith and silly antics.
Plus Irwin Allen--who people forget--he was a big name in Hollywood at the time--he was like Spielberg--and then he just vanished.
Bill Mumy said that Allen would rather have a show be cancelled then have it continue with less money or control which was how LIS ended.
Considering how many things he did--it is surprising how little of it is remembered.

He didn't appreciate Star Wars--I recall it being said he never understood the appeal since it lacked melodrama elements, like in the Swarm:
"We've been fighting a losing battle against the insects for 15 years, but I never thought I'd see the final face-off in my lifetime. And I never dreamed, that it would turn out to be the bees. They've always been our friend."

 

[Jeffbert]

I goofed: "Robot Kinoshita"


I hated The Swarm. It violated the primary rule of movies, no killing kids! Took me by surprise, and a very unpleasant one, at that.

I just finished TMFU a month or so before NETFLIX stopped sending DVDs. I agree, the 4th season had become too silly. As I recall, the 5th season cut out the silliness, though too late to save the series. I recall one 4th season episode with George Lazenbee as James Bond. It had not occurred to me that this might have been because of the influence of LIS or BATMAN.

Prime has all but s2, #1 available to stream, what's up with that. It says something about it being unavailable in my area. So far as I know, the entire series except s2 #1 is available on Prime.

TWWW, on the other hand, I have seen the entire series on NF DVDs, but noticed no change in the humor throughout.


Just watched His Majesty Smith, I believe it was #26 or 27. I had intended to read the chapter then watch the episode, keeping in mind certain things I had read, throughout the 1st 2 seasons. Was unsure about s3, except for certain eps, such as the twist on Fantastic Voyage, Trip through the Robot, & the one with IDAK. But, I am not sure if these are s3. But, if I cannot start s2 with #1, I will likely shelve the idea.

 

[Jeffbert]

So, I recently finished s1 & the book about it. Started Vol. #2, have yet to start watching s2, though.

 

[Jeffbert]

Awww! In vol. #2, they featured kid's letters to Santa. These followed a photo of the toy B-9 robot, which was likely the reason for their inclusion.

So many memories. One such letter mentioned Creeple People. I do recall Mattel's Thingmaker!


Anyway, I am well into vol. #2, as I listen to MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES on 91.5 FM the Baltimore Community College's radio station. 7PM to 8:30 ~ 9pm Sunday evenings. After which, I will watch the episodes I had just read about.

 

[Jeffbert]

I started vol #3 about a week ago, & was expecting to read a bit more about the origin of the SPACE POD. Sadly, there was not much about it.

As far as that goes, I cannot recall any details from v1, about the differences between the pilot Jupiter II, and the series, J2. Oh well! A very thorough series on LIS, anyway.

Noticed that the same author also wrote a 3 volume set about STAR TREK. Bought v 1 on Kindle. I think it is called "These are the voyages" will stat it as soon as I finish LIS.

 

[BAYLOR]

I goofed: "Robot Kinoshita"


I hated The Swarm. It violated the primary rule of movies, no killing kids! Took me by surprise, and a very unpleasant one, at that.

Overall The Swarm, a pretty lousy film and Allen was past his prime as a producer and evening was down hill from there.

 

[BAYLOR]

The shows with Robby the Robot were more interesting because of that design connection.
The revolutionary makeup appliance for Planet of the Apes was tested on the show too.

John Chambers reveolstionazed monster and alien Make Up

Many shows got silly thanks to Batman.
The Man From Uncle apparently had their spoof period, The Wild Wild West (although it had the least impact since they already had a humor element through Artemus Gordon and kept Jim West serious).
Lost in Space was almost completely derailed by it though--because it became the Smith and Robot show. The Robinsons became secondary characters.
Guy Williams said the show had a bad case of "the cutes."

Allen screwed up Lost in Space by trying He should kept the show serious. Were it me , I would kept Smith but not made him such cowardly clown. I would had him on the path redemption and he would actually helpful and useful ,but not made him and the robot the the main thrust of the show . I would also brought o board Jospeh Steffanno , Leslie Steven and Byran Haskins to help with production and writing of the various series.

The first season was pretty serious and they had a few episodes that were straight later on--but so many were about Dr Smith and silly antics.
Plus Irwin Allen--who people forget--he was a big name in Hollywood at the time--he was like Spielberg--and then he just vanished.
Bill Mumy said that Allen would rather have a show be cancelled then have it continue with less money or control which was how LIS ended.
Considering how many things he did--it is surprising how little of it is remembered.

Trying to out camp Batman was losing strategy for him and his shows . Yes , he was a very big name but he couldn't change with the times and in Hollywood if you can't adapt, you don't survive and he didn't.

He didn't appreciate Star Wars--I recall it being said he never understood the appeal since it lacked melodrama elements, like in the Swarm:
"We've been fighting a losing battle against the insects for 15 years, but I never thought I'd see the final face-off in my lifetime. And I never dreamed, that it would turn out to be the bees. They've always been our friend."

One could argue that was he jealous of Star Wars and its success.

 

[Jeffbert]

John Chambers reveolstionazed monster and alien Make Up



Allen screwed up Lost in Space by trying He should kept the show serious. Were it me , I would kept Smith but not made him such cowardly clown. I would had him on the path redemption and he would actually helpful and useful ,but not made him and the robot the the main thrust of the show . I would also brought o board Jospeh Steffanno , Leslie Steven and Byran Haskins to help with production and writing of the various series.

This book series states that the 1st 5 (five) episodes were never shown again on CBS. Allen would not likely have welcomed stories by any of those 3 writers.

Smith's greed was nonsense; even with all the wealth of a galaxy, where could he spend it? Cowardly, that makes sense. He was not prepared to go into space; it was just too much for the guy who would sell-out his own country, and murder the entire crew. Perhaps they should have killed him, & thought of some other way to add the element that he brought.

...
Trying to out camp Batman was losing strategy for him and his shows . Yes , he was a very big name but he couldn't change with the times and in Hollywood if you can't adapt, you don't survive and he didn't.


One could argue that was he jealous of Star Wars and its success.

According to this book series, Allen wanted to keep the show family friendly, at any cost. It occupied the 7:30 - 8:30PM timeslot on Wednesdays. I recall arguing with my mom about extending my bedtime to 9PM, since I had become 9 years old. This book series lists the TV ratings by the half-hour, Batman was on 7:30-8:00; LIS was usually getting better ratings for the 8PM - 8:30 timeslot than 7:30 - 8.

Allen wanted his shows running on all 3 networks, Before LIS, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was already on NBC, Allen sold Time Tunnel to ABC, after s1 of LIS, but when ABC renewed Time Tunnel, it put it in direct competition with LIS. After expressing his unhappiness with this, ABC just cancelled it. Allen may have been spreading himself too thin. LAND OF THE GIANTS was soon to come.