The Early Days of TV Science Fiction

mcse_knowthyenemy writes: "The very first TV sci-fi shows are covered in detail here. The author, a professor of physics, approaches the topic with academic rigorousness. If you think the original Star Trek was low-budget, consider the $5 per episode these studios could spend."

Comments

Radar Men from the Moon

[zephc]

I highly recommend checking out twistedmojo.com's Public Domain Theater redub of Radar Men from the Moon, a truely stinky bit of sci-fi cinema from the 50's (i presume).

The redub, however, is great (beware: its in RM format)

Sci-fi dictating future reality..

[bo0push3r]

i think it's great how space exploration was and continues to be such a huge tennant of sci-fi.. i've heard from a number of people who grew up in the era in question that their love affair with sci-fi ended when they freaked out over the realization of how closely science-fact tails science fiction.

now, if you're one of those bone-headed types who believes everything they see on FOX, you may even think that the trips to the moon never actually happened.

in reality, the logistics of space travel have been a frequent oversight in science fiction since it's inception. in 'The Physics of Star Trek', when asked how the Heisenberg Compensator works, the engineering officer replies, "Very well, thank you!" for fear of sounding like a commercial for IBM i'm almost afraid to ask where my flying car is..

now, in the 21st century, technology that usually starts as military-grade is fed to the populace like an iv drip. if the governments of the world poured half the money into space travel and other future tech that they do into $900,000 bombs and stealth planes that are obsolete before they ever leave the tarmac we might actually be realizing a lot more sci-FACT than we have been..

wow, that was pretty incoherent..

-j0nah

Future Boy!!

[NanoGator]

I wasn't able to read the article. Ever since @Home went down I've had wonky DNS issues.

However, the description of the story reminded me of an episode of Quantum Leap called "Future Boy". Sam had lept into one of the actors for a show called "Time Patrol", a '$5 per episode' serial in the mid-50's.

What I found interesting about this episode, in relation to this article, was the argument between the show's Star and the show's Producer. The script originally called for the time travellers (Same co-starred as 'Future Boy') to overhear a conversation between two aliens (or twisted humans... my memory has faded) conspiring about the destruction of Earth. Moe, the star of the show, aborted filming and argued with the producer about people being evil in the future. He was very passionate about the show portraying a bright future where people were happy. He didn't want it ruined by having stories about people trying to destroy it.

I can't help but think this character was inspired by Gene Roddenberry. Gene also had a vision that the future would be bright and welcoming vs. dark and gloomy. It's possible, though, that this character reflected somebody even earlier in the time period.

I'm curious, has anybody seen this episode that thinks Moe was modeled after somebody influential in the sci-fi industry?

Dr. Who STILL doesn't spend more than that :-)

[billstewart]

OK, so they built the Tardis, and occasionally invest in some styrofoam rocks or cardboard monster robots, but it's nice to have a show where they don't let special effects budget drive *too* much of the plot :-)