Launching Space Patrol
Of course, any salute to Space Patrol should have acknowledgement of its creators.
The series was conceived by British children’s book author and TV producer Roberta Leigh, who previously created the puppet series Torchy the Battery Boy (1958) and Sara and Hoppity (1962).
Learn about Ms. Leigh at her website. A 1998 interview has been posted online, July 9, 2021:
https://youtu.be/Tkpoixj2F1k
Update: Regretfully, Roberta Leigh died December 19, 2014, age 87. Her obituary is here.
The show’s co-producer and cinematographer, Arthur Provis, was interviewed in 2002. But his video interviews have been removed from YouTube.
What is a Gabblerdictum?
Before Thunderbirds …
Before Star Trek …
And after Forbidden Planet, there was …
Space Patrol!
Yes, in the year 2100, Galasphere 347 patrols the solar system, making sure everyone’s safe from interplanetary extortionists, hostile aliens, rampaging robots and runaway asteroids.
The crew:
Captain Larry Dart, the handsome Earthman whose beard actually saves his life.
Husky, the engineer, the perpetually-hungry Martian who sounds like a drugged-out Popeye.
Slim, the science officer, the always-logical Venusian with slanted eyebrows and speaks “with alacrity,” predating a certain Vulcan by four years.
The unnamed Robot, who marches in the engine room whenever the ship makes a landing.
Colonel Raeburn gives the orders, usually from his high-tech office, but occasionally from his Turkish baths. His lovely Venusian secretary, Marla, rarely makes a mistake and reminds him that blondes from Venus are not dumb.
Whenever United Galactic Organization is threatened, Raeburn relies upon Irish genius Professor Aloysius O’Brien O’Rourke Haggerty to whip up an invention to save the day.
Interplanetary travel still takes months to the outer planets, so the astronauts have to spend time in the “freezer,” in suspended animation. Miraculously, on Earth, the year remains 2100 for the entire series.
Produced in the U.K. by Roberta Leigh and Arthur Provis — with Leigh writing all 39 episodes — the series aired April 7, 1963 through June 11, 1964. In the U.S. it was known as Planet Patrol, to avoid confusion with the live-action Space Patrol radio and TV series from the 1950s. At one point the negatives were presumed destroyed, except Leigh had a cache of 16mm prints in her home, and two 35mm prints were found elsewhere. Now, thanks to YouTube, the entire series is available online for everyone to enjoy, and in color, starting with “The Swamps of Jupiter.”
The 18th episode, “The New Planet,” has our heroes visit a planet of giants. Four years later, Irwin Allen’s series, Land of the Giants, landed on the airwaves. Inspired by “The New Planet,” perhaps?
With the exception of Mercury, the planets in our solar system are occupied by sentient life forms. Saturn happens to have a swampy surface, under which live the amphibious Saturnians. These creatures are featured in three stories:
In Episode 08: “The Rings Of Saturn,” Captain Dart’s crew engages in “First Contact” with the species, but angers them when he takes some leaves for analysis.
In Episode 22: “The Miracle Tree Of Saturn,” a greedy video technician stows away on Galasphere 349 without going through decontamination. When they arrive on Saturn, he leaves the craft and infects the indigenous population with his cold. Pretty heavy stuff for kids.
Even though they’re puppets, I love the way the Saturnians move. Here:
In Episode 35: “The Grass Of Saturn,” the Saturnian leader Riga is ousted by his brother Simba, who blankets the earth with grass that emits carbon dioxide.
Our heroes need to eliminate the toxic grass and save the deposed ruler. Watch Husky knock out a Saturnian:
Click here for a comprehensive website that tells you a lot about Space Patrol.
One enterprising fan has constructed a CG model of the Galasphere, posted online April 16, 2013. Check it out:
So, what’s a Gabblerdictum? That’s a Martian parrot, owned by Husky, who spends a lot of time at Professor Haggerty’s lab. From Episode 34, “The Hairy Men Of Mars,” watch him visit Space Patrol’s “rest room” at 13:59:
What a clever bird, that Gabbler. He’s even smarter than Jar Jar Binks!
Those Wacky Round Animals
What if animals were round? Rollin’ Safari has the answers:
Published on Mar 5, 2013
These are the official trailers for ITFS 2013 (itfs.de) and FMX 2013 (fmx.de)
©2012 Flying Stone GbR.
Published on Nov 3, 2013
Created by: Kyra Buschor & Constantin Päplow
Sounddesign: Namralata Strack
Website: David Kirchner
Music: Stephan Schelens
Motion Design: Robin Albrecht
© 2013 Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
www.animationsinstitut.de
Visit their website at www.rollin-wild.com.
Peter Jackson’s Three-Minute Rule
In an interview with Jason Gorber of Moviefone, Desolation of Smaug star Evangeline Lilly revealed one of Peter Jackson’s nifty storytelling techniques:
“When you introduce a group of characters on screen, if you don’t introduce specific members of that group, nobody will care about that group. If you’re at war and that group is losing, they are the dispensable people, it’s only the people that you’ve been individually introduced to that you care about. Peter Jackson said that there is a three-minute window in a war scene, and if you don’t see one of your primary characters within those three minutes, you will have completely lost your audience. They will have tuned out and won’t care anymore.”
From “Evangeline Lilly on ‘The Hobbit’: I Didn’t Want to Be the Jar Jar Binks of the Trilogy,” posted December 12, 2013.
The Origin of Rancho Obi-Wan
How did Stephen J. Sansweet amass the world’s largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia? He told the story at Star Wars Celebration Europe II in Essen, Germany, July 17, 2013. Thanks to Association Mintinbox.net, “Rancho Obi-Wan: From Dream to Reality” is now available online:
Posted on Dec 3, 2013
The story is also blogged here.
Grandpa Dragon on a Plane
The appearance of a dragon on an Air New Zealand plane has caused quite a stir in the media.
Grandpa Dragon comments:
“Why ARE folks making such a big fuss over seeing MY FACE on an aeroplane?
Honestly! I’m more embarrassed about having my DONUT obsession exposed!!!
“…Which reminds me, when you’re visiting me at Wellington Zoo, a box of Chocolate ones wouldn’t go astray. ..and a nice cup of Tea too?”
If you can’t make it to New Zealand, you can always visit Grandpa online at his Facebook page.
Photo © 2013 Warren Beaton.
Smaug Revealed!
It’s a secret no longer. Today, December 1, 2013, Air New Zealand unveiled the likeness of the vile dragon adorning its Boeing 777-300. Yes, now you can fly the friendly skies with Smaug!
For details, click here.
To view a video of the plane-decoration–and listen to Sylvester McCoy’s narration–click here.
Note that the newly-decorated plane requires specially-trained dragon handlers for the ground crew:
Ed Sheeran Sees Fire
For the end credits music for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, writer-director Peter Jackson asked songwriter-singer Ed Sheeran to compose-sing “I See Fire.” Posted online November 6, 2013. Enjoy:
And here is UK singer Alice Olivia‘s take on the music, published November 9, 2013:
LYRICS:
Oh, misty eye of the mountain below
Keep careful watch of my brothers’ souls
And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke
Keep watching over Durin’s son
If this is to end in fire
Then we shall all burn together
Watch the flames climb high into the night
Calling out father, stand by and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side
And if we should die tonight
Then we should all die together
Raise a glass of wine for the last time
Calling out father, prepare as we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
And I see fire, hollowing souls
I see fire, blood in the breeze
And I hope that you’ll remember me
Oh, should my people fall
Then surely I’ll do the same
Confined in mountain halls
We got too close to the flame
Calling out father hold fast and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
I see fire, hollowing souls
I see fire, blood in the breeze
And I hope that you’ll remember me
And if the night is burning
I will cover my eyes
For if the dark returns then
My brothers will die
And as the sky’s falling down
It crashed into this lonely town
And with that shadow upon the ground
I hear my people screaming out
Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
I see fire, hollowing souls
I see fire, blood in the breeze
I see fire,
I see fire,
And I see fire (fire)
And I see fire burn auburn on the mountain side
Joe Hisaishi’s Studio Ghibli 25 Years Concert
One of Japan’s most talented and prolific composers is Joe Hisaishi. According to People’s Daily (a Chinese paper), he has composed over 100 films and solo albums. To Western audiences, he is perhaps best known as the composer of all of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to The Wind Rises (2013). In August 2008, Mr. Hisaishi presented three concerts in Budokan, featuring the New Japan Philharmonic World Dream Orchestra, Ritsuyukai Choir and Little Singers of Tokyo, as they performed his works from 25 Years of Studio Ghibli films. A review of the third concert, featuring guest visitor Hayao Miyazaki himself, can be read here.
On September 23, 2012, Mr. Hisaishi published his concert online, which you can enjoy below:
https://youtu.be/eY1XtWyKlJA
The program:
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 00:00:45 – 00:11:31
01. Opening [Legend of the Wind]
02. Requiem
03. A Battle Between Mehve and Corvette
04. Tooi hibi (Days Long Gone)
05. Tori no Hito (Bird Person)
Mononoke Hime 00:11:37 – 00:19:11
06. Ashitaka Sekki (Tale of Ashitaka)
07. Tatari gami (The Curse God)
08. Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke), Vocal: Masako Hayashi
Kiki’s Delivery Service 0:19:41 – 0:29:10
09. Umi no Mieru Machi (A Town with an Ocean View)
10. Shoushin no Kiki (Heartbroken Kiki)
11. Kaasan no Houki (Mom’s Broom)
Joe Hisaishi introducing the musicians Speech 00:29:38 – 00:31:00
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea 00:31:25 – 00:50:28
12. Shinkai Bokujyou (Deep Sea Ranch)
13. Umi no Okasan (Mother of the Sea), Vocal: Masako Hayashi
14. Nami no Sakana no Ponyo (Ponyo of the Fish of the Wave)
15. Fujimoto no Tema (Fujimoto’s Theme), Vocals: Fujioka Fujimaki
16. Himawari no Ie no Rondo (Rondo of the Sunflower House), Vocals: Mai
17. Haha no Ai (Mother’s Love)
18. Imouto-tachi no Katsuyaku (Little Sisters’ Activities)
19. Haha to Umi no Sanka (Song of Praise for Mother and the Sea)
20. Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea), Vocals: Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ohashi
Laputa: Castle in the Sky 00:50:29 – 01:01:00
21. Hato to Shounen (Pigeons and a Boy) with Marching band
22. Kimi o Nosete (Carrying you) with Choir
23. Taiju (The Huge Tree)
Porco Rosso 01:01:50 – 01:06:37
24. Kaerazaru Hibi (The Bygone Days)
Hayao Miyazaki speech 01:06:56 – 01:08:38
Howl’s Moving Castle 01:08:40 – 01:20:56
25. Symphonic Variation “Merry-go-round”
26. Cave of Mind
27. Jinsei no Merry-go-round (Merry-Go-Round of Life)
Joe Hisaishi introducing vocals from Ayaka Hirahara 01:21:30 – 01:22:05
Spirited Away 01:22:05 – 01:30:24
28. Inochi no Namae (The Name of Life), Vocals: Ayaka Hirahara
29. Futatabi (Reprise), Vocals: Ayaka Hirahara
Tonari no Totoro 01:31:00 – 01:41:38
30. Kaze no toori michi (The Path of the Wind)
31. Sanpo (Stroll), Vocals: Chorus + All guest singers
01:36:39 – 01:37:10 Hayao Miyazaki singing Tonari no Totoro
32. Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro), Vocals: Chorus
Thank you from Hayao Miyazaki 01:41:23
Encore 01:43:20
Porco Rosso 01:43:20 – 01:46:23
33. Madness
Princess Mononoke 01:47:35 – 01:52:19
34. Ashitaka and San
Applause for Joe Hisaishi 01:52:20 – 01:56:02
Blu-Rays of the concert may be purchased here and at other fine online retailers.
To learn more about Hisaishi-san, visit his website.