Doctor Roo

Publicity still for the Doctor Who story “The Daleks’ Master Plan”, showing (left to right) Nicholas Courtney, William Hartnell, Adrienne Hill and Peter Purves.

I went to bed last night smiling at the news that two lost episodes of Doctor Who have been found. This morning I even peeked in on a Doctor Who forum. It's heartwarming to see fans born in the 21st century getting excited about black-and-white episodes from the 1960s starring Big Bill Hartnell.

James Darren as Dr Tony Newman in The Time Tunnel.

Quick! What kinda scientist would you want to be?

#TheTimeTunnel #JamesDarren #IrwinAllen #RetroSciFi

We chased lady luck, 'til we finally struck Bonanza.
With a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, planted a family tree.
We got hold of a potful of gold, Bonanza.
With a horse and a saddle, and a range full of cattle, how rich can a fellow be?

#BattlestarGalactica #ActionFigures #LorneGreene

A display cabinet filled with old toys and memorabilia. My wife insists the cabinet looks like I filled it with rubbish salvaged from a skip behind a sci-fi shop.

The collection so far:
Starbuck, missing his gun and cape.
A Cylon who has lost his rifle — and his silver paint.
A nude Ovion who has misplaced that net thing it’s meant to be wearing.
Muffit the Daggit, minus tail.
A wobbly Imperious Leader.
And three Commander Adamas… but only one with a cape.

Imperious Leader action figure from Mattel's 1978 Battlestar Galactica toyline.

Quite possibly the ugliest dolly I have ever bought. Mrs Roo was horrified when she saw this thing slouching in the display cabinet she (very) reluctantly allows me to keep in the house. She thinks it’s hideous. If anything, though, her reaction only increases its appeal.

#BattlestarGalactica

Cuttings from the Radio Times announcing the arrival on Radio 4 of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 8 March, 1987.

I was posting this clipping from a March 1978 copy of the Radio Times to mark the anniversary of The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on Radio 4.

But looking at it again has made me terribly nostalgic for the old RT itself. Those wonderful illustrations printed on cheap, pulpy paper… I miss that.

Publicity photo of Dirk Benedict with Britt Ekland from the Battlestar Galactica episode “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero”.

Publicity photo of Dirk Benedict with Britt Ekland from the Battlestar Galactica episode “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero”.

Publicity photo of Dirk Benedict with Britt Ekland from the Battlestar Galactica episode “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero”.

Publicity photo of Dirk Benedict as Starbuck from the Battlestar Galactica episode “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero”.

Happy Birthday to Dirk Benedict — 81 yahrens old today!

Here are some publicity photos of Dirk with Britt Ekland from the Battlestar Galactica episode “The Gun on Ice Planet Zero”.

#DirkBenedict #BattlestarGalactica #RetroSciFi #ClassicSciFi

Doctor Venus and Colonel Steve Zodiac prepare to board their fabulous spaceship, Fireball XL5.

Happy Valentine's Day

#FireballXL5 #GerryAnderson #RetroSciFi

REVIEW: THE TIME TUNNEL: THE DIMENSIONS OF TIME (BIG FINISH) I’ve just finished listening to the second volume of Big Finish’s The Time Tunnel: The Dimensions of Time. I enjoyed it, albeit to do so, I had to ignore the title on the box: Irwin Allen’s The Time Tunnel. It’s really not. It is, in fact, Gary Russell’s The Time Tunnel, which has more in common with the recent…

REVIEW: THE TIME TUNNEL: THE DIMENSIONS OF TIME (BIG FINISH)

I’ve just finished listening to the second volume of Big Finish’s The Time Tunnel: The Dimensions of Time. I enjoyed it, albeit to do so, I had to ignore the title on the box: Irwin Allen’s The Time Tunnel. It’s really not. It is, in…

Eyes aglow, Dr. David Banner (Bill Bixby) begins his startling metamorphosis into The Incredible Hulk.

Me… when some youngling on the internet describes a TV show I love as “forgotten”.

#TheIncredibleHulk #RetroSciFi

Planet of the Apes versus Fantastic Four: the cover of issue 1 features a vibrant, multi-character composition against a purple and green backdrop. In the foreground, the Fantastic Four are prominently displayed: Sue Storm kneels in the centre, flanked by a rocky Thing at the bottom right, a stretching Reed Richards in the background, and a flaming Human Torch in the lower left. Interspersed with the heroes are several classic apes from the franchise, including General Ursus, Dr Zaius, Cornelius and Zira. Looming over the entire scene is the menacing, hooded figure of Doctor Doom, who holds a small glowing orb of Earth in his hands.

The Planet of the Apes gets a fair bit of cross-temporal and inter-dimensional traffic from other franchises. After the weak Star Trek crossover, I almost skipped Planet of the Apes vs Fantastic Four. But I gave in—and I’m glad I did! It’s gloriously over-the-top, bonkers fun.

#FantasticFour #POTA

They’ve really captured Richard Hatch’s likeness with the Apollo figure, but the Starbuck figure only 'sort of' looks like Dirk Benedict. Still, I need these figures in my life and hope they’ll be available in the UK.

Black-and-white vintage TV advert for Galactica: 1980. The illustration shows the main cast standing above a silhouetted modern city skyline. The text reads “At last! Galactica finds Earth!” Taken from TV Guide, 27 January 1980 (New Jersey–Pennsylvania edition).

Vintage advertising for the Battlestar Galactica sequel series, Galactica: 1980. It was a huge let-down at the time, and even today I struggle to watch all the episodes, but Galactica: 1980 does have a certain naff charm.

#BattlestarGalactica #RetroSciFi

Gary Conway as Captain Steve Burton, leader of the diminutive Earth people trapped in the Land of the Giants.

A very happy 90th birthday to Gary Conway. For greying geeks of my generation, Mr Conway will always have a special place in our hearts as Captain Steve Burton, leader of the diminutive Earth people trapped in the Land of the Giants.

#LandOfTheGiants #GaryConway #RetroSciFi #IrwinAllen

Black-and-white vintage advertisement for The Time Tunnel, featuring James Darren in a white jumpsuit posing beside AN/FSQ-7 computer panels. The caption reads: “Science-fiction at its most exciting with James Darren at the controls. Friday, 8 P.M.”

Vintage advertisement for The Time Tunnel, featuring James Darren in the natty white jumpsuit he wore in the pilot, posing beside the AN/FSQ-7 computer panels which appeared in many a sci-fi series and movie, but which for me will always be the heart of Project Tic-Toc.

#TheTimeTunnel #JamesDarren

Logan’s Run: Futurepast — Mariette Hartley guest stars as the android Ariana, who rather improbably becomes a “love interest” for fellow android Rem (Donald Moffat).

Not episode one, but a later episode called Futurepast. I was talking to someone about this episode yesterday and here it is again. Why, oh why, can’t I have coincidences like this involving lottery numbers?

#Logan'sRun

Don Marshall as Dan Erickson and Heather Young as Betty Hamilton, crew members of the sub-orbital spacecraft Spindrift, stranded in the Land of the Giants.

Another random Land of the Giants artwork… because what else am I going to do with it? (Gosh, I miss fanzines.)

#LandOfTheGiants #IrwinAllen #RetroSciFi

Doctor Who: Tom Baker as the 4th Doctor.

Jelly Babies all round — it’s Tom Baker’s birthday! Frankly, that alone should qualify as a public holiday.

#TomBaker #DoctorWho

Artwork featuring Kurt Kasznar as Alexander Fitzhugh and Heather Young as Betty Hamilton, survivors of a spaceship crash now stranded in the Land of the Giants.

One thing that’s a little sad about being an ageing sci-fi fan is finding yourself producing artwork for TV shows that not many people even remember any more.

#LandOfTheGiants #IrwinAllen #RetroSciFi

REVIEW: SAGA OF A FUGITIVE FLEET Here’s something I was unaware of until just recently, when I stumbled across it on Audible. Saga of a Fugitive Fleet is an audio continuation of the classic Battlestar Galactica, featuring several actors from the original series. However, it’s an unofficial, copyright-dodging continuation, and that unofficial nature does present a few hurdles, which we’ll come to. So who’s involved, you might wonder?

REVIEW: SAGA OF A FUGITIVE FLEET

Here’s something I was unaware of until just recently, when I stumbled across it on Audible. Saga of a Fugitive Fleet is an audio continuation of the classic Battlestar Galactica, featuring several actors from the original series. However, it’s an unofficial,…

Burt Ward as Robin and Adam West as Batman.

Frank Gorshin as the Riddler.

Adam West as Bruce Wayne.

Batman (Adam West) performs the extraordinary bat-dance that is the Batusi!

12 January 1966

Sixty years ago today, the Batman TV series premiered on ABC, starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin. The first episode, “Hi Diddle Riddle”, pitted the Dynamic Duo against the self-styled ‘Count of Conundrums’, the Riddler (Frank Gorshin).

#Batman #AdamWest #Batman66

The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy television series. Ford Prefect (David Dixon), Arthur Dent (Simon Jones) and Mr Prosser (Joe Melia).

The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy television series. Ford Prefect (David Dixon) and Arthur Dent (Simon Jones).

5 Jan 1981 — 45 years ago. Just before 9pm, I hovered over my new video recorder, waiting for Gilbert O’Sullivan to vacate BBC2. Finally he did, and I hit record as The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy began. I’m sure many sci-fi fans of my vintage were doing the same.

#DouglasAdams #H2G2

Space: 1999 bubble-gum card wax wrapper.

Superman the Movie bubble-gum card wax wrapper.

Battlestar Galactica bubble-gum card wax wrapper.

The Bionic Woman bubble-gum card wax wrapper.

What a great project. Hope these scans are of some use to you.

#BattlestarGalactica #BionicWoman #Space1999 #Superman

SCROOGE-ATHON At this time of year there is an immovable fixture in my calendar: the Scrooge-athon. Every year, from 1 December until Christmas Day, I work my way through as many versions of A Christmas Carol as I can possibly fit in. I’ve been doing this for decades now. Naturally, my Scrooge-athon begins with Charles Dickens’ original novella. Sometimes I do it the old-fashioned way and read it; other years I listen to an audiobook.

SCROOGE-ATHON

At this time of year there is an immovable fixture in my calendar: the Scrooge-athon. Every year, from 1 December until Christmas Day, I work my way through as many versions of A Christmas Carol as I can possibly fit in. I’ve been doing this for decades now. Naturally, my…

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA AND THE ILKLEY MOOR ALIEN I'm not looking to become a UFO debunker but... I recently discussed my theory that a famous British UFO sighting might have been inspired by an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man. Well, I think I’ve found another incident of a television-inspired close encounter. Back in December 1987, a former police officer named Philip Spencer was walking across Ilkley Moor at dawn when he claimed to witness something extraordinary.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA AND THE ILKLEY MOOR ALIEN

I'm not looking to become a UFO debunker but... I recently discussed my theory that a famous British UFO sighting might have been inspired by an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man. Well, I think I’ve found another incident of a television-inspired…

Planet of the Apes wrapping paper from the UK, based on the 1974 TV series. Many kids at the time, myself included, hung it on their wall as a poster.

I still remember walking into the grocery shop up on the lane, and seeing a roll of Planet of the Apes wrapping paper. It was quite cheap as I recall (2 'new' pence, I think) and I bought several sheets. At the time I assumed it was a poster and it was only later I realised it was wrapping paper!

BIRTHDAY ON THE PLANET OF THE APES A happy 80th birthday to James Naughton, who starred in the 1974 Planet of the Apes television series. Naughton played Major Pete Burke, one of two astronauts flung through a time warp to a horrific future where humans were most definitely not in charge (or, as the tag-line to the weekly Marvel comic would have it: “Where Man Once Stood Supreme—Now Rule The Apes!”

BIRTHDAY ON THE PLANET OF THE APES

A happy 80th birthday to James Naughton, who starred in the 1974 Planet of the Apes television series. Naughton played Major Pete Burke, one of two astronauts flung through a time warp to a horrific future where humans were most definitely not in charge (or, as…

WAS THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN BEHIND A REAL LIFE UFO MYSTERY? Left to my own devices last night, I realised it had been a while since I’d watched any episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man, so I treated myself to a mini‑marathon. For once, I thought, I’d give the Bigfoot and Seven Million Dollar Man episodes a miss (as I’ve watched those to death) and be entirely random in my choices.

WAS THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN BEHIND A REAL LIFE UFO MYSTERY?

Left to my own devices last night, I realised it had been a while since I’d watched any episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man, so I treated myself to a mini‑marathon. For once, I thought, I’d give the Bigfoot and Seven Million Dollar…

This one is a fan mock-up.

(Pictured: Land of the Giants comic-strip from Joe 90: Top Secret comic.) Land of the Giants premiered on American television on 22nd September 1968. My own first sighting of Giants was in 1969 with issue 1 of Joe 90: Top Secret comic, in which the opening episode – The Crash – was adapted as a two-page strip illustrated by the great Gerry Haylock. (This was also the comic that first introduced me to Star Trek.) I was immediately grabbed by this space-age take on Gulliver’s Travels. There were bubble-gum cards, colouring books, novels, annuals and model kits to collect, but I had to wait until April 1972 before my then-local ITV station broadcast the show itself. Every Friday afternoon at 4.50, I’d be sat in front of the colour telly at my Nan’s house, watching. Sadly, the station dropped Giants after a measly thirteen episodes and replaced it with Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. Still, Land of the Giants came into my life at a very important time. At that time I was being traumatised by a real-life ogre of my own – my drunken and violent father. Whenever I suffered yet another of my “accidents”, I thought of the crew and passengers of the Spindrift. If they could survive their ordeal, then so could I. Today, Land of the Giants might seem silly and rather dated, but it saved me – and for that, I will always be grateful.

In 1969, Land of the Giants' opening episode – The Crash – was adapted as a two-page strip in Joe 90: Top Secret comic, illustrated by the great Gerry Haylock.

Land of the Giants premiered on US TV on 22 Sept 1968.

Here in the UK, I first discovered Giants in 1969 via Joe 90: Top Secret comic, then finally saw the series itself on ITV in ’72.

(At a dark time in my childhood, the crew of the Spindrift gave me strength. I’ll always be grateful.)