T O P I C R E V I E W |
Gordon Eliot Reade | I’ve shown my sixth grade astronomy students some brief YouTube clips of 1960’s spaceflight kids' TV Shows. They loved the theme song from Fireball XL-5 and they enjoyed Clutch Cargo when his dog Paddle Foot was launched into space thus following in the historic paw prints of Russian astropup Laika. Spoiler alert, thanks to quick action by Clutch and his pal Spinner Paddle Foot is returned to Earth alive unlike poor Laika. But there are some shows that were so bad I'm embarrassed to admit I ever watched them. Johnny Cypher in Dimension Zero would fall under this category but topping the list would be the Canadian production Rocket Robin Hood. Robin and his merry men live on Sherwood asteroid and fly horse shaped rockets to steel from the rich and give to the poor. Am I the only one who remembers this show or are there others? |
Blackarrow | If I ever saw "Rocket Robin Hood" then I'm glad to say my brain had expunged all memory of it! But "Fireball XL5" - that's a different matter! One of my favourite TV programmes when I was a child and at least partly responsible for my fascination with spaceflight. When I first saw "From the Earth to the Moon" on TV, I was astounded that the episode "Spider" used the Fireball theme song ("I Wish I was a Spaceman, the Fastest Guy Alive"). It was a British TV show, and I had no idea it was also shown in the States. Maybe it encouraged some American youngsters, too. |
David C | I thought I'd forgotten it. A big thanks for dredging that one up — not! |
ManInSpace | I remember it all too well, unfortunately. It was a Canadian production that originally ran on the CBC from 1966-'69; and then via syndication in the '70s & '80s. If you are seeking more information, there is a Wikipedia page which covers the show's history and production. |
GACspaceguy | I grew up in Canada in that time/era and when I Googled it some of the characters look vaguely familiar not memorable at all. Now Fireball XL5 that was a show to remember. |
ManInSpace | Sounds like we both had similar experiences back then. Always great to hear from another Gerry Anderson fan. |
GACspaceguy | Stingray and Supercar, while not really spacecraft looked like one as well. Then there were the Thunderbirds. |
Gordon Eliot Reade | Considering the limited budget and technology it's actually pretty impressive what Gerry Anderson was able to achieve with Fireball XL-5. And as much as my sixth grade students love Johnny B. Good they all agree that the Fireball theme would've be a better choose for the Voyager gold record. |
randy | I remember "Fireball XL5," but not "Rocket Robin Hood." |
Blackarrow | quote: Originally posted by Gordon Eliot Reade: Considering the limited budget and technology it's actually pretty impressive what Gerry Anderson was able to achieve with Fireball XL-5.
Gerry Anderson was a genius in his ability to entertain and amaze millions of children (of all ages) and he is warmly remembered for brightening the lives of those millions and raising an awareness about space exploration at such an exciting time for real space exploration. |
Moonwalker1954 | I remember nothing about Rocket Robin Hood except it's french title "Robin fusée". I didn't even know that it was a Canadian production. But "Fusée XL-5" now that was the show to watch! My parents had bought me a space playset (Marx or MPC?) that had the XL-5 rocket in it. That was my favorite piece of the set. |