NASA
Space Craze of the 1960's
July 03, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
NASA’s Golden Age of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo during the 1960’s inspired television decision makers to use space as a theme.
I Dream of Jeannie featured Larry Hagman as Tony Nelson, an astronaut in the starring male role. Several scenes featured Captain (later Major) Nelson’s job responsibilities at Cape Canaveral, known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973. Nelson lived in a small house in Cocoa Beach with Jeannie, a beautiful blonde genie played by Barbara Eden who couldn’t stop herself form trying to help her master. Nelson met Jeannie after his space capsule splashed down and he washed up on the beach. He found her bottle, opened it, and out came Jeannie. He rescued her and she served him as payback. Eventually, they married.
Set in the future, Star Trek explored worlds, universes, and planets. The U.S.S. Enterprise went where no man had gone before. Essentially Wagon Train in space, Star Trek showcased the adventures of the Enterprise staff. The episodes were often allegories about peace, war, brotherhood, and racism.
Lost In Space showed us a space launch gone awry. A space takeoff on Swiss Family Robinson, Lost In Space depicted weekly adventures of the Robinson family on strange planets. Initially, the Robinsons’ mission is to colonize space for the United States. A foreign agent, Dr. Zachary Smith, caused the Robinson’s space craft to malfunction. His efforts backfire as he can’t leave the space craft before it launches. Smith becomes the comic relief, foil, and wacky neighbor character.
The Twilight Zone had episodes with a space theme. The Little People tells a lesson about bullying.
Astronauts William Fletcher and Peter Craig encounter a malfunction with their space ship, so they land on a planet to make repairs. Craig discovers an area inhabited by people who are the size of ants. He destroys their property and declares himself their god. He forces them to build a statue of him. Fletcher finishes repairing the space craft but Craig wants to stay. You reap what you sow. Two giant explorers from another planet are repairing their ship. One accidentally kills Craig. The “little people”are ecstatic and they bring the statue down.
david@davidkrell.com
NASA’s Golden Age of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo during the 1960’s inspired television decision makers to use space as a theme.
I Dream of Jeannie featured Larry Hagman as Tony Nelson, an astronaut in the starring male role. Several scenes featured Captain (later Major) Nelson’s job responsibilities at Cape Canaveral, known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973. Nelson lived in a small house in Cocoa Beach with Jeannie, a beautiful blonde genie played by Barbara Eden who couldn’t stop herself form trying to help her master. Nelson met Jeannie after his space capsule splashed down and he washed up on the beach. He found her bottle, opened it, and out came Jeannie. He rescued her and she served him as payback. Eventually, they married.
Set in the future, Star Trek explored worlds, universes, and planets. The U.S.S. Enterprise went where no man had gone before. Essentially Wagon Train in space, Star Trek showcased the adventures of the Enterprise staff. The episodes were often allegories about peace, war, brotherhood, and racism.
Lost In Space showed us a space launch gone awry. A space takeoff on Swiss Family Robinson, Lost In Space depicted weekly adventures of the Robinson family on strange planets. Initially, the Robinsons’ mission is to colonize space for the United States. A foreign agent, Dr. Zachary Smith, caused the Robinson’s space craft to malfunction. His efforts backfire as he can’t leave the space craft before it launches. Smith becomes the comic relief, foil, and wacky neighbor character.
The Twilight Zone had episodes with a space theme. The Little People tells a lesson about bullying.
Astronauts William Fletcher and Peter Craig encounter a malfunction with their space ship, so they land on a planet to make repairs. Craig discovers an area inhabited by people who are the size of ants. He destroys their property and declares himself their god. He forces them to build a statue of him. Fletcher finishes repairing the space craft but Craig wants to stay. You reap what you sow. Two giant explorers from another planet are repairing their ship. One accidentally kills Craig. The “little people”are ecstatic and they bring the statue down.
From the Earth to the Moon
September 10, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
In 1994, Ron Howard brought the story of Apollo 13 to the big screen. Directed by Howard and starring Tom Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 is the classic kid stuck in a well story line. Except it takes place in outer space.
Apollo 13 served as the basis for space buff Hanks to further explore NASA's Golden Age in the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.
Co-produced by Hanks, Howard, Michael Bostick, and Brian Grazer, From the Earth to the Moon is a 12-part miniseries detailing the Apollo space program based on the book Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin.
Hanks introduces each episode with a brief monologue.
From the Earth to the Moon won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries.
It shows the intensity, creativity, and dedication of the Apollo engineers, managers, and astronauts.
It reveals stories that aren't likely known beyond space historians, space buffs, and NASA insiders.
We learn about the improvements in the Apollo spacecraft triggered by the investigation into Apollo 1 fire that killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White.
We learn about the engineers' trial and error that led to the creation of the lunar module used by the astronauts to land on the moon.
We learn about Alan Shepard's comeback from an inner ear problem that grounded him to groundbreaking surgery that allowed him to fly on Apollo 14 in 1971. At the time, he was the oldest astronaut to launch into space. He was 47.
The Greek chorus in From the Earth to the Moon Emmett Seaborne, the news anchor of the fictional National Television Company.
Character actor Lane Smith plays Seaborne, a journalist with deep knowledge about the space program.
From the Earth to the Moon also shows the behind-the-scenes drama of America's heroes.
How did NASA decide who would be the first astronaut to set foot on the moon and how did Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin address that situation between themselves?
What impact did the astronauts' professional lives have on their families.
And how did the astronauts train for subjects beyond flying, for example, geology, to familiarize themselves with moon rocks that could unlock secrets of the universe?
From the Earth to the Moon is a terrific miniseries that intensifies a long faded spotlight and shines it on America's space pioneers.
During a decade of war, assassinations of political leaders, and riots in the streets, the brave men and women involved in America's space program gave something good to America and the world.
Something inspirational.
Something awesome.
david@davidkrell.com
In 1994, Ron Howard brought the story of Apollo 13 to the big screen. Directed by Howard and starring Tom Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 is the classic kid stuck in a well story line. Except it takes place in outer space.
Apollo 13 served as the basis for space buff Hanks to further explore NASA's Golden Age in the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.
Co-produced by Hanks, Howard, Michael Bostick, and Brian Grazer, From the Earth to the Moon is a 12-part miniseries detailing the Apollo space program based on the book Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin.
Hanks introduces each episode with a brief monologue.
From the Earth to the Moon won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries.
It shows the intensity, creativity, and dedication of the Apollo engineers, managers, and astronauts.
It reveals stories that aren't likely known beyond space historians, space buffs, and NASA insiders.
We learn about the improvements in the Apollo spacecraft triggered by the investigation into Apollo 1 fire that killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White.
We learn about the engineers' trial and error that led to the creation of the lunar module used by the astronauts to land on the moon.
We learn about Alan Shepard's comeback from an inner ear problem that grounded him to groundbreaking surgery that allowed him to fly on Apollo 14 in 1971. At the time, he was the oldest astronaut to launch into space. He was 47.
The Greek chorus in From the Earth to the Moon Emmett Seaborne, the news anchor of the fictional National Television Company.
Character actor Lane Smith plays Seaborne, a journalist with deep knowledge about the space program.
From the Earth to the Moon also shows the behind-the-scenes drama of America's heroes.
How did NASA decide who would be the first astronaut to set foot on the moon and how did Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin address that situation between themselves?
What impact did the astronauts' professional lives have on their families.
And how did the astronauts train for subjects beyond flying, for example, geology, to familiarize themselves with moon rocks that could unlock secrets of the universe?
From the Earth to the Moon is a terrific miniseries that intensifies a long faded spotlight and shines it on America's space pioneers.
During a decade of war, assassinations of political leaders, and riots in the streets, the brave men and women involved in America's space program gave something good to America and the world.
Something inspirational.
Something awesome.