I agree :-) I'm doing a video in January about why exactly the show changed and got silly. It's not really for the reasons most people think. Merry Christmas :-) Dan
I grew up with Lost In Space, first in the original run and then in reruns. It was one of my first great loves, and I am still enormously fond of it to this day, having amassed quite a collection of B9 Robots over the years, including some of the rarest toys based on the character (including the Remco toy, the Mexican version, the Brazilian version, and the AHI Japanese toy, among many others....I think the recent Diamond Select Robots are some of the nicest ones ever made). And without Jonathon Harris as Dr. Smith and the B9 Robot I personally don't think the series would have ever achieved the iconic status it did.
Give us more indepth Lost In Space. Thanks so much for this on Christmas morning Australia time. My favourite childhood series. The musical score of LOS is a massive feature....above its station.
Thanks Dan that was incredible! Very well done. I grew up on Lost in Space (born 1961) and all us six kids were glued to the only TV in the house every week without fail.
Great job! Never noticed John Williams in the credits. Thanks for the heads up. Make sure you track down the chariot. I think somebody is fixing it up.
Hello :-) yes, I know who has the chariot. He's had it for ages and has been planning to restore it, but that never happened. I'm planning to do a video on The Chariot in January :-) merry christmas, Dan
Irwin Allen was a visionary, a spokesman for the world of tomorrow. Lost In Space took place in 1997, and spoke of a world where anything would be possible. Irwin was telling us to embrace the future, because 1997 would be here one day, and that hi-tech would play a much bigger part in our lives that just a TV show. And what a way he did it too!
Thanks Dan. Ive watched the pilot many times, and what a brilliant move by Irwin to edit in the new footage for the series. The man didnt like to waste anything. Looking forward for more. Merry Christmas!
"The man didnt like to waste anything" That's for sure. But it would have still been so much better if they had toned down the goofiness and made it a bit more serious.
Even as a kid, I thought that Don should have taken Dr Smith out behind some rocks and not come back with him. Always in love with Penny. Angela Cartwright.
One of my favorite episodes is "The Prisoners Of Space" from Season Two. The situational music from "The Day The Earth Stood Still" during the courtroom scenes was chilling. Add to it the set pieces, the mist crawling along the floor, and the gallery of space monsters headed by Judge Iko, and it's a space monster lover's dream!
Happy Xmas, Just found your channel, as a youngster in late 60s London I loved "Lost in Space" and still do,thereafter it was not reshown on tv until the 80s back then no dvds and vids of these programs was hard to get, im just reconnecting with things I loved back then and it's great. Best wishes to yourself,family,friends and fellow viewers.
I lived this show watching reruns throughout the 70s where I learned about the transition from black and white television from it and many other shows from the 60s.
Likewise. As a grade-school kid, I had a crush on Penny. In adulthood, verging on lecherous male senior citizen, Judy and Maureen look pretty darn hot....
I read on a Lost in Space Fan Website, and on Wikipedia, that the Jupiter 2 had what's called an Anti-Gravity Drive, and was only used 1 time. This Anti-Gravity Drive was used to escape Earth's Gravity as part of the Ship's Propulsion System. It produced 250 Mega-Watts of power, with each rotation of The Power Fusion Core beanath The Ship, producing the glow as the Jupiter 2 Lifted Off into space. Also in the rarely seen pilot, No Place to Hide. Now while The Robinson Family, and Major Don West were catching up on some Zzzzzz's in the Freezing Tubes, Dr. Smith felt the Full Power of The Jupiter 2 during Liftoff. Just before the Famous Serious Scream at Liftoff, an Electrical Static sound is heard just before Dr. Smith's Scream. The Anti-Gravity Drive definitely had an unpleasant effect, because Dr. Smith wasn't looking to well as he unstrapped himself from the Launch Couch. Sweating, and almost fell flat on his face, before trying to get in touch with Aeolus 14-Umbra. Now I guess you can tell I'm a Big Fan of Lost in Space.🤣 But I just wonder how come the Anti-Gravity Drive was never mentioned in the show?? The glow around The Jupiter 2 during Liftoff from Earth, put me in mind of the movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still, when The Flying Saucer had the glowing effect. Some people don't realize. But Jonathan Harris was going to be killed off after about the 1st 5 Episodes of Lost in Space, and he knew that he wanted to continue to work. So he began to sneak in what The Actor loved doing best. Comedic Villainy. And as they say, The Rest is History. Jonathan Harris created a Character that wasn't on One Single Piece of Paper. Because of His Talent, The rest of The Cast, and Crew were Employed for 3 seasons. Lost in Space was cancelled for the reason Irwin Allen wanted to spend More Money on Special Effects for Season 4, and the other Networks didn't pick up the show because of what Irwin wanted to spend. The upper deck of The Jupiter 2 alone coast around 350k. That was a lot of money during that time period. Thanks for letting me Rant!!🤣🤣🤣🌌
Because season 1 was shot in B&W I always thought it ot gave the epsodes a Twiight Zone vibe. It certainly made their situations look more immediate and dire.When the show went to color the whole thing looked like a cartoon.
Lost In Space was my favorite show as a kid and I still have fond memories as a 60 year old. And now you are my favorite UA-camr, helping to keep Lost In Space alive.
Great video. LOST IN SPACE was one of my favorite video. I can honestly say that it groomed me for a career at NASA that lasted for over 30 years !!! Again , Thanks for this great video !!! 🤖🤖🤖
As a kid, I only liked it when they were actually IN SPACE...with the Jupiter 2 flying off everywhere it was WONDERFUL...but then...got close to a planet.. and then....CRASH.. another couple of months wandering around an "deserted" busy planet , with aliens coming across them at every turn..
Lost in space was such a great show in the beginning. Then, instead of a show with some solid thought-provoking Sci-Fi concepts, it became the Will Robinson - Dr. Smith show. Much like Family Matters became The Urkel Show.
Dr. Smith and the robot turned Lost in Space into a CLOWN SHOW with most of the episodes revolving around Smith's antics, sabotage, and greed with the robot as comic relief!
Also, the very first Advertisement CBS did for that 1965 'Lost in Space' promo, to sell the series to the public and to their network affiliates... featured the background music from, 'The Twilight Zone.' CBS got so much mileage from using those TZ musical beds for various CBS shows over the years.
I am a FIRST gen Lost in Space camper as they were being made & released dates ( hated it when they said they would not be shown for 2 weeks!!!) I was born on 6-19-1958
I was born in 57 and I saw this religiously. But I was scared as a kid so I would hide behind the couch with a scary episodes. But me and all my friends always watch Lost in Space and we talked about it the next day
To Dan Monroe thanks for the commentaries. I'm a Lost In Space fan. I was watching that in the 70s and still do so today. I'm in my late 50s and still clinging on to all those classic shows that bring back memories of the 70s. I've never forgotten the times I'd run from school to catch the 4:00 O clock tv screening each week. Dan love your great insight into all classic shows films. God bless. From George in Australia.👍
I love your channel Sir. I absolutely loved the 1960s Lost in Space series. Your content on it is Amazing. I have never seen all of this behind the scenes information presented at one place since your channel began. Bravo sir. !!! And thank you. !!!!
These shows were a huge part of my childhood. I was a member of the Robinson family in my childhood dreams more often than I can remember. I am so glad you are taking up the mantle so brilliantly , and professionally to keep these great memories, and ingenious shows alive . I cant wait to see what you post next!! Great job.
I grew up with lost in space. A lot of people will say that Doctor Smith and the robot ruined a great science fiction show. But what they failed to realize is this was 1960s. Me and my brothers used to get so mad at Doctor Smith, my mother would laugh. We wanted to reach into the television set and kill him. Without Doctor Smith and the robot, the show would never have survived. The there was not enough understanding of science. Fiction shows back then to make this thing go week after week month after month year after year.. Kids would have lost interest in the show. It was not geared towards adults to begin with. I love it then and I still love it today. I have the entire series collection. And I watch it faithfully once or twice a year during a binge watch.
I believe I watched every episode of this series as it always had a cliffhanger that kept you waiting for the next episode. Plus I was a fan of Bill Mumy as he and I share the same birthday and year of birth so whenever I see clips of him I know exactly how old I was at that time too.
1960's TV was very memorable for a kid to grow up with. I don't think any other decade had so much variety in programming and with only three channels to choose from.
I don't know about that. The 1970s had Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Mork and Mindy, etc. Those were a pretty hefty line up of shows.
There is another story that while Roddenberry was going around the stations trying to sell star trek. They took the idea and changed it to lost in space.
Interesting how this video popped up as a suggestion on yutube after I have been watching season 1 today on Amzon. Finished The Hungry Sea a little while ago. Just as good as it was the first time I saw it in the late 60s. The data provided by your video has allowed me to draw a favorable conclusion and it does compute. Now I will proceed to watch Waren Oats, the cowboy astronaut. Merry Christmas!
I love these little trips down cinematic memory lane. I look forward to your episodes on the films and TV that made up the adventures in my dreams as a child. Keep up the great work!!
I'd love to see you talk about Scott O'Brien's ill-fated 2003 pitch for an animated Lost in Space show. I've always wondered what the backstory on that was.
I'm planning videos on not only that, but the cartoon from the '70s and also the Robinsons first TV pilot, which failed. Thanks for writing and Merry Christmas :-) Dan
@MediaMasterDesign That's stellar! I'm so glad to see another channel on here repping LiS. And with way better production values than my videos, too. I commend you, sir.
This was the best show during the Wednesday night family hour.I was hooked from the first.I was only seven years old.This became my all time favorite show.Thank you for your video.
As a follow up to my previous comment, I highly recommend Marc Cushman's trio of LiS books (one for each Season) which break down the origin of the show, and every single episode in order of which they were shot and aired -- with informative (and mostly unknown) behind the scenes stories. Volume Two explains how the show rapidly changed from a family adventure show to the colorful, but often inane/campy sci-fi.
Fantastic work Dan only I thought John Williams wrote the scores to 4 of the first 5 shows: 'The Reluctant Stowaway', 'Island in the Sky', 'There Were Giants in the Earth' and 'The Hungry Sea'. Williams best work in my opinion... I never tire of listening to them.
I'd like to learn why CBS chose to reconfigure LIS as children's television starting with episode 5. The first four episodes were surprisingly good but when evil Col. Smith became sniveling Dr. Smith, the whole thing went down the drain. It seems that in that era CBS programming executives couldn't make a good decision to save their lives, fortunately Charles Schulz was able to override the wretched things they wanted to do to A Charlie Brown Christmas.
That's a common internet myth that was dismantled by both Bill Mumy and Mark Goddard at convention appearances over the years. They said LIS was always intended (by Irwin Allen, CBS and the main sponsor General Mills cereal) to be a children's show and the cartoon silly opening credits that we saw starting September 1965 clearly show that with the characters acting goofy and dancing on a line waving at the camera, etc. The story editor Anthony Wilson based Dr. Smith on Long John Silver ('pirate with a heart of gold') from 'Treasure Island'. And even in the 4th episode (There Were Giants In The Earth) Smith is already being depicted as 'sniveling' with his own unique whimsical music cue that lasted throughout the series. I would recommend Marc Cushman's three volume history of the show which is very accurate.
I love 1960's sci-fi for the nostalgia if nothing else. So much of it had wonderful concepts that somehow wasn't quite fulfilled on camera, at least that's been my experience. And just like 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea', the first season in black & white was the best sci-fi of the series, and then got campy in the subsequent seasons filmed in color. I still love to watch it. Yeah, even 'The Great Vegetable Rebellion', I guess.
I remember when it first aired in b&w. Tge show in early days it was series. Then went campy. Saw the reunioin in Boston think 95. Mumy and rest talked about how network wanted it to change, geared more towards kids. So went campy. Note cleopatra fist female actress to be paid one million. Sad Williams didnt like tge transformation to campy. Mumy was in so many shows and movie back then... Bardot. Have no fear , Smith is here. Met mumy many if times. Glad to meet Harris and Mumy together at one of his last conventions.
Great information! I had always heard the chariot was built at the factory to Mr. Allen's specifications for the show! So it was instead built from an already owned Sprite the studio had. I learn something from every one of your wonderful videos! Thanks for all you do for us fans!
Warn warming. Orig. Chariot built and then sold when SERIES. Folded. A ski resort in NY has it rotting on slopes.....a Boston. Elevator company built a copy and they display at shows
A big fan of the 1960s Lost in Space was Parker Posey, who said she would get out of bed early to watch Lost in Space reruns when she was a child. Her portrayal and re-imagining of Dr. Smith in the 2018 Lost in Space remake resulted in a much more believable and enigmatic character, I think. If it wasn't for her I probably would have abandoned the 2018 Lost in Space after the first season.
Parker Posey was an enormous fan of the show. Kevin Burns actually gave her a bunch of Jonathan Harris's ascots that he wore around his neck. I'm going to do a couple videos on the Netflix Lost in Space this year :-) thanks for reaching out, Dan :-)
1965 was perfect for this the entire country was hooked on our astronauts and the space race against Russia to get to the moon first it was the perfect show for that moment in time.
As a youngun (it debuted on my 7th birthday!) I sure hated Dr. Smith and struggled with why they would continually allow him to stay around when all he did was subvert the family and cause life threatening chaos. He eventually became more of a comedy character and was less threatening. I too would have prefered it be more sci-fi and not all these campy weekly characters that happened to land on the same planet. Still, I loved the show and there was nothing quite like the Space Family Robinson.
Love that promo ! The network trying sound hip: "...as far-out as the star!". Yeah, far-out man. Nice to see credit for Paul there. Will brother make a guest appearance on a future Dan Monroe video ??
Not only did they add a lower deck: sleeping quarters etc., subsequently there was an even lower deck which consisted of shelving, food supplies and other stores. Then in one episode there was yet one more lower deck where there was some kind of crawl space for a power plant or propulsion system / engine room. From the space ship’s side profile none of this would have fit.
William Shatner in one of his books talks about Gene Roddenberry going to CBS in 1964 to pitch Star Trek. CBS gave him audience, but cut in to his presentation, wanting to know how specifically he was going to budget aliens, robots, space ships etc. every week. Hesitantly, GR showed them his financial plans for his show. CBS abruptly called the meeting to a close and sent him away. CBS used Roddenberry's information to make Lost in Space.
I think i remember that in the ep Hungrey Sea when the family left Smith in the ship, there was a scene where due to the heating elements not working, Smith froze to death. Harris got wind of this and thought man i have to do a 380 on this and just make this character a loveable bumbling idiot, not a dangerous killer. And Allen agreed.😮😮😮😂
I remember that there was a comic book called space family Robinson which after the first few episodes of lost in space, they changed the name of the comic to Space family Robinson lost in space. I`m 90 years old now so I remember it quite well.
I've seen two different pilot episodes and both were quite intelligent and didn't insult your go into silliness.Also if I remember correctly the chariot was amphibious.
Watched a couple first season episodes this morning. That was the best year by far-solid adventure.
I agree :-) I'm doing a video in January about why exactly the show changed and got silly. It's not really for the reasons most people think. Merry Christmas :-) Dan
My delicate back, oh dear, oh my. The pain, the...pain
Dr. Smith was so needy and frail
I have a delicate condition.
Oh the pain! Oh the paint of it all!
Thanks Dan. I couldn't get enough of this show when I was a kid.
Thanks for watching :-) merry christmas, Dan
I grew up with Lost In Space, first in the original run and then in reruns. It was one of my first great loves, and I am still enormously fond of it to this day, having amassed quite a collection of B9 Robots over the years, including some of the rarest toys based on the character (including the Remco toy, the Mexican version, the Brazilian version, and the AHI Japanese toy, among many others....I think the recent Diamond Select Robots are some of the nicest ones ever made). And without Jonathon Harris as Dr. Smith and the B9 Robot I personally don't think the series would have ever achieved the iconic status it did.
Give us more indepth Lost In Space. Thanks so much for this on Christmas morning Australia time. My favourite childhood series. The musical score of LOS is a massive feature....above its station.
Hey :-) thanks so much and Merry christmas. Lots more Lost in Space stuff to come :-) Dan
Thanks Dan that was incredible! Very well done. I grew up on Lost in Space (born 1961) and all us six kids were glued to the only TV in the house every week without fail.
Hey, thank you so much and Merry Christmas :-) Dan
Now you’ve done it. Reignited my interest and surely I must complete my b9 now. Oh the pain…
The first part applies to me! What about "Oh, the expense"!
Great job! Never noticed John Williams in the credits. Thanks for the heads up. Make sure you track down the chariot. I think somebody is fixing it up.
Hello :-) yes, I know who has the chariot. He's had it for ages and has been planning to restore it, but that never happened. I'm planning to do a video on The Chariot in January :-) merry christmas, Dan
Irwin Allen was a visionary, a spokesman for the world of tomorrow. Lost In Space took place in 1997, and spoke of a world where anything would be possible. Irwin was telling us to embrace the future, because 1997 would be here one day, and that hi-tech would play a much bigger part in our lives that just a TV show. And what a way he did it too!
You are rekindling my love for Lost in Space!
Thanks Dan. Ive watched the pilot many times, and what a brilliant move by Irwin to edit in the new footage for the series. The man didnt like to waste anything. Looking forward for more.
Merry Christmas!
Hey, thanks for the great message. New videos coming soon thanks :-)
"The man didnt like to waste anything" That's for sure. But it would have still been so much better if they had toned down the goofiness and made it a bit more serious.
Even as a kid, I thought that Don should have taken Dr Smith out behind some rocks and not come back with him. Always in love with Penny. Angela Cartwright.
One of my favorite episodes is "The Prisoners Of Space" from Season Two. The situational music from "The Day The Earth Stood Still" during the courtroom scenes was chilling. Add to it the set pieces, the mist crawling along the floor, and the gallery of space monsters headed by Judge Iko, and it's a space monster lover's dream!
I'm so glad I ran across your channel love your videos thank you soooooo much.
HEY!! Thank YOU and Merry Christmas!! Dan :)
Happy Xmas, Just found your channel, as a youngster in late 60s London I loved "Lost in Space" and still do,thereafter it was not reshown on tv until the 80s back then no dvds and vids of these programs was hard to get, im just reconnecting with things I loved back then and it's great.
Best wishes to yourself,family,friends and fellow viewers.
Excellent video - i'm 57 and there is stuff I never knew, I'm so in love with this show, but wished it had stayed serious- it may have lasted 5 years.
I lived this show watching reruns throughout the 70s where I learned about the transition from black and white television from it and many other shows from the 60s.
Extremely interesting and so well told. Thanks for the insights!!
Thank you so much :-) Merry christmas, Dan
I’m just 3 years younger than Angela Cartwright. I paid no attention to Judy. I only had eyes for Penny! ❤
Likewise. As a grade-school kid, I had a crush on Penny. In adulthood, verging on lecherous male senior citizen, Judy and Maureen look pretty darn hot....
Same, she seemed like more fun. Judy came off a bit stuffy, all business.
I read on a Lost in Space Fan Website, and on Wikipedia, that the Jupiter 2 had what's called an Anti-Gravity Drive, and was only used 1 time. This Anti-Gravity Drive was used to escape Earth's Gravity as part of the Ship's Propulsion System. It produced 250 Mega-Watts of power, with each rotation of The Power Fusion Core beanath The Ship, producing the glow as the Jupiter 2 Lifted Off into space. Also in the rarely seen pilot, No Place to Hide. Now while The Robinson Family, and Major Don West were catching up on some Zzzzzz's in the Freezing Tubes, Dr. Smith felt the Full Power of The Jupiter 2 during Liftoff. Just before the Famous Serious Scream at Liftoff, an Electrical Static sound is heard just before Dr. Smith's Scream. The Anti-Gravity Drive definitely had an unpleasant effect, because Dr. Smith wasn't looking to well as he unstrapped himself from the Launch Couch. Sweating, and almost fell flat on his face, before trying to get in touch with Aeolus 14-Umbra. Now I guess you can tell I'm a Big Fan of Lost in Space.🤣 But I just wonder how come the Anti-Gravity Drive was never mentioned in the show?? The glow around The Jupiter 2 during Liftoff from Earth, put me in mind of the movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still, when The Flying Saucer had the glowing effect. Some people don't realize. But Jonathan Harris was going to be killed off after about the 1st 5 Episodes of Lost in Space, and he knew that he wanted to continue to work. So he began to sneak in what The Actor loved doing best. Comedic Villainy. And as they say, The Rest is History. Jonathan Harris created a Character that wasn't on One Single Piece of Paper. Because of His Talent, The rest of The Cast, and Crew were Employed for 3 seasons. Lost in Space was cancelled for the reason Irwin Allen wanted to spend More Money on Special Effects for Season 4, and the other Networks didn't pick up the show because of what Irwin wanted to spend. The upper deck of The Jupiter 2 alone coast around 350k. That was a lot of money during that time period. Thanks for letting me Rant!!🤣🤣🤣🌌
I can't believe I didn't make the connection until I saw the pilot interview here with Guy Williams. He looks just like George Clooney!!!
Hello Dan, Another great story on Lost in Space. This was my favorite show, and I remember this, like it was yesterday. Thank you!
Finding your channel and watching these videos is the best Christmas gift I could get!
Merry Christmas Dan!
Hey, thank you so much :-) that means more than you know. More videos to come :-) merry christmas, Dan
Because season 1 was shot in B&W I always thought it ot gave the epsodes a Twiight Zone vibe. It certainly made their situations look more immediate and dire.When the show went to color the whole thing looked like a cartoon.
Some more great work Dan , looking forward to your 1st season review & right up/story cheers from Down under buddy
Lost In Space was my favorite show as a kid and I still have fond memories as a 60 year old. And now you are my favorite UA-camr, helping to keep Lost In Space alive.
Great video. LOST IN SPACE was one of my favorite video.
I can honestly say that it groomed me for a career at NASA that lasted for over 30 years !!!
Again , Thanks for this great video !!! 🤖🤖🤖
As a kid, I only liked it when they were actually IN SPACE...with the Jupiter 2 flying off everywhere it was WONDERFUL...but then...got close to a planet.. and then....CRASH.. another couple of months wandering around an "deserted" busy planet , with aliens coming across them at every turn..
Yes i loved it too whenever the j2 was flying in space the sound of those engines still is an awesome sound today
Yes! I was so great when they finally got the J2 fixed and were able to travel to another world. Sadly it just didn't happen enough.
@@davecottee8725 an RV in space exploring the universe!
This was a favorite show of mine when i was a kid. Thanks for doing this episode.
my favorite channel here 👍🏻👏🏻
Lost in space was such a great show in the beginning. Then, instead of a show with some solid thought-provoking Sci-Fi concepts, it became the Will Robinson - Dr. Smith show. Much like Family Matters became The Urkel Show.
They should have shoved Dr. Smith out of the airlock as soon as he was discovered as a stow away.
Don't forget Robot and Penny on Lost in space while on Family Matters Steve Urkel's transformation chamber and Myra which were added to show.
Nicely done Dan, I shared this on the proboards LIS forum! Merry Christmas!🎅👍👍
Thank you so much :-) Merry christmas, Dan
It's probably the best-looking space craft of any show or movie. So iconic looking it seems that tons of hoax UFO 🛸 videos look just like it.
Very intriguing insights into how LIS got started! Nice!
I turned 12 years old the day before it first aired. Thanks for posting!
Loved it then at 8 years old, and LOVE IT today 58 years later.
I was a child when Lost In Space first aired. I recall covering my ears during the opening music since it frightened me.
Dr. Smith and the robot turned Lost in Space into a CLOWN SHOW with most of the episodes revolving around Smith's antics, sabotage, and greed with the robot as comic relief!
Agreed. It should have been sustained as a serious show like in the first episode.
Also, the very first Advertisement CBS did for that 1965 'Lost in Space' promo, to sell the series to the public and to their network affiliates... featured the background music from, 'The Twilight Zone.' CBS got so much mileage from using those TZ musical beds for various CBS shows over the years.
It reminds me a bit of the Star Trek pilot "The Cage". Different characters initially, then it morphed into what we now know as TOS.
John Williams is an amazing composer/director.
If you get the time, please do a series on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Richard Basehart & David Hedison, and what a story. :)
I am a FIRST gen Lost in Space camper as they were being made & released dates ( hated it when they said they would not be shown for 2 weeks!!!) I was born on 6-19-1958
That's outstanding :-) I wish I was. I was second generation. Hope you had a great christmas, Dan :-)
I was born in 57 and I saw this religiously. But I was scared as a kid so I would hide behind the couch with a scary episodes. But me and all my friends always watch Lost in Space and we talked about it the next day
To Dan Monroe thanks for the commentaries. I'm a Lost In Space fan. I was watching that in the 70s and still do so today. I'm in my late 50s and still clinging on to all those classic shows that bring back memories of the 70s. I've never forgotten the times I'd run from school to catch the 4:00 O clock tv screening each week. Dan love your great insight into all classic shows films. God bless. From George in Australia.👍
And thank you for the tribute!
I'm 60 and have the DVD version of the series!
Awesome video, it was one of my favorite shows growing up!
Thanks👍
Dude I love your commentaries, keep it up.
Thanks Dan, Merry Christmas!
Thank you :-) Merry Christmas :-)
I love your channel Sir. I absolutely loved the 1960s Lost in Space series. Your content on it is Amazing. I have never seen all of this behind the scenes information presented at one place since your channel began. Bravo sir. !!! And thank you. !!!!
the best coverage thank you
Thanks, Dan! Loved it!
Thank you :-) Merry Christmas
These shows were a huge part of my childhood. I was a member of the Robinson family in my childhood dreams more often than I can remember. I am so glad you are taking up the mantle so brilliantly , and professionally to keep these great memories, and ingenious shows alive . I cant wait to see what you post next!! Great job.
This channel has definitely become a favorite!
Hey Everyone out there in DM Land is this Guy by the Name of Dan Monroe AWESOME in EVERYTHING HE DOES on HIS CHANNEL or WHAT ???
So happy I found your videos!!! Merry Christmas!!!!
Thank you so much :-) Merry Christmas :-) Dan
I grew up with lost in space. A lot of people will say that Doctor Smith and the robot ruined a great science fiction show. But what they failed to realize is this was 1960s. Me and my brothers used to get so mad at Doctor Smith, my mother would laugh. We wanted to reach into the television set and kill him. Without Doctor Smith and the robot, the show would never have survived. The there was not enough understanding of science. Fiction shows back then to make this thing go week after week month after month year after year.. Kids would have lost interest in the show. It was not geared towards adults to begin with. I love it then and I still love it today. I have the entire series collection. And I watch it faithfully once or twice a year during a binge watch.
I completely agree with you :-) people forget the error, and the fact it was made for kids. We have to enjoy it for what it is :-) cheers, Dan
I believe I watched every episode of this series as it always had a cliffhanger that kept you waiting for the next episode. Plus I was a fan of Bill Mumy as he and I share the same birthday and year of birth so whenever I see clips of him I know exactly how old I was at that time too.
1960's TV was very memorable for a kid to grow up with. I don't think any other decade had so much variety in programming and with only three channels to choose from.
I don't know about that. The 1970s had Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Mork and Mindy, etc. Those were a pretty hefty line up of shows.
Great job, Dan! Grew up with LOST IN SPACE, so I’m totally enjoying this channel. Awesome work on research and additional info! BRAVO!!
As a boy the main draw card for me was Angela Cartwright.
That's how I felt when I was ten.
There is another story that while Roddenberry was going around the stations trying to sell star trek. They took the idea and changed it to lost in space.
Interesting how this video popped up as a suggestion on yutube after I have been watching season 1 today on Amzon. Finished The Hungry Sea a little while ago. Just as good as it was the first time I saw it in the late 60s. The data provided by your video has allowed me to draw a favorable conclusion and it does compute. Now I will proceed to watch Waren Oats, the cowboy astronaut. Merry Christmas!
I love these little trips down cinematic memory lane. I look forward to your episodes on the films and TV that made up the adventures in my dreams as a child. Keep up the great work!!
Interesting to hear Jerry Goldsmith’s Twilight Zone score to “Nervous Man in A Four Dollar Room” in the 1965 CBS promo.
Your Dr. smith is on point!
Thanks for your videos and your time
Thanks for watching :-) merry christmas, Dan
The pilot also included music from. “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef”
I'd love to see you talk about Scott O'Brien's ill-fated 2003 pitch for an animated Lost in Space show. I've always wondered what the backstory on that was.
I'm planning videos on not only that, but the cartoon from the '70s and also the Robinsons first TV pilot, which failed. Thanks for writing and Merry Christmas :-) Dan
@MediaMasterDesign That's stellar! I'm so glad to see another channel on here repping LiS. And with way better production values than my videos, too. I commend you, sir.
This was the best show during the Wednesday night family hour.I was hooked from the first.I was only seven years old.This became my all time favorite show.Thank you for your video.
Love all of your Lost in space thoughts. keep them coming. I'm locked in.
John Williams used LIS music in Death Star attack in 1st movie
As a follow up to my previous comment, I highly recommend Marc Cushman's trio of LiS books (one for each Season) which break down the origin of the show, and every single episode in order of which they were shot and aired -- with informative (and mostly unknown) behind the scenes stories. Volume Two explains how the show rapidly changed from a family adventure show to the colorful, but often inane/campy sci-fi.
Yes. Cushman s labors have been amazing.
Fantastic work Dan only I thought John Williams wrote the scores to 4 of the first 5 shows: 'The Reluctant Stowaway', 'Island in the Sky', 'There Were Giants in the Earth' and 'The Hungry Sea'. Williams best work in my opinion... I never tire of listening to them.
I always loved the scenes in the various Lost in Space shows where Guy Williams sits Will down for a father-son chat.
I don't know what I like more about these youtubes. Your voice, or the crop of nostalgia I get from the subject matter.
Rip major west
I'd like to learn why CBS chose to reconfigure LIS as children's television starting with episode 5. The first four episodes were surprisingly good but when evil Col. Smith became sniveling Dr. Smith, the whole thing went down the drain. It seems that in that era CBS programming executives couldn't make a good decision to save their lives, fortunately Charles Schulz was able to override the wretched things they wanted to do to A Charlie Brown Christmas.
That's a common internet myth that was dismantled by both Bill Mumy and Mark Goddard at convention appearances over the years. They said LIS was always intended (by Irwin Allen, CBS and the main sponsor General Mills cereal) to be a children's show and the cartoon silly opening credits that we saw starting September 1965 clearly show that with the characters acting goofy and dancing on a line waving at the camera, etc. The story editor Anthony Wilson based Dr. Smith on Long John Silver ('pirate with a heart of gold') from 'Treasure Island'. And even in the 4th episode (There Were Giants In The Earth) Smith is already being depicted as 'sniveling' with his own unique whimsical music cue that lasted throughout the series. I would recommend Marc Cushman's three volume history of the show which is very accurate.
All this info on my favorite childhood show. Thanks!
Super cool info!! I always wondered why Smith was a special guest star. lol
I love 1960's sci-fi for the nostalgia if nothing else. So much of it had wonderful concepts that somehow wasn't quite fulfilled on camera, at least that's been my experience. And just like 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea', the first season in black & white was the best sci-fi of the series, and then got campy in the subsequent seasons filmed in color. I still love to watch it. Yeah, even 'The Great Vegetable Rebellion', I guess.
There's actually a very good reason to show got campy, it's going to be one of my next videos. Stay tuned :-) thanks, Dan
Thank you -- enjoyed your note. I like Vegetable Rebellion too. Underrated spoof of the SF field and more.
I remember when it first aired in b&w. Tge show in early days it was series. Then went campy. Saw the reunioin in Boston think 95. Mumy and rest talked about how network wanted it to change, geared more towards kids. So went campy. Note cleopatra fist female actress to be paid one million. Sad Williams didnt like tge transformation to campy. Mumy was in so many shows and movie back then... Bardot. Have no fear , Smith is here. Met mumy many if times. Glad to meet Harris and Mumy together at one of his last conventions.
Great information! I had always heard the chariot was built at the factory to Mr. Allen's specifications for the show! So it was instead built from an already owned Sprite the studio had. I learn something from every one of your wonderful videos! Thanks for all you do for us fans!
Warn warming. Orig. Chariot built and then sold when SERIES. Folded. A ski resort in NY has it rotting on slopes.....a Boston. Elevator company built a copy and they display at shows
Dr. Smith and the Robot made Lost in Space what it is.
The Robot! And the computers in "Alpha Control" and the ship!
We really only ever watched it for Marta😊
That's how I felt when I saw the reruns at age 15.:-)
Excellent video! Brilliant Harris impression.
A big fan of the 1960s Lost in Space was Parker Posey, who said she would get out of bed early to watch Lost in Space reruns when she was a child. Her portrayal and re-imagining of Dr. Smith in the 2018 Lost in Space remake resulted in a much more believable and enigmatic character, I think. If it wasn't for her I probably would have abandoned the 2018 Lost in Space after the first season.
Parker Posey was an enormous fan of the show. Kevin Burns actually gave her a bunch of Jonathan Harris's ascots that he wore around his neck. I'm going to do a couple videos on the Netflix Lost in Space this year :-) thanks for reaching out, Dan :-)
1965 was perfect for this the entire country was hooked on our astronauts and the space race against Russia to get to the moon first it was the perfect show for that moment in time.
True!
As a youngun (it debuted on my 7th birthday!) I sure hated Dr. Smith and struggled with why they would continually allow him to stay around when all he did was subvert the family and cause life threatening chaos. He eventually became more of a comedy character and was less threatening. I too would have prefered it be more sci-fi and not all these campy weekly characters that happened to land on the same planet. Still, I loved the show and there was nothing quite like the Space Family Robinson.
Love that promo ! The network trying sound hip: "...as far-out as the star!". Yeah, far-out man. Nice to see credit for Paul there. Will brother make a guest appearance on a future Dan Monroe video ??
Not only did they add a lower deck: sleeping quarters etc., subsequently there was an even lower deck which consisted of shelving, food supplies and other stores. Then in one episode there was yet one more lower deck where there was some kind of crawl space for a power plant or propulsion system / engine room. From the space ship’s side profile none of this would have fit.
Always wondered how that chariot fit in anywhere.
It’s really a Tardis.
@@ItsEverythingElse Plus that lunar lander thing.
Guy was a star he starred in Zorro before he got Lost in Space.
William Shatner in one of his books talks about Gene Roddenberry going to CBS in 1964 to pitch Star Trek. CBS gave him audience, but cut in to his presentation, wanting to know how specifically he was going to budget aliens, robots, space ships etc. every week. Hesitantly, GR showed them his financial plans for his show. CBS abruptly called the meeting to a close and sent him away. CBS used Roddenberry's information to make Lost in Space.
The reason I watched was because of Penny. It's ashamed she didn't get more screen time
Yeah, she was quite a looker in Season Three, Marta took a back seat if you ask me. :-)
Love this Dan! Great job. The LIS special effects were very impressive when I was 12. Lol!
Great info but my favorite season is still the 1st season and they should have kept the series in black and white.
I think i remember that in the ep Hungrey Sea when the family left Smith in the ship, there was a scene where due to the heating elements not working, Smith froze to death. Harris got wind of this and thought man i have to do a 380 on this and just make this character a loveable bumbling idiot, not a dangerous killer. And Allen agreed.😮😮😮😂
Trona, Lived there as a kid, played, and rode my bike, around the Principles.
I remember that there was a comic book called space family Robinson which after the first few episodes of lost in space, they changed the name of the comic to Space family Robinson lost in space. I`m 90 years old now so I remember it quite well.
Any plans for doing my favorite along with lost in space but also. "Voyage to the bottom of the sea" and a great movie "Fantastic Voyage"?
More ...longer ..more
Lol... you got it :-)
I've seen two different pilot episodes and both were quite intelligent and didn't insult your go into silliness.Also if I remember correctly the chariot was amphibious.
what a great dr smith impersonation
Please do "The Robot", too!