Space Command (TV series)

Space Command
GenreChildren's science fiction
Written byAlfred Harris[1][2]
Directed byMurray Chercover[2]
StarringBob Barclay
James Doohan
Austin Willis
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
Production
ProducerMurray Chercover[1]
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
Release13 March 1953 (1953-03-13) –
29 May 1954 (1954-05-29)[1]
Related
Tales of Adventure[1]
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Space Command was a Canadian children's science fiction television adventure series, broadcast on CBC Television in 1953 and 1954, the first time the network aired its own dramatic series.[3][4]

Created by Alfred Harris, the series focused on the activities of young space lieutenant Frank Anderson (Robert Barclay) aboard the space ship XSW1, along with his crewmate Phil Mitchell (James Doohan, best known as Scotty on Star Trek)[5][6] and XSW1 captain Steve Cassel (Harry Geldard). Their missions dealt with various space exploration and science subjects, including sunspots, space medicine, and the search for extraterrestrial life.

The XSW1 was operated by the worldwide Space Command organization,[5][7] which concerned itself with space exploration and colonization. Characters at Space Command Earth included Dr. Joseph Edmunds (Andrew Anthony), Ilene Morris (Aileen Taylor), and Dr. Fleming, (Austin Willis).[2] Other actors appearing on the series included Joe Austin, Cec Linder, Barry Morse (later of the TV series The Fugitive and Space: 1999),[8] and William Shatner (Star Trek).[2][9]

Although short-lived, Space Command proved to be a hit dramatic program for CBC's earliest years.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d Allan, Blaine. "(Seven to Sprockets) Space Command". CBC Television Series 1952 to 1982. Queen's University. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Ernest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Rainsberry, F. B. (1988). A history of children's television in English Canada, 1952–1986. Scarecrow Press. pp. 117, 118. ISBN 0-8108-2079-X.
  4. ^ "CBC CA Image of the Day: Space Command".
  5. ^ a b CBC Arts (7 July 2004). "TV's 'Scotty' has Alzheimer's". CBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  6. ^ Hayward, Anthony (22 July 2005). "James Doohan (obituary)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference GM13Mar1953 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Morse, Barry (2004). Pulling Faces, Making Noises: A Life on Stage, Screen & Radio. iUniverse, Inc. p. 159. ISBN 0595321690.
  9. ^ Corcelli, John (April 2002). "Space Command". Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved 1 June 2008.