Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Truman Bradley hosted the Science fiction Theatre television show for the entire run beginning in 1955 until its end in 1957. Two seasons were aired with 39 episodes each for a total of 78. With real life scienced experts serving as advisors for the show, many subjects of the time were included, such as UFO's, mental telepathy, psycho kinesis, robots, man's first flight into ouiter space, and the possibility of thawing out frozen prehistoric animals were dealth with in a "What If" scenario.
With the above link you can purchase all 78 episodes. I found this link with the TV link I posted earlier. I'm tempted to purchase it myself.
Our local station used to have "Sci-Fi Sundays" (mostly 50's Sci-Fi) from noon to 6pm after the NFL season was over. They would show episodes of SFT as there usually was a 1/2 hour spot somewhere that needed filling in between movies.
To me it was like one of those Golden "How & Why" Books come to life. I want to say that the people who did this show (Ivan Tors?) also did movies like "Gog", "Magnetic Monster", and "Riders to the Stars" - all early 50's Sci-Fi B grade movies who tried to present their science very seriously. Or I could be completely wrong on that.
May have to spring for it for Christmas.
Last edited by cougfan; 10-20-2009 at 04:08 PM..
Reason: spelling
I watched Science Fiction Theatre when it first came out in 1955. It was an oasis of science and sci-fiction on television. It had no competitors. I loved the intro and the ending. If you have watched "Back to the Future" it was featured in the small town. The father loved that show and preferred it to going on a date.
I have always liked science and this was my first taste on tv. I went on to read sci-fi in books in the 60's. Heinlein, Asimov, Clarke. But SFT will always hold a special place.
In the 1950's I also saw Day the Earth Stood Still, Them!, Monster in the Black Lagoon, When World's Collide, Forbidden Planet, and many more movies in the neighborhood theatres or the drive-in thatres.
In the 1950's I also saw Day the Earth Stood Still, Them!, Monster in the Black Lagoon, When World's Collide, Forbidden Planet, and many more movies in the neighborhood theatres or the drive-in thatres.
I've seen those movies. Forbidden Planet was a favorite classic, with the Flying Saucer-style space craft and Robbie the Robot.
Is Monster in the Black Lagoon the same as Creature From the Black Lagoon?
My mistake, your right, it is Creature From the Black Lagoon.
I was pretty sure that's what you meant. Sort of a weird version of Beauty and the Beast. The theme seemed to be that it was territorial and just wanted to be left alone. After the Gill-man kidnapped the girl, it's not certain if the creature intended to eat her, although with its fish mouth, it doesn't seem likely it could eat and chew anything larger than small fish. It did have some nasty looking spiny claws though. The sequel, The Creature Walks Among Us, was pretty boring in comparison.
It seems like there was a flurry of man-like monster films where the monster grabs the girl without harming her, then ends up getting killed by men trying to rescue her.
In the various sci-fi flicks of the 50s and early 60s, there were a few gems, but most were awful B-movies with terrible script lines that rightfully deserved the hoots and jeers of the audience, or as excuses for couples to make out in the dark.
... In the 1950's I also saw Day the Earth Stood Still, Them!, Monster in the Black Lagoon, When World's Collide, Forbidden Planet, and many more movies in the neighborhood theatres or the drive-in thatres.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NightBazaar
In the various sci-fi flicks of the 50s and early 60s, there were a few gems, but most were awful B-movies with terrible script lines that rightfully deserved the hoots and jeers of the audience, or as excuses for couples to make out in the dark.
When I was a kid my parents and two aunts and uncles would take their post WWII kids to the Allen Theater in Takoma Park MD on Saturdays for a double bill SF movie afternoon. I'm not sure what they did during those few hours (shopping?) but we enjoyed the great movies, some good some bad, but all a delight. We also had an old B&W TV in the attic where I watched those movies on Saturday nights. Great times
Well, I opened the wallet and bought the series - the audio/video quality of each episode varies from fair to excellent. It sure brought back some memories.
This show was made with an awe and wonderment of what the future and science could bring us - definately out of place with our more cynical society of today. Plus, the "experiments" in the beginning of each show are still neat to see (even in my mid-40's)
When I was a kid my parents and two aunts and uncles would take their post WWII kids to the Allen Theater in Takoma Park MD on Saturdays for a double bill SF movie afternoon. I'm not sure what they did during those few hours (shopping?) but we enjoyed the great movies, some good some bad, but all a delight. We also had an old B&W TV in the attic where I watched those movies on Saturday nights. Great times
You're right. No matter how bad the storyline and acting were, they were fun movies to see.
I loved "Them!". I could watch it over and over and I have.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I want to say that the people who did this show (Ivan Tors?) also did movies like "Gog", "Magnetic Monster", and "Riders to the Stars" - all early 50's Sci-Fi B grade movies who tried to present their science very seriously. Or I could be completely wrong on that.
