Classic Horrors Club

It’s a shame that no episodes exist for the series Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1953-54), because it sounds like it had potential to be one of the best of the early 1950’s television space operas. It certainly had one of the best casts if future success is an indicator. Cliff Robertson played the titular character and Jack Weston played Wilbur “Wormsey” Wormser, his comedic sidekick. (The third Ranger was Captain Frank Boyd, played by Bruce Hall.)

If the leads aren’t enough to interest you, take a look at some of the guest stars: Don Knotts, Robert Fuller, Jonathan Harris, and Joseph Campanella. You might not recognize these names, but look them up; they have familiar faces: Marge Redmond, James Millhollin and Al Ruscio. In an interview for the Archive of American Television, I thought Robertson also said Jonathan Winters, but either he misspoke or Winters isn’t listed in any credits. There was, however, a David Winters.

Since I can’t recommend any episodes, I instead recommend watching the interview. It’s readily available on YouTube. Robertson speaks fondly of the series and tells some stories about doing the live broadcast on Saturday mornings, then heading to Broadway to perform in a matinee and evening show of “Late Love” with Elizabeth Montgomery. I don’t know how long he did both; Rod Brown ran for 58 episodes between April 18, 1953 and May 29, 1954.

Why don’t any episodes exist? The short answer is that all its kinescopes were destroyed. This could be because of a lawsuit against CBS claiming that “the similarities between this series and Tom Corbett, Space Cadet were more than coincidental.” It’s not hard to believe because the director of Rod Brown, George Gould, was also the director of Tom Corbett for two years and brought with him writers and concepts from that show. The outcome of the lawsuit did not stop Rod Brown from airing; however, it was never rebroadcast.

Were the episodes available, we would have witnessed self-contained “adventures of fearless Rocket Rangers, who operated from Omega Base, piloting their nuclear-powered space ship Beta throughout the solar system, to battle crime and the weird menace of extraterrestrial life forms.” From the few pictures found online, the production values don’t look any stronger than previous series, but… that cast.

Merch

Unlike previous series, there wasn’t as much merchandising for Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers, even though it was sponsored by Jell-O Instant pudding. There is evidence, though, of a membership card, a “Rocket Ranger Code,” and plaid flannel shirts with silkscreen images from the show. I also found an ad for  a Rod Brown Neutralizer Gun.

ON MY HONOR AS A ROCKET RANGER, I PLEDGE THAT:

• I SHALL always chart my course according to the Constitution of the United States of America.
• I SHALL never cross orbits with the Rights and Beliefs of others.
• I SHALL blast at full space-speed to protect the Weak and Innocent.
• I SHALL stay out of collision orbit with the laws of my State and Community.
• I SHALL cruise in parallel orbit with my Parents and Teachers.
• I SHALL not roar my rockets unwisely, and shall be Courteous at all times.
• I SHALL keep my gyros steady and reactors burning by being Industrious and Thrifty.
• I SHALL keep my scanner tuned to Learning and remain coupled to my Studies.
• I SHALL keep my mind out of free-fall by being mentally alert.
• I SHALL blast the meteors from the paths of other people by being Kind and Considerate.

While there were no comic books, there was a record with the “Rocket Ranger March” by Rocket Rangers Chorus. You can listen to it here on YouTube.

Next week: an odd version of Flash Gordon from… Germany?