Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1954)

If you were watching television in February of 1954, you would have had your choice of five different sci-fi adventures. You would already be watching Captain Video (although it was winding down), Space Patrol, Tom Corbett Space Cadet, Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (also winding down), and a new show called, Rocky Jones Space Ranger. I imagine this one would have looked and felt a little different because it was shot on film and had superior (compared to the others) special effects.

Due to the “film factor,” all episodes of Rocky Jones have survived and are available in the public domain. That’s the good news. The bad news is that probably due to the additional expense of film, there were only 39 episodes. I say, “bad news” because I thoroughly enjoyed the two episodes I watched on YouTube. Most of the 30-minute episodes are one chapter of a larger three-part story. However, there are a couple that are standalone adventures.

The first episode, “Beyond the Curtain of Space Chapter One,” wastes no time with introductions, but we quickly learn who’s who. At the Office of Space Affairs, a rocket has just landed with Rocky Jones (Richard Crane) and his co-pilot, Winky (Scotty Beckett.) They talk with Secretary of Space Drake (Charles Meredith) about Professor Newton (Maurice Cass), held captive on another planet, but whom they consider to be a traitor.

In bursts Vena Ray (Sally Mansfield), not even putting her car in a parking spot. She’s convinced that Newton’s not a traitor and they all watch a recorded statement (the Newton Declaration) to look for signals that might explain he’s being coerced into making his speech. There’s only one way to find out: blast back into space and see for themselves. Vena insists on joining the men, setting up a sometimes cringy series of “jokes” regarding Rocky’s manliness and Vena’s inferiority.

The rocket launches by the synchronization of two high-pitched sounds rather than by a combustion engine and features luxurious leather recliners for seats in its spacious cabin. On board, the men doff their uniform jackets and work in tight-fitting t-shirts, a fashion choice which favors the hunky pilot. Vena tries to assist, but Rocky tells her to knit him a sweater. They have genuine chemistry and the episode ends with the point of the rocket inserting firmly into the round hole of a docking station in space.

Episode 10, “Escape Into Space,” is a fun standalone adventure. Two thieves steal a rocket and Rocky, Winky, and Vena chase after them. We learn a little more about their overall mission. It’s basically to enforce the law, and the near perfect man, Rocky, is aware of what it will and will not allow him to do in space. In fact, when they catch the villain, they must trick him into confessing his crimes so they can return him to Earth for justice.

The difference in quality between Rocky Jones, Space Ranger and the other shows of the time is distinct. In fact, some of its three-episode stories were combined to make TV movies. If you’ve seen Beyond the Moon, Gypsy Moon, Menace from Outer Space, Manhunt in Space, Duel in Space, Forbidden Moon, Crash of the Moons, The Magnetic Moon, Robot of Regalia, or Renegade Satellite, you’ve see three episodes of Rocky Jones. (Crash of the Moons has been broadcast regularly on Comet TV.

By the time Rocky Jones, Space Ranger ended its run, Captain Video had just ended, Tom Corbett Space Cadet was soon to end, and Flash Gordon lasted one month after that. No, Flash could not save every one of us and when his show concluded, the era of the 1950s television space operas also ended. Four-months later, Captain Z-ro attempted to revive it, but it was too little too late. What a time, though! We hear a lot about “monster kids,” but for the first half of the decade, it was all about “sci-fi kids.”

Merchandising Blitz