Sci Fi TV Obscurities: A look at sci fi and fantasy TV shows that made it to the air only briefly before getting cast to the television wasteland.
What Is It? Buck Rogers wakes up in the year 2430 after nearly five hundred years in suspended animation and is tasked with keeping the world safe from both intergalactic villains and common criminals. In a secret base behind Niagra Falls and with the help of Wilma Deering, Doctor Huer, and the towering Black Barney Wade he solves crimes and thwarts the schemes of evil-doers that threaten the Earth.
Aired: ABC, 1950-51, 2 Seasons Totaling 36 Episodes
Starring: Robert Pastene, Eva Marie Saint, Harry Southern, Harry Kingston
Is It Must-Watch Sci Fi? No. This is mostly just a relic from a time when sci fi TV was considered for kids only, but fans of the Buck Rogers character may want to give it a look.
The Skinny: If you mention Buck Rogers on television, most people will immediately think of the 1979 camp entry that starred Gil Gerrard and Erin Grey and that made a notable impression even though it only lasted two seasons (more on that one at this link). But the classic sci fi character actually first appeared on the small screen nearly thirty years earlier in a show that has been mostly lost to time. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century debuted on ABC in the Spring of 1950 in an attempt to capture the same young audience that was tuning in to Captain Video and His Video Rangers which had become a hit for the DuMont network. The character first appeared as Anthony Rogers in the novella Armageddon 2419 A.D. by Phillip Francis Nowlan which was serialized in the pulp magazine Amazing Stories. He would later become known as “Buck” Rogers in the comic strip that would follow and which would catapult him to fame. A popular movie serial would arrive in 1939 and the character also showed up on radio and in comics. So when the television age began, it certainly made sense to tap into his popularity and insert him into a kiddie space opera along the lines of Captain Video.
Television budgets were pretty small at that time, and even though the opening intro promised “rocketships”, “rayguns”, and “interplanetary adventures”, our hero found himself fighting earthbound thugs more often than not (all while wearing a completely ridiculous uniform). Sadly, since Buck Rogers was aired live, as were most shows at that time, all but one episode has been lost. Kinescopes were made to preserve the shows–filmings of the live transmissions–but only one of those is still known to exist for this show (which you can watch on YouTube above). That episode delivers more of a murder mystery than a space opera tale with the expected overly melodramatic acting and Buck saving the day with his wits (which are cheaper than sfx). Wilma at least gets to do more than play the damsel-in-distress role, though she has to rely on Buck to solve the crime. And Black Barney Wade is pretty much just there for comic relief. It’s good cheesy fun, but the lack of budget and the mundane plot probably indicate why the show never quite caught on if the rest of the episodes followed a similar formula.
Cancelled Too Soon? Yes. This show premiered on ABC in April 1950 and then went on a two-month hiatus in Summer before returning with its second season in Fall. It continued until January 1951 and then disappeared from the air after a total of thirty-six episodes, apparently unable to build much of an audience especially once it was moved up against the popular Texaco Star Theater on Tuesdays during its second season. Space Patrol had debuted on ABC in March 1950 and had a slightly higher budget (it also aired each weekday instead of once per week). That show delivered more in the way of space opera stories and registered better with viewers. It would go on to have a successful run lasting to 1955 and producing over a thousand episodes (more on that one at this link).
Should It Be Rebooted? Yes. The character has already had one reboot which resulted in the 1979’s Buck Rogers in the 25th Century which aired on NBC for two seasons. That show is well-remembered by many fans, though it is questionable whether it counts as a sci fi classic. There have been talks of a Buck Rogers reboot on television (and on the big screen as well), but nothing substantial has come of that. This character (along with Flash Gordon) certainly brings plenty of name recognition, and there is a lot that a new Buck Rogers (or Flash Gordon) series could offer. Certainly at some point we will see him back in action.
Interesting Fact: This series went through quite a number of cast changes across its three lead characters over its short run. Earl Hammond was the first to take the title role, but he bowed out pretty quickly. Kem Dibs was the next Buck Rogers but would depart from the role before it went on its Summer hiatus. Robert Pastene (who is seen in the one remaining episode) would take over the lead with the very next episode and would stick with the show until it was cancelled. Two different actresses played Wilma Deering and two actors would portray Dr. Huer in the show. Black Barney Wade was the only lead character played by the same actor throughout. In the early days of television, it was not uncommon to replace an actor in the same role with no explanation as to the change in the character’s appearance. One of the most infamous examples of that came from the hit ’60s show Bewitched when Dick Sargent took over the role of Darrin Stephens from Dick York in the show’s sixth season.
Where Can You Watch It? As mentioned above, only one episode of Buck Rogers has survived and it is available to view on YouTube at this link. It may also be available on some of the DVD collections compiling episodes from 1950s TV shows that are in the public domain, but you would have to search those out.
Read More About the Show: Wikipedia | IMDb.com
And for more on sci fi TV from the 1950s, I recommend The Golden Age of Telefantasy
More Sci Fi TV Obscurities at This Link
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Buck Rogers was the main reason why we have N.A.S.A./Space Command. BUCK ROGERS SHOULD BE REBOOTED AS TV SERIES OR CINEMATIC SPACE SAGA LIKE STAR WARS MOVIES.