Rocky Jones, Space Ranger
Encyclopedia
Rocky Jones, Space Ranger is a syndicated
science fiction
television serial
originally broadcast in 1954. The show lasted for only two seasons and, though syndicated sporadically, dropped into obscurity. But because it was recorded on film rather than being broadcast live as were most other TV space opera
s of the day, it has survived in reasonably good condition. The film format also allowed more elaborate special effects and sets, exterior scenes and much better continuity.
The program was aimed mainly at children, so the plots were simple and always involved good versus evil and Rocky Jones outsmarting or outfighting the bad guys. By today's standards for television science fiction, the Rocky Jones serials seem crude and simplistic. But for its time, years before humans first journeyed into space, the sets, props, and optical effects were remarkably well done. Indeed, many of the effects that became standard sci-fi fare, such as the forward view screen and automatically opening doors were seen first on Rocky Jones.
XV-2, or later the nearly identical Silver Moon XV-3, on missions to moon
s and planetoid
s where the odds of success seemed remote yet they would always prevail. Although they might destroy a rocketship full of unseen bad guys, their space pistols were never fired at people, and conflicts were always resolved with fist fights, as was typical of family fare at the time.
Although many strange worlds were visited, the alien characters usually spoke English and always appeared as normal humans, albeit in bizarre costumes and environments. The script-writers did not appear to know the difference between planets, moons, stars and constellations, so that the specific locations Rocky and his sidekicks visited are generally unknown to astronomers.
Half hour episodes were usually grouped into stories that consisted of three 'chapters' that were broadcast on successive weeks. A few of the stories were complete in one episode.
series. Roland Reed Productions was founded in 1950 and in 1951 Warren Wilson penned the screenplay for the Rocky Jones pilot. By the end of 1951 a cast had been selected, headed by square-jawed leading man Richard Crane
as Rocky Jones and one time Our Gang
member Scotty Beckett
as Rocky’s co-pilot and comic relief, Winky. The pilot was shot between January and April 1952 with the titles and effects shots being prepared in March of that year. Post-production was completed in May.
The pilot was screened on September 29, 1952. Although the premise showed potential, several characters were recast, including Vena Ray and Secretary Drake. With the new cast finally in place and screenplays prepared for the first 26 episodes, filming began in October 1953 and continued until April 1954. An all out merchandising blitz began during this time. Wrist watches, wallets complete with space dollars, badges, buttons, records and clothing were produced to promote the show. A Rocky Jones, Space Ranger comic book was issued by Charlton
. Issues 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the ongoing title Space Adventures are devoted to Rocky's adventures. Rocky, Winky, Vena, Bobby and Cleolanthe appear prominently. The largest sponsor was the Gordon Baking Company, makers of Silvercup Bread, the original sponsor of the Lone Ranger
radio and television series.
The series finally premiered the week of Monday, February 22, 1954 at various days and times on stations across the United States. Unfortunately, off screen issues began almost immediately. In February 1954 Scotty Beckett was arrested for possessing a weapon after being implicated in an armed robbery at the Cavalier Hotel in Hollywood, CA. After posting bail he fled to Mexico where he encountered more problems for writing bad checks and more weapons charges. After a gun battle with local police he was incarcerated for four months and did not return to the United States until September 1954. By then the character of Winky was written out of the show, replaced by Biffen Cardoza (James Lydon). After filming of the initial 26 episodes ended, Maurice Cass died of a heart attack on June 8, 1954. An additional 13 episodes were ordered, and filming took place between August and October 1954. Lydon continued to play Biffen Cardoza, and Professor Newton was replaced by Professor Marberry (Reginald Sheffield
), while regular villainess Cleolanthe, Suzerain of Ophiuchius (Patsy Parsons
) was replaced by Juliandra, Suzerain of Herculon (Ann Robinson
). No further episodes were ordered, and the series ended after 39 episodes.
(June 6, 1918 – March 9, 1969), Rocky was the quintessential action hero – brave, strong, handsome, highly moral, and always ready to defend his beliefs with action. To the women of the stories he was irresistible--- even to arch villainess Cleolanta--- but there were no kisses or other physical displays.
Winky: Rocky's faithful co-pilot and sidekick, Winky was the upbeat comic relief to balance the always serious Rocky. Winky was played by Scotty Beckett
(October 4, 1929 – May 10, 1968), one of the original Our Gang
comedy kids. The Winky character was replaced by Biffen Cardoza (James Lydon)
after 26 episodes when Beckett was unavailable as he was serving time in jail for carrying a concealed weapon.
Vena Ray: Vena served as Rocky's pretty navigator and translator and was a strong female role model in some episodes. She was played by character actress Sally Mansfield
(December 13, 1920 – January 28, 2001) who also appeared on The Andy Griffith Show
, the Donna Reed Show
, Bachelor Father, and others. Her fresh good looks, short skirt, and cross-your-heart uniform added a feminine balance and sex appeal to the rocket crew.
Bobby: Played by 10 year old Robert Lyden
, Bobby got to live the dream of every youngster in the audience as he tagged along on Rocky's adventures. Bobby was the ward of Professor Newton, and no mention was ever made of his parents or origins.
Professor Newton: Played by Maurice Cass
(October 12, 1884 – June 8, 1954), Professor Newton could always be counted on to provide the scientific explanation for the fantastic events that unfolded, and although elderly, he would often accompany the spaceship crew on their adventures. He had his own observatory which looked like the Griffith Observatory
in Los Angeles. The character of Professor Newton was replaced by Professor Mayberry upon Cass' death in 1954.
Secretary Drake: As the head of the Office of Space Affairs and the Space Rangers, Secretary Drake was a father figure to Rocky and his crew, and to him Rocky was like his own son. Secretary Drake was played by Charles Meredith
(August 27, 1894 - November 28, 1964)
Cleolanthe: Another strong female role, the beautiful but evil Cleolanthe, played by Patsy Parsons
(June 9, 1931 - October 26, 2006), was the ruler of Ophiuchius and governed her planet wearing a low-cut evening gown and tiara. Cleolanthe was usually the force behind the troubles that befell the United Worlds, but secretly had a crush on Rocky. She often berated her henchmen for not measuring up to him.
Pinto Vortando: Pinto was a seedy, unshaven space rogue whose presence usually meant trouble for Rocky. As played by Ted Hecht (February 17, 1908 - June 24, 1969), he looked somewhat like an outer-space version of Gunsmoke
s later character Festus Haggen.
Bovarro: Lived with his wife and young son on the moon Posita which was one of the two "gypsy moons" (the surviving moon was called Nagato) due to crash into Ophiucius in the three episode adventure : Crash of the Moons. Played by John Banner
(January 28, 1910 – January 28, 1973), who went on to considerable fame as the bumbling Sgt. Schultz on the long-running TV series Hogan's Heroes
.
Ranger Clark: One of Rocky's fellow Rangers. Ranger Clark operated the refueling space station O.W.9. Ranger Clark was played by William Hudson
(January 24, 1925 - April 5, 1974)
Two of the edited movies, Manhunt in Space and Crash of the Moons, were lampooned on the cult hit comedy show Mystery Science Theater 3000
. All of the episodes are available on DVD
and VHS
.
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television serial
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
originally broadcast in 1954. The show lasted for only two seasons and, though syndicated sporadically, dropped into obscurity. But because it was recorded on film rather than being broadcast live as were most other TV space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
s of the day, it has survived in reasonably good condition. The film format also allowed more elaborate special effects and sets, exterior scenes and much better continuity.
The program was aimed mainly at children, so the plots were simple and always involved good versus evil and Rocky Jones outsmarting or outfighting the bad guys. By today's standards for television science fiction, the Rocky Jones serials seem crude and simplistic. But for its time, years before humans first journeyed into space, the sets, props, and optical effects were remarkably well done. Indeed, many of the effects that became standard sci-fi fare, such as the forward view screen and automatically opening doors were seen first on Rocky Jones.
Premise
The show was based on the exploits of clean-cut, square-jawed Rocky Jones, the best known of the Space Rangers. These were Earth-based space policemen who patrolled the United Worlds of the Solar System in the not-too-distant future. Rocky and his crew would routinely blast-off in a V-2-like chemically-fueled, upright rocketship, the Orbit JetOrbit Jet
The Orbit Jet was a fictional spaceship in the 1954 TV series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. It strongly resembled a V-2 rocket in overall form, with a very prominent exhaust plume when flying, but had wings in addition to tailfins . There were references in the dialog to the engines being "atomic"...
XV-2, or later the nearly identical Silver Moon XV-3, on missions to moon
Natural satellite
A natural satellite or moon is a celestial body that orbits a planet or smaller body, which is called its primary. The two terms are used synonymously for non-artificial satellites of planets, of dwarf planets, and of minor planets....
s and planetoid
Minor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
s where the odds of success seemed remote yet they would always prevail. Although they might destroy a rocketship full of unseen bad guys, their space pistols were never fired at people, and conflicts were always resolved with fist fights, as was typical of family fare at the time.
Although many strange worlds were visited, the alien characters usually spoke English and always appeared as normal humans, albeit in bizarre costumes and environments. The script-writers did not appear to know the difference between planets, moons, stars and constellations, so that the specific locations Rocky and his sidekicks visited are generally unknown to astronomers.
Half hour episodes were usually grouped into stories that consisted of three 'chapters' that were broadcast on successive weeks. A few of the stories were complete in one episode.
Production
Rocky Jones was the creation of Roland D. Reed, a Hollywood producer best known for his successful My Little MargieMy Little Margie
My Little Margie is an American situation comedy that alternated between CBS and NBC from 1952 to 1955. The series was created by Frank Fox and produced in Los Angeles, California at Hal Roach Studios by Hal Roach, Jr. and Roland D...
series. Roland Reed Productions was founded in 1950 and in 1951 Warren Wilson penned the screenplay for the Rocky Jones pilot. By the end of 1951 a cast had been selected, headed by square-jawed leading man Richard Crane
Richard Crane
Richard Crane was a veteran character actor whose career spanned three decades in films and television. His early career included many uncredited performances in feature films made in the 1940's. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the title role in the TV science fiction series Rocky...
as Rocky Jones and one time Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
member Scotty Beckett
Scotty Beckett
Scott Hastings "Scotty" Beckett was an American child actor. He starred in the Our Gang and Rocky Jones, Space Ranger series.-Early career:...
as Rocky’s co-pilot and comic relief, Winky. The pilot was shot between January and April 1952 with the titles and effects shots being prepared in March of that year. Post-production was completed in May.
The pilot was screened on September 29, 1952. Although the premise showed potential, several characters were recast, including Vena Ray and Secretary Drake. With the new cast finally in place and screenplays prepared for the first 26 episodes, filming began in October 1953 and continued until April 1954. An all out merchandising blitz began during this time. Wrist watches, wallets complete with space dollars, badges, buttons, records and clothing were produced to promote the show. A Rocky Jones, Space Ranger comic book was issued by Charlton
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
. Issues 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the ongoing title Space Adventures are devoted to Rocky's adventures. Rocky, Winky, Vena, Bobby and Cleolanthe appear prominently. The largest sponsor was the Gordon Baking Company, makers of Silvercup Bread, the original sponsor of the Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
radio and television series.
Reginald Sheffield
Reginald Sheffield was an English-born actor.He was born as Matthew Reginald Sheffield Cassan in the St. George Hanover Square District of Surrey near London, to Matthew Sheffield Cassan and Alice Mary Field...
), while regular villainess Cleolanthe, Suzerain of Ophiuchius (Patsy Parsons
Patsy Parsons
Patrica Parsons , better known as Patsy Parsons, sometimes credited as Patsy Lee Parsons, was an American character actress who appeared in about a dozen films beginning in 1937 at the age of six. Ms. Parsons was born in Parkersburg, W.Va,. but moved to Hollywood at age 5...
) was replaced by Juliandra, Suzerain of Herculon (Ann Robinson
Ann Robinson
Ann Robinson is an American actress and stunt horse rider, perhaps best known for her work in the film, The War of the Worlds and in the 1947 to 1970 radio and television series, Dragnet, in which she starred opposite Jack Webb....
). No further episodes were ordered, and the series ended after 39 episodes.
Characters and actors
Rocky Jones: Played by veteran movie and television actor Richard CraneRichard Crane
Richard Crane was a veteran character actor whose career spanned three decades in films and television. His early career included many uncredited performances in feature films made in the 1940's. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the title role in the TV science fiction series Rocky...
(June 6, 1918 – March 9, 1969), Rocky was the quintessential action hero – brave, strong, handsome, highly moral, and always ready to defend his beliefs with action. To the women of the stories he was irresistible--- even to arch villainess Cleolanta--- but there were no kisses or other physical displays.
Winky: Rocky's faithful co-pilot and sidekick, Winky was the upbeat comic relief to balance the always serious Rocky. Winky was played by Scotty Beckett
Scotty Beckett
Scott Hastings "Scotty" Beckett was an American child actor. He starred in the Our Gang and Rocky Jones, Space Ranger series.-Early career:...
(October 4, 1929 – May 10, 1968), one of the original Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
comedy kids. The Winky character was replaced by Biffen Cardoza (James Lydon)
Jimmy Lydon
Jimmy Lydon is an American movie actor and television producer, whose career in the entertainment industry began as a teenage actor in the 1930s....
after 26 episodes when Beckett was unavailable as he was serving time in jail for carrying a concealed weapon.
Vena Ray: Vena served as Rocky's pretty navigator and translator and was a strong female role model in some episodes. She was played by character actress Sally Mansfield
Sally Mansfield
Marie Mahder , best known by her stage name Sally Mansfield, was an American television character actress; she also had a few small roles in feature films including one with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis....
(December 13, 1920 – January 28, 2001) who also appeared on The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
, the Donna Reed Show
The Donna Reed Show
The Donna Reed Show is an American sitcom starring Donna Reed as the upper middle class housewife Donna Stone. Carl Betz appears as her pediatrician husband Alex, and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen as their teenage children Mary and Jeff. The show originally aired on ABC at 10 pm from September...
, Bachelor Father, and others. Her fresh good looks, short skirt, and cross-your-heart uniform added a feminine balance and sex appeal to the rocket crew.
Bobby: Played by 10 year old Robert Lyden
Robert Lyden
Robert Lyden was a child actor in the 1950s. He is best known for his role as the young space cadet "Bobby" on the 1954 science fiction television show Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. After Rocky Jones , he made a few more television appearances, and had roles in two feature films...
, Bobby got to live the dream of every youngster in the audience as he tagged along on Rocky's adventures. Bobby was the ward of Professor Newton, and no mention was ever made of his parents or origins.
Professor Newton: Played by Maurice Cass
Maurice Cass
Maurice Cass was a character actor in numerous films and television shows. Born in Lithuania, he came to the US to pursue an acting career....
(October 12, 1884 – June 8, 1954), Professor Newton could always be counted on to provide the scientific explanation for the fantastic events that unfolded, and although elderly, he would often accompany the spaceship crew on their adventures. He had his own observatory which looked like the Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park, it commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest...
in Los Angeles. The character of Professor Newton was replaced by Professor Mayberry upon Cass' death in 1954.
Secretary Drake: As the head of the Office of Space Affairs and the Space Rangers, Secretary Drake was a father figure to Rocky and his crew, and to him Rocky was like his own son. Secretary Drake was played by Charles Meredith
Charles Meredith (actor)
Charles Meredith was an American film and television actor. When Meredith died, The Incredible Mr. Limpet was said to be his last film.-Selected filmography:...
(August 27, 1894 - November 28, 1964)
Cleolanthe: Another strong female role, the beautiful but evil Cleolanthe, played by Patsy Parsons
Patsy Parsons
Patrica Parsons , better known as Patsy Parsons, sometimes credited as Patsy Lee Parsons, was an American character actress who appeared in about a dozen films beginning in 1937 at the age of six. Ms. Parsons was born in Parkersburg, W.Va,. but moved to Hollywood at age 5...
(June 9, 1931 - October 26, 2006), was the ruler of Ophiuchius and governed her planet wearing a low-cut evening gown and tiara. Cleolanthe was usually the force behind the troubles that befell the United Worlds, but secretly had a crush on Rocky. She often berated her henchmen for not measuring up to him.
Pinto Vortando: Pinto was a seedy, unshaven space rogue whose presence usually meant trouble for Rocky. As played by Ted Hecht (February 17, 1908 - June 24, 1969), he looked somewhat like an outer-space version of Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
s later character Festus Haggen.
Bovarro: Lived with his wife and young son on the moon Posita which was one of the two "gypsy moons" (the surviving moon was called Nagato) due to crash into Ophiucius in the three episode adventure : Crash of the Moons. Played by John Banner
John Banner
John Banner , born Johann Banner, was an American film and television actor, who was born and died in Vienna, Austria....
(January 28, 1910 – January 28, 1973), who went on to considerable fame as the bumbling Sgt. Schultz on the long-running TV series Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes is an American television sitcom that ran for 168 episodes from September 17, 1965, to March 28, 1971, on the CBS network. The show was set in a German prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. Bob Crane had the starring role as Colonel Robert E...
.
Ranger Clark: One of Rocky's fellow Rangers. Ranger Clark operated the refueling space station O.W.9. Ranger Clark was played by William Hudson
William Hudson (actor)
William Woodson Hudson Jr. was an American actor best remembered for the role of Ranger Clark in Rocky Jones, Space Ranger and the role of Special Agent Mike Andrews in the Emmy Award nominated spy drama I Led Three Lives.-History:After appearing uncredited in over a dozen movies Hudson got his...
(January 24, 1925 - April 5, 1974)
Episodes
Thirty-nine 30 minute episodes were filmed and shown over the period starting in February, 1954 into January, 1955, depending on the local market schedule. Thirty six of these were grouped into 12 three-chapter 30 minute stories, and three were complete in one 30 minute episode each. Most of the three-chapter stories were edited into feature length films for television and of those some were renamed as shown below.Two of the edited movies, Manhunt in Space and Crash of the Moons, were lampooned on the cult hit comedy show Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
. All of the episodes are available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
.
| Story name | Chapters | First chapter air date | Alternate title |
| "Beyond The Curtain Of Space" | 3 | February 23, 1954 | "Beyond The Moon" |
| "Rocky's Odyssey" | 3 | March 16, 1954 | "Gypsy Moon" |
| "Bobby's Comet" | 3 | April 6, 1954 | "Menace From Outer Space" |
| "Escape Into Space" | 1 | April 27, 1954 | |
| "The Pirates Of Prah" | 3 | May 4, 1954 | "Manhunt In Space" |
| "Silver Needle In The Sky" | 3 | May 25, 1954 | "Duel In Space" |
| "The Forbidden Moon" | 3 | June 16, 1954 | "Forbidden Moon" |
| "Crash Of Moons" | 3 | July 6, 1954 | "Crash Of The Moons" |
| "Kip's Private War" | 1 | July 27, 1954 | |
| "Blast Off" | 3 | August 3, 1954 | |
| "The Cold Sun" | 3 | August 24, 1954 | |
| "Inferno In Space" | 3 | September 14, 1954 | "The Magnetic Moon" |
| "Vena And The Darnamo" | 1 | October 5, 1954 | |
| "Out Of This World" | 3 | October 12, 1954 | "Robot Of Regalio" |
| "The Trial Of Rocky Jones" | 3 | November 2, 1954 | "Renegade Satellite" |
Sources and External Links
- Rocky Jones, Space Ranger at epguides.com
- Space Hero Files: Rocky Jones, Space Ranger
- Database and Cover gallery of Rocky Jones, Space Ranger comics at comics.org
- Rocky Jones, Space Ranger gallery
See also
- Space CadetSpace CadetSpace Cadet is a 1948 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about Matt Dodson, who joins the Space Patrol to help preserve peace in the Solar System. The story translates the standard military academy story into outer space: a boy from Iowa goes to officer school, sees action and adventure,...
, 1948 science fiction novel by Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. HeinleinRobert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...