No, the title of this posting does not refer to my standard early-morning demeanor. It refers to the classic science fiction TV series Lost in Space which ran for 83 episodes from 1965-68. And although to date I have never seen a single solitary episode of it, its place in pop culture popularity doesn’t escape me. That’s why back in the late 1990’s I had my friend Bob Satterfield pick me up the photo above and the photo below, which he had signed by various cast members at a Hollywood Collectors Show gathering.
Although I’d never seen the show, I had enjoyed some of the actors in their many acting roles throughout their careers. It all became a bit more special on October 4, 2008, when I was able to actually meet four of the five actors who had signed my photos already, and a fifth actor whom I was able to meet and get to add his name to the cast photo above. They were all present at the Fall Hollywood Collectors Show for a Lost in Space reunion.
Billy Mumy was the child actor who played Will Robinson in Lost in Space. Much nearer and dearer to my heart were the roles he played in two of my favorite series The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In the Twilight Zone, he starred in the episode It’s a Good Life as the kid could make anything happen. He would later make a guest appearance in Twilight Zone: The Movie in 1983 and the new Twilight Zone TV series in 2003 when the famous episode was remade…twice.
He would make a similiar appearance in the remake for Bang! You’re Dead on the new Alfred Hitchcock Presents show, which recreated the famous original episode, one of a handful that Hitch actually directed. In addition to three appearances on each of these original series, he made appearances in numerous other series including Ozzie and Harriet and I Dream of Jeannie. More recently, Billy Mumy occasionally does narration for the Biography series.
With Billy Mumy
Angela Cartwright holds a special place in my entertainment viewing history for her role in the classic Oscar winner The Sound of Music where she portrayed Brigitta. And much more obscure, but equally memorable to me was her part in the TV movie High School USA in the mid 1980’s – which I watched repeatedly. Fans will also know her as Linda in Make Room for Daddy. And it’s also important to note that Angela (who played Penny Robinson in Lost in Space) also starred in one episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.
With Angela Cartwright
The actress about whom I knew the least was Marta Kristen who played Judy Robinson in Lost in Space. Other than her coincidental apperance in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode Bang! You’re Dead with co-star Billy Mumy, the only other notable appearance (to me) was a one-time role on Leave It To Beaver.
With Marta Kristen, clearly the hottest of the Lost in Space gals
All three of the above celebrities had been kind enough to pose for pictures with me, based on the fact that I had purchased their autographs in the past (and I had my signed photo with me to prove it). My friend Bob was convinced that Bob May (who although he’s is not a midget, was short enough to play the Robot in Lost in Space) might not be so cooperative. However, he proved to be just the opposite. Most notable to me as the grandson of Chic Johnson of the vintage comedy team Olsen and Johnson, Bob May gladly posed for a photo with me, then called me back over and said “You know, you wouldn’t have had to buy anything from me to get a picture. If it wasn’t for you fans, we wouldn’t be anybody!”
I, robot, with Bob May
And the final celebrity encounter of the day was with Mark Goddard, who starred as Major Dan West on Lost in Space. He had never signed my photo so I shelled out the $20 to get him to add his signature to the cast shot at the top of the posting. He kindly posed for a photo as well. Although Goddard appeared in some fifty different TV shows in character roles, I really wasn’t familiar with any of them. In fact, I had to make sure he was even in the photo I was having him sign!
With Mark Goddard
And finally, although I never met him, Jonathan Harris had already signed the photo of himself as Dr. Zachary Smith (along with Bob May, the robot). Harris died in 2002 after about fifty years in the entertainment industry. In addition to Lost in Space, he was a regular on the TV series The Third Man. Acting in a slew of TV shows and movies, during the 1990’s, most of his parts were animation voice-overs.
Now to add June Lockhart one day, and I’ll have everyone except for Guy Williams (also known as Zorro), who sadly died in 1989. From what I hear, Lockhart is a ‘delight’ and I mean that in the sarcastic sense. In fact, I hear that she does seem to be Lost in Space…
Celebrities of the 2008 Hollywood Collectors Show will continue…
Kind of weird, but Bob May died the day after you posted this…but maybe somehow you knew?!?! Bob May’s obit is here: http://tinyurl.com/9oajdd
Peter
January 19th, 2009
I didn’t know Bob May was the grandson of Chic Johnson! I could kick myself for not knowing, I would have liked to write to him and told him how much I like the comedy of Olsen and Johnson.
Bill
January 19th, 2009
Although dated as Saturday, I actually finished this up Monday morning. BUT…I didn’t find out about Bob May’s death until I got home from work that day- AFTER I had already posted. Amazing. It’s like I was exposed to some kind of….space magic!
Brad
January 19th, 2009
Although I never watched “Lost in Space”, I remember Mark Goddard in the western series “Johnny Ringo”.
Dad
January 19th, 2009