I know Captain Video was a real show, but was all that junk real? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

gilligan fanatic · 08-01-2006, 11:01 PM

The Space Helmet and the gun?

VIDEOWACK · 08-01-2006, 11:07 PM

It was early 50's TV.....yes, space shows had space helmets, guns, and all kinds of "junk".

gilligan fanatic · 08-01-2006, 11:12 PM

hmm, I just can't imagine having a kid and having him wear that helmet-lol

dlemond · 08-01-2006, 11:21 PM

From what I've seen of the Captain Video show and memorabilia, that was just made up props that didn't match the actual program.

I mean look at the size of that helmet, they couldn't make that for kids.
Hell, I don't think Captain Video even had a budget that could afford Norton's helmet!

gilligan fanatic · 08-02-2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlemond

From what I've seen of the Captain Video show and memorabilia, that was just made up props that didn't match the actual program.

I mean look at the size of that helmet, they couldn't make that for kids.
Hell, I don't think Captain Video even had a budget that could afford Norton's helmet!

I was reading that some of the buttons on his space ship were drawn on.

TV Knowledge Fan · 08-02-2006, 02:13 PM

"CAPTAIN VIDEO" was obviously a "tip of the hat" to DuMont (their "Electronicam" was used to film the "classic 39"). At the time the episode was produced, "CAPTAIN VIDEO" was still being shown on WABD, the DuMont station in New York {now WNYW}, as a local series, after the network version ended [virtually along with the rest of the DuMont schedule] in April 1955.

Second, writers Marvin Marx and Walter Stone knew what "Ed Norton" was like- and if he had to act like a "big kid" when watching his favorite afternoon program, that would be even funnier. You'd expect a little kid to wear a space helmet with a "raygun" in hand when watching TV, but NORTON??

Third, the "Captain Video" they depicted Ed watching was pure fantasy. Norton had better props than the show EVER did! Everyone who's ever seen kinescopes of the actual program KNOWS how cheap and "pasted together" it really was. But it was the "underdog" of all the DuMont children's programs. "HOWDY DOODY" might have had a bigger budget, but "CAPTAIN VIDEO" had almost the same loyalty from its viewers. Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis concocted an hilarious parody in a 1954 MAD comic book called "Captain Tvideo"...which also pointed out during the story how cheap the props were, and how ridiculous the sponsor's "free" offers to viewers were as well.

When "THE SECRET FILES OF CAPTAIN VIDEO" finally came to end in early 1956, that was the end of an era.

C Ingram · 08-06-2006, 04:10 AM

Captain Video, Guardian of the Safety of the World - on a prop budget of $25 per week!

I've acquired a few CV kinescopes over the years. In one of them, a prop microphone (made out of wood, and painted only on one side) falls over and the "Video Ranger" quickly moves to set it right again. Ah, live television.

It's hard to believe today, but Captain Video was one of the most popular of DuMont's shows. The daily show went off the air in 1955 when the sponsor of the nightly DuMont Evening News with Morgan Beatty, Miles Laboratories, cancelled their sponsorship. The cost to maintain the coaxial cable to their affiliates was too great, and the DuMont network began to close down.

Sad to say, almost all of the CV library, along with other DuMont films and kinescopes, were dumped into New York Harbor to save storage costs sometime in the 1970's. They did thousands of daily episodes; only a few dozen survive today.

Read more about DuMont at my web site:
http://members.aol.com/cingram/television/dumont.htm

treky · 08-09-2006, 01:06 AM

that's a shame!!

Well, at least they didn't destroy the HONEYMOONERS sketches from THE CALVACADE OF STARS. But, did they also destroy THE CALVACADE OF STARS shows?

VIDEOWACK · 08-09-2006, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

that's a shame!!

Well, at least they didn't destroy the HONEYMOONERS sketches from THE CALVACADE OF STARS. But, did they also destroy THE CALVACADE OF STARS shows?

There are several that exist, mainly copies that belonged to those associated with the show. But most of the 2-years worth of shows that Gleason hosted are gone.

C Ingram · 08-14-2006, 07:03 AM

Apparently the daughter of one of Gleason's writers, Snag Werris, found a bunch of kinescopes in his collection after he died. She ended up donating them to the Museum of TV & Radio. That's where the three Disney Channel specials (particularly "The Really Lost Debut Episodes") came from. Now THAT's something I'd like to see on DVD.

08-01-2006, 11:01 PM	#1
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	I know Captain Video was a real show, but was all that junk real? The Space Helmet and the gun?
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08-01-2006, 11:07 PM	#2
VIDEOWACK Member Eternal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2003 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 339	It was early 50's TV.....yes, space shows had space helmets, guns, and all kinds of "junk".
	__________________ Rob Honorary Raccoon

08-02-2006, 02:13 PM	#6
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	First of all... "CAPTAIN VIDEO" was obviously a "tip of the hat" to DuMont (their "Electronicam" was used to film the "classic 39"). At the time the episode was produced, "CAPTAIN VIDEO" was still being shown on WABD, the DuMont station in New York {now WNYW}, as a local series, after the network version ended [virtually along with the rest of the DuMont schedule] in April 1955. Second, writers Marvin Marx and Walter Stone knew what "Ed Norton" was like- and if he had to act like a "big kid" when watching his favorite afternoon program, that would be even funnier. You'd expect a little kid to wear a space helmet with a "raygun" in hand when watching TV, but NORTON?? Third, the "Captain Video" they depicted Ed watching was pure fantasy. Norton had better props than the show EVER did! Everyone who's ever seen kinescopes of the actual program KNOWS how cheap and "pasted together" it really was. But it was the "underdog" of all the DuMont children's programs. "HOWDY DOODY" might have had a bigger budget, but "CAPTAIN VIDEO" had almost the same loyalty from its viewers. Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis concocted an hilarious parody in a 1954 MAD comic book called "Captain Tvideo"...which also pointed out during the story how cheap the props were, and how ridiculous the sponsor's "free" offers to viewers were as well. When "THE SECRET FILES OF CAPTAIN VIDEO" finally came to end in early 1956, that was the end of an era.

08-09-2006, 01:06 AM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	that's a shame!! Well, at least they didn't destroy the HONEYMOONERS sketches from THE CALVACADE OF STARS. But, did they also destroy THE CALVACADE OF STARS shows?
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

08-01-2006, 11:12 PM	#3
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	hmm, I just can't imagine having a kid and having him wear that helmet-lol

08-01-2006, 11:21 PM	#4
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	From what I've seen of the Captain Video show and memorabilia, that was just made up props that didn't match the actual program. I mean look at the size of that helmet, they couldn't make that for kids. Hell, I don't think Captain Video even had a budget that could afford Norton's helmet!

08-06-2006, 04:10 AM	#7
C Ingram Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 04, 2006 Posts: 35	Captain Video, Guardian of the Safety of the World - on a prop budget of $25 per week! I've acquired a few CV kinescopes over the years. In one of them, a prop microphone (made out of wood, and painted only on one side) falls over and the "Video Ranger" quickly moves to set it right again. Ah, live television. It's hard to believe today, but Captain Video was one of the most popular of DuMont's shows. The daily show went off the air in 1955 when the sponsor of the nightly DuMont Evening News with Morgan Beatty, Miles Laboratories, cancelled their sponsorship. The cost to maintain the coaxial cable to their affiliates was too great, and the DuMont network began to close down. Sad to say, almost all of the CV library, along with other DuMont films and kinescopes, were dumped into New York Harbor to save storage costs sometime in the 1970's. They did thousands of daily episodes; only a few dozen survive today. Read more about DuMont at my web site: http://members.aol.com/cingram/television/dumont.htm

08-14-2006, 07:03 AM	#10
C Ingram Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 04, 2006 Posts: 35	Apparently the daughter of one of Gleason's writers, Snag Werris, found a bunch of kinescopes in his collection after he died. She ended up donating them to the Museum of TV & Radio. That's where the three Disney Channel specials (particularly "The Really Lost Debut Episodes") came from. Now THAT's something I'd like to see on DVD.