Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers
Atomic-powered Rocket Rangers patrol the Solar System.
Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers is a 30-minute weekly CBS television series that aired live from April 1953 to May 1954. Set in the 22nd century, it was one of several outer space adventure programs broadcast during the early years of American television.
Quick Facts
- Network
- CBS
- First aired
- 18 April 1953
- Last aired
- 29 May 1954
Facts from the source article.
Synopsis
The Rocket Rangers operated from Omega Base, piloting the nuclear-powered spaceship Beta across the Solar System to fight crime and face strange alien threats. The team consisted of curly-haired Rod Brown (Cliff Robertson), his sharp-tongued partner Frank Boyd (Bruce Hall), and the chubby, bespectacled comic relief Wilbur "Wormsey" Wormser (Jack Weston), all under the command of Commander Swift (John Boruff). Each episode told a complete story, unlike the serialized space shows of the time. The series was inspired by Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, and its director, George Gould, had previously directed that ABC show. When hired for Rod Brown at CBS, he brought along several writers, basic concepts, and a special-effects amplifier for travelling mattes. The strong resemblance between the two shows sparked a lawsuit that was settled out of court, and new episodes continued airing weekly. The kinescopes were never rebroadcast. The program opened with a description of the Rocket Ranger spaceships blasting off, and the theme song by Robert Allen included the line "From the sands of Mars, out to the distant stars, we're the Rocket Ranger Corps."
The Rocket Ranger Code
The membership card offered as a premium displayed the Rocket Ranger Code, a pledge beginning "ON MY HONOR AS A ROCKET RANGER, I PLEDGE THAT:" The code included promises to chart courses according to the Constitution of the United States, never cross orbits with the rights and beliefs of others, blast at full space-speed to protect the weak and innocent, stay out of collision orbit with laws, cruise in parallel orbit with parents and teachers, not roar rockets unwisely, keep gyros steady and reactors burning by being industrious and thrifty, keep scanners tuned to learning, keep minds out of free-fall by being mentally alert, and blast meteors from the paths of others by being kind and considerate.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers first air?
Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers first aired on 18 April 1953.
When did Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers end?
Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers last aired on 29 May 1954.
More in Television Series Set in the 22nd Century
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