The Lost in Space (1965) TV series is my very favorite TV series of all time and always will be my favorite.
When I first saw the CBS-TV promo spots in the Summer of 1965, I was immediately consumed by this concept of a Swiss Family Robinson in space. The concept was intriguing: Family (which represents warmth, love and survival) in the environment of Space (cold, vast, mysterious).
All through my life, I have never been fascinated by any series or film more than the first five episodes and first season of glorious black & white. While the second and third seasons were in color, the story lines took a more campy route for better ratings competition with ABC's Batman - a higher rated series. Lost in Space's first season was nothing short of fabulous. In my opinion, the original concept was magnificent and unmatched by any science fiction concept...ever. From the fantastic and charismatic cast, to the beautifully haunting Bernard Herrmann incidental music within the episodes, to some wonderful guest stars such as Michael Rennie, this series has given me some of the greatest joy of my life...and always will. I had the privilege to have met June Lockhart, Bill Mumy, Marta Kristen, and Bob May...all were so gracious and appreciative of their fans. I so much loved this series and its history, I regarded the Robinsons as "my second family" and I had a need to write a book about it, so I authored Space Family Robinson: The True Story (Windsor House, 1996) and the success led to a republish as Lost in Space: The True Story (Windsor House, 1998).
Ed Shifres
When I first saw the CBS-TV promo spots in the Summer of 1965, I was immediately consumed by this concept of a Swiss Family Robinson in space. The concept was intriguing: Family (which represents warmth, love and survival) in the environment of Space (cold, vast, mysterious).
All through my life, I have never been fascinated by any series or film more than the first five episodes and first season of glorious black & white. While the second and third seasons were in color, the story lines took a more campy route for better ratings competition with ABC's Batman - a higher rated series. Lost in Space's first season was nothing short of fabulous. In my opinion, the original concept was magnificent and unmatched by any science fiction concept...ever. From the fantastic and charismatic cast, to the beautifully haunting Bernard Herrmann incidental music within the episodes, to some wonderful guest stars such as Michael Rennie, this series has given me some of the greatest joy of my life...and always will. I had the privilege to have met June Lockhart, Bill Mumy, Marta Kristen, and Bob May...all were so gracious and appreciative of their fans. I so much loved this series and its history, I regarded the Robinsons as "my second family" and I had a need to write a book about it, so I authored Space Family Robinson: The True Story (Windsor House, 1996) and the success led to a republish as Lost in Space: The True Story (Windsor House, 1998).
Ed Shifres