While looking for signs of life on planets orbiting Proxima Centauri, the crew of the XSW1 (Captain Steve Cassel (Harry Geldard), Lieutenant Frank Anderson (Robert Barclay) and Crewman Phil Mitchell (James Doohan)) spot an alien spacecraft just before their ship gets caught in the sun's gravitational field. Sadly, this may be the only surviving episode of the vintage CBC kids show. The series appears to have been similar to American 'space' adventures like 'Tom Corbett, Space Cadet' (1950) and, despite the obviously small budget, seems to have been reasonably well made. The design of the XSW1 is more imaginative than the rockets typically seen in contemporaneous shows (a reasonably clear image of the ship is seen around 14 minutes) and the alien ship looks very much like the Metalunan saucer in 'This Island Earth' (1955). Notably, a young James Doohan, who a decade later would return to space as Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott in 'Star Trek' (1966), is one of the regulars (and even refers to the alien spaceship as perhaps being powered by some kind of "space warp drive") and Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, apparently appeared in at least one episode. The show was broadcast live with kinescope copies made for distribution to affiliates - hopefully more than just the one circulating on-line has survived somewhere and will eventually surface. Well worth watching for fans of the genre and the era.
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jamesrupert20148 January 2022
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psotka6 April 2007I seem to remember this as a kid growing up in Toronto. I watched it regularly and joyfully and thought it was unique and exciting. I can't remember any plot lines, but the actors were vividly real. About the only thing I remember well is that they were constantly on the alert for miniature pebbles in space that slammed through their ship and they had to run madly around to find the leak before they suffocated. This was always the highlight of the show for me because it brought out dramatically how dangerous and different space could be. I would love to see this again to jog old memories. I always thought Scotty was in that show during all the years of watching Star Trek, so it is a real pleasure to discover that my old memories were right at last~!
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gil-johnson25 July 2005I watched this program live in 1953 at age 10 and was totally engrossed. I still remember the opening monologue. " (These are tales of) the infinitesimal lives of men dedicated to the planet Earth and it's perilous SPACE COMMAND".
I recall that they landed on Mars and found the remains of a space ship from an advanced civilization. On the ship they found a SPACE WARP TURBINE still in working order which allowed them to travel to other solar systems.
I also recall that they travelled to a planet that turned out to be alive and the lead character fell into a hole and was engulfed by the vines of a tree, which looked suspiciously like ropes with a few leaves tied to them. Such was live TV in 1953. -
bcaez0215 May 2014Andrew Anthony was born Andrew Zubak, and lived with his family in the area of Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. In his teens, he suffered at the hands of an uncomfortable family situation, and so he was formally adopted by my grand-parents...of the same area. He being a close school friend of my uncle, living on the farm as well, along with my mother.
My grandmother held Andy near to her artistic heart and provided the wear-with-all to explore his acting interests. Elwy Yost, "Scotty," William Shatner, et all, attended the same Acting Academy in Toronto. Coupled with his "Barrymore" looks, he succeed in short order. Thus, was the launching of Canada's first and only offering up to the Sci-Fi "gods." And, if memory serves me, was the first "Space" show on any channel.
He started out on his acting quest following his leaving the RAF...he never saw "action," ...saying that he got there, Britain, just in time to come home. He was a "dashing sight" in his RAF Uniform.
I recall playing with his German souvenirs, which he secreted in his bedroom closet...on my grand-parent's farm. Later, he came to marry the beautiful daughter of a Toronto, Greek, restaurateur, Anne ???. I always thought that she looked a lot like Jane Russell, but with a cuter and less harsh features. She had been a model on the "Price is Right," of those early years. They had two boys together and lived in New York during his "modelling years." A few of his "personas" were to be found in high fashion magazines of the time...which mom faithfully kept, but which have been lost over time.
Space Command was a "command" performance for us kids. Dad bought a new/old b/w TV, just for the occasion. We never missed an episode. Unfortunately, the show was not picked up for another season and for unknown reasons, not shared with "the family." Andy traded in the glamour of New York for the glitz of Hollywood, California. It was their that he got involved with the chemical industry and served for many years as the manager of a paint company.
When he visited our farm once, he had brought a liquid chemical, that he would pour on his hands and then he would stun us kids by putting them into a burning fire, during our hot dog roasts on the farm's drive way.
Aunt Anne, being a fashionista was very conscious of her appearance and spent ages getting herself "put together" before facing the world. This ultimately, led to her untimely death. Andy remarried his secretary from the paint factory and lived in Whittier, California for many years. Had one daughter, who later moved to Portland, Oregon. He followed, years later, following the death of his second wife, to live with her, as he needed constant care. She was/is a lovely girl and it was their that he advanced to the great stage in the heavens. His two sons lived back in Los Angeles, California.
I shall never forget that beaming smile which he always wore. And his resonant baritone Elizabethan speech, learned earlier in acting school.
Sadly, Andy died not too long ago of complications resulting from what he constantly was angry about...an unfortunate complication of cancer. We often exchanged letters through the years, and we both enjoyed our mutual comfort from them.
Alan Dempster Vineland, Ontario, Canada.