Gog (1954)

So I've been wrestling with Blogger like it was Hal from 2001 but I think I now have control back with out having to pull out it's memory chips....although it came close, I can tell you!

So on with the show. And finally some words to go with the pictures...

A security agent investigating possible sabotage at a secret underground research facility discovers that a chain of murders has occurred, apparently engineered via the supercomputer NOVAC which coordinates base operations and its robot minions, GOG and MAGOG.

I've never had the pleasure of this 1954 movie but have given it a quick viewing this evening online and its looks pretty good.

Obviously those spacesuits are familiar to regular followers as Destination Moon spacesuits with helmets from Cat-Women on the Moon, or some yet to be pinned down earlier film,

 

 Steve

 

Lost In Space - S3 E8 - Flight into the Future (1967)

We've looked at Lost in Space before, both the original series Robinsons' spacesuits as well as the movie and Netflix reboots.

For this post though we are returning to a specific episode of the original run - season three's Flight into the Future, the eighth episode that first aired in 1967.  This story features two Destination Moon style suits which may even be the originals or at least a very accurate reproduction.

What's particularly interesting about this spacesuit though is that's its an ensemble of very mixed origins because while the suit may be from 1950, the helmets are from 1966's Way...Way Out.  They have been modified to reflect the 50's aesthetic but that actually appears to have been done for an earlier Irwin Allen production; episode two of  The Time Tunnel.  There is lots more to be said about this but at the risk of repeating myself its perhaps best to follow the link and read all about here:

The Time Tunnel - Episode 2: One Way to the Moon (1966)

or go here:

A Suitography of the "Way... Way Out" Spacesuit (1966 and onwards)

Steve

The Time Tunnel - Episode 2: One Way to the Moon (1966)

The Time Tunnel was the third of Irwin Allen's four classic sci-fi serials following on from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–1968), Lost in Space (1965–1968) and preceding Land of the Giants (1968–1970).  The time travel themed adventure series ran for just one season of 30 episodes from 1966 to 1967 and in true Irwin Allen tradition, made good creative use of stock film footage to add cinematic value that far exceeded a normal television show's budget.

With that particular trait in mind we can easily deduce why the space suit costumes seen in episode 2; One Way to the Moon have more than a passing similarity to those seen in the1950's iconic Destination Moon as indeed, scenes from that movie are intercut into the TV episode to broaden the spectacle.

 The Time Tunnel

 

Destination Moon

I'm tempted to suggest, given the passage of time between the two productions, that the spacesuits seen on TV are reproductions but who knows they might indeed be the actual movie originals, they're certainly a very close match and other spacesuits have enjoyed equally long lives

The helmets on the other hand are not the movie ones getting a second outing but are, I now believe, far more interesting in their origin in that they are most probably the helmets from Way...Way Out (1966).

This theory was suggested to me by blog-follower Tim Armstrong who's spent a lot of time trying to solve the mystery, because neither of us believed that they were originals produced for that one episode, because, well;  why would Allen go to the expense!  Tim said this in a blog comments made back in June 2014:

"Damn those suits have had a long life, any idea where the helmets seen in this episode came from, I find it hard to believe that they would have had helmets custom made for just this episode."

And then 6 years later in January 2020:

"I think I`ve just cracked the riddle of the helmets on the Destination Moon type suits that we first saw in episode 2 of The Time Tunnel and that also made an appearance in the Lost in Space season 3 episode flight into the future [ep8]
These are actually the Way... Way Out helmets prior to receiving their new opening visors. The profile looks identical and there are 4 of them [we see 4 in The Time Tunnel] it looks like they've covered part of the original visor in some new material and added a raised lip to the new visor's edge, in fact in a couple of the scenes in Lost in Space you can actually see this in profile as the actor turns his head.

These ARE the Way...Way Out helmets! I`m certain of it!"

And do you know what; I'm going to agree with him because when you look and compare the images for long enough, you can see it.

You may also wish to follows the label below: Way Out Spacesuits to trace the history of the suits and the helmets or;  A Suitography of the "Way... Way Out" Spacesuit (1966 and onwards)  which gets updated with each new discovery so feel free to let me know of any gaps.

 

So a massive thanks to Tim, whose fascination and dedication to this site has been greatly appreciated over the years. Cataloguing spacesuits is one thing but unearthing these cultural hand-me-downs and exposing their secret histories is for me the most satisfying part of it all.  Top work.

 

 

Steve

Destination Moon Spacesuits - Originals and Copies (1950 to 1964)

Promotional event to promote ......

 

Destination Moon - (1950)

Space Patrol - (1950 to 1955) TV

Flight to Mars - (1951)

 

Radar Men from the Moon (1952)

 

Abbott and Costello go to Mars  (1953)

Project Moonbase - (1953)

 

Cat-Women on the Moon - (1953)

Gog - (1954)

 

King Dinosaur - (1955)

 

Three Stooges: Have Rocket Will Travel - (1959)

Twilight Zone: Elegy - (1960)

 Conquistador de la luna - (1960)
 

Time Tunnel - (1961)
 

Robinson Crusoe on Mars - (1964)

 

There are probably more than this and I'll add them as and when.

 

In regard to when are they original and when are they copies; well I would say its all about the angle of the collar zip and about counting the rings round the neck, knees and arms.  I would also watch out for the shoulder ring because when that's gone, I reckon you're looking at a inspired-by copy.  Let me know what you think. 

 

 

Steve

Radar Men From The Moon (1952) - A Gallery

 

 

 

Steve

The Twilight Zone - Elegy (1960)

From The Twilight Zone, season 1 episode 20.

Running out of fuel, astronauts Meyers, Webber and Kirby land their spaceship on a remote asteroid in 2185. They find the place quite Earth-like with buildings and people but after looking around begin to wonder where everyone is. The first place they come to is a farm where they can find no one. No one, that is, until they see a farmer gazing off into the distance. They approach him, tap him on the shoulder and try talking to him, but realize he is nothing more than a statue........ and so it begins.

Interestingly while I ponder as to the notion that that these might be the same suits as seen in Destination Moon, I find that Wikipedia is more than happy to point out that the equipment seen in the space ship was from Forbidden Planet.  Fancy that!

 

Steve

Flight to Mars (1951)

Looky-Likey or the real deal?.  Its only a year after these suits were first seen in Destination Moon (1950) that they then appeared here in Flight to Mars (1951).  The helmets are new and appear to lack a visor as well as picking up a bit of colour.

Talking of colour; here follows three stills used as promotional material for the film  The originals must have been black and white because these have clearly been painted and deviate from the colour scheme by a shade or two

 

 

Steve

The Time Tunnel - One Way to the Moon (1966)

Another Irwin Allen show, The Time Tunnel ran from 1966 to 1967.

These images are from the second episode; One Way to the Moon, and use spacesuits (inspired by?) George Pal's Destination Moon (1950)

 

 

Steve