Behind-The-Scenes Pix #39: UFO

On the set of Gerry Anderson's UFO during the filming of the episode "Flight Path." I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing that's director Ken Turner and actor George Cole as disgraced SHADO agent Paul Roper. I'm certain someone will let me know if I'm wrong.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #38: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

A squadron's-worth of Colonial Viper miniatures await the call to combat in Universal's Battlestar Galactica at John Dykstra's Apogee model shop, circa 1978.

SPFX: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) TV Special

Before exhaustive DVD/Blu-ray bonus features and entire television channels devoted to peeling back the behind-the-scenes process of filmmaking, the only glimpses fans had into the real-world of movie special effects was through occasional Starlog features and other magazine articles, and the rare prime-time network television special - such as this 1980 TV event designed to promote the first Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. Hosted by Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, we were given a full hour of lovingly photographed miniature spaceships, stop-motion Tauntauns (and Imperial Walkers), and so much more.

A genre fan himself, Hamill brought a lot of natural enthusiasm to his hosting duty on this documentary special.

I'm pretty sure (though not 100% certain - I couldn't find a scan of the tape box) that this special got an 80's VHS videotape release along with the Star Wars and Return Of The Jedi TV promotional specials.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #37: SPACE: 1999

I'm not sure which episode this is from, but here's a nice production shot of a dramatic scene on the terrific Main Mission set (which both sounds - and looks - so much cooler than Year 2's cave-like "Command Center") from the first season of Space: 1999.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #36: STARCRASH

Here's a Behind-The-Scenes photo guaranteed to warm you up on a cold, late-January morning! The stunning Caroline Munro on location as space smuggler/interstellar heroine Stella Star during the filming of Luigi Cozzi's Starcrash in early 1978.

Mr. Rogers Meets THE INCREDIBLE HULK (1978)

Children's television host/personality Fred Rogers (and Mr. McFeely!) of the long-running PBS series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, visits the set of CBS' popular The Incredible Hulk series in these vintage clips, probably from 1979/80. Both stars Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno (in full Hulk mode) take time to discuss Hollywood "make believe" with the soft-spoken, sweater-clad visitor. Together, they run just under twenty minutes (although there's some overlap).

I had several people (including my wife) forward these to me in the last day or so - I'm guessing some blog much more popular than this one must have showcased these vids recently....

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #35: STAR TREK

Time-traveling back to the late Sixties, we find William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy in the U.S.S. Enterprise briefing room during the shooting of... which classic Star Trek episode? I'm not certain, although the slate tells us it's one directed by Marc Daniels. My knowledge of the series is just slightly shy of encyclopedic, so I can't nail it down from the picture alone.... anyone want to field a guess?

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #34: UFO

The late producer Gerry Anderson on the set of his first live-action sci-fi television series, UFO, having a very serious (it would appear) conversation with actors Peter Gordeno (SkyDiver One Captian/Sky One pilot Peter Carlin) and Ed Bishop (SHADO Commander Ed Straker).

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #33: BUCK ROGERS

Another performer suits up as a robot - in this case, it's Felix Silla as the wisecracking ambuquad TWIKI (voiced primarily by Mel Blanc) in Universal's 1979 film and subsequent NBC television series, Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. Genre vet Silla also portrayed (in conjunction with Johnathan Harris' voice performance) the IL- Series Cylon "Lucifer" (and, presumably "Spectre" as well) on the original Battlestar Galactica, as well as an Ewok in Return Of The Jedi.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #32: THE BLACK HOLE

With the help of a pair of technicians, professional mime Tommy McLoughlin is encased in the black fiberglass body of the Cygnus' gunslinging Sentry robot S.T.A.R., for Disney's 1979 interstellar epic, The Black Hole. His mouth and chin are blackened as a precaution against his skin showing through breathing holes/slits in the mask.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #31: 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

On the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey with director Stanley Kubrick. And to all the helpful folks who feel obligated to e-mail me, comment and tweet whenever I post something that didn't come out strictly in the calendar decade of the 1970s: yes, 2001 came out in 1968, but as I've stated numerous times, I consider the 70s era of sci-fi to basically begin in '68 (with 2001 and Planet Of The Apes) and end in '83 (with Return Of The Jedi). It's my blog. Deal with it.

Sorry... I'm grumpy tonight.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #30: STAR TREK - THE MOTION PICTURE

I really like this terrific photo of William Shatner (as Admiral James T. Kirk) and director Robert Wise on the Enterprise bridge set during the filming of Star Trek - The Motion Picture in 1979. Sure, it's almost certainly a staged studio publicity shot... but I like it.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #29: GALACTICA 1980

Direct from the Universal backlot, here's a rare behind-the-scenes look at the full-sized "two-seater" model Colonial Viper mock-up, as seen on the Battlestar Galactica spin-off series, Galactica: 1980, back in, well, 1980.

When I was a kid, I used to fantasize about somehow getting my hands on one of the full-scale Vipers - I still love those ships. They were the "muscle cars" of 70s spaceships....

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #28: THE QUESTOR TAPES (1974)

Actress Majel Barret and her husband, producer Gene Roddenberry, pose on the set of Roddenberry's 1974 TV movie/pilot film, The Questor Tapes. The telefilm starred Robert Foxworth as the highly advanced android, Questor, and Mike Farrell as the human scientist helping the 'droid search for his missing creator. Barret had a supporting role as another scientist in the film.

Although I have - and have read - D.C. Fontana's novelization of the teleplay, this is the one Seventies Roddenberry production that has continued to elude me. I didn't catch it when it was originally broadcast, and have never managed to catch it on television or home video in the past 38 years or so. Hopefully, one of these days, I'll get my hands on a copy.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #27: Treat Williams in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

I guess a lot of you die-hard Star Wars fans already know about this, but I just discovered it last night. So... the story goes that back in 1979, up-and-coming actor Treat Williams (Prince Of The City, Flashpoint) stopped by the set of The Empire Strikes Back at Elstree Studios to visit his pal, Carrie Fisher. Just for the hell of it, the production staff dressed him up as rebel officer, and he spent the day as an uncredited extra during the Echo Base (Hoth) scenes. It is believed that he is visible on screen during those sequences, but fans don't seem to agree as to where and when he might appear.

As for me, I had never heard of Williams' involvement (however minor) in the Star Wars franchise until just recently (when I found this pic), but I do know that next time I spin my Empire Blu-ray on my 55" TV, I'm going to keep an eye out for him!

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #26: GENESIS II

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry poses on the impressive "PAX subshuttle station" set of his 1973 post-Apocalyptic sci-fi pilot film for Warner Brothers and CBS, Genesis II, starring Alex Cord (Airwolf) and Mariette Hartley.

Genesis II  is available as a manufactured-on-demand DVD from Warner Archive, and I reviewed both the movie and the disc HERE.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #25: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

Special effects maestro and co-producer John Dykstra poses with the original shooting model of the titular Battlestar Galactica warship during production of the pilot film. "Saga Of A Star World," back in early '78.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #24: LAND OF THE LOST

One show that I originally intended to write about here at Space: 1970 a lot more than I have (especially, as I haven't written about it yet, really) is the 1974-76 Saturday morning children's adventure series, Land Of The Lost. During its three-season run, it was probably the most imaginative sci-fi show on television, and certainly the one with the most special effects per episode.

I really need to start giving this show some of the attention that it deserves.

This cast shot certainly demonstrates just how extensively the show relied on chroma-key/bluescreen compositing. Series stars Spencer Milligan (as Rick Marshall), Wesley Eure (as Will Marshall) and Kathy Coleman (as Holly Marshall) pretend to navigate their raft down a river - a miniature river and landscape that would be shot seperately and matted in behind them for airing.

I have to say, though, looking at their expressions (especially Milligan's and Coleman's) makes me wonder what they thought they were supposed to be seeing...

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #23: THE STARLOST

Not the most exciting or dramatic of Behind-The-Scenes photos, I admit, but considering it's from the 1973 Canadian series, The Starlost, I was amazed to find it. I believe this is from the "Space Precinct" episode, and the cramped set really shows what limited resources the low budget production had at its disposal.

I've admitted before that I actually enjoy The Starlost for what it is. Sure, it's not the show it should have or could have been; Harlan Ellison's concept (while not especially original) had tons of potential for a thoughtful, episodic science fiction series. Unfortunately, the bitter reality of economics left that potential unfulfilled, though I'm not sure that any TV production company in '73 could have really pulled it off to Ellison's satisfaction. It is a shame that the Canadian producers couldn't find more writers with actual experience in sci-fi, or secure a bigger budget - but as nonsensical and cheap as it may be, I still enjoy watching episodes on DVD every once in a while.

Behind-The-Scenes Pix #22: THE POWERS OF MATTHEW STAR (1981)

As mentioned in the previous post, Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy directed an episode or two of the 1981 sci-fi series, The Powers Of Matthew Star. Here are a couple of behind-the-scenes photos of Nimoy and Matthew Star star Peter Barton on the set that I recently stumbled across - I figured this was a good time and place to share them....