Thursday, July 26, 2012

1941 Buick

Roe Family in Texas

Gerald, dog, and Dick


After my post on the Rocket Men, I remembered an old family photo of brother Dick and cousin Gerald from about 1951. It was a recollection fostered by all the old cars in the Commando Cody/Rocket Man serials. I searched the web and finally identified our family car. It was a 1941 Buick.

Advertising Art

Real life 1941 Buick

The next car I remember our family owning was the 1954 Pontiac Star Chief. We got that I believe in about 1955. Not really sure about the year, but I do remember going to Alabama on a family vacation in it. That was the summer of 1956.
Me, Dick, Mom and 1954 Pontiac Star Chief (Oct. 56)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Rocket Man

I rediscovered Commando Cody this week as a result of a rabbit trail I went down. I was watching an episode of American Pickers where they picked a movie poster for Zombies of the Stratosphere featuring Leonard Nemoy. I Googled it and read the article on Wikipedia. I remember seeing Commando Cody at the movies back in the 50s. Commando Cody, played by George Wallace, was the lead character in Radar Men from the Moon, a 12 part serial by Republic Pictures in 1952. It was followed 1953 by Zombies of the Stratosphere in which Leonard Nemoy played one of the "zombies". The rocket man suit was used in both serials and also in a made for TV series "Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe". These movie serials came on the scene at the beginning of the atomic age and before the space age. The technology was awesome. As a kid, I ate this stuff up.

You will notice that the actors always seem to be dressed in suits, ties, and fedoras. The rocket man takes off his suit coat and puts on a leather coat which has the rockets and controls attached. Then he puts on his helmet. Scroll down and take a look at the controls below. So simple, even a caveman could do it. Clayton Moore (best known for playing the Lone Ranger) is the bad guy in Radar Men from the Moon. His voice is unmistakable.
Clayton Moore, second from left.


You can find the 12 episodes of Radar Men from the Moon on YouTube here: Radar Men from the Moon (1952) Full

Commando Cody with lunar tank


The following images are from  Zombies of the Stratosphere. Commando Cody is replaced by Larry Martin (played by Judd Holdren). This version has been colorized. The link is to a Youtube version of the movie.
back view of the rocket man

awesome controls

rocket man in flight

I wished I could have a suit like this.

Leonard Nemoy's death scene in Episode 12.

This awesome rocket could take off and fly to the moon and back in record time. Amazing.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Sarah At Play

Sarah got a new playground. Her daddy did a great job putting it all together. I am sure baby Emily will grow up loving to play here too.