SPACE 1999 MEMORIES

When Space 1999 first aired in 1975, I, along with many other Gerry Anderson fans already had some insight into this new show.

In a pre – internet world the dedicated fan could still catch the odd bit of info . One way I used was checking that year’s new television  annuals in Mum’s Grattan catalogue.

The 1975 annual probably appeared just prior to the first screening, and was a good introduction to the series. 

I remember picking up the paperbacks at  ‘Dickie’  Lewis’s department store in Liverpool, on the days I attended the polytechnic. Like the annual, the first ones appeared before I’d seen the first episode.

Once the show started I still continued to pick up the paperbacks and annuals, although with the exception of the Eagle Airfix kit and Dinky die-cast I didn’t really bother with any of the spin off toys, preferring to concentrate on the ephemera that appeared in magazines and comics at the time.

These two dedicated poster magazines came out during 1975.  

Bearing in mind these were the days before Star Wars made science fiction trendy, sci-fi mags were thin on the ground.

I remember picking up this intriguing publication from the corner shop, which obviously used Star Trek as its selling point.

Coming out in 1976 just prior to the release of Space 1999’s second season, Sci-Fi Monthly was full of little articles about the upcoming new production, with the odd poster or pin up thrown in for good measure.

Looking back at the articles now, it’s interesting to read how readers were looking forward the new series, which was to address the short comings of the previous series with much more emphasis on characters rather than special effects, and more action rather than metaphysical ideas.

Personally, despite its faults, I still preferred the first series which took a lot of inspiration from my favourite sci-fi film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. The second series just came across as a watered down Star Trek to me.

As the years have passed I don’t think my opinion has changed. Space 1999 isn't my favourite G A series, but nowadays I do admit I've grown much more fond of the series, and I do get quite nostalgic remembering a time just prior to and during the show’s initial screening.