I often get Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers mixed up.
Its because I didn't grow up with them.
Well, not them personally but on the radio or TV I mean.
I have to think of the two films I know to work it out. Buck R in the 21st Century and Flash, the one with the Queen theme.
It only takes a second and then I can think about the toys and games I have had over the years for my old toy stall and Ebay store.
There were lots of old style Flash Gordon jigsaw puzzles and a huge Buck Rogers boxed Board Game with thousands of small plastic spaceships and figure. Battle for the 21st Century?
I also got hold of a slew of the 90's Flash carded action figures from the bargain buckets at Toymaster years ago. I think they went as a set.
The number of toys for each of these icons is vast, especially in the early days, the 30's, 40's and 50's [I think they go back that far] and my Space Adventure Collectibles book details them all. It must be hugely satisfying to collect these really old toys and games from the start of space TV, cinema and radio.
It didn't surprise me that the main character in the modern film TED is obsessed with the lead in the modern Flash Gordon film. In fact they meet and hang out at a party! Is it Dolph Lundgren, the actor?
Is collecting Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers still a big deal these days?
The Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon toy lines have been revived from time to time over my lifetime,most notably by Mego in the 1970s.The original collectables,are approaching a century in age.Since they were made of metal,wood, and sometimes paper,they are truly rare and are mostly the playthings of uber rich collectors or property of museums.I have seen some tin toys and some of the early plastic toys around.Theyre not impossible to obtain, but they aren't cheap either.
ReplyDeleteI think the actor in 'Flash' was called Sam Jones , who was an ex American Football player.
ReplyDeleteMish.
Back in the 50's and early 60's the movie serials from the 30's of both Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers were shown at Saturday Morning Children's Cinema Shows I do not think they ever made it onto British TV back then. Just to add to the confusion of telling the stories apart both title characters were played by Buster Crabbe a former Olympic athlete.
ReplyDeleteIn the US there were a number of metal models of space ships from the serials/comics as well as slush metal Buck Rogers figures. Both characters began as colour newspaper strips and were very popular in the 30's & 40's.
The later TV shows and movies were a new crop of collectable toys, lunch boxes, colouring books etc.
Another reason everyone kind of mixes Buck and Flash together is that many of the sets and props looked to be reused between them also with some extra fins added here and there. Not only did Buster Crabbe play both heroes but he also played Tarzan.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Buster was a one man industry! Is his legacy well known still?
ReplyDeleteDo Archer Spacemen stem from these two shows do you think?
ReplyDeleteThe Archer figures have the look of the comic strip/movie serials but were produced later so probably influenced by, not as a tie in. They were also sold in the UK in Dan Dare packaging to which they bore no resemblence.
DeleteI think Buster Crabbe also appeared in the 80's Buck Rogers as a veteran pilot!
ReplyDeleteReally! I'm not sure I've seen the movie Kev. Another one on the list!
DeleteIt was a tv series!
DeleteReally? Don't recall a TV series. I must have been alseep!
DeleteBuck Rogers first appeared in 1928, in the American science fiction pulp magazine Amazing Stories. Flash Gordon began as a comic strip in 1934. It is easy to remember who came first, as their names are in alphabetical order.
ReplyDeleteThere were three Flash Gordon movie serials, or chapter plays: Flash Gordon (1936); Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938); and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). There was also an early TV series in 1954-55, and another in 2007-08. Also a movie in 1980. There have been several animated versions.
There was just one Buck Rogers movie serial, called Buck Rogers (1939). The 1979-81 TV series, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, starred Gil Gerard. The pilot for this was released theatrically. This is the series the Corgi and Corgi Juniors Starfighters are based on. Daffy Duck appeared as Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century from 1953.
All these serials were edited down, and released as films in later years, under various titles. Along with other serials they were also released to television. The only old movie serials I can recall seeing on TV in New Zealand were the Flash Gordons, in the 1960s or 1970s. Given that I grew up watching Gerry Anderson and Star Trek, I was not impressed with the 1930s vintage spaceships and special effects. But the stories were fun.
Larry 'Buster' Crabbe was an Olympic swimming champion (gold metal, Los Angeles, 1932), before becoming an actor. He starred in all the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers movie series. The Flash Gordon Serials 1936-40 covers the serials in detail, including Buck Rodgers. He was a very dashing leading man, but mainly in serials, B pictures, and on television. He only appeared once as Tarzan, in Tarzan the Fearless (1933) which was also released both as a serial, and as a feature film.
I do not have much in the way of either Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon collectables. About the only thing I can recall is the Corgi Juniors Starfighter; plus the serials on DVD, and one or two books. However, these characters are important as being among the first space heroes, and certainly deserve to be part of any SF collection.
Fascinating Paul. That's a great summary. Thanks. There are loads of Flash and Buck collectables from different decades, with the most being from the original years. These collectables, games and toys are very valuable and I have at least one book that covers them, Space Adventure Collectables. I did a video book review 5 years ago https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2015/01/moonbase-book-review-space-adventure.html
DeleteThank you, I have just watched the review. What a great book, no wonder it inspired you. I should image the early items are indeed very expensive. The boxed Tootsietoys Buck Rogers Rocket Ships set is one I would love, but doubt I would ever be able to afford.
ReplyDelete