Captain Satellite
Encyclopedia
Captain Satellite was an afternoon TV program on KTVU-2
in Oakland, California
. Like many kids' shows of this period, it took advantage of the interest engendered by science fiction
and the early space program. The Captain was played by Bob March, a local TV personality. His signature outfit was a helmet and a dark uniform under a light-colored, triangular vest that had a thunderbolt passing through a globe. The set was a cutaway rocket ship called the Starfinder II that blasted off each day. Guest children would co-pilot under Captain Satellite's supervision. As the ship orbited on auto-pilot, the children would participate in games to win prizes (found in the "Space Lock"), and in live promotions. Old Thirties cartoons like Scrappy
and serials would be introduced between breaks, and occasionally there were special appearances, as when The Three Stooges came to visit the Starfinder II.
There were changes in format, but the show ran for a decade, from the 1960s to the early 1970s. In or about early 1966, “Captain Satellite” announced that the Starfinder-II was being mothballed and the series would get a new “flying saucer” style spaceship. The show had a naming contest and they settled on the name “Laser-II,” rather than the Jupiter-II from “Lost In Space” lore. The latter Sci-Fi show on the CBS network seems to have changed the spaceship format to a flying-saucer type craft. The “Space Lock” had a new entry system – computer punch cards – instead of keys. Three of the five cards inserted into the lock would flash: “need more data” on the screen –– giving the contestant extra attempts to open up the “Space Lock.” The winning card would open the lock, while the losing card would give the answer: “does not compute!” (probably borrowed from the robot in the “Lost In Space” series).
After the show folded, Captain Satellite continued to make guest appearances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
at various events like sci-fi movie openings at theaters and at amusement parks. Bob March retired in 1995, and lives in Auburn, California
.
Actually, when the new spaceship was named, it was originally called Laser 7...so that the L would touch the top of the 7 creating a lightning bolt. But the station figured out that it was channel 2 and not 7...so, LASER 2.
KTVU
KTVU, virtual channel 2 , is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Licensed to Oakland, California, the station has been owned by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises since 1964, making it the largest Fox affiliate by market size that is not owned and operated by the...
in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. Like many kids' shows of this period, it took advantage of the interest engendered by science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and the early space program. The Captain was played by Bob March, a local TV personality. His signature outfit was a helmet and a dark uniform under a light-colored, triangular vest that had a thunderbolt passing through a globe. The set was a cutaway rocket ship called the Starfinder II that blasted off each day. Guest children would co-pilot under Captain Satellite's supervision. As the ship orbited on auto-pilot, the children would participate in games to win prizes (found in the "Space Lock"), and in live promotions. Old Thirties cartoons like Scrappy
Scrappy
Scrappy is a cartoon character created by Dick Huemer for Charles Mintz's Krazy Kat Studio. A little round-headed boy, Scrappy often found himself involved in off-beat neighborhood adventures. Usually paired with his little brother Oopy , Scrappy also had an on-again, off-again girlfriend named...
and serials would be introduced between breaks, and occasionally there were special appearances, as when The Three Stooges came to visit the Starfinder II.
There were changes in format, but the show ran for a decade, from the 1960s to the early 1970s. In or about early 1966, “Captain Satellite” announced that the Starfinder-II was being mothballed and the series would get a new “flying saucer” style spaceship. The show had a naming contest and they settled on the name “Laser-II,” rather than the Jupiter-II from “Lost In Space” lore. The latter Sci-Fi show on the CBS network seems to have changed the spaceship format to a flying-saucer type craft. The “Space Lock” had a new entry system – computer punch cards – instead of keys. Three of the five cards inserted into the lock would flash: “need more data” on the screen –– giving the contestant extra attempts to open up the “Space Lock.” The winning card would open the lock, while the losing card would give the answer: “does not compute!” (probably borrowed from the robot in the “Lost In Space” series).
After the show folded, Captain Satellite continued to make guest appearances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
at various events like sci-fi movie openings at theaters and at amusement parks. Bob March retired in 1995, and lives in Auburn, California
Auburn, California
Auburn is the county seat of Placer County, California. Its population at the 2010 census was 13,330. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history.Auburn is part of the Greater Sacramento area.- History :...
.
Actually, when the new spaceship was named, it was originally called Laser 7...so that the L would touch the top of the 7 creating a lightning bolt. But the station figured out that it was channel 2 and not 7...so, LASER 2.