Man in Space
Encyclopedia
Man in Space is an episode of Disneyland which originally aired on March 9, 1955. It was directed by Disney animator Ward Kimball
. Later, it was edited into a featurette to play in theaters, accompanying Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
. This Disneyland episode (set in Tomorrowland
), was narrated partly by Kimball and also by such famed scientists as Dr. Willy Ley
, Dr. Heinz Haber
, Dr. Wernher von Braun
and Dick Tufeld
of Lost in Space
fame. The show talks briefly about the lighthearted history of rockets and is followed by discussions of satellites, a practical look (through humorous animation) at what spacemen will have to face in a rocket (both physically and psychologically, such as momentum, weightlessness, radiation, even space sickness) and a rocket takeoff into space.
The episode was converted into a 32 page comic book ("Dell Comics" (#716)) in 1956. Under the title Walt Disney's Man in Space: A Science Feature from Tomorrowland. It was actually a "novelization" in comic book form of 2 Walt Disney television programs "Man in Space" (1955) and "Tomorrow the Moon" (1955). Also found as a 1956 UK reprint as "A World Distributors Movie Classic" (#45) and a 1959 combined reprint with the other 2 Dell Comics adaptations of "Man in Space" films as: "Walt Disney's Man in Space" ("Dell Comics Giant" #27).
It was also made into a "Tomorrowland adventure" book for classroom use in 1959 as Man in Space: A Tomorrowland Adventure. Walt Disney Productions. Adapted for school use by Ley, Willy. Illustrated by Carbe, Nino. Syracuse, NY: LW Singer Co. Inc. (48 p.) 21 cm. Softcover.
It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short
. It was released on DVD in 2004 as part of the Walt Disney Treasures
line. The next episode in this series was Man and the Moon
, and then Mars and Beyond
.
Ward Kimball
Ward Walrath Kimball was an animator for the Walt Disney Studios. He was one of Walt Disney's team of animators known as Disney's Nine Old Men.-Career:...
. Later, it was edited into a featurette to play in theaters, accompanying Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates is a 1956 live-action Walt Disney adventure film starring Fess Parker as Davy Crockett. It was shot in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois...
. This Disneyland episode (set in Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland
- Tomorrowland 1955–1967 :The first Tomorrowland opened at Disneyland on July 18, 1955, with only several of its planned attractions open, due to budget cuts. The construction of the park was rushed, so Tomorrowland was the last land to be finished. It became something of a corporate showcase,...
), was narrated partly by Kimball and also by such famed scientists as Dr. Willy Ley
Willy Ley
Willy Ley was a German-American science writer and space advocate who helped popularize rocketry and spaceflight in both Germany and the United States. The crater Ley on the far side of the Moon is named in his honor.-Life:...
, Dr. Heinz Haber
Heinz Haber
Heinz Haber was a German physicist and science writer who primarily became famous for his TV programs and books about physics and environmental subjects...
, Dr. Wernher von Braun
Wernher von Braun
Wernher Magnus Maximilian, Freiherr von Braun was a German rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, space architect, and one of the leading figures in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany during World War II and in the United States after that.A former member of the Nazi party,...
and Dick Tufeld
Dick Tufeld
Dick Tufeld is an American actor, announcer, narrator, and voice actor from the 1950s onward.He is perhaps best known as the voice of the Robot in the TV series Lost in Space, a role he reprised for the 1998 feature film...
of Lost in Space
Lost in Space
Lost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968...
fame. The show talks briefly about the lighthearted history of rockets and is followed by discussions of satellites, a practical look (through humorous animation) at what spacemen will have to face in a rocket (both physically and psychologically, such as momentum, weightlessness, radiation, even space sickness) and a rocket takeoff into space.
The episode was converted into a 32 page comic book ("Dell Comics" (#716)) in 1956. Under the title Walt Disney's Man in Space: A Science Feature from Tomorrowland. It was actually a "novelization" in comic book form of 2 Walt Disney television programs "Man in Space" (1955) and "Tomorrow the Moon" (1955). Also found as a 1956 UK reprint as "A World Distributors Movie Classic" (#45) and a 1959 combined reprint with the other 2 Dell Comics adaptations of "Man in Space" films as: "Walt Disney's Man in Space" ("Dell Comics Giant" #27).
It was also made into a "Tomorrowland adventure" book for classroom use in 1959 as Man in Space: A Tomorrowland Adventure. Walt Disney Productions. Adapted for school use by Ley, Willy. Illustrated by Carbe, Nino. Syracuse, NY: LW Singer Co. Inc. (48 p.) 21 cm. Softcover.
It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short
Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject
This is a list of films by year that have received an Oscar together with the other nominations for best documentary short subject. Following the Academy's practice, the year listed for each film is the year of release: the awards are announced and presented early in the following year.-1940s:*1941...
. It was released on DVD in 2004 as part of the Walt Disney Treasures
Walt Disney Treasures
The Walt Disney Treasures is a two-disc DVD set of classic Disney works. They cover work from the studio's earliest days to their more recent work...
line. The next episode in this series was Man and the Moon
Man and the Moon
Man and the Moon is an episode of Disneyland which originally aired on December 28, 1955. It was directed by Disney animator Ward Kimball, and is about the Moon. It begins with a humorous look with Man's fascination with the Moon through animation...
, and then Mars and Beyond
Mars and Beyond
Mars and Beyond is an episode of Disneyland which aired on December 4, 1957. It was directed by Ward Kimball and narrated by Paul Frees. This episode discusses the possibility of life on other planets, especially Mars. It begins with an introduction of Walt Disney and his robot friend Garco, who...
.