Here in Canada, SPACE, Canada's answer to scifi, started airing a horde of vintage and classic shows, BSG classic, Hilarious House of Freightenstein, and as the title hints, Buck Rogers.

I'm gonna start paying close attention each episode and see if I can figure out what was used in the props n costumes.

For those who don't know the premise, here ya go.

In the year 1987, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes. Aboard this compact starship a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension. In a freak mishap, his life-support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Ranger III was blown out of its plan trajectory into an orbit 1,000 times more vast, an orbit which was to return Buck Rogers to earth 500 years later.

i got dibs on the first "twiggy" helmut!!!!!

This is so doable....

The complete series is out on DVD. The series was originally out around the same time, I believe, as Battlestar Galactica... as Glen Larson was responsible for getting both on the air.

The original introduction was voiced by the late actor Robert Conrad. The version cited by Templar was done toward the end of the series... during the "Searcher" episodes.

Originally Buck Rogers was a comic strip character seen in movie serials of the 1930s with the late Buster Crabbe in the lead. He actually made a guest appearance in the TV series as "Brigadier Gordon."

I've seen the Earth Directorate patch (worn by Buck & Wilma on their uniforms) being sold on Patch Geeks & through Intergalactic Trading Company.

Costumes... White spandex with a gay pride rainbow ribbon on the sleeve!

I used to love that show... but it's one of those when you watch it as an adult it just isn't as cool anymore. Like GI Joe, Transformers, He-man... oy!

On the other hand, when I was in High School TSR did a Buck Rogers roleplaying game based on D&D 2nd edition. They did 2 computer games that played like the classic D&D games like Curse of the Azure Bonds and Secret of the Silver Blades.

They also did a kick butt series of novels. I think only 4... and about 4 or 5 years later they changed this cool universe and rpg and turned it into "classic" 1930s Buck Rogers serial type. Killed the game just like that. oy!

Heh heh, my bad, forgot to post a pic.



http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1362/Mptv...ath_key=0078579

http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1066/Mptv...ath_key=0078579

http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1066/Mptv...ath_key=0078579

http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1362/Mptv...ath_key=0078579

oh that reminds me... The pistols/sidearm. I think a toy company, probably Mego made the pistol back in the day. You might be able to find it and make a mold off of it.

Although I think I've seen kits of it at conventions.

I LOVED this show growing up! **I think Erin Gray was my first crush**

Funny I ran into her at D-Con 05, she was their signing autographs and I was talking to her about the outfits. She commented on how much the "got away with" on the show as far as skimpy outfits for that day and age!

Great Lady! If you ever have chance to speak with her do! I know she is also an agent for few other actors like our Mr. Carmen Argenzio...

Any idea if Gil Gerard does cons?

It'd be cool to meet him too.

Just in case you were not aware of it, Buck Rogers was originally slated to be the follow up to Battlestar Galactica. The premise was that BSG reached Earth and a big battle laid waste to the planet.
The ships were supposed to be evolutions of the viper.
But then Galactica 1980 happened and they had to redo the series.

Gil Gerrard was at TTrek 2 years ago. He SUCKED.He had also changed dramatically.
He kept making nasty fun of Felix Silla.

You mean something like this Porkchop?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O8YrPeOI-c

You can find the resin BR blaster on ebay every now and then. Check with Dan if he can supply them. Otherwise I may know a source.

You mean Twikki helmet

The Buck Rogers in the 25th Century costume reference pictures are here:

http://www.scifihero.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=567

Well, the searcher uniforms are at least. I own 2 of the original uniforms, and they are essentially badly made out of cheap materials....one of the uniforms is just a modified 'dickies' coverall....

I have been studing the episodes quite alot

The great thing about the Glen A. Larson Buck was that it was unapoligetically silly: you could just enjoy the light entertainment without taking it too seriously. This breezy approach was what made it work, I think.

Ok, just an interesting tidbit in regards to this show.

In an episode entitled Cosmic Wiz Kid, several of Glen Larson's Galactica items made an appearance, some in a somewhat altered state.

The breather masks used in the three Galactica episodes, and Colonial uniforms, with white cuffs and a turtle neck added to some of them XD.

I'd love to see a re-imaging of Buck ala BSG, I think that it would make for a pretty cool show. Given the show's setting it would make a for a very nice dark, gritty drama and with the premise of Buck being from the 20th century you could have some very funny (pop) cultural references from time to time, sort of like Crichton on Farscape.

I talked to erin grey at Dcon this year and she told me that they are working on a new buck roger movie she is helping write it and a consultant for the movie and it may work into a new show so you may get your wish very soon

Erin is really great I spoke to her back in 2005 and had to confess to her she was my first TV crush...

Yep mine to and she is a very good looking lady

I hope not. Apologies to those who think the NEW BS is the bees knees, but the new show isn't Battlestar Galactica...its a deconstruction of same. I wouln't like to see that happen to Buck: as silly as it was, I have fond memories of it.

I'm not saying either of these shows is a classic or anything....I'm just saying it's possible to make a good remake without essentially trashing all the premises of the original show.

Well I disagree. I am a lover of both old and new BSG and the original Buck but I think it is time for a new buck

I was at that dragon con (I think it was 3 years ago). He has gone quite down hill. I think I have a photo. I will post it if I can find it.

Councelor

I love the Buck Rogers Blaster...

Felix and Me at Adventurecon 2006

Twiki


Was you meaning this gun Grey Starr

hmmm, Ben Browder as Buck.....naaaaaah, too obvious. lol

I Think Ben would make a good Buck.

I think he might pull it off pretty good

Now question is who should be Wilma

There were actually 2-3 different versions of (supposedly) the same gun....

I remember in the early '80's I had a casting of the version 2 gun, which had a narrower
'magazine' and a linger barrel....In my collection NOW I have the version pictured here.
There was also a 'mini' version as well, as I remember....



Well, we all have.





Well, if he was trying to reprise the character, he COULD do the smart alek bit, that is true....




There's no accounting for taste. Personally, every time I see a duece and a half truck or someone wearing a 20th century western suit I grate my teeth.

Also, it would be really nice if the writers did not contradict themselves every other episode, or try to justify suicide bombing.

But, that's just me...I mean, not everyone has written books, I suppose many people just don't notice such things.

Anyone wanna take a stab at figuring out what a 20th century Buck Rogers costume might look like?

It'd be interesting to see what everyone comes up with in that regard.

As for the blaster, yes indeed it had different paint jobs, gold, silver, black, etc. A blaster for every occasion really. lol

I'll see what I can do about getting a complete color list.

Yep... that's the one...

Why do you disagree you are a lover of both?

I think you took Gil the wrong way. Felix and Gil are great friends. Gil had surgery a couple of years ago and Felix was right there. There was a documentary made due to the nature of the surgery (mini gastric bypass). You might can catch the show on Discovery Health Channel. Erin Gray appears on the documentary too. Gil was up to 360 lbs and now he is down to 200lbs. Here is a picture made back in May of this year.



At a recent convention, I had a group picture made with with several folks - Gil, Erin, Felix and a few friends (no charge for the photo). Felix had left for a few minutes and Gil was scheduled for a Q&A session. Gil told the con rep that they would have to wait until Felix returned and got the picture made until they went to the Q&A session. Also at DragonCon 07, Gil made it a point to praise Felix 's performance as Twikki.

Ummmm, Buck has......Erin hasn't. She was at last year's con and very attractive.

Life is so unfair!


You're right though, she hasn't lost it nearly as much as he has.

Oh, well, at least he weighs a lot more than I do. I wonder how much those mini bypasses cost?

For the procedure Gil Gerard had, it costs about $17,000.00.

I wonder if my health insurance covers that...on the other hand my wife tells me they won't do one on you unless your weight actually endangers your life.

I don't know if my 'extra 20' qualifies....

By the way, does Gil look a lot like Chuck heston late in life now, or is it just me?

He pretty much looks the same just older. Its funny Erin Gray was in a recent Sci-Fi.com movie and she looked older in the movie than she did in person. You can find more photos of Gil on his site. I will tell you this after the surgery he said he had some hair loss due to the drastic change in diet, but I believe his hair has come back. When I saw him at DragonCon 07 he did look a little different, but I think that was all related to the surgery.

First off, this is my first post, so if I step on anyone's toes inadvertently, please be gentle!

Porkchop,

I've been deep in Classic Galactica and Buck Rogers fandom since they aired. Never heard that before about the shows. Any idea where that info came from? Is there a Glen Larson interview mentioning that? I'd like to look it up. If its true, that would change quite a few ideas in the fan circles.

I know the original design for the Galactica Viper was the design they eventually used for the Thunderfighter on BR. Glen Larson passed on it in favor of the "rocket dart" design we all know and love. But it came up again for Buck Rogers and became a classic starfighter design.

There have been plenty of threads on other boards about the possible making of Earth Defense Directorate (white spandex) uniforms. I only recently got my hands on a kit of the Thunderfighter helmet (limited run from another prop board). I'm not in any shape to be wearing white spandex (or ANY spandex for that matter), but I've been slowly assembling the plastic parts of the outfit... I have copies of both Buck's and Wilma's pistols. I also have really nice close-up images of the original belt buckle and collar laurel. Not being of insignificant prop making ability and talent, I was going to eventually sculpt up brand new, accurate and super clean versions to mold and replicate. I'm also looking deeply into the belt boxes and other stuff from the outfit.

And then a quick mention for all you BR fans: my company is making the prototype clothing for a line of 8" (MEGO sized) dolls based on the BR series. The company that's having the toys manufactured is ZICA Toys. They hired my company to do the miniature suits. We also supplied them with a digital model of the starfighter helmet. If you visit the ZICA Toys website, they have images of the head sculpts (not my work) for the first series of figures. The first set will include Buck, Tigerman, Kane, Hawk, and Draconian Soldier. If the sales go well, they'll invest in tooling for a female body to produce Wilma and Ardalla. If the sales go REALLY well, they'll invest in tooling for Twiki and Dr. Theopolis.

Thanks for reading!

-Gordon

I've been lucky enough to meet Gil, Erin and Felix and all of them are lovely people. Erin especially!

Gil did lose a bunch of weight from the surgery and like most people who undergo that procedure, got very thin for a while and then gained a little back as their body adjusted to the new situation. Not anywhere near what he was before, though.

After he lost the weight, and his face began to show a little more age, I thought he started to look quite like Darren McGavin, the guy who played Kolchak.

Anyway, its great to be here in this board! Nice to meet all of you!

-Gordon

Gordon,

Welcome to the Site~!! good to see you on yet another website

And I can't back up the story about Buck rogers being a continuation of BSG, but I had heard that in the past as well. but I couldn't tell you the source of that information for the life of me.

Good to be here, Reaper!

Yeah, I'm not too sold on the notion of BR being a continuation of BSG. Considering that the BR motion picture was put into production before Galactica ended on TV. Unless an interview quote with Glen Larson confirms it conceptually, there are far too many chronological reasons to discredit the hypothesis.

But hey, I'm not the end-all of Galactica/BR knowledge (though I got more than most). Stranger stuff has been shown true.

-Gordon

It is a funny concept, though... considering that so many Galactica props, models, and costumes were re-used on Buck Rogers. I actually started a list awhile ago just for fun.

One of the most glaring re-uses was the Colonial Shuttlecraft. There was an episode guest-starring Mark Leonard (Sarek of Star Trek) as an embassador with a removable head. They actually crashed the re-painted Colonial Shuttle model in a mountainous miniature full of vermiculite. Then it sank because of "quicksand"!

Anyway, they re-used so much Galactica stuff on Buck Rogers (and vice -versa... in later Galactica eps they used repainted BR guns as weapons for the Eastern Alliance and Terra sidearms). In fact, there's an episode of Buck Rogers where Buck is strapped to a chair by the Draconians and the sparkly belt that's wrapped around his chest is adorned with a copy of Count Iblis' collar medallion from the Galactica episode "War of the Gods".

And of course, they re-used extras wardrobe constantly. Especially that rough-woven tunic with the two gigantic metal rings attached to the chest with leather straps. They loved re-using that one. In fact, I think even Gil Gerard wore it at one point when Buck was "in disguise" on a mission.

I know they re-used the white-cubey Directorate Office walls on Galactica for Cylon sets at one point.. I think it was on Gamorray in "Living Legend". And I'm pretty sure they re-used the Draconia hallway sets numerous times on bth shows.

-Gordon

The Vorvan (space Vampire) arrived to that space station when the Gemini Frieghter crashed into it. The Vorvan weapon was the same "Key" Adama used to enter the tomb on Kobol, The Seal of the council of the 12"

The Astral Queen returned as a Warship in the second Season of Buck, for the guys who all wore masks, since they all looked the same.

And In Living Legend, The Cylons had set up their headquarters In the same building as the Earth Defense Directorite. The same buildings were used in both series.

Yup... I actually made a Vorvon crucifix to give to Erin Gray at Kansas City Comic Con. She didn't even recognize it when I gave it to her! The Vorvon crucifix was made from the same mold, but the diamond shape in the center was bevelled in 4 directions instead of just two like Adama's key to the tomb of the 9th Lord.

Also something... if I' am unmistaken, the ship that the Vorvon arrives in is a modified Princess Ardala Draconian Escape Shuttle.

But yeah... stuff was getting swapped back and forth like crazy.
-G