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Journey Into Space was a BBC Radio science fiction programme, written by BBC producer Charles Chilton. In the UK it was the last radio programme to attract a bigger evening audience than television.[1] Originally, four series were produced (the fourth being a remake of the first), which went on to be translated into 17 languages[2] (including Hindustani, Turkish and Dutch[3]) and broadcast worldwide (including the United States, New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands).[3] Chilton went on to write three best-selling novels and several comic strip stories, based upon the radio series. The first series was created in 1953, soon after Riders of the Range (a popular Western, also written by Chilton) ended its six seasons on the BBC Light Programme. Michael Standing, then Head of the BBC Variety Department, asked Chilton if he could write a sci-fi programme, and Journey to the Moon (later known as Operation Luna) was the result.[1] Each half-hour episode would usually end with a dramatic cliffhanger, to increase the audience's incentive to tune in to the next episode. The original magnetic recordings of the show were erased shortly after broadcast, and for several decades, it was believed that no recordings of the show still survived. However, in 1986, a set of mis-filed Transcription Service discs (produced for sale to overseas radio stations) were discovered, containing complete copies of the three original series (more accurately, the surviving version of the first season is a cut-down remake of the original, produced for the Transcription Service during the 1950s). This discovery enabled the BBC to begin re-broadcasting the show in the late 1980s, and release copies of the show, first on audio cassette, and more recently on CD and internet download. Fans of Journey Into Space include Colin Pillinger,[4] Kenny Everett,[5] John Major,[5] Stephen Hawking[5] and Miriam Margolyes.[5]
[edit] The main charactersThe four main characters appear in all the original series, as well as the later special episodes:
Guy Kingsley Poynter (who played Doc) had worked with Charles Chilton before Journey Into Space, and Chilton once commented that Poynter "was a very good poetry reader".[1] Chilton also observed that Bruce Beeby was like his character Mitch, and was "always blowing his top".[1] David Kossoff asked Chilton if his character (the ship's radio operator) could be called Lemuel (a name he loved), and Chilton shortened the name to Lemmy. Chilton based Lemmy's character on himself, since he had been a radio operator in the RAF.[6] Originally, Chilton had chosen John Glen to play Jet, but later decided to use Andrew Faulds instead, because Chilton's secretary fancied him.[6] David Jacobs' ability to play a wide variety of characters, each with their own distinctive voice, resulted in him playing 22 different characters during the course of Journey Into Space. He used to mark up his script using different colour pencils, to help him remember what each character was supposed to sound like. In episode 1 of The Red Planet, Jet is interviewed by a group of newspaper reporters, all of whom were played by David.[6] Light-hearted pranks were often played on David Jacobs just before a recording session was about to begin. On one occasion, Andrew Faulds poured a jug of water inside his trousers, totally soaking him, and he "did the rest of the programme in a raincoat!"[1] On another occasion, some of the actors smeared mustard on his lip microphone, causing him some difficulties during the recording session.[6] [edit] The original three series[edit] Journey to the Moon / Operation LunaInitially, the first series was simply known as Journey Into Space, with the subtitle A Tale of the Future added by the Radio Times, but within the BBC it became known as Journey to the Moon.[1] The series was set in 1965 (the year in which Chilton believed humans would first walk on the Moon[6]), and was first broadcast in 1953–1954 on the BBC Light Programme, which later became BBC Radio 2. The series was originally intended to have 12 episodes[1] (one source claims 8 episodes[2]), and 5.1 million people tuned in to the first episode, but the first four episodes (which took place on Earth) didn't prove very popular, and the audience soon shrank to less than 4 million.[1] However, once the rocket set off for the Moon in episode 5, the audience reaction was much more favourable. The series was extended to 18 episodes, and by the time the final episode was broadcast, 8 million people were tuning in.[1] In 1958, Journey to the Moon was re-recorded for the BBC Transcription Services (retitled as Operation Luna), because the original recordings had been erased.[1] The first four episodes of the original series were omitted, and episodes 12 and 13 were merged into a single episode.[1] Today, the only surviving recording from Journey to the Moon is a 5-minute extract from the final episode.[1] In addition to the main characters, other characters in Journey to the Moon included:[1]
Other characters in Operation Luna included:[1]
(*) Alan Keith (born Alec Kossoff) was the brother of David Kossoff, who played Lemmy. Chilton wrote episode 8 of Journey to the Moon in response to a challenge from a TV producer, who considered the success of the series to be "a fluke". The producer challenged Chilton to write an episode "that could not be played equally well on television", and Chilton succeeded – a large proportion of the episode takes place in total darkness.[6] During the episode, Jet reads to the rest of the crew by torchlight from The First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells, the only work of fiction carried on board the ship.[6] Andrew Faulds' adopted uncle, Hector MacPherson, was an astronomer, and wrote a book called Practical Astronomy. Chilton bought a copy of the book, which first sparked his interest in astronomy, and later led him to write Journey Into Space. In episode 7 of Journey to the Moon, Jet's childhood flashback features his great uncle Hector, who was based on Hector MacPherson.[6] In November 1957, Chilton wrote an episode of the BBC Schools Radio science series Our Own and Other Worlds, titled A Trip to the Moon, which featured edited material from episodes 5 and 6 of Journey to the Moon.[7] The table below indicates the correspondence between the episodes of Journey to the Moon and Operation Luna.[1]
More detailed information on the series can be found in the comprehensive booklet accompanying the CD boxset of Operation Luna. [edit] The Red Planet The second series, The Red Planet, followed the adventures of the crew in their first attempt to reach and explore Mars. Several new characters were introduced, the most notable of which were Frank Rogers and James Edward Whitaker, the two original crewmen of freighter #2. Chilton took the name Whitaker from a copy of Whitaker's Almanack which was sitting on his desk.[3] In addition to the main characters, other characters in The Red Planet included:[3]
(*) Married to Bruce Beeby, who played Mitch. The most memorable catchphrase from this series was "Orders must be obeyed without question at all times", which was often repeated by many of the 'conditioned' characters, especially Whitaker. Episode 19 of the series rated a 17% audience share, whereas the newsreel broadcast simultaneously on BBC TV had an audience share of 16%. This was the last time that a radio show achieved a higher rating than its TV opponent.[3] During the first broadcast of this series, the Radio Times featured Journey Into Space on its cover, showing Andrew Faulds as Captain "Jet" Morgan. His spacesuit (which was used by several of the cast members for publicity photos) was a prototype being developed in Britain at the time.[3] During the recording of The Red Planet, Guy Kingsley Poynter was also starring in The Teahouse of the August Moon at Her Majesty's Theatre.[3] The British Empire Exhibition was referred to throughout the episodes. In the table of episodes below, the numbers marked with # refer to the numbered freighters of the Mars fleet.
More detailed information on the series can be found in the comprehensive booklet accompanying the CD boxset of The Red Planet. [edit] The World in PerilThe third series was a direct continuation of the story begun in The Red Planet, and followed Jet Morgan and his crew's return to Mars in an attempt to avert the impending Martian invasion. In addition to the main characters, other characters in The World in Peril included:[7]
During the recording of The World in Peril, Alfie Bass was also starring in the revue The Punch Bowl at the Duke of York's Theatre.[7]
[edit] Critical reactionPublic reaction to the show was mixed. Some comments received by the BBC described the show as "a first class affair" and "the best serial for ages".[1] After episode 5 of Journey to the Moon was first broadcast, the Daily Express commented:
Midway through the original broadcast of The Red Planet, a BBC Audience Research Report indicated that the series
However, others commented that the plot often featured scientific inaccuracies,[1] even though Chilton had received technical advice from Flight Lieutenant Roger Burton[1] and Kenneth Gatland of the British Interplanetary Society.[7] One reviewer in the Radio Times issue of 4 February 1955 commented that:
Chilton has admitted that he is not a science-fiction writer, astronomer, or scientist, and that his "pursuit of astronomical studies is clumsy and very amateurish".[3] He often "worked very late to deadline", sometimes not starting to write an episode until two days before recording.[1] Journey Into Space remains popular today, thanks to the discovery of mis-filed recording of the show, which enabled the BBC to begin re-broadcasting the show from the late 1980s onwards.
[edit] MusicVan Phillips composed and conducted the music for all three series.[2] The music was initially recorded beforehand, and played from acetate discs during the recording sessions.[1] Later, an eight-piece orchestra was actually present in the studio, and played the music live.[9] Phillips liked the sound of the clavioline, and obtained one for use during Journey Into Space. He composed music especially for it, and it was "bolted onto the piano" in the studio.[9] Titles of his compositions include "A Picture of the Universe", "Rocket Away", "Music for Outer Space",[1] "The Red Planet", "Crossing the Plains",[3] and "Sunrise".[7] In 1955, Decca released a 78rpm record of the Journey Into Space theme, performed by Frank Weir and his orchestra (catalogue number F.10435),[3] and sheet music of a piano solo of the theme was also published. In 1978, the recording was included on the 33⅓rpm BBC compilation record BBC Space Themes (catalogue number REH 324),[3] and in 2005, Vocalion/Dutton Laboratories included it on their digitally remastered compilation CD Presenting Frank Weir And His Saxophone (catalogue number CDLK 4266). In Journey to the Moon, Lemmy occasionally provided musical entertainment for the crew on his mouth organ, playing songs such as "Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road" and "My Old Dutch".[1] Excerpts of popular music were often used during the episodes, and sometimes played an important role in the plot. In episode 8 of Journey to the Moon, an excerpt from "Honeymoon on a Rocket Ship" by Hank Snow and The Rainbow Ranch Boys is heard by the crew on the ship's radio.[1] "When It's Night Time In Italy", by James Kendis and Lew Brown, was an important part of episodes 7 and 8 of The Red Planet.[3] Other popular music used in The Red Planet included:[3]
The World in Peril featured a 'rebel song', sung by the 'conditioned' men aboard the Martian asteroids. This song was actually a musical arrangement of The Green Hills of Earth (a poem taken from Robert Heinlein's short story of the same name), performed by the George Mitchell Choir.[7] In the final episode of The World in Peril, Chopin Opus 34: No. 2: Valse brillante in A minor is heard playing over the radio. [edit] Sound effectsA variety of sound effects were used in the episodes, and played a major role. In addition to basic sounds, such as feet walking along a corridor or tunnel, more advanced effects were created, such as the mysterious haunting 'music' which is heard over the rocket's radio in many episodes of Operation Luna. The most distinctive effect was the dramatic rocket take-off, which was played at the beginning of each episode, and whenever necessary during the episodes. This was actually a recording of a jet aircraft at Heathrow airport.[9] Often, this would be followed by a slowly ascending tone (representing the rocket accelerating), which "was actually a recording of a thermionic valve played through an echo chamber down at the Physical Research Laboratory at Kingston".[9] Other sound effects were created at Battersea Power Station, and the sound made by the televiewer on board Luna was actually a naval ASDIC.[1] The BBC had an echo chamber in the studio, which was greatly utilised during the episodes. Whenever the crew were in contact by radio with Earth control, or another distant location, the echo chamber would be applied to the voice of the remote character. Various sound effects were also created "live" in the studio. For example, in episode 8 of Journey to the Moon, the crew hear a mysterious tapping on the outside of the ship; this effect was created "by tapping the needle of the gramophone pickup head, and playing that through an echo chamber".[9] [edit] Novels
Chilton wrote three Journey Into Space novels, one for each of the three original series. The novels were originally published in hardback by Herbert Jenkins, and later in paperback by Pan. The first novel, simply titled Journey Into Space, was first published in 1954, and told the story of Journey to the Moon.[1] This was the first book that Chilton had ever written.[1] Chilton's novel of The Red Planet was first published in 1956,[3] followed by The World in Peril in 1960.[7] On 8 May 2008, BBC Audiobooks released a complete and unabridged audiobook of the first novel, read by William Hope.[10] [edit] Comic stripsIn 1956, the Junior Express comic began publishing Journey Into Space comic strips, with scripts by Charles Chilton and artwork by Italian artist Ferdinando Tacconi.[7] The first adventure, titled Jet Morgan in Planet of Fear, was a 35-episode sequel to The World in Peril. Tacconi spent some time with Chilton absorbing the atmosphere of the saga, and portrayed (in full colour) the radio actors' likenesses to match the clever dialogue. The story was continued in 1957 in the 32-episode adventure, Shadow over Britain. In March 1957, Bruce Cornwall took over from Tacconi as artist, and Chilton lost his enthusiasm for the cartoon strip; thereafter it became a contractual chore for him. Terence Patrick took over from Cornwall in April 1957, and by the time the third adventure began (The World Next Door), Chilton was no longer writing the scripts. The 1956 Express Weekly annual contained a short black & white comic strip called Jet Morgan and the Space Pirates, illustrated by Tacconi. The 1957 annual included a short story called Jet Morgan and the Space Castaway, written by Chilton and illustrated by Cornwall. [edit] Discovery of Transcription discsThe programmes were recorded in the studio on 15ips magnetic tape, and were later copied onto 33⅓rpm 16-inch coarse groove transcription discs for the BBC Transcription Services (except for Journey to the Moon episodes).[1] The master tapes were erased three months after broadcast, in accordance with BBC policy at the time. The Transcription discs were sold overseas, and their fate was unknown, so for many years it was believed that all the episodes had been lost forever.[11] However, in 1986, a set of mis-filed Transcription discs were found by Ted Kendall, a BBC recording engineer, which turned out to be copies of Operation Luna, The Red Planet and The World in Peril. The BBC no longer possessed a suitable turntable on which to play the discs, but Kendall eventually managed to obtain an EMT 927 turntable. To clean the discs, he soaked them in warm water containing Fairy Liquid, brushed them with a goats-hair brush, and dried them using kitchen towels.[11] Kendall then transferred the recordings to magnetic tape, removing "clicks" from the sound using a device which he designed and built, called the Mousetrap (or Front End). He removed more severe clicks after the transfer, by scraping the oxide off the magnetic tape in appropriate places.[11] The BBC took the opportunity to re-broadcast all three series on Radio 2, beginning with Operation Luna in 1989,[1] followed by The Red Planet in 1990[3] and The World in Peril in 1991.[7] Abridged versions of the three series were also released on audio cassette. In 1998, Kendall digitally remastered the recordings for new abridged releases on audio cassette, and in 2004, the unabridged remastered recordings began to be released on CD and internet download. The three series have also been broadcast on BBC 7. [edit] Special episodes[edit] The Return from Mars
In 1981, Radio 4's Saturday Night Theatre slot ran a special science fiction season, featuring stories such as The First Men in the Moon, The Chrysalids, A Fall of Moondust and The Technicolor Time Machine. Charles Chilton was asked to write a new one-off 90-minute episode of Journey Into Space for this slot, and The Return from Mars was the result. The plot was a very approximate continuation from the end of The World in Peril (one major contradiction being that the crew return aboard Discovery, which was left behind on Mars in The World in Peril). After more than thirty years in space, and missing presumed dead, the crew finally return to Earth. The episode was broadcast on March 7, 1981. In addition to the main characters, other characters in The Return from Mars included:[7]
[edit] Frozen in TimeA new episode based on the original series, with David Jacobs finally taking the role of Jet Morgan (who has aged while the rest of his crew were in suspended animation due to a systems malfunction). Charles Chilton wrote the one hour play which was set in the year 2013. Broadcast on Radio 4 on Saturday April 12, 2008. This was released by BBC Audio in January 2009. ISBN 9781408401040
Music by David Chilton; producer/director Nicholas Russell-Pavier.
[edit] The HostA further new episode based on the original series by Chilton, written by Julian Simpson starred Toby Stephens as Jet Morgan (that the previous play had left Jet well into his 80s is quietly forgotten). Another one hour play, it was set in the year 2079. Broadcast as The Saturday Play on Radio 4 on Saturday June 27, 2009.
It is unknown if this Saturday Play will be followed by any more, although the story is open ended, possibly allowing for a continuation. [edit] BBC releases on audio cassette and CD
[edit] AudiobooksCurrently, only the first novel has been released as an audiobook.[10]
[edit]Chilton followed Journey Into Space with two other radio series – Space Force in 1984 and Space Force II in 1985 – which were based on a similar theme. Indeed, Space Force had originally been intended as a new Journey Into Space serial, following on from The Return from Mars, until relatively late in the day, so its four central characters are clear 'doubles' for the Journey Into Space team. In the version that was actually recorded and transmitted, one character (Chipper Barnett) refers to his grandfather Lemmy. [edit] External linksThe BBC releases of the three original series on CD and internet download are accompanied by 16-page booklets with text written by Andrew Pixley. These booklets provide detailed information about the series, and are available online:
Other links:
[edit] References
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