Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Captain's Library & Theatre MEN INTO SPACE "Dust and the Depths"

2026-04-02T07:00:00.017-04:00

We Have Already Seen...

...a four man-expedition led by this stalwart young fellow, USAF Coloney Edwar MacCauley, has reached the Moon!

They discover underground caverns where, during a moonquake, one of the astronauts sacrifices himself to enable the others to climb out safely.
The three survivors return to the ship, then decide to do another probe into the cavers below...

This adaptation of the conclusion of the 2nd episode of the series, "Moon Landing" is almost totally-different than the aired episode!

It's much more ambitious in scope and would've required far more eleborate SFX than what was shown on TV.

We suspect that, due to the lead time to produce the comic (about three months from scripting to illustrating to printing), comic scripter Gardner DuBois worked from an early draft of the episode from James (Shogun) Clavell.
To compare, we offer you the actual episode by clicking HERE, and it'll open in a new window for your viewing pleasure!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Men Into Space
The Making of the TV Series
Paid Link

Captain's Library MEN INTO SPACE "Moon Landing"

2026-03-31T07:00:00.148-04:00

As the Artemis Moon-Shot Finally Prepares for Launch...

...we're going to show you how we planned to do it even before we sent a single human being into space with the comic adaptation of a TV series from 1959...

To Be Concluded...Thursday!

The Men in Space TV series ran for one season of 38 episodes, the equivalent of three seasons today on broadcast or streaming services, on CBS in 1959-60.

It eschewed typical space-opera stereotypes and plotlines, and presented a realistic "Day after Tomorrow" scenario utilizing info provided by the US Air Force, the then-newly created NASA, actual rocket scientist Dr Werhner von Braun, and designer/futurist Chesley Bonestell!

The story from Dell's Four Color Comics: Men into Space #1083 (1960), adapting the second episode "Moon Landing" scripted by James (Shogun) Clavell was scripted by Gaylord DuBois and illustrated (pencils & inks) by Murphy Anderson!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Men Into Space
The Making of the TV Series
Paid Link

Captain's Library MEN INTO SPACE Returns to the Moon...65 Years Later!

2026-03-29T07:00:00.009-04:00

As the Artemis moon shot prepares to blast-off...

...we're going to look at the first TV series that fairly-realistically speculated how it would happen!

These covers, from the novelization of the first few episodes of the TV show, give you an idea of the tone of the series.

There was also a one-shot comic which ran three stories, the first of which is synopsized below!

We're running that tale as part of Space Hero Saturdays this coming Saturday!

The remaining two-part story does cover the lunar launch, journey, and landing!

You'll see those chapters right here on Tuesday and Thursday!

But first, let's take a break the way the spacemen do...

No, we're not advocating smoking, but we did want to spotlight the kool, cutting-edge Chesley Bonestell art the series used as the basis for it's production design!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Men Into Space
The Making of the TV Series
Paid Link

Captain's Holiday Library: Christmas Comics SMILIN' ED & HIS GANG "Visit Santa Claus Land"

2025-12-14T07:00:00.003-05:00

One of the most popular kids' shows on radio in the 1940s-50s...

...was Smilin' Ed's Buster Brown Gang (later the Buster Brown Show), which had a long-running comic book spin-off!

Note: while this never-reprinted tale from Buster Brown Comic Book #33 (1953) was written by the show's scripter, Hobart Donovan, it's not an adaptation of a radio or tv episode!

Ed McConnell aka "Smilin' Ed" was a long-time radio personality who had his own (adult-oriented) radio show for over a decade before signing with the Buster Brown Shoe Company in 1944 to host their new juvenile radio series.

Smilin' Ed's Buster Brown Gang began on September 2, continuing on NBC radio every Saturday morning at 11:30 through April 11, 1953.

There was an adventure story to open the show, ads for Buster Brown shoes, and Froggy the Gremlin might sing a song or annoy another cast member, such as Shortfellow the Poet or Alkali Pete the Cowboy.

The character Midnight the Cat actually spoke a few lines on the show and Smilin' Ed was always prone to sing a novelty song or two by plunking his magic twanger.
The term "plunking" may have come from McConnell's habit of plunking the strings on his piano to emphasize some of the action in his stories.
McConnell was also the voice of Froggy, putting on a low, gruff, Popeye-like croak.

However, whenever McConnell had to sing a duet with Froggy, announcer Archie Presby was the voice of Froggy.
When there was a live audience, Archie would sometimes dress up in a frog costume and carry on to the delight of the screaming kids.

Additional cast members included June Foray and John Dehner.
Foray was called upon to voice Midnight and Old Grandie the Piano.
Bud Tollefson, the sound effects engineer, growled the voice of Buster's dog Tige.
Child actor Patrick Curtis (Baby Beau Wilkes in Gone With The Wind) played Buster Brown in 1949-50. "That's my dog Tige, he lives in a shoe, I'm Buster Brown, look for me in there too!"

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Christmas Radio Classics
20 Shows on 10 CDs
Paid Link

Captain's Theatre Thanksgiving Turkey MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE

2025-11-29T07:00:00.019-05:00

You've Read the Comic Adaptation HERE and HERE...

...now you can watch it, using wharever communications method you choose, HERE!

Captains Library Thanksgiving Turkey MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE Conclusion

2025-11-28T07:00:00.106-05:00

When Last We Left Rock Slag, Secret Agent...

...actually Fred Flintstone, filing in for the injured lookalike spy, he's trying to make contsct with a femme fatale double agent who will lead him to the evil Green Goose!

Unfortunately, Rock Slag, like most secret agents of the era, is something of a horndog, with at least one woman in every major city...

Hope you've enjoyed the turkey!
But, fear not!
Dessert's coming!

Tomorrow: The Actual, Uncut Movie!
Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Man Called Flintstone
DVD
Paid Link

Captains Library Thanksgiving Turkey MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE Part 1

2025-11-27T07:00:00.165-05:00

The Final Project from the Original 1960s Flintstones Series...

...was this musical animated feature film capitalizing on the multi-media Spy Craze of the mid-1960s!

At this point, the movie has a music video...

Now back to the comic...

To be Concluded...Tomorrow!

Much like Sean Connery's James Bond, Rock Slag apparently had (at least) one girl in every major city!

Adapted by writer Carl Fallberg from an early version of the movie script by Harvey Bullock and Ray Allen, and penciled by Pete Alvarado, it lacks a lot of the "set piece" action sequences you'll see in the uncut film when we link to it on Saturday, though the parts that are in the comic are literally verbatim from the movie dialogue!

Trivia: As soon as the TV series wrapped production after 166 episodes, the creatives jumped into production on this movie.

While Alan Reed, who performed Fred's voice on the original series also did so here, Henry Corden provided Fred's singing voice, and took over for Reed as Fred in sequel series and movies after Alan passed away!

Note: The comic was issued as part of the ongoing Gold Key Flintstones comic (#36 in 1966), instead of a one-shot!

Despite the TV series' cancellation, the comic was popular enough to continue at Gold Key until #60 in 1970, then switched over to Charlton for another 50 issues until 1977!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Man Called Flintstone
DVD
Paid Link

Captain's 50th Anniversary Theatre & Library SPACE: 1999 "Breakaway" Conclusion

2025-10-30T07:00:00.236-04:00

We Have Already Seen...

It's the year 1999, and Commander John Koenig has just assumed command of Moonbase Alpha!

His assignment: prepare the Meta Probe crew, who will launch shortly to explore a rogue planet that's entered the Solar System.
But something...not disease nor radiation...is crippling and killing the Meta Probe crew, as well as other Moonbase personnel!
Koenig, Medical officer Dr Helena Russell, and renowned scientist Professor Victor Bergman figure out that magnetic radiation from Nuclear Waste Disposal Area #1 all the affected people worked near caused their physical decay and deaths.
Shortly after they've implemented safeguards, Waste Dump #1's contents combust, destroying the site.
The much larger Nuclear Waste Disposal Area #2, which had been showing similar readings, now begins the same progression towards fission/fusion.
To forestall that, the entire base's staff begin trying to extract and spread out the nuclear waste over the surface of the Moon...

As we continue, you can listen to the audio by clicking HERE

(The audio will open in a new window and you'll have to set the playback at 7:20 to continue from where it left off yesterday.) and read the comic!

Think of it as a podcast...with visuals!

Penciled by Russ Heath & Rich Buckler and inked by Dick Giordano & Terry Austin, this original-material comic was one of two produced by Power Records in 1975.

The scripter of the adaptation of the pilot episode is unknown.

The other comic/record, "Return to the Beginning" wasn't an adaptation of a TV episode, but a new story by an unknown writer.
Here's a kool bonus for you...audio from all seven of Power Records' Space: 1999 episodes!
Just click on the ep's title and the audio will open up in a new window.
"Breakaway" (without the comic book), along with "Death's Other Dominion" and "Mission of the Darians" were released on a 33 1/3 LP record album.
"Return to the Beginning" (also without the comic book), along with another original story, "It Played So Softly On the Ear" and adaptations of episodes "End of Eternity" and "Dragon's Domain"were on a second 33 13 LP record album.

Enjoy!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Space: 1999
The Complete Series

Paid Link

Captain's 50th Anniversary Theatre & Library SPACE: 1999 "Breakaway" Part 1

2025-10-29T07:00:00.006-04:00

You Saw the "Semi-Animated Comic" of This Tale HERE.

Now you can listen to the audio by clicking HERE (The audio will open in a new window.) and read it as a comic!
Think of it as a podcast...with visuals!

Pause the audio, since the story will continue...tomorrow!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Space: 1999
The Complete Series

Paid Link

Captain's 50th Anniversary Library SPACE: 1999 "Breakaway"

2025-10-22T07:00:00.014-04:00

Just as There Were Three Graphic Versions of the Pilot Episode "Breakaway"...

...there were three prose versions of tthat episode, including two that weren't seen in America!
For example, this short story appeared in the first British Space: 1999 Annual, a hardcover which featured prose and comic stories as well as background info and games!

There was also a prose adaptation in the first Space: 1999 novelization by EC Tubb, published in both America and England, incorporating the first four episodes.
Tubb also wrote Space: 1999 "Earthfall" a double-length novel re-adapting "Breakaway", but ignoring everything after that, creating a new narrative spanning decades and returning the second generation of Alphans, along with elderly survivors of Breakaway, to a devastated Earth!

It was, until recently, available only in England!

Next Week: Our Space: 1999 Retrospective Concludes with the Actual "Breakway" Comic Book from Power Records!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Space: 1999 "Breakaway" by EC Tubb

(which adapts the first four episodes)

And/Or

Space: 1999 "Earthfall" by EC Tubb

(which adapts "Breakaway", and then diverges from the TV series)
Paid Links

Captain's 50th Anniversary Library SPACE: 1999 "Moonless Night"

2025-10-15T07:00:00.030-04:00

Our final graphic adaptation of the pilot episode, "Breakaway", from the first issue of the color Charlton comic series.

Script by Nicola Cuti (who also wrote last week's "The Last Moonrise").

Art by Joe Staton (who, most recently, helped reboot the long-running Dick Tracy newspaper strip).

Next Week:
The Never-Seen-in-America Illustrated Short Story Adaptation of "Breakaway" from the 1975 British Space: 1999 Annual!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Space: 1999
The Complete Series

Paid Link

Captain's 50th Anniversary Library: SPACE: 1999 "The Last Moonrise"

2025-10-08T07:00:00.036-04:00

We presented the first of three different comic adaptations of the pilot episode, "Breakaway".

Today, we offer the second adaptation, from #1 of Charlton's Space: 1999 b/w magazine.

Written by Nicola Cuti, drawn by Gray Morrow.

It's interesting to see how much is left out of the five-page story, as opposed to the twenty-page Power Records version, which is much more complete.

Artist Gray Morrow was also the magazine's art editor, and painted all eight covers, some of which were reused on merchandise like t-shirts and puzzles.

The cover art for #1, shown above, was also used as advertising key art for first season print ads.

Next Week:

...the Four-Color Comic Adaptation!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Space: 1999
The Complete Series

Paid Link

Captain's 50th Anniversary Theatre SPACE: 1999 "Breakaway"

2025-10-01T07:00:00.098-04:00

Space: 1999 debuted in 1975 with a major licensing push, including audio adventures, novelizations (along with original novels), and both comic books and b/w magazines.
Power Records, the premier children's audio line of the era did two lp record albums and two comic book/45 record adventures, including the pilot episode "Breakaway".
Charlton Comics published two different series, one as a standard four-color comic, the other a b/w magazine, both of which adapted the pilot episode with far different results.
With three different graphic adaptations (not including the prose novelization from Pocket Books), "Breakaway" was the single most adapted sci-fi movie or tv show in history, until Battlestar Galactica came along in 1979.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Space: 1999, on Wednesdays though October, we're going to present all three adaptations of "Breakaway", plus the prose short story from the rarely-seen-in-America hardcover Space: 1999 Annual published in England!
First up, the Power Records version, complete with soundtrack!
(After all, it was meant as a read-along adventure!)

The writer who adapted the screenplay is unknown, but the art is by Rich Buckler, Dick Giordano, Frank McLaughlin, and Neal Adams' Continuity Studios crew.
Trivia: While the various American licensors had the rights to use the likenesses of most of the cast, for some reason recently-deceased actor Prentis Hancock couldn't be used as Paul Morrow!

In all the American comics (including the two Power Records stories), artist/art director Gray Morrow served as the visual model for Paul Morrow!
However, the British comic strips in the Annuals and Look-In Magazine did use Prentiss' mustachioed visage as the stalwart Main Mission Controller!

Next Wednesday, the b/w magazine version.

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Space: 1999
The Complete Series

Paid Link

Captain's Library: STAR TREK "Planet of the Robots"

2025-09-08T07:00:00.035-04:00

You've seen the various comics from Gold Key, Marvel, DC, IDW, etc....

...but, if you're an American reader, you've likely never seen this!

Captain Kurt?

The Enterprise lands on a planet?

Spock shouting?

Lt Bailey, who was left on the Fesarius with Balok in the episode "Corbomite Maneuver" is still aboard the Enterprise?

It was 1969.

Star Trek had not yet aired in England.

The publisher of the wildly-successful weekly comic magazine TV Century 21, which featured strips based on the various Gerry Anderson series (Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, etc.), decided to launch a new weekly magazine showcasing the currently-running Anderson series, Joe 90.

Entitled Joe 90: Top Secret, it also featured a couple of two-page strips about imported American TV series, Star Trek and Land of the Giants.

Since the shows hadn't yet aired in England, the writers and artist Harry Lindfield were working off whatever print material and photo reference was sent from America.

(Apparently they didn't send them a copy of Stephen Whitfield's Making of Star Trek, which explains things like the Enterprise being unable to land on a planet's surface.)

The storylines usually ran six weeks, but could go longer if required.

Because the Trek strip had the centerfold slot, it allowed for panels running thru what would be the interior gutters on any other page, giving them a wide Sunday newspaper-strip feel and layout.

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Star Trek: the Newspaper Comics
1979-1981
And/Or

Star Trek: the Newspaper Comics
1981-1983
Paid Links

Captain's Library & Theatre CAPTAIN JUSTICE "Once a Hero" Part 2.5

2025-07-15T07:00:00.243-04:00

When Last We Left Our Hero...

There's a tale, indeed, behind this symbolic cover penciled by Steve Leialoha and inked by Hilary Barta!

Superhero Captain Justice traveled from the 2-D world of comics to the 3-D real world and met his creator, Abner Bevis, along with fanboy Woody Greely, whose mother, Emma Greely, is a reporter working on an expose about local criminal "BlackJack" Kybo, whose son Eddie, has been bullying classmate Woody.
Captain Justice attempts to intercede with "BlackJack" to instruct his son to stop picking on Woody.
The meeting turns violent, Cap discovers he doesn't have his super-powers in this dimension, and gets his costumed butt kicked!
Meanwhile (as they used to say in comics), a hard-boiled detective named "Gumshoe", sent by the ruler of the comic dimension to retrieve Captain Justice meets Emma Greely and, because he's attracted to her, agrees to help her get proof on "BlackJack's"criminal activities.

But things take an unexpected turn when...

Inker Tony DeZuniga joins creatives J M DeMattis (writer) and Steve Leialoha (penciler) for this second and final issue adapting the pilot episode.
The TV series filmed seven episodes but only three aired before cancellation.
A pity, because the fourth episode was probably the most meta of all!
The ep, "Things Get Ugly", guest-starred Adam West as an unemployed actor who had been the in-universe TV version of Captain Justice, embittered at being typecast as the stalwart character!
Before we go, meet the cast you've been seeing in comic book form...

Clockwise from left, Milo O'Shea (Abner Bevis), Jeff Lester (Captain Justice/Brad Steele), Robert Forster (Gumshoe), Caitlin Clarke (Emma Greely), Josh Blake (Woody Greely)

And now, a bonus!

The episode you've just been reading about!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Once a Hero

The Pilot Episode
Only Available on VHS
Paid Link

Captain's Library & Theatre CAPTAIN JUSTICE "Once a Hero" Part 1.5

2025-07-08T07:00:00.133-04:00

We Have Already Seen...

...comic book character Captain Justice is about to travel across the Forbidden Zone to the "real world".
He's determined to find out from his creator, Abner Bevis, why his recent adventures were thinly-disguised reworkings of earlier stories...

To Be Continued Next Monday at Hero Histories!

Adapted from Dusty Kaye's screenplay by J M DeMatteis and illustrated by Steve Leialoha, Marvel's Captain Justice #1 (1988) took the 90-minute pilot episode and converted it into a two-issue mini-series.

Though Leialoha tried to differentiate the two-dimensional comic world from the three-dimensional real world with simplified linework and almost no solid black areas in the backgrounds for the comic dimension, the technological limitations of printing at that time minimalized his effectiveness!
(For example, using a coarser Lichetenstein-style dot screen for the colors in the comic book world would've enhanced the visual difference tremendously!)
Stan Lee contributed an introduction to the comic book which woud've been mirrored in the show itself.
But let's have The Man tell you what happened (Marvel Age #62 [1987])...

Now, here's a promo for the show featuring both Captain Justice and Gumshoe as they adapt to life in the "real world"...

More to come next week!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Once a Hero
The Pilot Episode
Only Available on VHS
Paid Link

Captain's Patriotic Library 1776 Part 2

2025-07-02T07:00:00.123-04:00

We Have Already Seen...

...it ain't easy starting a country!

If you think today's Congress is a mess, look at what the Founding Fathers were going through...

The Conclusion...with more musical numbers, tomorrow at... Atomic Kommie Comics

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

1776

Restored Director's Cut
Paid Link

Captain's Library & Theatre BEN CASEY FILM STORIES "Operation Tycoon" Conclusion

2025-06-20T07:00:00.062-04:00

We Have Already Seen...

(on our "brother" RetroBlog, Medical Comics and Stories)

...abrasive Type-A business tycoon Walter Tyson, ordered to the hospital for emergency surgery runs up against abrasive medical genius (and rule breaker) Doctor Ben Casey.

"When Titans Clash" doesn't begin to describe the telenovella-level goings-on in this fumetti-style adaptation of the TV episode "An Expensive Glass of Water" as the rich man's scheming shrew of a wife enters the picture...

The adaptation by comics scripter Paul S Newman tones down the surprisingly-adult original story...which you can see right here...

Enjoy!
Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Ben Casey
Complete Season 1
(Which includes the episode the comic/fumetti adapts!)
Paid Link

Captain's Theatre SPACEBALLS: THE ANIMATED SERIES

2025-06-14T07:00:00.002-04:00

You Think Disney+ Went Nuts with Prequels, Sequels, and Spinoffs Based on Licensed Properties?

Mel Brooks Beat Them To It in 2009 with Spaceballs: the Animated Series!

We linked you up with the two-episode pilot which re-imagined the movie and made a couple of changes to set up the TV series HERE!

Now witness the 13th (and final) episode of the series...spoofing Spider-Man!

EARTH DAY SPECIAL Captain's Ecological Theatre GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER

2025-04-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

50 years ago, the greatest kaiju of all battled pollution...literally!

Godzilla vs the Smog Monster (Gojira vs Hedorah) was a fascinating response to to the public's growing awareness to man-made ecological problems!

Though derided as part of the deterioration of Gojira near the end of the Showa Era, it's actually, an attempt to get back to the darker, earlier films, particularly the first one!

(Thousands of people die in this film!)

See the Japanese version...if you can...and let me know what you think!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Godzilla vs the Smog Monster
Which has both the American and Japanese versions!

Captain's Library & Theatre SUSPENSE "Graveyard Ghouls!"

2025-02-25T07:00:00.090-05:00

The Mysterious Traveler Wasn't the Only Radio or TV Series Matt Baker Adapted to Comic Books...

...as this graphic version of the CBS Suspense radio anthology series episode "Body Snatchers" demonstrates!

Adapted from an episode written by noted mystery writer John Dickson Carr and broadcast on November 24, 1942, this tale was adapted by an unknown writer, penciled by Matt Baker and inked by Frank Giusto appeared in Timely's Suspense #1 (1949).
The first two issues of Suspense adapted stories from the radio/TV series, but as of the third issue, it became a typical horror comic of the era, running for another twenty-seven issues until it was cancelled at the height of the anti-comic "Seduction of the Innocent" mania in 1953.
On a lighter note, and as a kool bonus, we're offering the radio show episode the comic is based on for you to listen to by clicking HERE!
You'll hear that the basic story is intact, and much of the dialogue is the same, but the structure of the radio tale is different!
It was re-arranged to suit the needs of visual storytelling when it was illustrated seven years later.

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Best of Suspense
Audio CD Set
Paid Link

Captain's Library TALES OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER "Man Alone"

2025-02-18T07:00:00.044-05:00

Though his radio show had been off the air for several years...

...the name-value of the Mysterious Traveler had enough cachet to keep this comic book series going for years after!

Although the Mysterious Traveler would literally stand right next to people throughout the story, the other characters never interacted with him.

He never had an origin, and we never learned who (or what) he was!
This story from #12 (1959) began Matt Baker's too-brief run on the title...because it was cancelled with the next issue!
But within that short span, Matt did five stories.

Captain's Theatre: INAUGURATION DAY SPECIAL "Shadow on the Land"

2025-01-19T07:00:00.037-05:00

In 1968, the creator of I Dream of Jeannie predicted what may yet occur in 2025...

...with a tv-movie that aired on network only once, yet had an enormous impact on those who saw it!

The year: 1968!
Race Relations were cratering!
The economy was doing well, but individuals thought, because they weren't personally doing well, the whole economy was collapsing!

The current President (a Democrat) was not on the ballot for the Presidental election!

A Republican who promised "law and order" and to "protect America from potential invaders" won the White House!

Sidney Sheldon, creator/producer of lightweight escapist entertainment like I Dream of Jeannie and The Patty Duke Show, looked at what was going on around him and took a chance.

Screen Gems gave him carte blanche, probably expecting something in a similar vein to his other projects.

He greenlighted a story by Nedrick Young, who had scripted contoversial movies like The Defiant Ones (1958) and the adaptation of the novel Inherit the Wind (1960).

Sheldon then selected an experenced, versatile director, Richard C Sarafian, with credits ranging from Dr Kildare to Batman!

The cast used both established pros like John Forsythe (against type as the villainous General Bruce, the Leader's trusted military commander) and Jackie Cooper (as the heroic, but doomed, Lt Col Davis), as well as up-and-comers like Gene Hackman and Carol Lynley in supporting roles.

(Trivia Note: one of the supporting characters, Lt Allen, is played by Jonathan Lippe/Jonathan Goldsmith, known recently as "The Most Interesting Man in the World" in Dos Equis beer commercials!)

The protaganist, rebel leader Major McCloud, was played by Marc Strange in his only leading role.

The tv-movie, using concepts from both Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here and George Orwell's 1984, portrayed a near-future America where the President declared a national emergency and imposed martial law...but the undefined "emergency" never ended, and martial law quickly mutated into fascist repression!

But the Society of Man, an organized resistance group with people placed within the government, fights back as best it can against the overwheming military might and technological superiority of the fascists.

Left open-ended, the movie practically begs to be continued as a mini-series, if not an ongoing series!

Airing on ABC during the Christmas season (December 4, 1968), it failed to garner decent ratings, and the potential series died quietly!

(Trivia: Kenneth Johnson proposed a similar concept called Storm Warnings to NBC in the early 1980s.

They turned it down, and Johnson, following in the steps of Rod Serling and Gene Roddenberry, revamped the concept with science fiction elements, making the fascists into reptilian aliens, and sold the concept as V, which ran as two mini-series and a brief ongoing series in the 80s and a two-season reboot in 2009-10.)

Never available on VHS, DVD or BluRay, the only way, currently, to see Shadow on the Land is right HERE.(video will open in new tab).
We reccomend you download it as well, since the flick ie being deleted wherever it appears!
For example, it was available on YouTube...until last week!

I'd say "enjoy, but, it's really more disturbing and frightening than enjoyable...

Captain's Library: Christmas Comics: CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT "Sergeant Twilight Writhes Again"

2024-12-22T07:00:00.015-05:00

Captain Midnight enjoys celebrating the holidays, whether it's Thanksgiving or Christmas...

...in one of the last comic book stories based on the radio show's format.

The comic book began to diverge from the radio show about the time this never-reprinted story, illustrated by Jack Binder, appeared in Fawcett's Captain Midnight #4 (1943).

Ichabod Mudd, who was Midnight's primary aide in all his media incarnations was already being altered with the addition of the comic-relief "Sgt Twilight" identity.
Cap himself would soon abandon the modified military flight suit seen in this story and adopt a skintight ensemble with built-in glider wings.
(It had the same color scheme, so many thought the new ensemble was just the old outfit with wings attached.)

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year!

Captain's Library GREMLINS Part 4

2024-12-18T07:00:00.007-05:00

The Mogwai are Loose...

...and are scurrying around preparing to unleash insanity on unsuspecting townspeople!

The mayhem concludes Friday at

Atomic Kommie Comics!

Support Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Gremlins & Gremlins 2: the New Batch

Paid Link