Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers
Live CBS space adventure series from 1953 to 1954.
Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers was a live, weekly CBS television series that aired on Saturdays from April 18, 1953, to May 29, 1954. Each episode ran 30 minutes. The show took place in the year 2153 and was inspired by the earlier series *Tom Corbett, Space Cadet* (1950–1955). It followed the adventures of the Rocket Rangers, who operated from Omega Base and flew a nuclear-powered spaceship called the Beta. Their missions took them across the Solar System, where they fought crime and confronted strange extraterrestrial threats. The three main Rangers were Rod Brown (played by Cliff Robertson), his sharp-tongued partner Frank Boyd (Bruce Hall), and the chubby, bespectacled comic relief Wilbur “Wormsey” Wormser (Jack Weston). Their commanding officer was Commander Swift (John Boruff). Unlike other serialized space shows of the time, each episode told a self-contained story.
Director George Gould had previously directed ABC’s *Tom Corbett* from 1950 to 1952. When he moved to CBS for *Rod Brown*, he brought several writers from that earlier series, along with its basic concepts and a key special effect: an amplifier that created traveling mattes. The strong resemblance between *Rod Brown* and *Tom Corbett* led to at least one lawsuit, which was settled out of court and did not interrupt the broadcast of new episodes. However, the kinescopes of *Rod Brown* were never rebroadcast. The series ran for a total of 58 episodes.
The show was sponsored by Jell-O Instant Pudding. Compared to rival live space adventure series like *Captain Video*, *Space Patrol*, and *Tom Corbett, Space Cadet*, *Rod Brown* had very few premiums or toys. Known items include a Rocket Ranger membership card and a Rocket Ranger Squadron Charter. There were also plaid flannel shirts for boys, with a solid-color flannel placket silkscreened with the Rocket Ranger title, spaceship, and spaceman.
Each episode opened with an introduction: “Surging with the power of the atom, gleaming like great silver bullets, the mighty Rocket Ranger space ships stand by for blast-off. Up, up, rockets blazing with white-hot fury, the man-made meteors ride through the atmosphere, breaking the gravity barrier, pushing up and out, faster and faster, and then...outer space and high adventure for the Rocket Rangers.” A verse from Robert Allen’s theme song went: “From the sands of Mars, out to the distant stars, we
- field
- Television
- known_for
- Live outer space adventure series
- network
- CBS
- broadcast_period
- April 18, 1953 to May 29, 1954
- episodes
- 58
- sponsor
- Jell-O Instant Pudding
Lore & Background
The series followed three Rocket Rangers: curly-haired Rod Brown (Cliff Robertson), his prickly partner Frank Boyd (Bruce Hall), and chubby, bespectacled comic relief Wilbur 'Wormsey' Wormser (Jack Weston). Their immediate superior was Commander Swift (John Boruff). Each episode was a self-contained story, as opposed to other serialized space shows then appearing on TV.
Director George Gould had also been the director of ABC's Tom Corbett from 1950 to 1952, and when hired to direct Rod Brown, he carried with him to CBS several of the writers for that pioneering series, plus its basic concepts and the major special effect, an amplifier producing travelling mattes. The very close similarity between Rod Brown and Tom Corbett generated at least one lawsuit, which was settled out of court and did not affect the broadcasting of new weekly Rod Brown episodes.
The program began each week with an introduction: 'Surging with the power of the atom, gleaming like great silver bullets, the mighty Rocket Ranger space ships stand by for blast-off...' A verse from Robert Allen's TV theme song went: 'From the sands of Mars, out to the distant stars, we're the Rocket Ranger Corps...'
Reader's Guide
Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers holds significance as an early live television space adventure series, notable for its direct lineage from Tom Corbett, Space Cadet via director George Gould and several writers. The series ran 58 episodes and was sponsored by Jell-O Instant Pudding. Despite its similarities to its predecessor, which led to an out-of-court lawsuit, the series continued broadcasting without interruption. However, the kinescopes were never rebroadcast, limiting its legacy. The series produced very few premiums or toys compared to rival live space adventure series such as Captain Video, Space Patrol, and Tom Corbett. Known premiums include a Rocket Ranger membership card, a Rocket Ranger Squadron Charter, and plaid flannel shirts for young boys featuring a silkscreened Rocket Ranger title, space ship, and spaceman. The series also featured a 'Rocket Ranger Code' on its membership card, pledging allegiance to the Constitution, respect for others' rights, protection of the weak, and other virtues. It was an early lead role for Cliff Robertson.
Did You Know?
- The series was broadcast live on CBS from April 18, 1953 to May 29, 1954.
- It was inspired by Tom Corbett, Space Cadet and shared its director and several writers.
- The close similarity to Tom Corbett led to at least one lawsuit, settled out of court.
- The kinescopes of Rod Brown were never rebroadcast.
More in Television series set in the 22nd century 1-24
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