  
SPACE
BARTON
on
Mars and Beyond
NBC; September 18, 1950 thru
March 23, 1951
135 Episodes broadcast 5 days a
week
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Characters
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Commander Varrick
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Jackie Barton
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Monstrin
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Princes Thursta
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Professor Dinehart
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Nola
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Navar
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Ex-Punditar Malibar
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Credits
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Broadcast History
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Part of the 15 minute Telecomics or NBC Comics
series
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Produced by
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Vallee Video
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On NBC 4:00 P.M. to 4:15 P.M. Syndicated, no
sponsor.
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Spaceship: The Vulcan
Time Period: Near Future.
"Space Barton
reporting from the planet Mars!" With these words the middle
part of the daily comic strip SPACE BARTON would invite us
to high adventure on our neighboring planet, Mars. Space
Barton was part of the weekday TELECOMICS (or N.B.C. COMICS)
program, sandwiched between DANNY MARCH and KID CHAMPION.
Each of the episodes would begin with opening a comic book,
the first page showing a silhouette of the lead character
and indicating it was either part one, part two or part
three of the days episodes. The page then was turned to show
a full page illustration with that segments logo. Each Space
Barton episode was approximately 3 1/2 minutes long. Our
records show that the series may have lasted 27 or 28 weeks.
And we have recently seen episodes #'s 112 thru 130, which
would have taken us to the 26th week of the show.
Contrary to
previous reports the stories are not animated, but are
comprised of a series of consecutive comic panels nicely
illustrated to tell a story, not unlike a comic book or
comic strip. The panels are plentiful, and sometimes used
more than once in each segment and throughout the series.
The book "Total Television" indicates that the early
Telecomics series included segments entitled "Brother
Goose", "Joey and Jug", "Rick Rack, Special Agent" and "Sah
Lih". Later, along with Danny March, Space Barton and Kid
Champion it is indicated that there was also a segment
entitled "Johnny and Mr. Do-Right".
This author
recalls viewing most of the Telecomics series in the early
1950's, but does not remember seeing any segments but the
aforementioned Danny March, Space Barton and Kid Champion. A
Chicago TV Forecast from September 1950 does make reference
to "Johnny and Mr. Do-Right" as part of the series. It is
possible that the undocumented episodes may have been local,
possibly within the New York area.
As of this
writing, and to the best of my knowledge, no scripts or
promotional materials have been found on this series, so I
am guessing at the spelling of the proper names in Space
Barton. The shows that we've catalogued below were obtained
from the headers on reals of 16 mm film found many years ago
at a flee market which seems to be from the very end of the
series run. I apologize that the above
photographs are not clearer. I took them directly off a
lenticular screen using a 35 mm camera.
Episode 112
Space Barton avoids being slugged by the corridor guard
with an Actigun, and then chokes the guard into
unconsciousness. Barton takes the guards mask, ray gun and
emblem, hoping the disguise will help in his search for his
younger brother, Jackie. Barton then stows the unconscious
guard in an ammunitions storage room.
Episode 113
Jackie Barton and Rotar (a Mammock: looks like a
penguin, talks like a parrot, barks like a dog) ride a
rocket tube car into a gigantic rocket missile storage room
and spot Malibar, the deposed ruler of Mars. Before they can
contact him Monstrin shows up and Jackie and Rotar hide in
an empty rocket tube. Monstrin gloats over the deposed ruler
who has been banished to work in the missile chambers hidden
below his palace. Monstrin reveals that his hatred for Space
Barton is so great that he plans to destroy Earth first
toward his goal to rule the Universe. Meanwhile Space Barton
reports as Sgt. Barta outside the Princess Thursta's
chambers where he learns that Monstrin plans to marry the
Princess, and that he also plans to attack Earth. Barton
tries to bluff his way into the Princess' chambers without
success.
Episode 114
Space Barton, disguised as a member of Monstrin's
Security Patrol of Outer Space, is not allowed to see the
Princess. He is given a message for Mola, Monstrin's special
assistant. Barton enters an elevator lift that takes him to
the uppermost regions of the Punditorial Palace in the city
of Kalimar, close to Monstrins' quarters. Meanwhile Monstrin
reveals his plans to Milibar the former Punditar of Mars.
After Monstrin departs, Jackie Barton, still hidden in an
empty rocket tube, finds he cannot escape the now sealed
canister, which is almost out of air.
Episode 115
Jackie Barton is saved from suffocating in the sealed
rocket tube by Malibar, the former Punditar of Mars, who
tells Jackie of Monstrin's mad plans. Meanwhile Space
Barton, now in the upper regions of the central tower of
Punditars Palace, and disguised as a member of the Outer
Security Patrol, convinces the Palace Guard that he has an
important message from Monstrin to Mola. Bartpm is given an
audience with Mola, and when Mola turns to the Radionic
Broadcast Unit to confirm his mission with Monstrin, Barton
decides that this is his opportunity to overpower him.
Episode 116
Space Barton knocks out Mola and uses Monstrin's
Radionic Broadcast unit to contact the guards outside
Thursta's quarters. Space tries to make his voice sound like
Monstrin's and orders the security patrol to clear the area
around the detention quarters, and return all guards to the
lower levels. Meanwhile Malibar tells Jackie Barton of
Monstrin's plan to invade Earth within a matter of days, and
tells Jackie that he must warn Space Barton of Monstrin's
terrible plans.
Episode 117
Space Barton returns to the level where Thurstra's
quarters are located, not realizing that Monstrin is also on
his way to visit the Princess. Malibar tells Jackie Barton
that he and Rotar must find Space Barton and warn him, but
first he draw’s a map on Jackie's handkerchief so that
the youth can find his way through underground passages that
are an intricate maze beneath the Punditorial Palace.
Episode 118
While looking for Thursta's quarters, Space Barton
almost runs into Monstrin, but quickly ducks in a doorway
undetected. Monstrin learns that Commander Varrick, leader
of the underground resistance, has been captured. Monstrin
deters his visit to Thursta and asks to see the new prisoner
before he sentences him to death by -- heliofire.
Episode 119
After hearing Monstrin's plan to kill Varrick by
heliofire, Space Barton proceeds cautiously to Thursta's
quarters. He locates the now unguarded room and finds
Thursta in a trance, staring vacantly out the solar window
at the city of Kalimar. He then hears Monstrin approaching
Thursta's quarters, haranguing his men because there are no
guards posted. Monstrin then realizes that Barton may not
only be behind this trick, but may even now be inside
Thursta's room. He prepares his men to burst in and surprise
the hated earthman.
Episode 120
Space Barton uses his actigun to smash the solar window
of Thursta's quarters, and hangs unseen below the window
ledge. Lord Monstrin believes Barton has plunged to his
death rather than be captured. He again lays out his plans
to become Master of the Universe, this time to Mola. Space
overhears the plan while virtually hanging by his
fingertips. Monstrin gloats that he has tens of thousands
spaceships ready to attack Earth, than Mercury, Jupiter,
Saturn and all the planets. He further regales his plan that
Thursta witness the execution of Commander Varrick.
Episode 121
Monstrin and Mola leave Thursta's quarters with Thursta
safely under the influence of the Teletron Ray. Space Barton
climbs back into Thursta's quarters and hurriedly devises a
plan to try and stop Monstrin. He decides that the powerful
Radionic Broadcast unit might be rigged in some way to call
and warn Professor Dinehart on Earth. Meanwhile Jackie and
Rotar jump from their tube car before they can be
discovered, but are fired upon by guards.
Episode 122
Jackie Barton and Rotar elude the guards, but are now
lost in the underground corridors of Kalimar when Jackie
accidentally stumbles upon the detention area where
Commander Varrick is being held. Just then Monstrin comes on
the scene and demands to see the new prisoner. Jackie and
Rotar follow unseen through the outer gate that locks behind
them. Meanwhile Space Barton tries to communicate with
Thursta who is under the influence of the Teletron Ray. She
seems to point to a full-length mirror, where Space Barton
discovers a hidden elevator lift.
Episode 123
Space Barton discovers that the hidden elevator lift in
Thursta's quarters takes him direct to Monstrin's quarters,
where the Radionic Broadcast unit is located (the most
powerful unit of its kind in the universe). Meanwhile Jackie
Bartan and Rotar follow Monstrin to Commander Varricks cell
and overhear Monstrin tell of Space Barton's death plunge
outside the window of Princess Thursta's quarters, thus
bringing an end to the resistance movement on Mars. He also
tells Varrick that he will be executed within the week by
heliofire.
Episode 124
Intercosmic interference keeps Space Barton from
contacting Professor Dinehart on Earth. Meanwhile on Earth,
Dinehart, who has been monitoring Space's wavelength for
months receives a call from a General in the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C. The General and Dinehart confer regarding
strange formations outside the orbit of Mars, "Atmospheric
changes around the perimeter of the planet", and other
observed phenomena. Just then Space Barton's first words are
received from the planet Mars over Dinehart's receiver. But
just as Space is about to warn Dinehart of the planned
invasion of Earth, one of Monstrin's guards outside the door
of Monstrin's quarters announces the arrival of the Lord
Monstrin's assistant, Mola.
Episode 125
Just as radio contact with Professor Dinehart on Earth
is made, Space Barton finds he must break off the contact
because of the arrival of Mola. Barton hides in the secret
elevator chamber as Mola enter. Mola remains for a long
while checking maps, then departs. Barton quickly runs to
the radio to complete his warning. Resetting his connections
he finds that he has lost contact with the Professor on
Earth.
Episode 126
Space Barton tries again to find the correct frequency
for contacting Professor Dinehart on Earth. Meanwhile
Professor Dinehart receives a visit from General Stratton,
who relates that he is also keeping all channels open hoping
to pick up any signals from Space Barton on Mars. Dinehart
relates that he has noted many mysterious occurrences around
the red planet through his telescope. Meanwhile back on
Mars, Space Barton continues his efforts to contact Dinehart
on the Radionic Unit but does not hear an intruder who
stalks him from behind.
Episode 127
Space Barton turns on his stalker, and after a struggle
subdues him only to find that it is his friend Navar. Navar
tells Barton he has joined the Martian underground and that
he has given up pretending to be on Monstrin's side since
the capture of Commander Varrick; that he has only one goal,
to kill Monstrin. Barton suggest that they will be safe in
the quarters of Princes Thursta, and that they should
discuss further plans there. Meanwhile Jackie Barton tries
to escape from the prison compound following Rotar's lead,
only to be discovered by a Martian guard.
Episode 128
Jackie Barton and Rotar are captured and thrown into
Commander Varricks' cell. Space Barton takes Navar in the
secret elevator to the quarters of Princes Thursta. There
they overhear a special bulletin from the Headquarters of
Persuasion on the intercommunications system that Kunda, the
chief executioner has captured Jackie Barton.
Episode 129
Monstrin and Mola return to Varriks' cell to gloat over
his newest prisoner, Jackie Barton. Monstrin reveals that he
will use the Teletron on Jackie. Space Barton and Navar
overhear a communication that Monstrin is taking Jackie from
the Headquarters of Persuasion to his private rooms in the
palace.
Episode 130
Monstrin and Mola take Jackie, now under the influence
of the Teletron, to Monstrins quarters where Jackie agrees
to advise Monstrin when he's ready to attack the planet
Earth. "General Monstrin is ready to begin the interstellar
war, objective Earth," begins the evil Monstrin. "Mola" he
orders, "Open the General Command Radionic Wave to broadcast
to all the Space Troops on Mars and in outer space."
Monstrin rants that he will rule all of the planets or
destroy them, and then: "General Monstrin, Master of Mars to
all flight troops, inner space fleets, outer space patrols
and attack squadrons -- return to Mars! We are ready to open
war against the universe, first objective -- the destruction
of Earth." And on Earth, Professor Dinehart and General
Stratton, monitoring radio waves from the planet Mars also
hear Monstrin's terrible message.
While
it is possible that this was the last episode of Space
Barton and Telecomics, it seems unlikely that the story
would have concluded without a resolution. In the 1950's
most television series were filmed to fill a 39 week
commitment, though 26 weeks was not unusual. Many times a
new series consisting of 13 episodes was produced as a
summer replacement for a regular show. Since our records
indicate that Telecomics only ran in selected areas for 26
weeks, as shown above it leads us to believe that only 26
weeks of programming was completed. This may also explain
why the shows were seldom rerun after the original 26 week
commitment. It should be noted that with program # 126 a new
Danny March adventure was begun which also did not conclude.
It is my intention to eventually chronicle all three parts
of the Telecomics series that I own to include Danny March
and Kid Champion.
This is reprinted from the February 3, 1951 issue of
TV Digest published in Philadelphia: If your youngsters
are talking about comic characters Space Barton, Danny March or Johnny
and Mr. Do Right, don't think the kids are subscribing to out of town
newspapers. They're all strips on the nightly NBC Comics seen on
WPTZ at 5:00 PM. The comics are very well done and really
catching on with the younger set.
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