The Catacombs Catacombs International Guide
Germany

German flag WEST GERMANY (Federal Republic of Germany)

In Germany in the mid-1970s there were two main television channels, Deutsches Fernsehen ("German television", now "Das Erste", founded in 1952 and regionally based) and ZDF ("second German television", since 1963 and operated as a single national channel). Both were funded by a television license and advertising. Colour television started in 1967, and by the 1970s was more widespread than most European countries, including the UK.

Beginning in August 1977 the station ZDF showed 17 Year One episodes and 13 Year Two episodes, once a fortnight on Sundays at 6:15pm (the series was named "Mondbasis Alpha 1"). Shown without commercials, lasting 45 minutes each (all were cut) . The satellite station PRO 7 broadcast episodes in 1989 and 1990 (now titled "Mondbasis Alpha"). .

Opening titles

Mondbasis Alpha 1 Episode title with static background After title disappears, the Eagle moves

The opening titles were shortened to 15 seconds and two pictures: the logo, and the episode title. Unlike UK/US Year One, these appeared before the "hook". The episode title is static; for the last 3 seconds the episode title disappears and the Eagle moves. There were no in-episode titles.

Most Year 1 episodes used the Gray theme as the main title and end title, until February 1978 when Matter Of Life And Death ("Rückkehr Der Toten") used the Meco disco version of Star Wars (from Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, released in October 1977). The remaining 3 episodes of Year 1 used Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxygene II (1977). For Year Two, the Wadsworth theme was replaced by Jarre on all episodes.

End credits

While the original episodes finished with a freeze-frame and the caption "series created by", the German episodes cut directly to the 30 second end titles, which repeated the episode and series title. The end titles were just 30 seconds long, with a single picture (a freeze frame from the end of Force of Life).

In most episodes, the writer was credited with the story consultant, so Christopher Penfold's name appears prominently on many more episodes. Johnny Byrne is often credited as "Jonny".

Repeat runs (see listings)

German listing

Listing of a 1997 repeat transmission on SAT1 channel, 11:05am. "Several technicians are struck by a strange illness". Thanks to Richard Farrell. This repeat run was from 14th June 1997 to 27th December 1997.

Merchandising:

Voice Artists

These actors returned in 2004 to record dialogue for cut scenes and un-broadcast episodes.

John Koenig

Manfred Schott

Helena Russell

Renate Pichler

Victor Bergman

Wolf Rahtjen

Maya

Katrin Schaake

Tony Verdeschi

Volker Brandt

Alan Carter

Joachim Richert

Sandra Benes

Heidi Berndt

Dr. Mathias

Wolfgang Kaven

David Kano

Henry König

Paul Morrow

Peter Kirchberger

Simmonds

Horst Stark


Num Prod Num Date German Title Translation Original Title German Version Theme music

1

1

7 Aug 1977 6:15pm

Die Katastrophe

The Disaster

Breakaway

John Pauls-Harding

Barry Gray

2

21

21 Aug 1977 6:15pm

Die Teufelmaschine

The Devil Machine

The Infernal Machine

K. E. Ludwig

Barry Gray

3

18

4 Sep 1977 6:15pm

Zwischen 2 Planeten

Between 2 Planets

The Last Enemy

John Pauls-Harding

Barry Gray

4

13

18 Sep 1977 6:15pm

Auf gefährlichem Kurs

On Dangerous Course

Collision Course

John Pauls-Harding

Barry Gray

5

20

2 Oct 1977 6:15pm

Wer programmiest Kelly?

Who Programmes Kelly?

Space Brain

K. E. Ludwig

Barry Gray

6

17

16 Oct 1977 6:15pm

Angriff aus dem Weltall

Attack From Space

War Games

K. E. Ludwig

Barry Gray

7

15

30 Oct 1977 6:15pm

Die Steinzeit-Falle

The Stone Age Trap

The Full Circle

K. E. Ludwig

Barry Gray

8

12

13 Nov 1977 6:15pm

Der Mann, der seinen Namen änderte

The Man Who Changed His Name

Voyager's Return

K. E. Ludwig

Barry Gray

9

11

27 Nov 1977 6:15pm

Die Verwandlung

The Change

The Last Sunset

John Pauls-Harding

Barry Gray

10

9

18 Dec 1977 6:15pm

Das blaue Licht

The Blue Light

Force Of Life

K. E. Ludwig

Barry Gray

11

7

15 Jan 1978 6:15pm

Koenig: 2

Koenig: 2

Missing Link

K. E. Ludwig

Barry Gray

12

8

29 Jan 1978 6:15pm

Das Glück der Träumenden

The Happiness Of Dreaming

Guardian Of Piri

John Pauls-Harding

Barry Gray

13

6

12 Feb 1978 6:15pm

Fast weider daheim

Almost Back Again

Another Time, Another Place

John Pauls-Harding

Barry Gray

14

2

26 Feb 1978 6:15pm

Rückkehr der Toten

Return Of The Dead

Matter Of Life And Death

John Pauls-Harding

Meco/John Williams

15

5

12 Mar 1978 6:15pm

Captain Zantor

Captain Zantor

Earthbound

Wolfgang Schick

Jean Michel Jarre

16

4

26 Mar 1978 6:15pm

Ein Ring von Licht

A Ring Of Light

Ring Around The Moon

Wolfgang Schick

Jean Michel Jarre

17

3

9 Apr 1978 6:15pm

Die schwarze Sonne

The Black Sun

The Black Sun

Wolfgang Schick

Jean Michel Jarre

18

25

23 Apr 1978 6:15pm

Die Metamorphose

The Metamorph

The Metamorph

Jean Michel Jarre

19

26

7 May 1978 6:15pm

Die Verstoßenen

The Outcasts

The Exiles

Jean Michel Jarre

20

28

21 May 1978 6:15pm

Der entscheidende Stoff

The Decisive Material

All That Glisters

Jean Michel Jarre

21

29

4 Jun 1978 6:15pm

Schottische Geschichten

Scottish Stories

Journey To Where

Jean Michel Jarre

22

39

18 Jun 1978 6:15pm

Die andese Seite

The Other Side

A Matter Of Balance

Jean Michel Jarre

23

31

9 Jul 1978 6:15pm

Rühr nicht die Pflanze an!

Don't touch the Plant!

The Rules Of Luton

Jean Michel Jarre

24

38

23 Jul 1978 6:15pm

Die Feuerwolke

The Fire Cloud

The Beta Cloud

Jean Michel Jarre

25

37

6 Aug 1978 6:15pm

Das Spiegelwunder

The Mirror Wonder

Seed Of Destruction

Jean Michel Jarre

26

44

20 Aug 1978 6:15pm

Die Meuterei

The Mutiny

Seance Spectre

Jean Michel Jarre

27

36

3 Sep 1978 6:15pm

Gegen die Zeit

Against Time

Catacombs Of The Moon

Jean Michel Jarre

28

35

17 Sep 1978 6:15pm

Planet der Wastenden

Planet Of Waiting

The A B Chrysalis

Jean Michel Jarre

29

40

1 Oct 1978 6:15pm

Der böse Zauber

The Wicked Magic

Space Warp

Jean Michel Jarre

30

47

15 Oct 1978 6:15pm

Zoran's Schicksal

Zoran's Fate

The Immunity Syndrome

Jean Michel Jarre


10

DVD only

Das Alpha Kind

Alpha Child

Alpha Child

14

DVD only

Ultima Thule

Ultima Thule

Death's Other Dominion

16

DVD only

Unsterblich

End Of Eternity

19

DVD only

Wütender Geist

Furious Spirit

The Troubled Spirit

22

DVD only

Das Notsignal

The distress signal

Mission of the Darians

23

DVD only

Wächter des Todes

Guard of Death

Dragon's Domain

24

DVD only

Das Vermächtnis der Arkadianer

The legacy of the Arkadians

The Testament Of Arkadia

27

DVD only

Das Androidenvolk

The Android People

One Moment of Humanity

30

DVD only

Der Händler

The Dealer

The Taybor

32

DVD only

Die Aussätzigen von Achanon

The Mark of Archanon

33

DVD only

Der Roboter

The Robot

Brian the Brain

34

DVD only

Der Schöpfer

The Creator

New Adam, New Eve

41

DVD only

Besuch von der Erde - Teil 1

Appearance From The Earth

The Bringers of Wonder Part 1

42

DVD only

Besuch von der Erde - Teil 2

Appearance From The Earth

The Bringers of Wonder Part 2

43

DVD only

Tödliche Strahlung

Deadly radiation

The Lambda Factor

45

DVD only

Gestaltenwandler

Shape Changer

Dorzak

46

DVD only

Jagdspiele

Hunt Games

Devil's Planet

48

DVD only

Die Letzte ihrer Art

The Last One of its Kind

The Dorcons

Repeat runs


Copyright Martin Willey