Catacombs Reference LibraryPublicity
KHJ-TV Press Releases
Catacombs Reference LibraryKHJ-TV channel 9 broadcast to Los Angeles. The station used Space: 1999 to make an impact on the ratings in one of the major US markets, and received strong support from ITC and Martin Landau personally (this was his local TV station).
"SPACE: 1999," the most expensive and spectacular space science- fiction series ever produced for television, will be seen in a special preview on KHJ-TV, Saturday night, August 23rd from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The series will be telecast on a weekly basis on Channel 9 in that same time period beginning Saturday night, September 20th.
The new series stars Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (teaming for the first time since their memorable run on "Mission: Impossible") and Barry Morse.
Produced by Independent Television Corporation at a cost of $6,500,000, the series is set beyond the turn of the century, far in space where 311 men and women originally based on Earth's moon find themselves launched on an unexpected journey across the universe. KHJ-TV's new series is well stocked with internationally acclaimed stars in important guest roles. Included among them are Margaret Leighton, Richard Johnson, Roy Dotrice, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Joan Collins.
"SPACE: 1999" also utilizes the most spectacular array of "hardware" ever built for a television series. All sorts of space ships, space gear and futuristic equipment required for life in space has been constructed for the production. For the ultimate in detail, the internationally known fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, has created the costumes, projecting his conception of styles in the year 2000.
The special effects and photography have produced the incredible scenes that lend excitement and suspense to the thought-provoking stories. Credit must go in particular to two men, Brian Johnson, designer and director of the special effects department (best know for his amazing events in "2001, A Space Odyssey" and "The Tamarind Seed"); and special effects director Nick Allder, whose credits include "Khartoum, " "A Man For All Seasons" and "The Battle of Britain."
Martin Landau stars as Commander John Koenig, assigned the awesome responsibility of commanding Moonbase Alpha, Earth's outpost in space, for his combination of outstanding leadership qualities, superior space knowledge and unequalled administrative ability. As Dr. Helena Russell, Barbara Bain is the Chief Medical Officer on the new world. Her sphere of influence extends to Commander Koenig, with whom she has a close relationship based on mutual respect and attraction.
Barry Morse, as Professor Victor Bergman, is the scientist whose remarkable work is most responsible for the establishment of Moonbase Alpha.
"SPACE: 1999" was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, who serve as Executive Producer and Producer of the ITC series.
KHJ-TV is the RKO General, Inc. television station in Los Angeles.
Newspapers like the San Bernardino Sun-Telegram repeated much of the above, almost verbatim, in their August TV supplement
When you've played almost every imaginable role on earth, the only way to go is up. That's the direction Martin Landau takes when he stars as Commander John Robert Koening on ITC's new space science-fiction/adventure series, "SPACE: 1999," " to be telecast on KHJ-TV, Saturday nights at 7:00 p.m. over Channel 9.
The versatile Brooklyn-born actor originally studied fine arts at Pratt Institute and the Art Students League, before he joined the New York Daily News, Art Department as a staff artist. A short time later, Landau decided to give up his job at the News for a career in the theatre.
Martin Landau started out the way many young hopefuls do in the theatre - summer stock. That first summer in stock made him aware of how much he had to learn about acting. When he returned to New York in September, he set out to make up the deficit by attending acting classes, appearing with little theatre groups and performing in off-Broadway plays. Some of the professionals he worked with during that period were Lee Strasberg, Curt Conway, Lenny Chapman and Sanford Meisner.
As Landau learned his craft, he gradually began to attract attention. He auditioned for the world renowned Actors Studio and was one of the only three actors chosen that season out of over two thousand applicants, to become lifetime members.
Landau began appearing professionally on more and more stages. He toured in "Detective Story" and "Stalag 17." On Broadway he played in Paddy Chayefsky's long running hit, "Middle of the Night" with Edward G. Robinson.
Landau, in addition to his own career, began to teach other young actors the skill he'd learned. It was in one of his classes that he met young actress/model, Barbara Bain. When "Middle of the Night" went on tour, it was a honeymoon for the Landaus.
After the tour, the Landaus visited Los Angeles, supposedly for a two-week vacation, and were still there a year later. Both of them were working steadily in films and television.
Landau made his movie debut in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller, "North By Northwest." Some of his other film credits include "Pork Chop Hill," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," and "They Call Me MISTER Tibbs."
His numerous television appearances include "Playhouse 90," "Omnibus," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Bonanza," "The Defenders," "Wagon Train," "I Spy," "Studio One," "The Big Valley," "Kraft Music Hall" and "Columbo."
It was just after "Nevada Smith" was completed that Landau got a call from his friend Bruce Geller. Geller asked him if he would appear in the first episode of "Mission: Impossible" playing five roles. Landau agreed to do "just one episode."
Eighty shows later, Landau was still playing the character Rollin Hand, master of disguise. The hit series was the first opportunity for the Landaus to appear together since they toured in "Middle of the Night." ITC's new series, "SPACE: 1999" again reunites them as a starring team.
With their daughters, Susan Meredith (15) and Juliet Rose (10) the Landaus lived in England for 20 months to film "SPACE: 1999."
August 1, 1975
Based on the ITC press release biography
THE ULTIMATE IN SPACE ADVENTURE SERIES PREVIEWS ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 23rd AT 7:00pm. THUS FAR, THE SERIES HAS RECIEVED CRITICAL PRESS ACCLAIM AND TREMENDOUS COMMERCIAL RESPONSE, ETC, ETC...
The TV Guide is the July 5, 1975 edition which had a feature "New Faces of Space: 1999"
KHJ-TV's brand new adventure series will have a special preview on Saturday, August 23, 7-8pm.
Stars Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and Barry Morse confront creatures beyond their wildest imagination when a disastrous explosion blasts Moonbase Alpha into a terrifying journey through space.
This series premiere showcases the Rudi Gernreich costumes and inventive sets (by the creator of "2001, A Space Odyssey") that will help make this first-run adult science fiction program the hit of the season.
Publicized with a multi-media promotion campaign (radio and TV promos, TV Guide and newspaper ads), Space 1999's premiere will attract the vast audience in search of the ultimate adventure series.
ESTIMATE
| RTG | 15 |
| HH | 525 |
| TW | 372 |
| 18-49 | 273 |
| 18-34 | 196 |
| 25-54 | 218 |
| TM | 369 |
| 18-49 | 282 |
| 18-34 | 190 |
| 25-54 | 226 |
| TT | 177 |
| TK | 357 |
| 6-11 | 248 |
The estimates are ratings (GRP is "gross ratings points", HH is "households"). In the breakdown, TW is women, TM is men, with age groups.