Catacombs Reference LibraryPress
Space: 1999 - Can It Take The Place Of Star Trek?
Catacombs Reference LibraryScreen Stars Volume 34, number 2 (Feb 1976)
Screen Stars was a supermarket magazine that started in 1944, focussing on Hollywood celebrities. The February 1976 issue promised a "Special Feature on Space 1999" on the cover, with a 2 page feature with black and white photos.
For the past six years ardent Star Trek fans- treckies they call themselves - had to be satisfied with reruns and annual conventions dedicated to their favourite TV program. A cult grew around the adventurers in outer space and contrary to all expectations their interest has expanded, not declined. The term is "Trekkie", not "teckie"
Now their passions are rekindled over a brand new sci-fi creation, Space: 1999. A British production starring the old Mission: Impossible duo, Martin Landau and wife Barbara Bain, 1999 has made the bigwig execs of the three national networks eat their words and scramble for a piece of the, pie. When 1999's production company, ITC, offered the show to the networks for the Fall season, there were no offers. So 1999 in effect created a fourth network by going into syndication.
Amazingly enough, some networks scrubbed such shows as Cher, $6 Million Man and Rhoda, when they saw how popular 1999 was becoming.
The story is basic- a colony from earth is based on the moon, which is blown out of orbit by a nuclear blast, Now Alpha Moonbase is destined to search for a new planet, a new home for their 300 men and women. Meanwhile they encounter strange space creatures and weird adventures, the likes of which Captain Kirk and the Enterprise never saw. Even if you were a fanatical treckie you'll not want to miss Space: 1999.
PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT: Moonbase Alpha, for years a dump for nuclear wastes, finally went out of orbit and is wandering space. Alpha personnel investigate what might be a dangerous radiation problem. Commander Koenig (Martin Landau) and Dr. Russell (Barbara Bain) miraculously survive the explosion that sends the moon on its odyssey of space. Aliens and unbelievable happenings are normal fare on Alpha now. Fighting desperately to save their lives, Alpha personnel try to beat back an unknown creature from outer space.