Captain Starr of Space, AKA Starr of Space (1953-1954), was a twice-weekly OTR juvenile science fiction adventure series. Captain Starr and his Space Rangers traveled throughout the galaxy aboard their spaceship, Shooting Star, dealing with interplanetary criminals, space ships, ray guns, and exciting galactic adventures. Captain Starr of Space is significant because possibly only four episodes survive.
Episodes
Totals
Total Episodes: perhaps 75
Surviving Episodes: Perhaps 8
Circulating Episodes: 4 Inventory of episodes
Surviving Episodes
The Mystery of Mars
Episode 02, 4 June 1953
(aka "Citizens of Mars")
The Queen Nilo Incident
Episode 13, 14 July 1953
(aka "The Ray Machine")
The Carnumian Return
1953
A visit from a Neptunian scientist dead for fifty years! An Armed Forces Radio and Television Services rebroadcast.
The Mericus Plague
1953
A Venusian native chief has the secret to save the Earth colonists from disease. An Armed Forces Radio and Television Services rebroadcast.
The Mystery of Mars
Episode 2, 4 June 1953, available
AKA "Citizens of Mars"
The Ancient Martian
Episode 3, 9 June 1953, unavailable
The high priest of the ancient Martians, speaking through the sacred cube, threatens the destruction of the universe. Repeated as "The Ancient Martian Cube."
Unknown
Episode 5, 16 June 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr is ordered to investigate a possible invasion of Earth from another planet
Unknown
Episode 10, 2 July 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr is sent on an urgent mission of salvation
Unknown
Episode 11, 7 July 1953, unavailable
A crusading reporter is killed on Venus
The Queen Nilo Incident
Episode 13, 14 July 1953, available
AKA "The Ray Machine"
Unknown
Episode 16, 23 July 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr and crew battle fear waves drawing them toward a sinister city
Unknown
Episode 18, 30 July 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr and crew trace a strange drug which perils peoples' minds
Unknown
Episode 19, 4 August 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr, Gale, and Sergeant Stripes are chosen as the first persons transported back to another century
Unknown
Episode 21, 11 August 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr leans the secret of "The Teleport Treatment"
Unknown
Episode 22, 13 August 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr and crew rescue a scientist captured between Earth and Mars
Unknown
Episode 23, 18 August 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr and crew are assigned to settle a dispute over a new star between Earth and Mars
Unknown
Episode 26, 27 August 1953, unavailable
Captain Starr and crew narrowly escape the perils created by natural and man-made forces
Unknown
Episode 29, 8 October 1953, unavailable
A lady from the 40th century warns Captain Starr and crew of a sinister plan to destroy the universe
Michael of Outer Space
Episode 31, 15 October 1953, unavailable
Unknown
Episode 48, 12 November 1953, unavailable
A man, named Mr. Minute, forecasts the future
The Carnumian Return
1953, available
A visit from a Neptunian scientist dead for fifty years! An Armed Forces Radio and Television Services rebroadcast.
The Mericus Plague
1953, available
A Venusian native chief has the secret to save the Earth colonists from disease. An Armed Forces Radio and Television Services rebroadcast.
Pool of Intelligence
1953, unavailable
Colonists from Polar City on Mars are disappearing. They're being used to feed a secret "Pool Of Intelligence." An Armed Forces Radio and Television Services rebroadcast.
The Outlanders
1953, unavailable
Jail escapees threaten Queen Nilo of the Planet Ziron. An Armed Forces Radio and Television Services rebroadcast.
The Corrinian Control
1953, unavailable
Scientist Henry Pitman Missing
1953, unavailable
Prisoners of the Syrenians in the underground city of the invisible people. An Armed Forces Radio and Television Services rebroadcast.
Background
Following Tom Corbett Space Cadet and Space Patrol, Captain Starr of Space had all the elements of the 1950's space mania: Martian thieves, space ships, ray guns, and exciting galactic adventures. The show was based on characters created by Tom Hubbard, who wrote the episodes and played Cadet Sergeant Stripes.
Episodes were broadcast on American Broadcast Corporation (ABC) radio Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 PM, 2 June 1953-27 May 1954.
Recurring cast included . . .
Captain Rocky Starr (John Larch (1914-2005. Also had a semi-regular role on Space Patrol as Captain Smith.)
Gale Archer, Captain Starr's assistant (Jane Harlan)
Cadet Sergeant Stripes, writer (Tom Hubbard)
Writer (John Egger)
Announcer (Lou Cook)