Journey Into Space

Letters Page 6

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Home at last

Hi guys just a quick note to say what a joy it was to find this site! I first came cross JITS when it was transmitted on BBC in the 80s. I taped it out of curiosity and was immediately hooked! I bought the boxed set of Operation Luna as a birthday present for my son who is also hooked, only to find out that there is much more. We now have a set each and I now discover that there is another set to get. I believe it is called "Return From Mars". Is it any good? I thought that my son and I were the only Journey Into Space fans around, so it is great to find others.

Happy landings,

Ray Nightingale
rayovsunshine@rnightingale.freeserve.co.uk

The Greatest Radio Show Ever

I was eight when the first series of Journey Into Space was broadcast. I was lucky in that my parents went out on the broadcast night and my elder sister liked radio plays and permitted me to stay up and listen to this thrilling series. I don't think that I missed an episode and have often reminisced to the guys at work about the series.

My wife and daughter purchased the 1958 tapes of Operation Luna but I have often wondered if the originals and the later serials were available.

There are still a few others around who remember and had their enthusiasm triggered by this incredible radio show - "Written and Produced by Charles Chilton" - the last lines every week! I did actually have a book of the second serial during the 1960s but it unfortunately got lost.

The website is a nice idea - I now have this on my shortcuts and will visit from time-to-time.

Colin Grayson
aristotle13@totalise.co.uk

Reminiscing

I just had old school friend visit me in Canada and mentioned the program we used to listen as teenagers. It was so far ahead of its time, we would have our ears glued to the radio listening, not a word spoken during the broadcast, then the replays. Trying to purchase tapes.

Scotty
goldenoldies@shaw.ca

Space Force 2

Hello,

I am a fan of the Charles Chilton adventures, and would like to obtain a copy of Space Force 2.

I heard the original series in 1984 and was not aware of the sequel due to its late night airing.

Any ideas where I might obtain it?

Regards

Mat Dolphin
mat_dolphin@yahoo.com
Dolphination.co.uk - Where lunacy becomes reality through the video camera!

"Orders must be obeyed without question at all times"

When you updating site? There's so much to say and it's just sitting here. Please don't abandon it. Journey Into Space was and is the most atmospheric and well written S.F. ever.

Jon
jonathan.edwards@onmail.co.uk

Name That Tune

I don't remember the original broadcasts, because I'm only 25 but I recently came across the tapes last year and I looked at the name and realised it sounded like what my mother had listened to when she was a little girl. She always told me about this program she used to listen to when she was young and it had this weird scary music. I purchased the first tape 'Operation Luna' which was ok and then purchased the rest one by one.

The second series was the best, the mission to 'Mars', it sparks my imagination it reminds me of the science fiction books from the sixties called 'Tom Swift'. The problem with today’s science fiction is that it is 'Glum' its slightly on a depressing note all the time, it mostly revolves around death.

Nowadays you couldn't launch a carrot into space without having the funding cut or reduced without the commercial aspect of going into space or on a planet, man would be going nowhere.

I love the accents of the time especially Whitaker's, he has a crisp clean accent not snobbish but direct and clear something you don’t here any more. What I would like to know is that on 'The Red Planet' series, when Lemmy is going back to the land truck and the others are exploring the ruins (tape 3, side 5), Lemmy gets cornered by McClain, and Lemmy is told 'Of course he can sleep' and told to 'Lie down in his own comfortable bed' Lemmy panics and starts to shout 'Alright!' 'Alright!' 'I'm going'.

Then this music starts it sounds like its from the 30s or 20s. Could you tell me if the BBC published the complete music resources of the program or if you know of the songs name or who would know.

Thanks Neil lane
Sparkmanuk@hotmail.com

"Watch your step Earthmen"

A web site for J.I.S., at last. I love the show and am thirty years old. I first heard it in 1989 when Radio 2 repeated it and recorded operation luna and all other serials. Recently relistened to all serials whilst decorating my little boys room with rocket ships.I tell him they are discovery.

Also recently relistened to the 1981 serial. Not as bad second time round. Sad to hear of Andrew Faulds' death. We know the history of Lemmy actors David Kossoff and Alfie Bass. We know of all the Mitch actors and of Andrew Faulds but what happened to Guy Kingsley Pointer? also in operation luna Lemmy picks up a tune on the radio set broadcast from earth about a spaceman taking his sweetheart to the moon. Was it a real song?

Jonathan Edwards
jonathan.edwards@onmail.co.uk

Brilliant site!

'Journey Into Space' was the great event of the week, comparable with 'Eagle' day and the latest adventures of Dan Dare. Two drastic punishments I remember from my childhood - for being very, very naughty - not going to see Borra The Pickpocket at Bertram Mills' Circus and . . . Dad turning 'Journey Into Space' off !

I still recall note for note the music in the background of Doc's diary overvoice, etc. These were real cliffhangers.

Angus MacVicar's 'Lost Planet' series was also very formative. Radio evokes images like no other medium ! Also, you can get on with other jobs while it's on, unlike television.

When Andrew Faulds took up his political career, and when Parliament was broadcast, how strange it was to hear the unmistakable voice of Jet Morgan raised in dissent in the House!

Keep up the good work! A great site of nostalgia.

Please drop a line if you have time.

Best wishes
Peter Ford
Lancaster
United Kingdom
owlpub@hotmail.com

Tape Snapped!

I borrowed a copy of "Journey into Space - The Red Planet" from a friend - what a brilliant series!

BUT - one of the cassettes has broken and I have searched everywhere to find a replacement but I am told that this particular one is no longer produced.

Does anyone have one they would be willing to part with? or any other suggestions as to where I might find a replacement?

I am desperate!

Lyn
lyn@petherton.freeserve.co.uk

Lyn later to wrote to say that she had managed to find a stockist.

Jet Morgan

Dear Sir,

As a lad I lived in Eastney, Portsmouth. On Monday evenings and I believe it was at 7:30 pm, my younger sister and I were glued to the radio to listen to a program that 48 years later I still remember so well.

Just today I have discovered your web site and the splash page is just terrific. I have played it over a few times and I could see myself sitting on the pouffe by the fire, 49 years ago looking at the Philips radio while it spoke those words, "Journey into Space".

Many thanks for all of your effort and the wonderful memories. Kids today don't know what they missed. I will be a regular viewer.

Yours very truly

Harry Davies
Advocate Investigation Services Limited Toronto, Ontario
hdavies@rogers.com