Space Patrol / Satellite Police (sci-fi/children, starring Ed Kemmer and Lyn Osborn)

     (Local daytime and saturdays, 1950 - 1951;
      ABC Saturday Mornings, 1951 - 1955;
      Syndicated, 1951, under the title "Satellite Police")

     [The series began on local Los Angeles TV station KECA-TV
      the ABC-owned station (now KABC-TV, Channel 7) on a remodeled 
      sound stage purchased from the old Vitagraph Studios; the series
      was the brainchild of veteran combat flight instructor Mike Moser
      who took his idea to the TV station and they liked it; so 
      in those simpler early days, he became the show's producer;

      After a falling out with the first actor who played the lead
      role of Commander "Kit" Corry locally, Moser sought out a 
      replacement; and was surprised when he found an actor who was
      a real flying ace named Ed Kemmer -- a genuine war hero who
      had flown 48 combat missions in World War II, and had been
      shot down over Germany and spent time in a POW camp;

      Young Kemmer had been studying acting in Pasadena, and with
      his background and curly-haired youthful good looks, was 
      a natural for the re-cast lead role now known as Commander
      "Buzz" Corry (supposedly the younger brother of the previous
      Commander "Kit" Corry in the local show);

      His comic sidekick, Cadet Happy, was played by Lyn Osborn 
      who had a distinctive look resembling musical madcap Spike
      Jones; Osborn was a fellow acting student with Kemmer at 
      Pasadena Playhouse who told Kemmer of the show's auditions;

      Attractive blonde Virginia Hewitt played a supporting role 
      of Carol, the daughter of a diplomat; Her father, who was
      supposedly the "Secretary General of the United Planets", 
      was played by Norman Jolly;

      Marvin Miller (who played the mild-mannered Michael Anthony,
      deliverer of big checks on "The Millionaire") played one of
      the wicked villains of "Space Patrol" -- named Mr. Proteus;

      The first episodes on the ABC Network were aired three times
      a week and on Saturday mornings; Shortly after it was picked
      up by the network, the series  became a weekly Saturday
      morning show on ABC; But it still continued with local weekday
      episodes which were shown in the Los Angeles market three
      times a week, and kinescoped (filmed) for syndication;

      As if that wasn't enough work for the busy cast, they also did
      a twice-a-week "Space Patrol" radio series on KECA Radio (ABC
      radio in Los Angeles);

      Creator Moser met an untimely death when he and his secretary
      were killed in 1953 crossing a poorly lit Hollywood street;

      Lead actor Ed Kemmer went on to play a role of an astronaut
      on a short-lived 1962 soap opera, called "The Clear Horizon"
      set in Cape Canaveral, Florida;
      
      In 1963 a British series known as "Space Patrol" in the
      UK was shown in the US under the title "Planet Police"]

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Closing Theme 1 (1950 - 1953): "Stratosphere"

    [The Opening consisted of sound effects behind the announcer; 
     This End Credits theme was identified by library music
     researcher and soundtrack producer P. Mandell]

     Composer: Eric Spear (British PRS/ASCAP)

     Original Publisher: Francis, Day & Hunter (British)

     1997 Publisher: KPM Music Division (ASCAP)
                        c/o Keith Prowse Music

     U.S. Copyright Date:
     U.S. Renewal   Date:

     Recording:
         78rpm in the Francis, Day & Hunter mood music library
               FDH-048

         CD Re-issue on KPM 504 CD, available from the
               Robert Farnon Society in England

---

Theme 2 (circa 1953): "Space Patrol"

    [Lew Spence had been the musical director from the beginning,
     but had been using mostly library cues; he was able to write
     this original THEME with Sheldon Allman for the last couple
     of seasons of the series when it aired Saturday mornings;

     Allman was not only a lyric writer but an up-and-coming
     TV producer, who later went on to co-write THEMEs for some
     1960s Game Shows]

     Composers: music by Lewis ("Lew") Spence (ASCAP) and
                lyric by Sheldon Allman (ASCAP/BMI)

     Original Publisher: [unknown]

     2001 Publisher: [not listed in the 2001 ASCAP or 
                      BMI Repertoire databases]

     Copyright Date: May  26, 1954; Eu 359 255.
     Renewal   Date: Feb. 16, 1982; RE-122-008.

     Recording:

---

Sub-Theme 3 (circa 1953): "Up, Ship, and Away"

    [above is the title as filed for copyright]

     Composers: music by Lewis ("Lew") Spence (ASCAP) and
                lyric by Sheldon Allman (ASCAP/BMI)

     Original Publisher: [unknown]

     2001 Publisher: [not listed in the 2001 ASCAP or 
                      BMI Repertoire databases]

     Copyright Date: May  26, 1954; Eu 359 256.
     Renewal   Date: Feb. 16, 1982; RE-122-009.

     Recording:

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