Related pages: season 2 | season 3
First Season Episodes - No Place To Hide - Mark Goddard Memories
I felt pretty apprehensive when we began shooting the pilot for "Lost In Space." Why? Let me tell you why.
First, I had acted the roles of a cowboy, detective, lawyer, doctor, and an Indian chief (just kidding about this last role). But never an astronaut.
I was used to colt 45s, 38 specials and bows and arrows (kidding), but never used a laser pistol. I'd worn western chaps, suit and ties, and Indian blankets (why a) but never silver lame pajamas. I've ridden horses western style, drove sports cars, and rode horses bareback (OK), but never piloted a space ship. And finally, I shot at mean gun fighters, ugly bank robbers, and cavalry soldiers (last time), but I never shot at a one-eyed giant.
So you see, I had no idea what I was getting myself in for. What I was getting myself in for I was to find out, pretty awesome. I was about to work with 5 of the nicest people in Hollywood, who made up the Robinson family.
Together we had a ball making the pilot. Sure we were eaten alive by sand fleas (Hungry Sea). Ate gobs of cobwebs during an earthquake, kept company with a smelly monkey, had hundred gallon tanks of water dumped upon us (Hungry Sea), and had to hear Will Robinson sing "Green Sleeves" 172 times (KIDDING), but I wouldn't trade making the pilot for all the other shows combined. It was more fun than I ever expected, and I was looking forward to making this series. I have many (Lost In Space memories) about the 20 some odd (and I mean odd!) days shooting the pilot and I am going to share one of them with you.
During the "Hungry Sea" portion of the pilot when Judy uttered the famous line as the chariot was about to become engulfed in the cyclonic whirlpool "Don, you must cut to the left!" Don also had a memorable moment when we were in the midst of the perfect storm when our radar jammed. The hero, West, was ordered to fix it by Professor Robinson.
Dutifully as Don was, I felt myself being pushed up and out of the escape hatch by Judy and Penny. Wait a minute! This is 1997! Where were the proponents of the ERA and NOW then! Anyway once on top of the chariot with tons of water being dumped on me, I located the problem. But, I was ill equipped for solving such a problem. You see I forgot to bring my …. Well what no trusty astronaut should be without … my trusty solar wrench.
Till this day I don't know the difference between a solar wrench and an ordinary monkey wrench. Could there be a difference between a right-handed monkey wrench and a left -handed monkey wrench. Happy memories.
Major Don.
