TECHNICAL:
The site is best viewed with Netscape 4.0 or higher, although Microsoft's
Internet Explorer 4.0 version is used as a guide in development of
pages and an effort is made to work out the difference between these
two leading browers. Pages are designed for best viewing in the
800 X 600 video mode but will view well in 640 X 480 video
mode. Any video mode larger will cause some of the graphics and layouts
to appear “funny”. HTML 3.2 is the current standard for the pages.
Since this is a research site and content is paramount, fewer “eye-candy”
displays are used. However, java scripts and other enhancements may
be introduced to increase the mobility and use of the site by surfers.
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INTRODUCTION
The SOLAR GUARD site has it's roots in the mid 1960's when I had to
pack my collection for storage and head for college. Found among the
treasures, saved since pre-teen years, were several Grosset & Dunlap
TOM CORBETT
books. Re-reading the adventures of Tom, Roger and Astro was enjoyable
and stimulated memories of the early TV shows. What started as a fond
memory developed into a 30+ year research hobby. As I found other
fans of Tom, Space Patrol, Rocky Jones and the space heroes of the
early 1950's, a common statement of "I thought I was the only one
interested in Tom Corbett and the 1950's Space Heroes!!! was repeated
many times. Even in 1996 when the first page of the then named SPACE
OPERA site was first placed on line, I receive e-mail with the same
exclamation of wonder!! A small fanzine called Space Opera, dedicated
to Tom Corbett, was published in 1977 and served as the core of the
site when it went online as my home page in December of 1996.
The pages grew as more cadets found their way to the site until September
1998 when the Space Opera site became a Domain name site called SOLAR
GUARD in honor of all of the Space Heroes of the 1950’s. The logo
and spirit of the site became known as the SOLAR GUARD ACADEMY. PURPOSE: STATISTICS:
The Academy is composed of Cadets, because we are still learning about
the early shows, spread across the United States and some from overseas.
Membership is easy, just be a fan of the early shows and be willing
to share memories with other cadets.
If a cadet would like to form a unit and invite others to join in
the fun, the Academy will provide them with a Solar Guard Academy
badge. The first Academy unit was the Polaris II Crew formed in 1999
when Chuck Lassen, Jack McKirgan and Ed Pippin attended the Williamsburg
Film Festival. Just contact me, Cadet
Ed, at the Academy with a name for the Unit (a favorite spaceship
or unit ID) and an ID badge (JPG graphic) will be emailed to you.
It will be sized so you may print it out as a name badge that would
identify you to fellow cadets at special events, conventions, festivals
etc.
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The site is dedicated to researching and preserving the heritage of
the early shows and those who worked on them. It is also a “fanzine”
for old as well as new fans to gather and exchange information and
ideas. It is also a resource for others to use in their research of
these early shows. What is the attraction of shows over 40 years old
and dated by today’s standards? The treatment of the Space Characters
of the 1950's is, at best, passed off as "Juvenile". Most articles
or books written have given the genre a short salute and dismissed
them as just children’s shows. Granted this was the target audience
and judging from the magazine articles of the 1950’s, the shows hit
their mark. However, there was magic in the shows and we would like
to keep that magic alive for future generations.
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A new posting will be available shortly.
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