HAPPY CHRISTMAS! (2019)

Even Cylon Centurions like to make a surprise appearance during the Holiday Season! Though how exactly they'd digest Turkey is anyone's guess!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR! from SAGA OF A STAR WORLD

CLASSIC IMAGE: TURBO WARRIORS!

One of the series classic regularly used effects shots; three Colonial Vipers kick in their turbos and prepare to peel off as one towards a planet or attacking force. A super image showcasing great craft design and effects photography for the series.

CLASSIC ART: DEATH STRAFE!

The merciless Cylaon raider armada continues its brutal sneak attack on the defenceless human colonist of Caprica, in this great early storyboard art for Saga of a Star World, by Carl Ardana. Presumably its Lyra/Serina watching the attack run in front of her.

CLASSIC IMAGE: IN FOR A LITTLE SURPRISE...

The four sneak attack Cylon raiders tailing Apollo and Zac are soon in for a explosive surprise in this great moment from Saga of a Star World presented in TOPPS card form back in the day. Interestingly, this is an optical imge not seen in the final episode- one of the Raider's firing in shot.

CLASSIC ART: ADAMA - BRINGER OF DEATH!

The Cylons are the ultimate xenophobes, fearing and hating other species - mankind especially! So it's with good reason for them to especially fear Commander Adama, no longer their prey and prepared to unleash a deadly virus against his old enemies that may destroy them once and for all. A terrific cover for Dynamite Comics Issue 3 of the excellent Cylon Apocalypse.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CREEPY COVER STAR!

The hybrid Cylons made amazing cover stars promoting Galactica in the realms of science fiction magazines of the day, now it was time for one of the creepy insectoid Ovions to get in on some of the glory, in this great cover to the seminal Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE SPACE BOUND FLEET!

One of the fuel ships of the Galactica's Rag-Tag Fleet goes overhead camera, with other ships following behind it, in another great effects shot from the pilot episode that was also used from time to time within the series. The fuel ship could be seen in the background amongst the landed Colonial Vipers of Carillon during Saga of a Star World's finale, so there must have been a further effects shot or two of the vessel planned but likely never filmed.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ATTACK STATUS!

Things aren't looking good for the female heroes down on the surface of Kobol, as the ever-efficient Galactica bridge officer Lt. Rigel reports news of a Cylon attack, in Lost Planet of the Gods Part Two.

GALACTICA 1980: BIKE FLIGHT!

Bemused by an aggressive gang of bikers plaguing their exploration of Los Angeles, Troy and Dillion take to the skies in their advance flying bikes, in a scene shot with back projection from Galactica 1980. Intriguingly, these vehicles were devised for the original series but were never used until its kid-friendly successor.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CLONE FIGHTER!

Under Cylon dominance, life is hard for the human Theta-class clone lifeforms residing on the ice planet of Arcta. Still, a small resistance is thriving as The Gun on Ice Planet Zero begins, one of its key leaders being the striking Tenna, as played by Swedish film and TV star Britt Ekland, a familiar face in Glen A. Larson/Universal productions, having featured alongside Lee Major's The Six Million Dollar Man, in the show's second feature-length episode a couple of years earlier.

BEHIND THE SCENES: A MAN AND HIS BATTLESTAR!

Soon one of the most sought after SPFX men in Hollywood what with the incredible debut of Star Wars, of which he brought old and new ideas/techniques to spectacular onscreen results, John Dykstra poses with the fine detailed model of the Battlestar Galactica, for the seven part mini-series he would be crucially involved in as a producer. A great behind the scenes image from mid 1978.

CLASSIC ART: APOLLO, THE WARRIOR!

The youthful heroism of the Galactica's finest Colonial Warrior, Captain Apollo. is well rendered by iconic MARVEL Comics artist Walt Simonson, who was such a terrific creative force for the US series monthly all-colour comic during the second half of its run existence.

CLASSIC ART: RENDERING OF A STAR PILOT!

Amongst the lovely pieces of art happily filling out the page count of one of the 1978 MARVEL Super Specials of Galactica, is this distinctive art primarily of Starbuck, captured by Joe Rubinstein.

CLASSIC IMAGE: FRONT AND CENTRE!

Though the series showed us many great onscreen angles of the formidable mother protector vessel of the Galactica, this was one impressive shot we never saw, though it was ultimately captured in photo reference form.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ATHENA ON WATCH!

Athena is clearly looking for someone on the Galactica bridge, or most likely keeping tabs on that wandering ladies man Starbuck, in this scene taken early on during the series.

CLASSIC ART: UNDER ALIEN SKIES!

A lone Colonial warrior surveys the incredible alien expanse around him from atop his Starhound fighter craft, in an early piece of Ralph McQuarrie concept art for Star Worlds, later to become Battlestar Galactica.

Though the fighter concept was ultimately abandoned in favour of the longer, sleeker Colonial Viper development, McQuarrie's ship design would ultimately form the basis to the Earth Defense Directorate starfighters used in the classic Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV series of 1979, which has now been released in its two season entirety on remastered DVD format in the UK, via Universal/Fabulous Films.

More info here:
https://kooltvblog.blogspot.com/2019/06/beyond-his-time-buck-rogers-in-25th.html

Get The Complete Series here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buck-Rogers-25th-Century-Complete/dp/B07S28TGRS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CURYV7E1HBDV&keywords=buck+rogers+in+the+25th+century+-+the+complete+remastered+series&qid=1563726833&s=gateway&sprefix=BUCK+ROGERS%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1

CLASSIC ART: CYLON CHALLENGERS!

Our exemplary Galactica sci-fi warriors in Apollo, Starbuck and Athena make for a fine trio against the rising Cylon menace, in this terrific art by Clint Langley, which also has exciting echoes to the classic Star Wars movie posters of 1977.

CLASSIC ART: EVIL DESIGN!

Crafting the evil Cylon Centurions for the Classic Series must surely have been a difficult but rewarding experience for costume designer Jean Pierre Dorleac, whose final artkistic results have now become iconic and beloved in sci-fi TV history. Note the intriguing centipede-esque feet in this great early design drawing that went up for online auction a few years back.

CLASSIC IMAGE: IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST!

They luckily became part of a sector patrol, now Starbuck and Apollo's acquired Cylon Raider has arrived in one of the Basestar's vast hangar bays. Stage one of their infiltration and sabotage mission complete. Now comes the tricky bit- into the core, as the end to The Hand of God, and the original classic series, draws near.

Note the photo blow-up background of the model miniature bay in front of the model Raider in this episode shot.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: WONDER BREAD, WONDER CARDS!

Another essential collector's item linked to the original series back in the day- the American trading card collection that was obtained with purchases of Wonder Bread. And a great collection it was too, featuring some superb imagery from the pilot and selected series episodes, as seen here in this cool marketing poster.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE TRUTH OF THE 'CELESTRA'!

Unaware that their shuttle is not heading in the direction of the fleet, Starbuck and the Celestra's disciplinarian Commander Kronus discover the truth about the harsh life experienced by the civilian workers on the industry ship, in this scene from Take the Celestra.

CLASSIC ART: THE BIG BLAST!

Our heroes of Blue and Red squadron are caught in an explosive tylium detonation - another exciting art showcase for Martin Asbury's superb and dynamic storytelling skills on the innovative Galactica strip that was part of the UK's Look-In comic magazine during 1980.

CLASSIC IMAGE: BACK TO A PAST LIFE ENCOUNTER!

He'd be in their unique ship environment before but never remembered it, now the reawakened Apollo must serve the mysterious 'light beings' in a vital mission to save the humans of Terra from a destruction similar to that which befell the Twelve Colonies, in the Heaven Can Wait-esque light comedy adventure, Experiment in Terra.

CLASSIC ART: WHEN 'CRACKED' MET 'GALACTICA'!

One knows when a series has hit the big time with viewers and pop culture the moment it starts getting a humorous mocking, as seen here with the cover feature to Cracked magazine, whom that month back in the day had their laughter sights firmly locked on Battlestar Galactica. And it was a pretty good send-up too, if I recall!

CLASSIC IMAGE: TIME FOR A LITTLE PAYBACK!

There's an old saying, 'Don't put your eggs in once basket'. Especially not if they're bad eggs, as our heroes Boomer and Sheba discover when old enemies in Baltar, the Borellian Nomen and the Eastern Alliance take control of the Prison Barge, subsequently capturing them and their shuttle, in the always-enjoyable hostage drama, Baltar's Escape.

BEHIND THE SCENES: INSIDE THE VIPER BAY!

Widely publicised as one of the most expensive weekly TV series ever made at that time, the Viper fighter bay set, with its full size mock-up Colonial Viper fighter on its launch track, must have been one impressive set that certainly added to the weekly production costs. But, like the expansive Galactica bridge, it was worth every penny to be seen on screen.

If anyone knows the behind the scenes crew member in shot, please get in touch.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SPACE NAZIS!

The Galacticans have jumped from one frying pan into another, encountering a new human enemy just as evil and slaughtering as the Cylons - the Nazi-esque the Eastern Alliance, as personified by Commandant Leiter (Lloyd Bochner) and his thugs, in this moment from the feature-length mid-season episode Greetings from Earth.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE CARING CASSIOPEIA!

Though her skills as a 'Socialator' were no doubt spectacular, it was her later post-apocalypse career as a med tech, saving people's lives both on the Galactica and within the Rag-Tag fleet, for which Cassiopeia would become most famous- a popular and lovely character brought to life by Laurette Spang, visually celebrated here in this lovely collage via WiilieT.

CLASSIC IMAGE: WE ARE WARRIORS!

Most of their race may have perished with the Cylon holocaust attack, but what's left of the Borellian Noman remain an indomitable, intimidating force regardless, especially when led by the intelligent and powerful Maaga (Lance LeGault), as he and his followers initiate a 'Blood Trail' for the elusive 'Captain Dimitri' in the classic action/comedy The Man with Nine Lives.

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE PRINCIPAL OF THREE!

They say things come around in threes, and when it comes to the Cylons that's very much the case, as seen in this rare image of a crew of centurions inside their deadly raider vehicle. An image from the pilot episode, alongside a great behind the scenes shot showing the breakaway exterior for close-up camera angle filming. If anyone knows the person in the B/W photo, please get in touch.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SPORTS (FIGHT) NIGHT!

Triad has always been a bruising, knockabout game since its inception, but things are about to get headier and uglier than usual in this match between Starbuck and Apollo against Flight Sergeant Ortega, during the beginning to Murder on the Rising Star!

CLASSIC IMAGE: ASPECTS OF ATHENA

From veteran technical operative to intense Viper pilot. From caring sister to (occasional) jealous love rival, enjoy some of Maren Jensen's classic moments as Athena from the classic series. Another nice image compilation, courtesy of WiilieT.

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE INS AND OUTS OF A BATTLESTAR!

The intricate internal mechanisms and lighting of the impressive Galactica model are examined prior to filming, in another great behind the scenes effects shot during the making of the pilot episode, circa Summer 1978.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE LIVING NIGHTMARE!

The sinister truth beneath the once seemingly benevolent face - the mysterious and enigmatic Count Iblis, is fully revealed to Apollo and Starbuck during the chilling finale to War of the Gods Part Two. I remember this moment scaring the 'Pogees' out of me as a little kid watching it mid-evening on UK ITV Thames region, back in 1981. It's no surprise to me that this memorable scene and story continues to be recognised as one of the series and sci-fi TV's all-time great episodes.

DELETED SCENES: A MATTER OF DEATH (AND LIFE!)

NOTE: This blog contains a make-up effects image that may not be for the squeamish!

We all know how major changes were made to the original pilot episode of Galactica, Saga of a Star World, as the commissioned weekly series followed on its heel. Evading death to return for the second two-part episode to be filmed, Lost Planet of the Gods, would be the female characters of Cassiopeia and a temporarily reprieved Serina (who'd be given a more emotional and satisfying demise soon after). On the villain's side of things Baltar, the traitor to humanity, as played with relish by John Colicos, was himself executed by the duplicitous Imperial Leader, commanding a Cylon beheading duo. But his destiny on the small screen was soon to change...

Unused outtake of Baltar being exterminated!

Some kind of death scene for Baltar was filmed. Note the substitute playing Baltar wears a balaclava mask over his face with some kind of loose skin make-up appliance on top. With thanks to John Johnson.

Some kind of death sequence for Baltar was indeed conceived and filmed for Saga of a Star World's theatrical version, as seen in this rare colour image which appeared on the cover of a short-lived, rather obscure 1978/79 UK film/media/science fiction magazine, Screen On!. How and why this grisly shot exactly came into being is not known - perhaps it was some kind of make-up/prosthetics test outtake? (A similar idea to what had prior been done by ILM for an aborted, deemed too graphic Cantina alien death scene (for the at first named 'Walrus Man' character) from the original Star Wars.) If anyone out there has any more info on it, please get in touch.

Baltar's beheading demise ultimately made it into the finished theatrical version of Battlestar Galactica but thankfully in a much more tame, family audience-friendly way- the Cylon Centurion's sword moving in a fast pan simulation. The B/W photos below (and above top colour image) are specially posed from the filming of that sequence, albeit for the theatrical release.

B/W stills photography from the scene for the theatrical pilot.

The scene where Baltar is spared from immediate death in the original TV pilot version - Larson liking the character and wanting a human villain for the weekly series - would be concocted via a hodge-podge of existing footage put together, with the Cylon Centurion's unsheathed blade insert shot literally reversed by the editors, followed by a reused close-up of Baltar from earlier in the scene of his looking upwards to the Imperious Leader, followed by Patrick Macnee's new line of dialogue overlaid telling the Cylons to prepare the human for public execution. Later, of the infamous new scene tagged on to the end of the pilot (possibly shot at a point during filming of the next adventure, Gun on Ice Planet Zero - which itself had later reshoots and newly shot insertion material so as to incorporate Baltar- the story moved to later in the sweepstakes transmission run as a result), resulting in Baltar being spared by the new Imperious Leader, Colicos would recall to Starlog magazine in the late eighties: 'He (Larson) directed the pilot's final scene himself, so that when the sword came down to cut my head off, he stopped it at the last second and I was spared if I would betray the human race.' 

Baltar's later-filmed reprieve scene, tagged onto the end of the original pilot episode.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE MUSHIES HUNTER!

Enjoying a little quality time with his friends in the Rejuvenation Centre deep within the Galactica, Boxey has a special trick up his sleeve with regards to his robot daggit's abilities, in this sweet moment, and important later plot device function, from Fire In Space.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE FEMALE FACTOR!

We need very little persuasion to celebrate many of the stunning and capable female Colonial Warriors of the Galactica fleet, as well as the terrific ladies who played them. So this lovely composition from series longtime fan Wiilie T proved another fine blog entry incentive!

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: VIPERS AWAY!

Another great Galactica toy from my youth that I had many hours of fun with - the Mattel 'Viper Launch Station', where you could shoot excellent replica light rubber Vipers out at cardboard Cylon targets. Super stuff, but I had to make sure the family dog never got its sticky chomps on the Vipers!

CLASSIC IMAGE: WITH GUN AND FUMARELLA!

Starbuck's cigar and Cylon blasting vices come to the fore in this great behind the scenes image of Dirk Benedict taken during filming of the classic two-parter The Living Legend.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: 'GALACTICA' FOR LUNCH!

I don't recall this superb metal lunch box tin product ever making its way across from American shores back in the day, but if it had my nine year old self would have happily taken it to school every day and looked at the great art, once more heavily reliant on Ralph McQuarrie's production art.

CLASSIC IMAGE: SOME ENCHANTED AFTERNOON!

He may be under great pains from his crash-landing injuries on the far off world of Attila, but the arrival of the enchanting beauty Mira (Audrey Launders) is a welcome sight, in this fairy tale-esque moment from The Young Warriors, another great showcase for the creative talents of writer/producer/director Donald Bellisario.

CLASSIC ART: MONSTER MAYHEM!

With the expense of the weekly series, there was little money available to create diverse alien creatures on a regular basis. Thankfully, no such problems would arise in the limitless imagination and creativity realms of comic book storytelling, where our Colonial Warrior heroes were taking on all manner of frightening beings, as seen here on the issue 21 cover of one of the classic Marvel comics for Galactica, from 1979. Cover art from Walt Simonson and Klaus Janson.