Soon passing its incredible 45TH ANNIVERSARY legacy, this is a celebration of the classic, world popular original TV series from 1978, created by Glen A. Larson for UNIVERSAL TELEVISION. Re-live the heroic adventures of the crew of the mighty GALACTICA, fleeing the Cylon tyranny, in its epic search for the lost Thirteenth Tribe on Earth.
Muffey and junior Colonial Warrior Starbuck enjoy their snowboarding trip to an ice planet, though the pesky Cylons can't help but cause trouble, in this sweet cover by Art Baltazar for the 2014 Li'l Battlestar Galacticacomic one-shoot for younger readers to enjoy, from regular Galactica comic strip publishing company Dynamite Comics.
SAGA OF A STAR WORLD wishes all its worldwide readers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a safe, prosperous New Year!
See you in '23 for Battlestar Galactica's 45th Anniversary.
It's a gambling paradise for Starbuck at the newly discovered, seemingly too good to be true Carillon Casino. And having known all the casinos on the star circuit, how has this one prior escaped his notice? The beginning of a deadly mystery for our Viper pilot hero, and his long suffering and loyal buddy Boomer, from Saga of a Star World.
She looks amazing in reality, and just as stunning in artistic form too. Maren Jensen and Athena- a match made in Galactica heaven!
Beyond the heavens and back here on Earth, the ever-lovely Maren Jensen, a true entrepreneur, has just launched a new type of healthy eating protein bar that's bound to be another well-deserved commercial success for her: Who We Are - Glow Beauty Fuel
The time for a respected and disciplined Colonial leader and warrior to be honoured within the mighty celebration hall of the Galactica is at hand. Commander Kronos of the industrial vessels overseer The Celestra is to be that honouree, with full Colonial military honour guard in attendance, in this impressively directed opening scene to Take the Celestra, from resident Larson series helmer Daniel Haller.
The scene was shot at the same location previously for the Terran Preasidium main hall in Experiment in Terra.
It would normally be a routine patrol but things are different for Starbuck this time, volunteering the chance to pilot a new experimental Viper with greater speed (known as Starchaser on its nose side), and housing a computer with an attitude - CORA, as the Galactica heads further out from the once colony worlds, in a great moment from comedy adventure, The Long Patrol.
For years, who knew the Viper had a name, until a keen Classic Galactica Facebook group fan spotted it on HD Blu-ray. Well spotted!
Key icons of the series in Adama, Starbuck and a Cylon Centurion made for a memorable image composition in Universal Home Video's promotion of the original Battlestar Galactica as single episode tales released in the US during the noughties. Who out there managed to get a complete set, and who still has them?
Always enjoying his work in the realms of diverse model making and special effects, the late Grant McCune flies with the superb vehicle creations of the classic series in this terrific 1978 behind the scenes image composite.
A respected warrior and commander, and an eager to please but no less talented pilot in the raw, Apollo and his youthful brother Zac would be the two fateful Colonial patrollers who'd discover an apocalyptic tragedy too late to prevent, in another great posed publicity image of actors Richard Hatch and Rick Springfield from the series ever-impressive pilot episode, Saga of a Star World.
One of the most expensive sets ever created for television at that time, and one of the costliest to maintain what with its all its electronic requirements, the fully-functional onscreen Galactica bridge remains one of the iconic sets of not just this series but of US TV science fiction series in general.
An ambitious press launch for the series on the bridge set.
With such a pedigree added to the series, its no surprise that Universal and the series producers were keen to make the most of the set in terms of promotion, and they were successful in their results in the lead-up to the Star Wars on TV event, as the press would originally describe it!
Enjoy below's special promo featuring unused or alternate footage linked to the pilot, including the Imperious Leader voiced by an unknown actor, who wasn't Ted Cassidy or Patrick Macnee!
Magazine scans of Tekweek linked to the creation of the Bridge set and publicity for the new series...
From The Portland Rose Festival Friday June 2nd 1978 - Tekweek article.
A look at the original 1978 filming supervised by Saga director Richard A. Colla on the Galactica bridge set.
Another classic space battle image from Saga of a Star World that would be used as stock footage for the weekly series on a semi-regular basis, as a colonial pilot lands himself a new tin head target.
They became the best of friends, brothers, after the Cylon annihilation of the Colonies, so what previously brought Starbuck and Apollo into locking blasters on one another?
Great variant cover art by Sean Chen from the consistently enjoyable Dynamite Comics four-part mini-series celebrating the original series iconic scoundrel hero during his origin years.
The dirty and Viper-packed launching bay is not normally the finest place for an intimate liaison, but Starbuck and his new lady friend Cassiopeia will soon find a discreet hideaway within it, in this fun scene from Saga of a Star World!
The heroes of the Galactica finally have their chance to fight and successfully defeat against a Cylon Basestar in a way that's finally to their tactical advantage, in a great space conflict scene ending the series with the memorable, The Hand of God.
The Cylon's recent kamikaze attack has left Galactica in a precarious position, as Apollo, Tigh and the ship's fire chief work to find way of defeating the raging internal fires threatening both the vessel and its many injured inhabitants, in a memorable photo from Fire in Space.
The greatest weapon in the Colonial arsenal against the continued Cylon menace- the fast and maneuverable 'Starhound' Colonial Viper, as seen in all its superb detail model-form.
The gorgeous images come from an auction brochure of a few years back, as one of the stunning models built by Apogee for the series in 1978 went under the hammer...
Their world in flames, their friends, family, animals and homes destroyed or thoroughly contaminated by Cylon weaponry background radiation, Serina cradles her young son Boxey as they await their uncertain future, in a memorable publicity image from Saga of a Star World.
The search for their missing Viper squadron colleagues has led Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba to an unknown world whose landscape has been blighted by the crash-landing of an immense unknown space ship. Further investigation by the trio however is prevented via the arrival of a mysterious and charismatic humanoid being, the friendly but elusive to questions Count Iblis, played with style and subtle menace by Patrick Macnee. A great location filmed moment from the seminal War of the Gods, Part One.
The merciless Cylon sneak attack on the Twelve Colonies of Man, and in particular the planet Caprica, continues in another special piece of conceptual art by Ralph McQuarrie for Saga of a Star World.
With the fires on the Galactica bridge temporarily out, and Baltar's immense Cylon Raider attack force on the run from Commander Cain's genuinely surprising appearance, Adama confers with his old friend on a new rendezvous, so as to discuss the fleet's future survival, in a rare-ish image from The Living Legend, Part One.
The cast and guest stars of many Galactica episodes, but as you've never seen them before, as brought to action fantasy life on the costume front by the splendid talents of the series' acclaimed master of cloth, Jean-Pierre Dorleac.
Having followed the Colonials for years, the Cylons once more begin their attacks on the rag-tag fleet, one of its superior advanced attack craft, and its wingmen, going in against the Gemini freighter holding many of the human fleet's children, in this tense scene, and recomposited optical work, from The Super Scouts.
It's hard to believe that Sire Uri was one of the best and brightest of the Twelve Colony worlds' human populace. By the tine of Saga of a Star World, such characteristics are long gone. Now he's a corrupt, greedy and foolhardy figure intent on bringing the last remnants of his people to unforeseen ruin on the luxury death trap that is the Ovion resort on Carillon.
A fine and accomplished character actor, Ray Milland proved a superb casting choice in the Galactica pilot. What a shame the character never cam back for more antagonistic powerplay tussles with his old enemy, Adama...
His unique Recon Viper stolen, Starbuck has now been captured by strange prison wardens and considered a Bootlegger, imprisoned on a generational penal colony on the planet Proetus long since abandoned by the Twelve Colonies, in a memorable sequence from the light-hearted adventure, The Long Patrol.
At the former ILM premises at Van Nuys, soon respected effects veteran Dennis Muren and Don Dow inspect the mighty Galactica vessel model prior to bluescreen filming, circa Summer 1978, for the pilot episode. It;s because of talents like these that the show's quality effects legacy has endured...
At the Galactica life station facility, things look bleak for the injured Sheba- her father and the Pegasus are seemingly lost or destroyed. But sure enough, times soon change for the better as she is welcomed into an even bigger 'family' by Commander Adama, at the end of The Living Legend, Part Two.
I'm sure all male readers will agree with this: Cassie could be our nurse any time, and, even when injured, Sheba still looks stunning!
A lone and empty Cylon Fuel Tanker sits above a cloud of ionized cloud layering- but what secrets do both yield for our soon-in-danger Colonial Viper patrol of Apollo and Zac. A memorable effects moment from Saga of a Star World.
Dragged not to his execution but an unexpected meeting with an all-new and seemingly more benevolent Imperious Leader, Baltar's fortunes seemed to have changed, especially now that he is given a Cylon Basestar and an IL series special assistant, Lucifer, in his help to find the Colonial Fleet, during the additional series-leading ending sequence to the original pilot movie, Saga of a Star World.
A dedicated commanding officer and one of the most loyal friends that Commander Adama could ever hope for, the ever-reliable, stern but compassionate Colonel Tigh keeps an eye on the daily routine on the bridge of the Galactica, in a posed image likely linked to the pilot or Gun on Ice Planet Zero.
His life in great danger from gaining Cylon pursuit ships, young Lt. Zac's damaged Viper is approaching the mighty Colonial Fleet. But can he reach safe harbour in time?
The adjusted visage of one of the villainous leaders and schemers of the Cylon Race - the Imperious Leader, used for series marketing purposes, primarily as seen in a classic TV commercial and photo shoot promoting Universal Studios' then super-fun adventure ride The Battle of Galactica, back in 1980/81.
With the series in a new and more children/family orientated viewing slot, and with a reduced production budget, the odds of long-term survival were never great for the short-lived Galactica 1980. Despite a relatively good pilot episode, the show was never going to find time to develop its core trio of heroic new characters - Colonial Warriors Troy and Dillon, alongside Earth beauty Jamie - beyond what had already been thinly developed - a shame really, as Robyn Douglass, in particular, proved a solid talent (and a clear beauty) who deserved more...
Don't forget to check out the exclusive Robyn Douglass audio memoir Messages for the Future, available from audio producer Daniel Earnshaw.
Often filming more than one element against blue or black screen backing, the effects tech wizards at Apogee prepare a shot of Colonial pursuit towards a Cylon Raider, in another classic space action shot for the series original pilot.
Brought to life by the same talents behind Galactica, it would be no surprise that Buck Roger in the Twenty-Fifth Century would have certain similarities in production design and reuse of certain costumes, props and visual effects. Legendary artists Drew Struzan's 'comprehensive' b/w art for the BR pilot movie would even feature a couple of Colonial Viper images, accidentally supplied reference material having been sent to him from Galactica by Universal!
The daring skills and bravery of the Galactica and her viper squadrons are well showcased during an unusual Cylon battle, in this terrific cover (by Alex Sanchez) for the Volume Three, Part One special issue of Dynamite Comics' Battlestar Galactica series.
One of the great scenes from Saga of a Star World, as Starbuck and Boomer, newly arrived at the bizarre but popular Carillon Casino, discovers its many mysterious pleasures, in particular the singing sensation talents of the now series iconic Toucana sisters. Money signs are soon in Starbuck's eyes with the trio's potential on the music star circuit, and as their potential manager!
Every young girl loves a Daggit, as seen in this sweet advert for Muffit's debut as a string-pull talking soft toy in the late seventies. Released in the US, I certainly never saw this intriguing BG item ever make it to international toy stores back in the day, especially not in the UK market.
On the bridge of the Galactica, Adama and Tigh keep an intent eye on a dangerous situation, watched by Lt.Omega, in a great posed image taken for the weekly series, presumably linked to the vessels's shield defence of the planet Terra in the episode, Experiment in Terra.
The mighty, legendary Battlestar called Galactica, home of the last surviving Colonial Warrior heroes, and a beautiful yet formidable sight either moving across the heavens or going into battle, as seen here in this great modern reference photography composition.
The time has yet again flown by since we last had an amazing spotlight image of that Galactican beauty Athena, as played by the ever-lovely Maren Jensen. So, situation rectified!
The ultimate traitor to humanity, Count Baltar enjoys his reign of a Cylon Basestar and all the power along with it, be it via the hundreds of Centurions in constant activity within it, or wielding his egotistic authority and need to hunt the Colonial survivors to destruction through his humorous IL series servant, the quirky Lucifer, as seen in this great cover art by Daniel HDR for issue 4 of Dynamite's Classic Galactica comic series.
Born to fight their long time enemy, Starbuck and Boomer encounter their dreaded Cylon enemy at the heart of the Carillon Casino operation, in this great posed publicity image from Saga of a Star World.
Another one of the much-missed Ralph McQuarrie's concept/production paintings for the Saga of a Star World pilot from 1977/78, an evocative piece showing one of our heroes' Colonial Vipers parked on a strange world's terrain, which I presume is an early iteration of the tylium fused world of Carillon?
The classic effects shot of Colonial weaponry targeting three Cylon Raiders that was ultimately used much more than it should have been as battle scene stock footage through the first half of the classic series. Nonetheless, it was a brilliant piece of model/optical filming by Apogee back in 1978.
The ever-attractive young stars of the weekly Battlestar Galactica series have never looked better, as captured in this great mid-season publicity shot from 1979, taken on the bridge set.
