COMING SEPTEMBER 2026: 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - THE CLASSIC SERIES SOUNDTRACK COLLECTION'...

Finally, the entire collected score from Stu Phillips for the classic series is being made available from those fine, score-loving folks at Intrada as the show's Fiftieth Anniversary approaches. For sure, this classy box set will be a swift sell-out for fans and music enthusiasts worldwide.

More official info via FACEBOOK: 'A few more details since people have been asking. First, the set will retail for $129.99. This is not a reissue; Mike Matessino has rebuilt this from the ground up and spent months painfully restoring (and yes - expanding it. Now included is that Kobol establishing shot from Lost Planet of the Gods!). So save your pennies; this is a pretty impressive set.'

A preview/interview with Stu Phillips...

Head over to the Intrada web site and sign up for their newsletter...

Intrada

With thanks to John Johnson for the heads-up on this...

CLASSIC IMAGE: SPACE WARFARE!

I don't think any fan of Classic Galactica ever got fed up with seeing the sleek Colonial Viper craft in epic space conflict with the deadly Cylon Raiders, and this great T-shirt image composition (I assume from 1978/79) certainly kicks-in the nostalgia in all the right ways!

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: WALL-TO-WALL 'GALACTICA'!

As we've said in the past, for a series that was all too brief in its duration, the original Battlestar Galactica nonetheless spawned some great items of merchandise, like this image-packed art (illustrator unknown) used for the American home wallpaper market. I never saw this rarity released beyond the US, but if it was please get in touch.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: A VHS TOUCHDOWN IN OZ!

Outside the UK and US, we've not had the chance to cover the series popularity in other territories, so its great to see these Australian VHS releases from back in the day (circa early 2000's, as the format was starting to die out), released there by Universal Playback. Though it's sadly more than clear, however, that the company had no idea (or were that too bothered) about getting the right photography for the represented episodes, showcased by their using an image from Galactica: 1980 for the original series two-parter War of the Gods.

It would be great to hear back from any Australian fans about what has been fully released there over the years on VHS, Beta and other formats...

CELEBRATING 'THE THIRTEENTH TRIBE' FAN CLUB...

Cover art by Chris Scalf.

Following on from its illustrious predecessors in the original Star Trek and the then recently released Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica would swiftly and deservedly earn a worldwide fan phenomenon status, and over the years there have been many aficionados, conventions and websites that have keenly celebrated it. But I think many of you out there will agree that the saga's finest gathering of appreciation will have been via the UK's long-running and much-missed The Thirteenth Tribe Fan Club, which debuted around 1980 (originally from a location in Dulwich, South London) and which was taken over in the 90's by the extremely dedicated, kind and hard working new club runner Victoria Haslam and her partner, Robin. The Thirteenth Tribe had an excellent regular fan magazine full of fan correspondence, art, news, conventions/ events coverage, merchandise for sale and original fiction/observations, and I remember regularly enjoying its diversity of talented contributors for five years or so. It was a pleasure to a part of its community and to read its regular magazine, of which the whole club in itself was imbued with a lot of attention to detail and clear love for its subject matter and its characters/stars.

Art by Andy Walker.

Art by Anthony Dry.

Art by Andrew Dimeloe.

Art by David Gray.

Art by Anthony Dry.

The Thirteenth Tribe seemed to have disappeared around the early to mid-noughties and I'm not sure what exactly happened with it in the end, though obviously the big time requirements needed in producing the quality magazine regularly was likely the primary suspect for its sad passing. The Thirteenth Tribe was importantly able to go past its Twentieth Anniversary, though, and that was a major achievement that should continue to be applauded. In many ways, it's because of The Thirteenth Tribe that this blog site exists, in tribute to the people that made it happen and kept me enthused about the series. I still have all my back issues and club items from back in the day, and look upon it all then and now as a terrific achievement for the Haslams'. I hope that they are going great guns out there, wherever they may be and whatever they are up to...  

STARLOGGED - GEEK MEDIA AGAIN: THE THIRTEENTH TRIBE: BRITAIN'S BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FAN CLUB

CLASSIC IMAGE: A KILLER OF HUMANS!

 

As the Cylons reveal themselves and attack the Colonial Warriors, one of their kind locks on and blaster fires in this great posed publicity shot. With the Galactica merchandising of 1978/79, this image was particularly well used as part of a set of 4 UK-released puzzles from Waddingtons. Taken specially during rehearsals on Saga from a Star World, the image would have the unique Cylon blaster pulse and its distinctive red eye added/rotoscoped on, likely by an Apogee technician during the pilot/film's post production stage.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: MODEL MAGIC!

Surely one of the best selling aspects of Classic Galactica merchandise (and Buck Rogers too) back in the day- the superb space vehicles created by ILM/ Universal Heartland available in model kit form via Monogram, as compiled for this great comic advert. In the UK, I had the Cylon Basestar, and it looked awesome.

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!

'GALACTICA' AT 40: IN THE THICK OF BATTLE!

The start of the new year and our 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Classic Series get off to this explosive start, as the mighty Galactica and its Vipers once more bravely engage the ever-hounding Cylon menace. If anyone knows the artist of this great piece, which originally appeared on a Colonial Warriors Card Album, please get in touch.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: SUN-LOVING CYLONS!

I don't know whether they'd be cool for Summer wearing anymore, but the US Larami company's Cylon sunglasses from 1978/79 are certainly an oddity worthy of inclusion on this page. I'm sure the Imperious Leader wears them from time to time, though...

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: GALACTIC(A) PIZZAZZ!

I've always known of the MARVEL humour magazine PIZZAZZ from the late seventies, but here in the UK I've never seen a copy for sale and overseas charges via Ebay are way too high. I'm assuming it was an attempt to cash in on the always fun MAD. Nevertheless, its always nice to see the Classic GALACTICA series on any cover from back in the day.

More here: space1970: PIZZAZZ Magazine Cover Gallery

CLASSIC ART: MOOG MUSIC!

Blasting away from a red sun, the battle between Colonials and Cylons continues in this lovely art adorning a US 1978 album of covers for Stu Phillips soaring music for the series, courtesy of the brilliantly named Electric Moog Orchestra!

Look forward to hearing this one someday!

SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM 'SAGA OF A STAR WORLD'!

SAGA OF A STAR WORLD wishes readers worldwide a Happy Christmas, and a prosperous 2016!

CLASSIC ART: STRANGE NEW WORLD...

A Colonial Warrior surverys his new surroundings on Carillon, in a conceptual painting by Ralph McQuarrie for Star Worlds, later to be re-titled Battlestar Galactica, and ultimately used for the Goldmann Wilhelm GmbH cover of Book Four of the German novelisation edition of The Young Warriors.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: JAPANESE 'GALACTICA'

An intriguing look at some spreads from the hard to find 1978 Japanese movie souvenir magazine for the theatrical release of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, with some nice shots from Lost Planet of the Gods included in its pages!

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: BIG G CEREAL CARDS (1978)

All-action effects scene card from the 1978 cereal set.

Another nostalgic piece of merchandise that I wish had made it further overseas beyond the US and Australia: a 16 piece set of 1978 cards/stickers for the BIG G General Mills cereals range. Information reveals at least four were create-a-scene cards, 2 or more were cards, 4 or more were stickers and the remainder being cut-outs.

Cylon and Ovion cut-out.

Starbuck and Boomer cut-out

Boxey and Muffey cut-out.

Apollo and Adama cut-out.

Cylon Raider sticker.

If anyone out there has more info or better scans that they can provide, please get in touch...

CLASSIC ART: BUBBLE-STAR GALACTICA!

During late 1978, I must have travelled numerous South London news vendors and consumed well over a hundred pieces of pink bubblegum strip within the photo cards series for BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, and I still never got the complete set of original cards-there was at least three or four of those white edged photo marvel devils that proved elusive. And, having been a sprightly youth at the time, I never kept any of the pack wrappings, either. So this scan (a US TOPPS cover rather than a UK one- we never had the stickers) at least makes for some compensation in the latter area.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A MOTHER AND HER FLOCK...

The Galactica and her rag-tag fleet get ready to leave a planetary system in this lovely composite model shot that appeared on the cover of the American 1978/79 PARKER BROTHERS board game for the series.

CLASSIC ART: VILLAINS ASSEMBLED...

An American merchandise item I don't recall coming to the UK-this lovely piece of art depicting Saga of a Star World's principal baddies, as part of the skillful CRAFT MASTERPEN series.

CLASSIC IMAGE: ST. LOUIS SCI-FI!

The upcoming show being dubbed "TV's answer to STAR WARS" was certainly getting the full promotional treatment across the States, as seen here with this fun BG cover of the 1978 St. Louis TV GUIDE. Note the full eyed Cylon Centurion!