LISA Publications

~ INTRO ~ ISSUE 1 ~ ISSUE 2 ~ ISSUE 3 ~ ISSUE 4 ~
~ ISSUE 5 ~
ISSUE 6 ~ ISSUE 7 ~ ISSUE 8 ~

ALPHA CONTROL and its COVERS

This is an overview of the Alpha Control Magazine. The Alpha Control, along with the regular and Special Conventions, has been a staple of Lost In Space Australia since it's inception. There have been 28 issues of Alpha Control (at the time of writing - March 2003) and many of the original issues are now long out of print. The Alpha Control was available to Club members while copies were occasionally available from selected specialty Sci Fi shops in Sydney Australia. Copies were posted out to members. Below is a copy of each issues cover and a brief review of what was contained within. The artwork for many of the rear covers appears in the artwork section of the LISA site. I have tried to keep the comments to exactly what was in each issue and hopefully there is little personal comment. I have also tried to keep the commentary in a 'page by page' format so that there is an easy understanding of how the issues were put together.

There are some features common to these issues - All of the Alpha Controls are on A4 sized paper; - for the majority of issues page 2 is a title page giving information on the who has produced the Alpha Control and regulations covering each issue; all have different colored covers (I have scanned them in black and white to make the scans readable); - while the quality varies all photos are in black and white; - the first eight issues are all single sheet pages printed on both sides and held together with staples while the other issues are fold out pages with staples along the spine. In most cases a 'Table of Contents' was printed in the Alpha. Sometimes it was in the inside of the front cover while other times it was printed on the back cover. Each issue featured a list of membership details and a 'Join LISA' application form.

I have tried to keep each review concise but as each issue appeared there was more and more information included so it hasn't been an easy task and has taken sometime to compile. For availability of copies of 'Alpha Control contact LISA at LISA, P.O. Box N9, Petersham North, 2049. New South Wales. Australia.

Thanks to all those LISA members past and present who have contributed to the Alpha Control over the years.

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ISSUE ONE

Issue OneVolume No. One. Issue Number One
Date - May 1992.

Price - $2:50 (on front Cover). 36 pages. This is the very first issue of Lost In Space Australia's Alpha Control and is dated May 1992. Editors at the time were Ken Armstrong and Matthew Adams. Photos throughout the issue are of a photocopied quality. The issue contains two editorials - the first covering the history of the first edition and how the club came about and the second covering the Australian release of Lost In Space Videos. There is also a review of the first three Video releases as well as a competition to win a complete set of LIS videos. The prize was the first three videos only (all that had been released at the time) and all you had to do was submit an article about LIS. 'Lost In Space Remembered' is a fond remembrance of the series by then President Ken Armstrong while 'Comics in Space' is a look at the then brand new Innovations Comic Series 'Lost In Space' - at the time of writing there were only six issues of the comic available. There is a 1st Season Episode guide where the episodes are briefly discussed and are rated by Ken and Matthew. A very interesting article called 'S.T - T.N.G - Lost In Space Revisited' describes the similarities between the LIS episode 'War of The Robots' and the Star Trek - T.N.G episode 'Datalore'. Reader contributions are included although as this is a first issue it can be gathered that friends who put the issue together supplied the contributions. LIS Star Guy Williams is given a very brief biography and there are two adverts for Astrex (an Australian Star Trek Fanclub) one on the upcoming 1992 Holodiction Convention and the other on how to join Astrex. A small trivia quiz is included in the issue plus a proposed 'Letters To The Editor' page and a 'Media Watch' on June Lockhart featuring in Spielberg's Amazing Stories. 'Welcome Stranger' is a place where new members to LISA are announced as well as having an application to join LISA attached to it and 'Space Trader' is a forum for people to sell LIS and Sci Fi related items. An obituary to Irwin Allen is included. Adverts for the next issue and the Video releases finish of the issue.

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ISSUE TWO

Issue TwoVolume No. One. Issue Number Two.
Date - August 1992.

Price - $2.50 (this time on the inside cover). 44 pages. Issue Two follows the same format as the first with two editorials starting the issue. These deal with Holodiction and the video releases. Again the editors supply many of the articles covering such topics as a retrospective (Warning, Warning), musical contributors to the series (Music In Space) and a Season Two Episode Guide (with slightly more informative overview). Application forms for Astrex and an advert for Holodiction 1993 are also included as is an ad for a 'Quantum Leap' fanclub. There is a full page advert for an Australian store called 'The Celestial Department Store' dealing with LIS based model kits and LIS themed Tee shirts - the picture quality is not bad. There are a few reader contributions - two by Stuart J. Rowe covering 'Irwin's Music' and 'Irwin's Other Shows'; Uncle and niece team Lloyd and Vanessa Price supply a retrospective and hand drawn picture titled 'Lost In Space - The New Generation'; Trevor Douglas supplies a very thorough 'June Lockhart Biography' as well as a piece of Fan Fiction titled 'Lift off From Oblivion'. It starts immediately after the end of the LIS episode 'Junk Yard in Space' but heads in some very strange directions. This is the first time that Fan Fiction is included in Alpha Control. There is a 'Wanted' page where people can places ads for their particular wanted items as well as a 'Media Watch' on 'Land of the Giants' coming to the end of its run on Sydney's Channel Ten. This issue contains the very first announcement of a LISA meeting. It is to be a 'Mini-con' double shot convention with the first half of the day dedicated to Star Trek TNG and the second half of the day to Lost In Space. It is to happen on the 12th September 1992. This date while being an actual convention is disputed as the 'first' LISA convention as there were rumored to be other meetings during 1990 possibly for runners and planning meetings for the club and magazine. The winner of the article competition is announced (Fred Tapley) and the competition continues on again. There are three pages of 'Letters to The Editor' and the issue finishes with 'Welcome Stranger', 'Space Trader', 'Next Issue' advert (announcing an upcoming LIS novelisation called The Death Ship) and a photocopy of an ad for Innovations Lost In Space Comic Number 12.

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ISSUE THREE

Issue ThreeVolume No. One. Issue Number Three.
Date - November 1992.

Price - $2.50. 52 pages. The format of the magazine remains the same as the previous two. Photos are still of a photocopy quality. The two editorials cover the first 'LISA' meeting as does a review by fan club member K.J. Pellew. Included in this issue is a reproduction of original artwork by Australian Lost In Space Artist Michal Dutkiewicz. The presentation of Michal's artwork is something of a first for the Alpha Control and more of his artwork appears in later issues. Michal had been a specal guest at the recent Mini-con several. There is a 'Media Watch' covering Richard Basehart on Australian TV. There is an untitled retrospective followed by some after convention photographs and fanclub member Tricia Davies supplies a second Mini-con review - there is a nice carton of a very weary Michal Dutkiewicz on oxygen after the convention. The Third Season episode guide has more complete reviews of the shows with ratings by the two editors still included. Holodiction 1993 is again advertised (Friday 14th to Sunday 16th May 1993), as is an advert for Quantum Leap Australia fanclub and Aliens fanclub. There is a full-page advert with pics for a fan built four foot Jupiter Two but there is no address to reply to. The 'Biography' in this issue is of Jonathan Harris and is extensive but not complete. A 'Media Watch' is included here this time dealing with Quantum Leap being taken off the air by Channel Ten. An interview with LIS Director Don Richardson is included but there is no information as to when it was made or who the interviewer was. There is another 'Media Watch' again on Richard Basehart this time on Colombo as well as Ronald Long who played the infamous Admiral Zark. 'Lift off to from Oblivion' continues and takes us into the 'Time Tunnel' before heading off to the 'Land of the Giants'. Another advert for 'The Celestial Department Store' is included and makes you want for those old days when these things were available. Fanclub member Ian Bennie contributes an interesting study o the character of Dr. Zachary Smith. A piece on 'Irwin's other Guests' is supplied by Stuart Rowe and is proceeded by an unsigned caricature of Jonathan as Dr. Smith. There is another advert for Astrex. Ken Armstrong supplies a detailed piece on the then available non-fiction books on Lost In Space. Another 'Media Watch' is included covering Michael J Pollard's appearance in the movie 'Dick Tracy'. Pollard was the 'Boy' in the Lost in Space episode 'The Magic Mirror' as well as an ad for the video release. There are six pages of 'Letters to The Editor'. A new company named '21st Century Marketing is featured. Located in Canberra ACT the company deals in a multitude of Sci Fi related model kits and items. 'Space Trader', 'Back Issues', 'Wanted', 'Welcome Stranger' and 'Next Issue' features finish off the issue.

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ISSUE FOUR

Issue FourVolume No. One. Issue Number Four.
Date - February 1993

Price - $2.50. 61 pages. Issue Four marked the official 1st year anniversary of the Club. The issue starts with two editorials dealing with different views of the past year and are by Ken Armstrong and Matthew Adams. One editorial gives mention of the unaired pilot 'No Place To Hide' and other LIS episodes and there is an ad in the Space Trader section covering the availability of bootleg copies. Ken also thanks the many people who have made LISA a success. Matthew's editorial also covers similar ground but also announces the arrival of his daughter Rebecca. There is also a 'Media Watch' on appearances by June Lockhart in episodes of 'Nurse' and 'Amazing Stories'. 'Biography' for this issues is Mark Goddard and it is a brief overview of his career. There is another 'Media Watch' this time called Bouquets and Brickbats. The Bouquet goes to Channel 7 Sydney for showing the series 'Space 1999' without ads and uncut but is shown at an ungodly hour. Sydney's Channel 10 gets both Bouquets and Brickbats for its acquisition of new prints of 'Land of The Giants' and it's butchering of prints of 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' and 'Land of the Giants' to fit in more ads. 'Trends in Space' is a lengthy article by Matthew Adams on the ratings and quality of LIS episodes as judged by Ken and Matthew. The article contains several graphs and there is a round up of all of the statistics. There is an advert for the British LIS fanzine called 'The Astral Traveller'. Issue Four saw the first appearance of an article written by Glenn. The article runs for eleven pages as Glenn writes about his interviews with several of the LIS star. Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright, June Lockhart, Jonathan Harris, Marta Kristen, Mark Goddard, Bob May and Dick Tufeld are all discussed and there are pics of Glenn with the stars included. An ad for LISA's 1st Anniversary Convention is feature with the guests being Michal Dutkiewicz (LIS comic artist) and Lewis Morley (builder of LISA's B-9 Robot). This issue also saw the beginning of the previously announced LIS novelisation 'The Death Ship'. It will be serialized over several issues and has several references to many LIS episodes. It runs for eleven pages and ends with 'to be continued…'. There follows several 'Media Watch' covering Levar Burton from Star Trek TNG, a missing Optus Communications Satellite and a cartoon showing that satellite landing beside the Jupiter Two. The television series 'The Bill' is advertised as is its fanclub. Three pages are dedicated to 'The Irwin Allen Scrapbook - Volumes One and Two' which cover all of Irwin's Sci Fi TV shows and are reviewed by Matthew Adams. There is another 'Media Watch' this time covering the appearances of Irwin Allen Regulars Dennis Patrick and Michael Rennie in various shows screened on Australian TV. Part Three of Trevor Douglas's story continues, this time placing the Robinson's in the 'Land of the Giants' before moving off again into unknown areas. Two pages of ads follow, one being for the Bookstore Dymocks's TV Sci Fi mailing List and the other being an ad for Holodiction 1993 featuring James Doohan of Star Trek. A two page article by K.J. Pellew reviewing Robot Memories and The Lost In Space 25th Anniversary Celebration. The review of Robot Memories was made long before the author met Bob May and is unnecessarily harsh. Astrex and 21st Century Marketing command two pages of ads. Long time fan and contributor Steven Cateris supplies a five-page review of the book 'Lost in Space Forever' by Joel Eisner and Barry Magen. The review covers the book plus hints at some notoriety of the authors. Ads for 'Wanted', a disc containing digitized pics from LIS, 'Letters to The Editor', 'Space Trader', 'Welcome Stranger' and 'Next Issue' finish of the issue. There is on the inside back cover a calendar for LIS events in 1993. In the early years of LISA conventions were held at Bankstown Sports Club and the Encore Cinema in Sydney.

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ISSUE FIVE

Issue FiveVolume No. Two. Issue Number Five.
Date - May 1993.

Price - $2.50. 54 pages. The second year of LISA is opened with two editorials; Ken's being a brief look at the 1st Year Anniversary Convention while Matthew's covers the then announced upcoming Lost In Space Movie. It was announced but would be some years before it saw life. Matthew Adams writes a three-page review of the Anniversary Convention, which is notable for some of the pics featured. Lewis Morley is shown getting in and out of his Robot while club Member Brad Murphy is shown standing by his incomplete but very mobile Robot. A special treat for me was seeing my then very young small son, Chris, watching Lewis perform as the Robot. Bill Mumy is the subject of the Issues' 'Biography' and this is very extensive. There is a very nice review of the LISA Convention by Maria Papadeas. 'The Death Ship' continues spreading out over 9 pages and is followed by an ad for Astrex and another installment of Trevor Douglas' LIS story. This time the Robinson's met up with the crew of the Seaview from 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'. This runs for three pages and features a 'Media Watch' on Irwin Allen Regular Malachi Throne. Holodiction 1993 application form and an ad for 'The Astral Traveller' Magazine feature next. The center of the magazine is a 'color' insert of original artwork by Michal Dutkiewicz but this is simply the artwork printed on color paper as opposed to white as with the rest of the magazine. For the first time puzzles are featured - Trevor Douglas creates them. Quantum Leap and Aliens fan clubs are advertised. A 21st Century Marketing advert shares a page with a 'Media Watch' featuring an advert for LISA as featured in 'TV Soap April Edition'. The ad was placed after a reader Anna Beilby of Hervey Bay, Queensland asked about the series. Steven Cateris contributes a page and a half article titled 'What TV show is Number One?' which deals with the results of two surveys held in the Sydney newspaper The Sunday Telegraph. The results have Lost in Space finishing 36th with only one other Sci Fi series - The Six million Dollar Man - making the list at 58th. Neither Dr. Who nor Star Trek makes the list. There is an ad for a company called 'Kard Kingdom' who specializes in postcard-sized pics of popular Sci Fi stores. There is a hand written note attached to this apologizing for problems with the print run of LIS postcards. Fanclub members Lloyd Price and Shaun McCarthy supply letters and one photo of meeting up with the Lewis Morley built B-9 Robot. Page 36 is a copy of a program guide featuring the Sci Fi Channel 19992 - 1993 Season program Guide. The Title of this article is called 'See how many times Lost In Space is showing on the Sci Fi Channel'. LIS features seven times in its weekly line up. Innovations Lost In Space Number 12 earns a full-page ad boasting a story line by Bill Mumy and illustrated buy Michal Dutkiewicz (Covers are by Mike Deodato Snr.). A new feature is a certificate to certify that owner of the certificate has been a loyal fan of the show. 'Lost In Youth' is a remembrance by Matthew Adams on his early memories of LIS. It includes several interesting items - a hand-drawn cartoons by Matthew when he was young; hand written excerpts from a diary and a letter from Sydney's Channel Ten announcing the return of LIS. An ad for a LISA Convention to be held at the Encore Cinema on June 27th 1993 follows. A three-page report on the upcoming LIS Movie (still in the very, very early planning stages) is supplied by Glenn and U.S Correspondent Steve Melching is the final article for this issue. 'Letters to The editor', 'For Sale' (featuring Mad and Cracked Magazines), a 'Media Watch' (on John Abbott, Michael Rennie and Francine York), 'Space Trader', 'Welcome Stranger' and 'Next Issue' ad finish off the issue. There is also a congratulations feature to members Jennie McCullock and Mark Nicholson who have just been married. The LIS Events Calendar from last Issue is reprinted on the inside back cover. Rear Cover features a table of contents and an acknowledgement to Glenn, Leslie Evens, Brad Murphy, Lewis Morley, Michal Dutkiewicz, Maureen Fishburn and Sally Newport for their help.

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ISSUE SIX

Issue SixVolume No. Two. Issue Number Six.
Date - August 1993.

Price - $2.50. 65 pages. Two editorials start the issue covering the recent LISA Convention with both Ken and Matthew thanking the many people who helped make the day a success. Matthew's editorial also covers media coverage (Channel Ten film crew, full page ad in the Daily Telegraph) that the event scored. There is a small ad asking for photos of the event from attendees. 'Biography' subject this time is Marta Kristen and is brief. A full-page advert from Lunar Models showing model kits now available. The kits are of Penny Robinson, John Robinson, Don West and the Comic version Robot B -9. Running for 5 pages and reaching a conclusion is Trevor Douglas' LIS story. This time the Robinson's meet up with Tomo (from Irwin Allen's pilot but not produced Man from the 25th Century). There is a two-page ad announcing the September 4th LISA Convention. This Convention will also be the premier launch of Volumes 4, 5 and 6 of the LIS Videos. There is an advert for a 'Superman (1950's)' fanzine. There are 9 pages of convention reviews by K.J. Pellew (Holodiction 1993 and LISA Convention) and Steven Cateris (LISA Convention) and is followed by two full-page ads (Astral Traveller, 21st Century Marketing and Golden Years). LISA's first Crossword appears, as does a 'Wonderword' puzzle. Next Michal Dutkiewicz supplies some original LIS artwork; there is an ad for a comedy stage production of LIS and an ad for Quantum Leap Fanclub. Member Ian Bennie supplies a four-page story that features LIS as a Star Trek 'Holodeck' Adventure. "Death Ship' by Matthew Adams continues on in a ten page installment. Astrex Fanclub is advertised. A fan known simply as Gary supplies a three-page tale of his adventures in watching and collecting LIS as well as his time meeting the LIS Stars. Matthew Adams reviews the next three Volumes of LIS Video release and runs for three pages. Each page also has a 'Media Watch' on it - Marta Kristen starring in 'Beach Blanket Bingo'; Irwin regular John Crawford, Michael J. Pollard and Kurt Russell. Running for twelve pages is an article by Glenn titled 'THE SPACE FAMILY ROBINSON - The First Reunion of a Dream come True' and is a detailed account of Glenn's meeting with the cast of LIS at Wex Rex Collectables on December 1st and 2nd 1990 otherwise known as the 25th Anniversary. What makes this article great is the pics of the various cast members as well as pics with Toni and Janice Williams. 'Space Trader', 'Welcome Stranger', 'Next Issue' ad and LIS Calendar finish the issue. Back cover again is a table of contents.

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ISSUE SEVEN

Issue SevenVolume No. Two. Issue Number Seven.
Date - November 1993.

Price - $2.50. 48 pages. There is a change in this issue in that the title page is featured on the inside of the front cover instead of on page 2. There are two editorials each running for a page each (page 2's editorial has a 'Media Watch' on Quantum Leap that used some LIS music as part of its soundtrack). Both cover conventions as well as announcing the upcoming Video release of Volumes 7,8 and 9. Matthew follows his editorial up with an article covering LISA's involvement with the production of the Video releases and includes a copy of the Plot Synopsis' of the episodes supplied by LISA. Also LISA has secured the right to have its' name and address on each and ever release. This article runs for 6 pages. There are two Convention reviews. The first is by Ralph Davis and covers the September 3rd Convention held at Bankstown Sports Club, which was the official release of the second batch of LIS Videos. There was also a mention of a possible upcoming CD release of the LIS music. There is an ad for a LISA Convention on November 20th 1993. It will see the release of the limited box set of the first three video releases. The second Convention review is by regular contributor Steven Cateris and was originally published in the Astral Traveller Magazine. Steven's review is of the June 27th 1993 Convention at the Encore Cinema. There is a 'Media Watch' on June Lockhart. The 'Biography' subject of this issue is Angela Cartwright and is brief. There is an interesting pic of Angela and her sister Veronica standing with Joe Lewis and Bob Wall in the Sherman Oaks Karate Studio. The girls are the first students to enroll in Joe's Karate School. The picture is not dated but I would estimate it to be very late 1960's possibly early 1970's. Running for ten pages this issue is the conclusion of 'The Death Ship'. There is an Astrex information ad featuring a special video offer for the pilot episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. This issues groundbreaking news is the confirmation of the upcoming tour by Dr. Smith himself - Jonathan Harris. The article runs for four pages and is the first part of a two-part article. Glenn shares his experiences of meeting Jonathan as well details of the upcoming tour - a weeklong stint at Sydney's Seymour Centre. There is a full-page advert for LISA's Christmas party to be held on the 4th December 1993. Land of the Giants gets a two-page ad courtesy of 'The Giants Log' - a UK based Land of The Giants Fanclub. The ads are two very well done cartoons of the LOTG's characters. The solution to Crossword Number one is featured but no new Crossword. Astral Traveller is advertised again this issue. Innovations Lost In Space Comic is advertised via a two fan letters placed around pics of Marta Kristen , Jonathan Harris and Bill Mumy. The featured comic is Lost In Space: Project Robinson Part One. 'Letters to The Editor', 'Space Trader', 'Welcome Stranger' and 'Next issue' ad finish the issue.

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ISSUE EIGHT

Issue EightVolume No. Two. Issue Number Eight.
Date - February 1994.

Price - $2.50. 52 pages. This issue continues the trend set by the previous issue with the title page on the inside cover and editorial Number One on page 2 (listed as page 1 for some reason). Ken's editorial is short and is mainly a list of appearances made by Jonathan Harris on his Tour. Matthews editorial covers the video releases plus announces the sad news of the liquidation of Innovations Comics. Steven Cateris supplies a six-page review of the November 20th LISA Convention. There are photos but they are very grainy and are of the dealers tables at the Convention. There is a huge four page advert for the 'Never Fear, Smith is Here! An evening with Dr. Smith from Lost In Space starring Jonathan Harris with the Robot'. This title takes up one page on it's own! The second page of the advert contains actual details of the Tour. Pages three and four are application forms for the Tours special events; a harbor cruise; The One man show with the Robot (four nights); LISA's special 'See Jonathan' night (his last appearance); LISA Convention (second birthday anniversary) on March 19th. Another Convention, this time held on the 12th February is advertised on the next two pages. Matthew Adams continues his reviews and plot synopsis of Volume 7,8 and 9. 'Biography' subjects this time are Dick Tufeld and Bobby May better known as the Robot. This differs from previous biographies in that it is an article rather than an opening paragraph and list of appearances as the others have been. There is a 'Media Watch' on Hans Conreid. 'Innovations Closes Doors' is an article supplied by Glenn and Maggie Thompson on the collapse of Innovations Comics. The reasons behind it's collapse are many but no one can deny the impact that it had on LIS fans. There is an Astral Traveller advert. 'Focus On…' is a new feature by Matthew Adams that takes an in depth look at individual LIS episodes. The episode for this issue is 'The Golden Man'. June Lockhart is the subject of a 'Media Watch' covering her appearance in the movie 'A Christmas Carol' along side her parents Gene and Kathleen. 'LISA Salutes…' is another new feature, again by Mathew Adams, and is called 'The Fond Farewell'. It is a story 'saluting' the TV series 'Quantum Leap. It runs for six pages. There is an advert for Astrex. 'Lost In Space Comic Closes' is another article covering the collapse of Innovations seen this time through the eyes of LIS's own Bill Mumy. The article is supplied by Glenn and Bill Mumy and details Bill's involvement with trying to get the comic into production over the years. This is a six-page article and is quite in depth. There is an advert for 'Giants Log" printed with this article. 'Letters to the Editor', 'Media Watch' (on music by John Williams), a round up of Irwin Allen Fanclubs, A LISFAN advert, a Regent Hotel Jonathan Harris Tour Package advert, 'Space Trader', 'Welcome Stranger' and 'Next Issue' advert finish off the issue.

Volume Number Two, Issue Number Eight marks the end of the Alpha Control in this format. From loose leaf stapled pages the Alpha Control would change to a double paged stapled down the spine format. It would also see a change in the LISA Committee.

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