A Private Audience with
Marta Kristen.
By Kevin J Pellew.

And so I was.

The message from L.I.S.A sources arrived a week earlier so the tension and excitement had time to brew till it became unbearable. On the day, Sunday, 10th January 1999, I left home early, 7 am., to make sure that I was there well before time and waited. The appointed time came and went and after a few quick phone calls I found that there had been a slight change of plans. I was now very early but that didn’t matter - I was still in the right place for this extraordinary meeting. Around ten past nine Glenn and Gary arrived and preparations began. The L.I.S.A Robinson Robot was assembled and checked to see that it was functioning properly. Gary, normally quiet and reserved, was like a proud father - recent repairs and renovations on the Robot had been carried out by Gary and he was excited about the meeting to come. While we waited we discussed the alterations yet to come for the L.I.S.A Robot.

After some consultations with Hotel staff we were ushered to a small private room on the 24th floor of the hotel. This was where our rendezvous was to occur. The Robot was placed in a corner and tables rearranged to accommodate thirteen persons. 13! This was a most private and special meeting. With the momentous meeting still an hour away we then returned to the lobby to await the arrival of members of the L.I.S.A Committee. For most of us this would be the first gathering since our last Convention, our first get together for 1999!

Artist Frantz Kantor arrived first. Frantz, a young quiet and thoughtful man, illustrates the club’s ALPHA CONTROL Magazine with the most amazing portraits ever seen. Next was Annie and Ken. Annie, effervescent and bubbly as ever, caused a stir by bringing along her Xmas present for Ken, a Trendmasters Jupiter Two Toy. This toy was the centre of attention both in the lobby and again upstairs. While not an accurate rendition of the Classic space craft it atlas reproduces the external shape correctly. All things said it is a toy and worthy of collecting. Ken smiled and detailed the various functions of the toy before entering into a general discussion on the current range of L.I.S merchandise available. For most of us it had been a Lost in Space Christmas!! Towards ten our small group moved to the 24th floor where Club personages, Sally and Debbie were waiting. In my excitement at the prospect of this meeting I had left home without having breakfast so Deb and Sally had scoured the room and found breakfast for me - dry cereal and butter without toast! All to be washed down with a glass of water!! I graciously declined their meal - after all who could eat at this time?

Roman arrived next.  Roman is a club stalwart with the most easy going nature I have ever seen. He loves classic TV shows especially Gomer Pyle and describes himself as "Bob May’s greatest Fan." This title he wears proudly! Just the mention of some routine from either Gomer Pyle or by Bob is enough to send him into rounds of laughter. The group was nearly completed with the only guest left to arrive being Steven Cateris. Steven writes the Convention reviews for Alpha Control and is often seen busily scribbling down copious amounts of notes. His accounts of L.I.S.A get togethers are legendary and exact. His account of this day would be no different.

At ten twenty Glenn disappeared and returned at ten thirty with the guest of honour.

We members of Lost in Space Australia were blessed with a private audience with Judy Robinson herself -
Marta Kristen. Marta arrived in a very unpretentious way and greeted all with a hearty hello before Glenn introduced us individually. Marta shook hands as well as gave each of us a brief hug before sitting down and talking with us. To me she seems overwhelmed by the popularity of L.I.S and the adoration of her fans. This visit to Australia was a private one and Marta explained that she was here meeting, for the first time, her long lost Brother. The meeting was her way of saying thanks to the Club for their help and support over the years. She had spent the past few days visiting sites around Sydney and had that morning taken a ferry trip around the harbour. Marta is a stunning active woman with the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen. What struck me most about her was the sound of her voice. It sounded just as it had when she was on Lost in Space. Annie presented Marta with a bunch of roses while Steven gave her a gift of a scarf painted with aboriginal motifs. This prompted Marta to explain that she had been to see aboriginal carvings the day before at Putty Beach near Woy Woy. This made me laugh as Woy Woy is only 15 minute’s drive from my home!!! Ah to have known that she had been so close the day before!!

Marta was quite forward about the topics discussed and told of how emotional her first meeting with her brother had been. At first cautious, neither she nor her brother had trouble accepting each other and they talked about their lives only to discover how alike they were!! She was amazed at the other similarities in her life with her other siblings from personal liking’s to the names that they had chosen for their children. Looking back on her life she sees that so many things seem to have been chosen for her. She told us of how on the night of the premiere of the Lost in Space Movie she was carrying the same handbag that she had with her today and that in it was the letter that she had been sent by her brother. She read this letter on the way to the theatre!! Marta then discussed Lost in Space by first answering that most asked question, "did anything happen between Judy or Don, Mark Goddard" with a resounding "No but we did have a crush on each other at the time." Her comments about the cast showed that she is still immensely fond of them all and that they feel like a family. She told stories of how Mark made them all laugh till the point of tears and of how June and Guy taught her how to play "Killer Scrabble".

NO bad stories here only fond happy memories. She then discussed her life after the show and what she has been doing since. She is still involved with Show biz via the stage and does the occasional commercial work. The Lost in Space Movie was brought up and she smiled and told of her excitement at reading the script but how she felt that the final product was just a little frenetic, just a little bit too busy and just a little bit too dark. She did like the updated version of Judy and the more liberated characters though. On the subject of reprising her Judy role Marta said that she would love too. She mentioned here the Lost In Space Forever television special and remarked how great Jonathan, Bill and Bob were at recreating their roles. Should a reunion movie present itself she will be there.

And then suddenly our time was over and a round of photographs and signings began. In my amazement and excitement of being at this meeting I had neglected to bring anything to sign but Marta had another surprise for us. She had brought along her own supply of photographs to be signed and each of us received two signed photo’s. These were signed on the spot. At this time I presented Marta with a piece of Fan Fiction called "The Realm of the Lost Characters" by American fan, Dwight Kemper. This is a funny piece of fiction detailing what happens to ancillary characters on Lost in Space when they are no longer required in the show and centres upon Plant Judy. Marta quickly read a few pages and laughed. She then signed a photo for my son Chris who was not present but had wanted to be. She asked me what I thought of the Trendmaster action figures of the Classic cast and I answered that I thought that the likeness of the human characters was great but that Tybo and the Cyclops left a lot to be desired.

We thanked her for taking the time out from her busy schedule and she then said her goodbyes. Today was another day sight seeing Sydney before returning home to the States. And with a smile and a wave Marta left the room!!   We moved down to lobby with the Robot and placed him at the side of the Reception desk. His presence sparked the memories of several guests as they entered the lobby. We talked for a few moments before starting to go our own way. Just before we left Marta entered the lobby and waved to us all.

Meeting Marta was an experience that none of us in that room will ever forget.