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The Puppets Of Space Patrol

Part One - The Regulars

This is an attempt to catalogue the various puppets seen in the series.
The regulars did not normally reappear as other characters but it is believed there may have been more than one version of each:

Captain Larry Dart

HuskyHuskyHusky

Left to right: Early version, the blinker version and the standard version

We think there were at least three versions - a early, less refined version with rougher hair, a ‘blinker’ (one on which the eyes close) and a standard version seen throughout most of the series with movable eyes. The less refined version is only really seen in The Swamps Of Jupiter and repeated footage, usually during the launch sequence (watching Space Headquarters on the scanner) and where Dart leaves the control room for the freezer. This rough version is also moved in a more animated style than the more refined versions, somewhat jerkily and with arms raised. It is possible this puppet was used in the short pilot film and footage was retained in the first episode.The blinker appears in early episodes, more notably in the Galasphere and in Raeburn’s office, and is quite obvious by its heavy dark eyelids. It is possibly modified from the first ‘rough’ version.


Husky

Early HuskyHuskyHusky

Left to right: Early version, and the standard version (publicity photo & on-screen)

Like Dart, there appear to be three versions - early, standard and blinker. As with the Dart puppet, the early version is apparent in the launch sequence (when he turns and says “I am ready, Captain.”) and Galasphere scenes regarding the cake in The Swamps Of Jupiter. The standard version with movable eyes is used throughout the rest of the series while the blinker version only seems to appear in The Slaves Of Neptune.


Slim

Early SlimSlimSlim

Left to right: Early version, standard version and from Series Two

There only appear to be two versions - early and standard - with both being blinkers. This may be because the Venusian eyes are angled and side to side movement was not as effective. This is also true of the Marla puppet. It is possible the early version of Slim is revamped as the replacement Venusian in Volcanoes Of Venus and Major Valla in Mystery On The Moon.


Colonel Raeburn

'Princess' Marla'Princess' Marla'Princess' Marla

Left to right: Early version, the standard version and a publicity photo (believed to be the standard version)

Like Slim, there seem to be two versions. An early version with immobile eyes used throughout most of Series One and a later, refined puppet with movable eyes used throughout Series OneA and Series Two.


Marla

'Princess' Marla'Princess' Marla'Princess' Marla

Left to right: Publicity photos of the Series One version, and from Series Two

There appears to be only a standard blinker version of Marla, though it is possible there was more than one, these are not as distinctly different as the Galasphere crew. Marla’s hair is flicked outwards at the bottom for Series One, and seems consistently curled in for Series OneA and Series Two.

This puppet would later reappear, with dark hair and more human eyes, in Wonder Boy and Tiger and Send For Dithers.


Professor Haggarty

'Princess' Marla'Princess' Marla'Princess' Marla

Left to right: Early version, with Cassie and the standard version

We believe there is only one version of Haggarty, a blinker version, though he is refined slightly throughout the series. It is notable that he has more and slightly longer hair in early scenes for Raeburn's office and the Galasphere control room (The Robot Revolution, for instance)


Cassie

Cassie Series 1President of France'Princess' Marla

Left to right: Cassie (Series 1 & 1A), the President of France & Cassie (Series 2)

There would seem to be two distinctly different versions, one used throughout Series One/OneA and a revamped more mature version seen in Series Two. Both are facially similar but the eye sockets of the ‘mature’ version are cut in a more almond fashion and the hair restyled into a bun. Although we are not entirely sure, we think the original Cassie puppet was heavily disguised to make a single appearance as the President of France in Time Stands Still as a third female puppet would have perhaps been used again for guest appearances.


General Smith

General SmithSam MarsdenThe Curator

Left to right: General Smith, Sam Marsden and the Curator

As a semi-regular, Smith undergoes little changes throughout the series but the puppet is occasionally reused as other characters:
General Smith (RR, RS, TF, TS, MS, II, HF, ES, UA, EV, SF, SD, GS, WB)
Sam Marsden (MM)
The Curator (FX)


On to Guest Puppets
Production
The Pilot
Episode Guide Series One
Episode Guide Series OneA
Episode Guide Series Two
Cast
Crew
The Puppets
Publicity
Marla's Links
Larry Dart's Roll Of Honour
We close on the blazing sun in space before fading to a view of ringed planet Saturn. A gyroscope-like ship, enclosed in a flickering bubble of energy, speeds past us and beyond accompanied by almost musical radiophonic tones. We see it pass the Moon before spinning away to the twilight of the Earth's curved horizon... As we hear a grinding rhythmic electronic score, we see scenes of a futuristic city under a dramatic sky. Some buildings and antennae rotate, light pours from other structures as bullet-shaped and spherical vehicles move rapidly back and forth... 'This is Earth - the year 2100. New York is the headquarters of Space Patrol and men from Earth, Mars and Venus live and work there as guardians of peace. This is the story of those men, whose courage and daring make the universe safe for us all.'
We close on the blazing sun in space before fading to a view of ringed planet Saturn. A gyroscope-like ship, enclosed in a flickering bubble of energy, speeds past us and beyond accompanied by almost musical radiophonic tones. We see it pass the Moon before spinning away to the twilight of the Earth's curved horizon... As we hear a grinding rhythmic electronic score, we see scenes of a futuristic city under a dramatic sky. Some buildings and antennae rotate, light pours from other structures as bullet-shaped and spherical vehicles move rapidly back and forth... 'This is Earth - the year 2100. New York is the headquarters of Space Patrol and men from Earth, Mars and Venus live and work there as guardians of peace. This is the story of those men, whose courage and daring make the universe safe for us all.'
We close on the blazing sun in space before fading to a view of ringed planet Saturn. A gyroscope-like ship, enclosed in a flickering bubble of energy, speeds past us and beyond accompanied by almost musical radiophonic tones. We see it pass the Moon before spinning away to the twilight of the Earth's curved horizon... As we hear a grinding rhythmic electronic score, we see scenes of a futuristic city under a dramatic sky. Some buildings and antennae rotate, light pours from other structures as bullet-shaped and spherical vehicles move rapidly back and forth... 'This is Earth - the year 2100. New York is the headquarters of Space Patrol and men from Earth, Mars and Venus live and work there as guardians of peace. This is the story of those men, whose courage and daring make the universe safe for us all.'