Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all who enjoy Irwin Allen’s work. Here’s a little festive Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea treat from talented artist G Foulds.

A new set of Japanese Irwin Allen collectibles are being auctioned on 28th/29th September (US/UK time) on eBay. The auctions feature collectibles featuring all four of Irwin Allen’s science fiction series.

Japanese Collectible Auctions on eBay

The second and final volume of Marc Cushman and Mark Alfred’s series of books on the making of Irwin Allen’s Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is now available.

Irwin Allen’s Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Volume Two: The Authorized Biography of a Classic Sci-Fi Series, from Jacobs/Brown Press, completes the two-book set by Marc Cushman and Mark Alfred, documenting the production and cultural impact of this iconic, beloved and pioneering science-fiction series.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, which aired on ABC-TV from 1964 through 1968, was the first hour-long, color, science-fiction series on television. Its success proved to the networks that such a show, within the constraints of a TV budget and shooting schedule, could attract a mass audience. Without Voyage, there would have been no Lost in Space or Star Trek. CBS and NBC, respectively, only decided to gamble on those series after Voyage had not only premiered – while staying on budget and schedule – but went on to win its time slot. ​Therefore, it was Irwin Allen who had boldly gone where no man (or television producer) had gone before!

Now, with Volume 2 and the previous volume as your guides, you can journey back in time to witness the making of this legendary series. Here you’ll find the production memos between Irwin Allen, his staff, and the ABC-TV network; the shooting schedules and production dates; the budgets; the ratings; the reviews and articles from that era; new and exclusive interviews, as well as archival interviews; and hundreds of pictures, many never before shared with the public. And you’ll find out what made Irwin Allen tick.

With an introduction by David Hedison, Volume 2 covers the making of Seasons 2, 3 and 4 – all 78 color episodes! Your deep dive into Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is here.

The book is available both through Jacobs/Brown Press and Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.

It is hard to find the words and is with deep shock that we have to bring you the very sad news that actor and star of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, David Hedison, passed away on Thursday 18th July 2019 at the age of 92. This news is heartbreaking for all his family, friends, and his legion of longtime fans around the world. David gave so much pleasure to so many people through his work in the field of entertainment and his career continued with a wealth of public appearances at conventions and signings. So many of our visitors and members have had the opportunity to meet and chat with David. In our small corner of the entertainment universe, the Irwin Allen world, David is fondly and lovingly remembered for his role of Captain Crane in the hugely popular sci-fi series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Voyage in peace, our beloved Captain Crane.

Here are just some of the tributes and obituaries paying homage to David Hedison:

BBC Tribute

Variety

Hollywood Reporter

USA Today

Deadline Obituary

Daily Star

Mirror

A very, very sad start to the new year with the passing on Tuesday 23rd January 2018 of one of the most popular stars of Irwin Allen’s television productions, Robert Dowdell, who was best known for his role of Lt. Commander Chip Morton in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Much loved around the globe, Chip was often the straight guy to several other comedic characters in the show, and he played the role superbly. Irwin Allen also featured Robert in two of his made for television movies, City Beneath the Sea (1971) and Outrage (1986). He will be sorely missed by his legion of fans and will live on through his work and the love that engendered. Our thoughts at this time are with all of his family, friends, and fans.

Facebook notice from Robert’s cousin

We have learned the very sad news that Emmy award winning and Oscar nominated Art Director and Production Designer Rodger E. Maus, who worked for many of Irwin Allen’s productions, passed away last month (16th March 2017) at the age of 84. You only have to browse around our site to see the results of his work, be it the design of the Lost in Space Space Pod or the sub-orbital spaceship, the Spindrift, from Land of the Giants.

We were honoured to meet with Rodger Maus in 1992 in Los Angeles and he was a charming gentleman. Below is a photograph of Rodger reading our Land of the Giants 25th Anniversary Special.

Rodger Ernest Maus Obituary

British author Jon Abbott has produced the first of a new print-on-demand zine called Naked Pulp and the first issue includes a feature on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. The zine is available through the UK Amazon.

Jon Abbott will also have articles in future issues of the returning sci-fi magazine Infinity including a feature on Land of the Giants in the second issue, due out in June.

Lawrence Montaigne, a guest in several Irwin Allen TV episodes, passed away on 17th March 2017 at the age of 86. Irwin Allen fans will know him from The Time Tunnel episodes Massacre (as Yellow Elk, 1966) and Idol of Death (as Captain Alvarado, 1967) as well as Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea episode Man-Beast (as Dr. Braddock, 1968) . He also appeared as Dr. Aquila in the City Beneath the Sea presentation reel in 1969. We understand that he has recently been working on revising his autobiography for Jacobs Brown Press based upon his book “A Vulcan Odyssey.”

Hollywood Reporter Obituary

Land of the Giants, The Time Tunnel, Lost in Space, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea are all now being broadcast on US television after midnight on Sunday mornings on the MeTV network. Enjoy the MeTV trailer above.

MeTV Red Eye Sci-Fi

MeTV Land of the Giants

MeTV The Time Tunnel

MeTV Lost in Space

MeTV Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

It is with deep sadness that we have learned from his family that our dear friend Terry Becker, Chief Francis Ethelbert Sharkey from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea passed away on Tuesday 30th December 2014.

We are so glad that Terry and his wife Linda were able to attend and enjoy the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 50th Anniversary Reunion in October 2014, and that attending fans were able to enjoy Terry’s wonderful and mischievious sense of humour. We have much to remember Terry by, with his outstanding attendance at the 1998 VIP convention in Sheffield England, and so many fun appearances in Irwin Allen’s Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

We want to echo Allan Hunt’s words of warmth when remembering Terry, saying “The Chief lived a long and active life for all of us to admire and appreciate. It was an honor to know and work with him. On Voyage he was a friend and supportive co-worker, as was Del Monroe, rest him.”

After some private grieving time and a family service on 5th January, his family have created a very special online memorial where you can leave messages of condolence. Our love and heartfelt sympathies goes to everyone who knew and worked with Terry over his long and illustrious life.

Solomon “Terry” Becker Memorial

The Hollywood Reporter