Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Frankie Thomas, starred in "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet," dies at 85
AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/17/06 | AP

Posted on 05/17/2006 10:32:26 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

Frankie Thomas, who became famous in the 1950s for his starring role in the TV children's show "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet," has died. He was 85.

Thomas died Thursday of respiratory failure at Sherman Oaks Hospital, said his stepdaughter, Julie Alexander.

Thomas began acting on Broadway in the early 1930s and soon ventured west to Hollywood, where he appeared in films including "A Dog of Flanders," "Boys Town" and "The Major and the Minor," as well as four Nancy Drew movies.

In 1950, he beat out actors including Jack Lemmon to win the title role of Tom Corbett, a Space Academy cadet who was training to become a member of the elite Solar Guard, 400 years in the future.

"Frankie looked like the all-American boy," said Jan Merlin, who played the wisecracking cadet Roger Manning. "Everyone in the room knew immediately this was the guy we were going to get."

The show aired on CBS, ABC, NBC and the DuMont networks until 1955 and spawned popular phrases including "Blast your jets," "Don't fuse your tubes" and "Spaceman's luck."

At one point, 135 products bore the name "Tom Corbett," Thomas told the Asbury Park Press in 2000. Thomas' picture was on Kellogg's second best seller, Kellogg's Pep, the "Solar Cereal," he said.

Thomas quit acting when the series ended in 1955 and, over the years, worked as a television and radio writer, bridge instructor and author of mystery novels including "Sherlock Holmes and the Masquerade Murders."

In addition to his stepdaughter, he is survived by his stepson, James Aicholtz, and a step-grandson.

At his request, Thomas was buried Tuesday in his "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" costume.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: boystown; dies; frankiethomas; hollywood; obituary; spacecadet; tomcorbett

Actor Frankie Thomas is at center as Mickey Rooney is in the corner and Spencer Tracy stands by him in this scene from the 1938 movie 'Boys Town.' Thomas, who became famous in the 1950s for his starring role in the TV children's show 'Tom Corbett, Space Cadet,' has died. He was 85. At his request, Thomas was buried Tuesday in his 'Tom Corbett, Space Cadet' costume. (AP Photo/FILE)


1 posted on 05/17/2006 10:32:30 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

I love Tom Corbett, Space Patrol, and the others, brave adventures from an innocent era. I only wish they were all available. I have a Space Cadet tape right next to my desk right now.

Godspeed, Frankie Thomas.


2 posted on 05/17/2006 10:46:06 AM PDT by atomicpossum (Replies must follow approved guidelines or you will be kill-filed without appeal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge
Who did't want to be Tom Corbett??? There is a picture at The Tom Corbett website that shows him fully clothed in his uniform and a recent picture where he attended a Star Trek convention, in uniform, and that old guy still looked dynamic!!!

Tom... "To Infinity and Beyond!"

3 posted on 05/17/2006 10:49:06 AM PDT by Young Werther
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

The show was canceled a year after I was born so I missed it. I don't think they ever replayed them later ala "The Three Stooges".


4 posted on 05/17/2006 11:45:05 AM PDT by hattend (Stop! No more! The spirit is willing but the flesh is spongy and bruised! - Zapp Brannigan:)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hattend

I was a tot too and we didn't have a tv anyway. :-}


5 posted on 05/17/2006 11:46:08 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - "The Road to Peace in the Middle East runs thru Damascus.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: atomicpossum
I'm not old enough to remember those days,but I recall that in a Honeymooners episode Ed Norton made reference to Captain Video and His Video Rangers.

Those were,indeed,innocent times.

6 posted on 05/17/2006 11:50:42 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge; atomicpossum; RadioAstronomer; Borges

Thomas was going to be the guest of honor at this year's World Science Fiction Convention. He and Jan Merlin were real-life pals who regularly made convention appearences, and were proud of how important they were to many a fan's childhood. Incidentally, Tom Corbett was based on Robert Heinlein's novel Space Cadet (Heinlein was so aghast at the scripts, that he had his name taken off), and the technical advisor was none other than Willy Ley.


7 posted on 05/19/2006 6:54:50 AM PDT by RightWingAtheist (Creationism is to conservatism what Howard Dean is to liberalism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightWingAtheist

I loved the Tom Corbett show. I sure wish they were available on DVD. Sigh.

I am sorry Thomas has passed on. :-(

BTW, Space Cadet and Have Spacesuit Will Travel were two of my fav books back in grade school.


8 posted on 05/19/2006 1:53:41 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RadioAstronomer

I never read Space Cadet, but adored Have Spacesuit... My favorite of Heinlein's juveniles was Time for the Stars, and I also have fond memories of Starman Jones, the first one I read.


9 posted on 05/19/2006 1:57:42 PM PDT by RightWingAtheist (Creationism is to conservatism what Howard Dean is to liberalism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson