Maybe I should clarify the original Lost In Space. Not the movie or the Netflix series…but the original sixties show.
Much to my surprise, this was not Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet…Robby does appear in a couple of episodes of Lost In Space though. No, the Robot we are looking for was called the B9 Environmental Control Robot, also referred to as the Robot or just Robot, it was a Class M-3 General Utility Non-Theorizing Environmental Robot (G.U.N.T.E.R.) “designed and computerized as a mechanized electronic aid for Earth voyagers engaged in astral expeditions.
There were two robots used in Lost In Space. One for the main robot and the other as a stunt robot. the Robot was designed by Robert Kinoshita, who also designed Forbidden Planet‘s Robby the Robot. Robby appears in Lost in Space episode #20 “War of the Robots” and in episode #60 “Condemned of Space.”
Both the main robot and stunt robot fell into disrepair after the show went off the air. They were both found and restored to their sixties glory.
The main robot is privately owned by TV and film producer Kevin Burns. The “stunt robot” is in storage at the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (MoPoP) in Seattle, Washington. Like Robby the Robot, the B-9 Robot prop costume was re-used on at least one other show. On the Saturday morning children’s show Mystery Island, it was modified to create the primary character P.O.P.S. It had different domes, a different color scheme, and an added rectangular skirt of gold-colored tubes covering the rubber bellows legs and base.
I want to thank Lisa from Tao Talk for suggesting this topic for the “Where is?” feature this week. Thanks Lisa!
Robert Kinoshita and his creation…and Robby the Robot
There is a small industry on replicas of this great robot.
couple more tv icon items which come to mind for “where are theys” would be the General Lee car from ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ and Martin’s chair from “Frasier”.
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Yes the general lee!
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I do know they went through so many that the real collectors were pissed because they are more scarce now because of that show… that year Charger
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Max, I’m pleased as punch you found out so much information on The Robot. Lost in Space was one of my favorite shows as a kid. I liked Will’s character and I loved how the three of them (Will, Mr. Smith, and The Robot) made a team on their adventures. So cool at least one of the robots is being cared for, and mucho cool that models can be bought and assembled. Thank you for seeking out the info and sharing it 🙂
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I appreciate you mentioning it. Not as much info on them in between the show and now but I’m glad they are safe. I thought it was Robby the Robot.
I do like the show also… I would like to strangle Mr. Smith at times lol.
I’m glad you liked it Lisa.
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I remember getting upset at Mr. Smith — especially when he used Will as a shield when the monsters were about to attack. I do remember seeing a video where the actor who plays Mr. Smith was talking about how he decided to play the character. It was interesting.
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I’ll look for that because he could be good or down right terrible.
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Thoroughly enjoyed this show back when I was a kid
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Just curious Jeremy…In New Zealand was it more local tv shows, BBC,or Hollywood when you grew up?
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When I was little in the 80s, all the good shows were from the US. All those 6things 60s re-runs and then the usual suspects: Incredible Hulk, Dukes of Hazzard, Man from Atlantis…etc Don’t remember many British shows except Dr Who. The NZ produced stuff was pretty terrible from memory
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Oh ok.. . Yea my BBC was limited here to our public channel that had the kid shows like Seasme Street.
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