Breakaway Day 2015: Happy 40th Anniversary to Space:1999 (1975 - 1977)

Every year on the blog, I celebrate Breakaway Day: the occasion (September 13), in Space: 1999 (1975-1977) lore that the Moon -- and the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha -- are blasted out of Earth’s orbit.

But this is a special year. 

Space: 1999 turns forty this year, which is hard for me to believe, let alone accept.

Of course, one might look at the year “1999” in the series title, and then consider the age of the production, and wonder why Space: 1999 is worth celebrating. 

The answer is simple: 1999 is not an expiration date because the ideas, human and genre-oriented, explored in Space: 1999 continue to hold currency in our culture.

Indeed, many episodes have more social currency today than they did in 1975. The series visuals, in terms of production design and special effects, continue to hold up remarkably well, but the ideas have never, in my opinion, looked better, or carried more value.

So to celebrate Space: 1999’s special Breakaway Day this year, I’ll be starting today, on September 9^th, and going right through September 13^th. 

September 9^th, actually, is an important day in series lore too.  It is the day that Commander Koenig (Martin Landau) assumes command of Moonbase Alpha.

Today through the 13^th then, I’ll be posting new episode reviews (“Earthbound, “The Full Circle,” “The Metamorph”), showcasing new collectibles, and also re-posting Space: 1999 articles from years past. 

I hope you enjoy the show, and I hope you join me wishing Space: 1999 a happy fortieth anniversary.