THE PROFESSOR'S SF & HORROR HOST TOME

CAPTAIN SATELLITE

BOB MARCH - "CAPTAIN SATELLITE"

"Captain Satellite" was a hosted children's science fiction show with Bob March was "Captain Satellite". The show aired on KTVU-2 in Oakland, California, USA; from 1958 until 25 April 1969.

Originally, Captain Satellite's rocketship was called the Starfinder II. The set had been assembled from whatever odds and ends were available: pie tins, garden hoses, and so on. Eventually, the set was upgraded to the saucer-shaped Laser II, where the Captain and his crew of three local kids (different ones each day), would enter through the airlock to take their places at the four-seat control panel. Then the Captain would talk his crew through the elaborate pre-launch checklist; then blast off. For the remainder of the hour, "Captain Satellite" would feature cartoons, contests, updates on the NASA space program, and commercials.

BOB MARCH

Bob March was born Robert William Monkman on 31 May 1927 in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA and passed away on 6 August 2020 in Loomis, California, USA.

By 1947, at age 20, March got his big break. He was hired by WRJN radio in Racine. Working as a radio announcer there for several years.

In 1954, Milwaukee's CBS station, WXIX, hired him to produce and star in a children's television show. March remained at the station for 18 months.

Bob March was only 25 years old when he became "Captain Satellite". KTVU hired him in 1958 to create and host an afternoon kid's show, where he would interact with young children.

The show ran until 1969. March then moved on to hosting the morning edition of KTVU's "Dialing for Dollars". In 1973, March briefly made it to the big screen in "Magnum Force". March returned to school and received his Masters Degree in marriage and family counseling.

"Blast Off with Captain Satellite" was a 45rpm single released by Bob March in 1958 as a promotional record for his Captain Satellite television show for children on KTVU Channel 2.

Play Clip

Below is a segment from the series: