FLASH GORDON / "The Brain Machine" - 1955

Here's a blast from the past, a show (produced in Germany) I watched religiously after we got of first TV in 1953. Only half the episodes survived and the one that I remember the most went into the 'lost' column. Steve Holland later worked as the model for artist James Bama, who used him as the prototype for "Doc Savage" in the cover illustrations for the novels in the '60s.

Someone is sabotaging the methane-to-oxygen converter on Neptune, Flash and Dale Arden go there to help repair the machine. But, this guy appears out of nowhere and threatens them to stop the repairs, or else...

But, Flash sucker punches him and he goes down for the count. The guy stands up and like in a trance, starts talking to someone in his head. He then knocks Flash out and disappears!

Flash notices something on the floor that the invader dropped, it's a whatchamacallit...

Hey, looks like this gizmo has something to do with with the thingie Flash found on the floor!

Now we find out that Zydereen, the Wicked Witch of Neptune, is behind the plan to destroy the methane-to-oxygen machine, in order to enslave the population there. She's angry that her henchman failed in his attempt to destroy the machine. Get this, dude's name is Photon!!

I loved this space ship, it was my favorite. But in our area, they didn't air the shows they were playing in LA, we only had channel 47 out of Fresno and channel 23 in Bakersfield.

On their trip back to Earth, Flash and Dale figure out how the the talisman they found on the floor operates, and can use it to locate the spot on Neptune the signal is emitting from...

To make up for his previous blunders, Photon tells Zydereen that because of their mind bending machine, well, they should conquer the whole universe, not just Neptune!! Yeah right, the universe is something like a trillion trillion light years across. What a joke, but back in the fifties you could get away with shit like that.

Flash and Dale land back on Earth and go to the office of Commander Richards to see how him and Dr. Zarkov are doing with the situation on Neptune. Guess what, both have mysteriously disappeared and so the two head back to Neptune... Check out that guard there on the right!

Richards and Zarkov have both been kidnapped by the Witch using her transporter, she needs to get all the security info out of Richards' brain to make her plan work.

She starts downloading and erasing parts of the good guys' brains...

Check out those eyes of Richards, whack-a-doodle!

Here's a shot of Flash's rocket as him and Dale close in on Neptune.

Using the talisman, they locate the Witch's building and Flash has to knock out a few guards before they get to the brain machine room...

Zydereen uses her electronic wand to freeze Flash in his place...

But Flash's will is stronger than the Witch's wand, he raises his ray gun and shoots Photon, putting the weasel out of commission!

And, Zydereen grabs the controller for the brain machine and disappears into her bunker. Richards and Zarkov have had their brains erased and Flash vows to get his revenge on the Witch and restore his friends minds...

This was actually a two part episode, I'll bet part two is one of those lost episodes! Hey, check in tomorrow when Eegah!! is up to serve us a spicy meatball, here at The Dungeon!!..