Land of the Lost (1974 TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Land of the Lost |
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The Title sequence and the Logo
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| Genre |
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| Created by | Sid and Marty Krofft, Allan Foshko, and David Gerrold (uncredited) |
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Linda Laurie |
| Composer(s) | Jimmie Haskell |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 43 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | about 27 min per episode |
| Production company(s) | Sid and Marty Krofft Television Productions |
| Distributor | CBS Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | September 7, 1974 – December 4, 1976 |
Land of the Lost is an exciting adventure TV show for kids. It was created by David Gerrold (who didn't get credit) and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. The show mixes real actors with cool stop-motion animated dinosaurs.
It first aired on the NBC network from 1974 to 1976. Later, many people watched reruns of the show. It became a cult classic, which means it's a show that many fans still love and remember. You can even find it on DVD today! The show was so popular that it was remade in 1991 and even turned into a movie in 2009.
Contents
What is Land of the Lost About?
Land of the Lost tells the story of the Marshall family: father Rick, and his children Will and Holly. They get trapped in a strange, unknown world. This world is full of dinosaurs, ape-like people called Pakuni, and scary lizard creatures called Sleestak.
The show's theme song starts with a banjo-like sound and a synthesizer. Each episode focuses on the family trying to survive and find a way back home. They also explore the amazing creatures and places in this mysterious "Land of the Lost."
Many talented writers from the science fiction world helped write the show. These included Larry Niven, Theodore Sturgeon, and Ben Bova. Some writers who worked on Star Trek, like D.C. Fontana and Walter Koenig, also wrote for Land of the Lost.
The Krofft brothers were famous for making live-action kids' shows. Their shows often had strange ideas, lots of energy, and special effects. Many of their shows were funny, but Land of the Lost was more serious, especially at the beginning.
The Story and How It Works
The Marshall family arrives in this strange world after being swept down a huge 1,000-foot waterfall. This waterfall acts like a special "dimensional portal" that takes them to another place. This portal is a big part of the show's story.
The family only had camping gear for a short trip. So, they have to be clever and use what they find to survive. They make tools and find shelter in a natural cave. Their most dangerous enemies are the dinosaurs. One Tyrannosaurus rex they call "Grumpy" often visits their cave.
But not all dinosaurs are dangerous. Many are herbivores (plant-eaters) and won't hurt the Marshalls unless they are bothered. Holly even makes friends with a young Brontosaurus she calls "Dopey." She thinks of Dopey as her pet.
The family also meets the Sleestak (lizard men), who are usually not friendly. They also meet the primate-like Pakuni. The Marshalls become friends with one Pakuni named Cha-Ka. They also find strange technology and face other dangers.
The main goal for Rick, Will, and Holly is to find a way back to their own world. Sometimes, they get help from Enik, a visitor from another world called Altrusia.
In the third season, something big happens. Rick Marshall (played by Spencer Milligan) accidentally returns to Earth alone. His children, Will and Holly, are left behind. Rick's brother, Jack, then comes to the Land of the Lost to find them. So, Uncle Jack (played by Ron Harper) takes Rick's place.
The show often talks about "time doorways." But Land of the Lost is not about a time in Earth's past. Instead, it's a mysterious place and time that is unknown. Rick Marshall even sees three moons in the sky, showing it's not Earth. The special "Pylons" in the Land of the Lost control many things, like the time doorways and the environment. These Pylons are tall, metal structures that are bigger inside than they look. Inside, they have stone tables with glowing crystals.
Meet the Characters!
Main Characters
- Rick Marshall (seasons 1 and 2) – played by Spencer Milligan
- Will Marshall – played by Wesley Eure
- Holly Marshall – played by Kathy Coleman
- Uncle Jack Marshall (season 3) – played by Ron Harper
- Cha-Ka – played by Phillip Paley (he was a main character in season 3, but appeared in seasons 1-2 too)
Other Important Characters
- Sa – played by Sharon Baird (seasons 1 and 2)
- Ta – played by Joe Giamalva (season 1) and Scutter McKay (season 2)
- Enik – played by Walker Edmiston
- The Zarn – voiced by Marvin Miller and body by Van Snowden (season 2)
- Malak – played by Richard Kiel (season 3)
- Sleestak leader – played by Jon Locke (season 3)
- Sleestak – played by many actors including Dave Greenwood, Bill Laimbeer, John Lambert, Cleveland Porter, Jack Tingley, Scott Fullerton, Mike Westra, Bill Boyd, David Harris, Clarke Roberts
New Versions of the Show
Even though the original show only ran for a short time, it was shown many times in reruns. Because it was so popular, a new version of the series was made in 1991. It ran for two seasons.
On June 5, 2009, a movie based on the 1974 TV series came out in theaters. The movie was a comedy, which was different from the serious original show. It was directed by Brad Silberling and starred Will Ferrell. The Krofft brothers helped produce the movie. While the original show was for kids, the movie was made for adults.
In 2015, Sid and Marty Krofft said they were working on another new version of Land of the Lost. They said they were still working on an updated remake in 2018, and that it would be an hour-long series.
