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Control Tower, Toy, Rocket Port, Space Patrol

Air and Space Museum

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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  • Blue, black and red metal control tower surrounded by plastic figurines and fencing
  • Aerial view of the control tower playset. Blue benches and gray oxygen tanks on the ground. Blue space vehicle outside the fencing.
  • Aerial view of the control tower playset. Blue benches and gray oxygen tanks on the ground. Blue space vehicle outside the fencing.
  • Aerial view of the control tower playset. Yellow Space Patrol logo visible at entrance of fencing.
  • Front view of the control tower playset. Blue tower rising up from behind whitish fencing.
  • Close up view of a blue carlike space vehicle with MARX where the license plate should be. A red man in a space helmet is pointing a ray gun at the driver. Other figurines surround the vehicle.
  • Close up view of silver, gray, and blue figurines outside of the fencing. Two gremlin-shaped figures, a silver human, and a tall green figure.
  • Close up of three blue figurines in space helmets and astronaut suits.
  • Close up of a blue, black, and red metal control tower. Red rocket logo on taller tower.
  • Close up of a blue, black, and red metal control tower. Yellow and red weapon on shorter tower.
  • Close up of the fencing interior. Blue and gray shelves and furniture along with silver figurines.
  • Close up of the fencing interior. Blue, red, and gray oxygen tanks and rockets, complete with figurines.
  • Close up of three blue figurines next to red and gray rockets.

    Object Details

    Manufacturer

    Louis Marx & Co.

    Summary

    This control tower forms the centerpiece of an elaborate multi-piece Space Patrol Rocket Port set based upon the ABC-TV weekly half-hour series titled "Space Patrol," which ran from 1950-1956. It was manufactured by Louis Marx and Company, located in New York City, which also produced Flash Gordon branded merchandise in the 1930s. Fort-based playsets took advantage of the existing production of Western toys, which could be repurposed with new designs to appeal to space-minded youth. The figurines that could be played with in such a set represented spacemen and aliens.
    Michael O'Harro, a collector, donated the tower--and the entire playset--to the National Air and Space Museum in 1993.

    Credit Line

    Gift of Michael O'Harro

    Date

    ca. 1950-1956

    Inventory Number

    A19970665000

    Restrictions & Rights

    Usage conditions apply

    Type

    MEMORABILIA-Popular Culture

    Materials

    Tin
    Paint

    Dimensions

    3-D (Control Tower): 30.5 × 16.2 × 28.1cm (1 × 6 3/8 × 11 1/16 in.)

    Country of Origin

    United States of America

    See more items in

    National Air and Space Museum Collection

    Location

    National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

    Exhibition

    Futures In Space

    Data Source

    National Air and Space Museum

    Metadata Usage

    Not determined

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv95abf27c9-4fae-4d60-8ed0-a950715735cc

    Record ID

    nasm_A19970665000

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