The Costume For The Lost in Space Robot cost $70,000 And Weighed Over 200 Pounds
Show: Lost in Space
Original Network: CBS
Est. Production Budget: $130,000-$165,000 per episode*
By the mid-1960s, sci-fi shows were growing in popularity and even entering the mainstream. “The Space Race” and anything related to space travel fascinated America. When Lost in Space debuted in 1965, it offered viewers a modern-day version of Swiss Family Robinson, a family adventure. Apart from its ensemble of characters, the show was renowned for its outstanding production qualities. Such as the $350,000 Jupiter 2 spaceship set or the $70,000 (roughly half a million dollars today) robot cast member costume. The suit was extremely expensive, but it also weighed two hundred pounds.
One Of The First TV Series To Be Recorded On 35mm Film Instead Of Being Aired Live Was I Love Lucy
Show: I Love Lucy
Original Network: CBS
Est. Production Budget: $40,000-$50,000 per week*
I Love Lucy, to put it simply, was a phenomenon in culture. Television comedy was revolutionized by the performances of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. After debuting in 1951, the program swiftly gained popularity as a classic. I Love Lucy broke the mold at a time when the industry only knew how to broadcast live. This was one of the first programs to be recorded on 35mm film rather than live broadcasting through a kinescope. Being a Cuban-American, Desi Arnaz was one of the first actors of Latino descent to appear in a television program. Consequently, the show gave Latinx actors in Hollywood a lot of new opportunities.