For science fiction fans, the 1950s was the dawn of a new TV era.  Suddenly, lunar dreams could be realized and shows like Captain Video and Space Patrol were on the air.  One of the most popular shows of the era, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet began its life as a 1948 novel that spawned a 15-minute TV show that began in 1950.  Soon, tie-in items were created: more novels, comic books, costumes and (of course) toys. 

Tom Corbett was pretty easy for kids and teens to identify with; he was one of them.  Like just about every other popular kids show, scenes would be re-enacted in the backyard and on the playground, so naturally toys came onto the scene.  Manufacturers pumped out a wide range of “space cadets” for Billy and Bobby to get at the store.  Many of their toys were available at stores, but a select few premium items were only available by mail, or inside of (marketing geniuses!) cereal boxes, like the Space Rings found in Pep Cereal.  There were rocket balloons, membership kits with decoders, cardboard helmets, and space goggles for anyone who wanted to become a space cadet themselves.  They were even on the forefront of kids-with-phones technology with their plastic version of the tin-can telephone. 

There was a wide range of space gadgets available for the most devoted of fans.  Colorful ray gun toys like the Atomic Pistol with its beam of light and buzzing sound and the Space Cadet Sparkling gun, shaped like a tommy-gun with sparks coming out the tips were the hottest of the hot.  (Imagine that getting by safety standards today!)  There was also the Space Gun and the Space Rifle, the latter of which came with detailing straight out of the comic book and is quite the catch for sci-fi collectors to this day. 

Once Tom Corbett, Space Cadet ended its run in 1955, the toy line was shortly retired.  Never again would the show come back on the air, but the dream inspired by the show and its merchandise continue on with Baby Boomers and anyone with a sci-fi soft spot, ensuring that there will always be a place for Tom Corbett and the tools of his trade.