Lost in Space, was a TV show in the states back in the 60’s, those of us old enough will remember Robby the Robot admonishing young Will Robinson just about every episode with that line, “Danger, Danger Will Robinson!” You could ask; ”How is this pertinent to 2010 in the Republic Of The Philippines?”
This line was brought with me from my past, and I would utter this famous line anytime, I saw something about to go amiss. Of course my wife and daughters and our extended Philippine family, heard it so much it is now part of the “Thompson Family” lexicon.
If you wait long enough all things will backfire on you, when we are out, and I order a beer or a cocktail, my wonderful wife will smile and say, “Oh No! Danger, Danger Will Robinson!” She added the Oh no part. It will always cause me to smile, as I know it’s said with humor, I Hope!
Then one night, we were finished with supper and my oldest girl was clicking through the channels and there was “Lost in Space” the movie. After I explained that this is where that line came from, they all wanted to see it. We howled laughing every time it was said, I believe more than three times.
My granddaughter was over last week for the day, and my niece was visiting also, they were taking turns riding the bicycle in the living room, dining room and the kitchen, and when Shay, my niece came too close to a table, my granddaughter shouts at her, Yes, you guessed it! I fell off the chair in a fit of laughter, and little Coleen had no idea why. That was her line now, how did I even know about it?
So that is my contribution to the ever changing Philippine culture, it’s only fair after we Americans added some Tagalog words to our language, one that comes to mind is bundoc, meaning mountainous or countrified area, we now spell it boondocks, hell, we even named a military shoe boondockers. Other words we took, like aso, as in “He’s such an aso” (I could be wrong about that one?)
One complaint my daughter, has about me is about her daughter, my granddaughter loves American food. My fault! When she was born I would buy case upon case of Beechnut and Gerber baby food for her. It has helped her, as she is the tallest kid in her 1st grade class and gets all “A’s”, and has no health problems to date. But when we’re eating in a restaurant and she wants mashed potatoes instead of rice, everyone looks at me. And something that you don’t see too much of here, is that she loves all types of cheese. When she visits, I’ll break out the Gouda or a wedge of Cheddar cheese and with crackers, we go to town. If I live long enough we’ll add the wine when she’s older. So when her mother decides to get mad at me, my granddaughter, will warn me by shouting; “Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!”, and add in “Run, Lolo Run!
Hi Paul
Lost in Space was on British radio in the 50s. I can remember listening to it with my Dad. I can also remember the American television series too. I enjoyed them both.
In our family ‘You balmpot’ is used for someone who does something silly. My Grandson will probably return to the Philippines with it. He keeps trying to say it now. Hes not 3 yet. I say it without thinking, so I will also probably use it with my Grandchildren who live in GenSan too.
Marjorie
Hi Marjorie;
I loved the British TV show Doctor Who, who time traveled in the red phone box. Balmpot is something I’ve never heard, it’s meaning does seem quite clear. The kids will pick up our expressions, and I’ve been very careful to only utter the good ones, around them.
Hi Paul
Yes you have to be careful what you say when children are near. They have a tendency to pick up the words they shouln’t, and use them inthe right places.
Doctor Who is still travelling around in his blue police box, he has had quite a few reincarnations. I’ve lost count of the actors who have played the part. There are a lot of fans here in the uk both young and old.
Blue Box!, now I remember. I thought it was brilliant how they worked each new actor into the roll. Just kill him off and the machine would produce a new one.
Brings back memories of the black and white TV sit com I watched every day after school as a kid. Nice article Dr. Smith !
Wow pretty harsh to call Paul Dr. Smith! If I recall correctly Dr. Smith was a boy hungry pedaphile who was always looking for a chance to harm the rest of the family. I often wondered why he was allowed to be alone with poor little Will. But then I have many unanswered questions from I dream of Jeannie and Gilligan’s Island.
Tom;
Why Dr. Smith was never buried under a space rock, I’ll never know. Young Will had Robbie to lookout for him. You are just one of many who had that crush on the girls from Gilligan’s Island, why did you chose Mrs. Howell? (Or did you call her, Lovie?)
The answer is quite simple my friend! Mrs Howell made a fine sugar momma! Scatter brained and loaded with money; what a perfect combination.
So was Ginger sexy body, money and a true blonde inside. But I’d choose
Mary Ann she’d be the wild one. yee haaa
Mike AKA Bruce;
True blonde? Just how would you know that? Sooo your saying that, at her house the curtains match the carpet? (lol)
Tom;
We think alike, with her money, you would, be able to keep Ginger and Mary Ann on the side!
Brian;
I’ll trade you an old black and white for your sixty inch plasma!(lol) I can remember the excitement in Boston, when we got that third channel on TV.
Senior;
God bless rabbit ears and aluminum foil in the sixities. we only had abc nbc cbs and a canadian channel 9. Paul do you remember Hockey night in canada on fridays?
Mike;
I’m from Boston, we had our own Hockey night at the Gardens. Friday Night was Twlight Zone the The Friday Night Fights (Boxing)
Hi Paul – Of course I cannot help but mention a Philippine connection – in sort of a “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” sort of way.
1) Professor John Robinson, astrophysicist and commander of the Jupiter 2;
2) Played by the actor, Guy Williams;
3) The same Guy Williams who played TV’s Zorro;
4) Who, legend says, was the 19th century nemesis of the Spaniards in Mexican California;
5) Who sent annual ships of funds, goods, and people to the Philippines;
6) A country with hundreds of their own Zorros seeking relief from a similar nemesis.
Oh, Kevin would be proud of that one! 😆
Danger; Danger, Will Robinson. 😉
This is kinda sort of “Six Degrees of Separation” I remember from my high school history class:
In 1886, the Cavalry officer who led the US troops in Mexico pursuing and capturing Apache Chief Geronimo, Major General Henry W. Lawton was killed by Filipino troops led by General Licerio Geronimo in 1899 during the Philippine-American war, in the area which is now Quezon City.
Danger, Danger, Geronimooooooooo!
Mars;
It all goes full circle, and I hope you got an “A” in your History Class. I’m impressed!
Paul T:
Didn’t get A, but easier than math–still couldn’t figure out: 2 + 2 = 4; 2 x 2 + 4, hmmmm.
In between that story of MJ Lawton, after the Apache campaign, he got assigned to the Caribbean (Cuba), where did great campaign against the insurgent, but supposedly got sick of malaria or become alcoholic as an excuse to be sent back to Wash. Apparently begged for another duty from Pres. McKinley and was sent to the Philippines.
Mars;
BTW: The July 2010 issue of FRA Mag. has a great story about the Coast Guard, if you’ve not seen it.
The last time I read a FRA Magazine was @ the emergency waiting room of Fort Belvoir Hospital waiting for my wife–few months back. Thanks, I’ll make sure to secure a copy. Thanks.
What??? You’re not a member? They do a lot of good for retired military, think about joining, in numbers there is power! That’s my ad for the day, change channels now. (lol) It is a well written story, check out their web site and it might be there.
I been meaning to join, I think I’ll email them, you are right, they are the most supportive organization in our behalf. Just got done reading the FRA On-line version and enjoyed the Vietnam story. I was searching also for the list of Ships and Cutters that might have been exposed to Agent Orange as described but couldn’t find it, just for curiosity. That was some bad chemical. I watch the TV movie about Admiral Zumwalts son “Son of my Father” I think, filmed in Savannah and my Father-in-Law was on it as extra.
Never made it to ‘Nam but tried to swap orders when the list of High Endurance Cutters came out in ’70, none of the Filipinos on board wants to give up there orders especially, they will be homeported @ Subic. Although in spring of ’72, we took three 311’ cutters on behalf of the Navy to Guam to be turnover to the Vietnamese Navy to support the US Vietnamization effort. It was a 75 day cruise from Little Creek, Va to Guam with stops in Panama (Rodman and Pacific side), Acapulco and Hawaii. Trained the Vietnamese crew for two weeks and turn the ship over. Don’t really know if they could operate those ship in two-week training. Crew wasn’t enthuse, just keep saying “tired of war, been fighting war since 8-years old”.
In ’75, one of those ship was loaded with civilians and sailed to the Phil. and served in the Phil Navy, dunno of it still does. lol.
Mars
Mars;
It was hard also in the Navy to get a swap on any ship that might even visit Subic, I wonder why that was? (lol) I thought you might enjoy the article, glad you did!
Danger Danger Paul Keating;
Shipmate, you streached that thread as far as it could go, I’m proud of the way you wove it into ending in the Philippines. Well done!
Paul;
How did your answer get way down here?
Hi Paul, I often use that line at work when something is about to go astray or somebody comes up with a hare brained scheme. Those old enough to remember it smile. The youngsters have no clue as to what’s it’s actual significance. As this includes some of the managers now a days a well placed “Danger, Danger Will Robinson” has a unique effect, lol. If I hear it in the Phils now I’ll have to ask the person how they know Paul Thompson, lol.
Mark;
I knew I was not the only one that remembered that line, it’s a classic. I used it on my ship’s also, so it applies to all situations, when I heard the safety officer use it on deck during an operation, and the crew responded, I knew the name Will Robinson would live forever. Thanks for helping at your end!
Run, Lolo Run! hahaha thanks for the laugh Paul.
Jack;
You are most welcome, she looks out for her Lolo!
I see from the illustration of the soundtrack album cover, that John Williams did the music for Lost in Space. I watched the show as a kid, but have no recollection of the music. If John Williams wrote it, it must have been good.
I too am guilty of using the phrase “danger, danger” all these years, but without the Will Robinson addendum.
Peter;
Wasn’t John Williams the conductor of the Boston Pops after Arthur Fiedler? Students in Boston got free tickets to the Pops, every month. And I never missed the 4th of July concert at the Shell on the river Charles.
Correct if I’m wrong, but I thought Robby the Robot was from the movie Forbidden Planet. I think the robot from Lost In Space had no official name. “He” was always referred to as Robot. Althought Dr. Smith used more colorful language to insult the Robot, “he” would get a few good comebacks once in a while. Also, wasn’t the opening music conducted by two composers? I remember seeing Johnny Williams’ name in the credits, but I thought another fellow lent his creativity.
Henry;
No correction necessary, you are right about Forbidden Planet. but it was the same Robot and kept the name Robbie in both situations. He was modified for the Forbidden Planet Movie. I went online and looked this useless stuff up. And they tried to sell me a Robot, I swear it’s true. Look it up, online, but don’t buy the robot. Unless you need one. (lol)
Henry;
About the music, I’ll beg out of that. Maybe Peter could help out with that knowledge, it’s above my pay grade.
Paul;
The only robot I’d buy is the one from the silent movie “Metropolis” (1927) and you probabaly know the robot I’m talking about. Do you remember “her” name/title? It was “Ultima Futura Automation” and was obviously the creative design that led to C3PO’s creation in the Star Wars franchise. Now that was a design well before its time.
Henry;
After I got down to the nuts and bolts of it, I had to google it to see what you meant. She is one that would short circuit Robbie for sure. The truth is I never heard of the movie before. So I’ll guess at her name: “Tin Lizzy” Title; “Hot Can Opener”(lol)
It’s the best I could do in the time allotted!
Lord, we are probably giving this tv show more attention than it deserves. Danger, danger, we are decending into the trivial.
Yes, John Williams came after Fiedler in the Boston Pops and of course did the music for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, the Olympic theme and lots more.
Henry, Wikipedia does list other composers working on Lost in Space, tho’ Williams gets credit for the main theme.
Wikipedia has this to say about the robot: The Robot: The Robot is a Class M-3 Model B9, General Utility Non-Theorizing Environmental Control Robot, which had no given name. Although a machine endowed with superhuman strength and futuristic weaponry, he often displayed human characteristics such as laughter, sadness, and mockery as well as singing and playing the guitar. The Robot was performed by Bob May in a prop costume built by Bob Stewart. The voice was dubbed by Dick Tufeld, who was also the series’ narrator. The Robot was designed by Robert Kinoshita, whose other cybernetic claim to fame is as the designer of Forbidden Planet’s Robby the Robot. Robby appears in LIS #20 “War of the Robots”, and the first episode of season three; “Condemned of space”.
I’ll go put some Duke Ellington on the stereo to regain my sanity.
Peter saves the day!
Peter;
You are the go to guy!!!
Hi paul well i can remember sitting in front of the television and watching lost in space in black and white here in australia when i was a kid and doctor smith and his favorite saying :ohh the pain yes paul it brings back memories from a long time ago now when you look at it they were pretty corny but at the time bit like gilligans island anyway what you say about your granddaughter is so true my wife and our daughter have been here just 2 years and she will not even think of touching cheese the wife loves it but not the daughter i pointed out to them in sm one of the cheeses from australia when i was there and i can tell you it will always be in my fridge when i go there i just wshthey had real milk
chris
Chris;
In my area fresh milk is delivered daily, my granddaughter will drink it with me with Oreo cookies when she visits. At her house she drinks UHT but likes my milk better. Cheese was easy as she always wanted to try anything I was eating, and still does. Do we really have fond memories of Black & White TV, or just that simpler time period?
hi paul you are lucky when i was in davoa (seems like a lifetime ago now) i made a seafood sauce from uht cream to have with our prawns without an electric mixer on hand i had to whip the cream by hand it took forever but when it was done my now wife thought it was great ,i had to ring back to australia to get all the ingreadiennts i needed though she thought i was mad until she tasted it ,my daughter takes oreo biscuits to school here but i never drink uht unless we go out in the bush and there isnt a place to get fresh milk , i think we lived in a significant time paul where you could let your kids go wandering and you could leave your front door unlocked or your keys in your car after you refuelled ,these days i would like to set up an auto m60 on the front veranda laser guided maybe a few rounds over the heads of some of these youngsters might change there outlook on life chris
Chris;
A chicken in the pot, and a 50 Cal. in the front yard is the way to live. I told my wife how to make whipped cream, she came back and told me it didn’t work. She had used a plastice bowl vice a stainless steel bowl, she can make it now. My kids have their own car now so my gas is safe after all these years.
Becareful your grandddaughter does not get to your favorite saying as you take your SMB
out of the fridge .
Frank;
I’ll remember that, but she keeps me busy and I seldom have time for a cold one when she’s visiting.
My favorite transplanted saying here in the Philippines…..”Now what we have here, is a failure to communicate” Cool Hank Luke. Obviously I get to say that a lot here.
As far as children immitating, I knew I was using a certain word to much when my daughter Claire started calling the motorcab drivers “Stupid Idiots” like her dad. Dad hollers it inside the Terrano with the AC on and the windows rolled up. Claire does not care if the windows are up or not! Bad Dad.
Dave;
Cool Hand Luke was one of my all time favorite movies. That was a great line and it’s application here is well used. And being careful what we shout out around the tiny people is good advice. My girls when younger picked up my expression “That Chuckle Head.” which was my way of saying, stupid idiot.
Paul,
I would leave a comment here but I think this one got me in the “to young to remeber ” age catagory! LOL!
I am glad to see I am not the only one though that gets dirty looks when my son orders mashed potatoes at a restraunt! Mama always blames me for her picky eater!
Steve;
I like rice, but three times a day? I don’t even eat potatoes every day. I’ll take the hit on my granddaughter for her eating habits, and all the dirty looks that go with it.
I’ve told this one before, I went to a wedding far far away from home. They served pancit/rice 3 times a day for 3 days. the third day my wife asked if I was hungry, my response, “Dear God, you’ll just never know!” “Take me to a place that servers something other than pancit & rice!” Sleeping on the floor with 15 other people, I can do that. Have to go outside to use the comfort room, I can do that also. But would I want Steak three times a day for three days either? I still had a great time.