This story aired on NPR today about a man who has built replicas of the "Lost in Space" robot.

And, she can have one for the low, low price of $25,000...






Heard on Morning Edition

December 24, 2009 - LINDA WERTHEIMER, host:

We travel even further into the past for our next story. If you grew up watching television in the �60s, this might sound familiar.

(Soundbite of television program, "Lost in Space")

Mr. RICHARD TUFELD (Actor): (As Robot) Danger, danger, Will Robinson. Which way did they go, partner?

WERTHEIMER: The robot from the television show �Lost in Space� still has a small but intense following. And some old fans are paying big money to try to relive part of their childhood. From South Dakota, Johanna Sailor reports.

JOHANNA SAILOR: As a young child, Mike Joyce dreamed of two things: Being an astronaut and owning his own robot from the show �Lost in Space.� Now 48, the retired Air Force pilot has sad he hasn't been to space, but Joyce beams as he shows off the features of the �Lost in Space� robot replica he designed and built by hand.

Mr. MIKE JOYCE: I was very famous at one time. Now I am retired and I - well, I just stand here most of the time and look really cool.

SAILOR: It started as a hobby. Then it became a business, selling these replica robots. His factory is in his home's basement. Surprisingly, Joyce is able to build these highly detailed, 275-pound robots far from any support services deep in South Dakota's Black Hills Forest.

Even though Joyce makes a living building these replicas and has a model of the show's rocket in his backyard, he doesn't consider himself an obsessed fan.

Mr. JOYCE: Some people would say if you had a model - a life-sized model of the Jupiter II in your backyard that you're an obsessed fan, I suppose.

SAILOR: Either way, Joyce isn't alone. He's already sold 53 robot replicas. Each can take two months to build and sell for $25,000.

Richard Molnar of Vancouver bought one of them and is thrilled to own it.

Mr. RICHARD MOLNAR: My robot still appeals to me because the 21st century turned out to be impressively boring, and I still do not have a flying car.

SAILOR: Robot creator Mike Joyce still dreams of flying to the moon, so much so he's now investing in another project. This one is about real space science and aims to land a robotic rover on the moon.

For NPR News, I'm Johanna Sailor in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Two of my favorite ROBOT toys.

Merry Christmas Charlotte and The Master and kiddies.

thready

now if I had $250,000
would I buy 10 of those, or take a trip on the virgin galactic into space

tough choice


(or maybe just a HOUSE )

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

thank you Miguel!! what is the second one's name again? He looks familiar

ZombieKitten said:

it says 'Great Mazinger'. i dunno what that is, but i can read Japanese.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

I actually remember this from comic book ads I saw as a child. They had a whole line of them.

I loved him so. I wish I still had him

johnart said:

what happened to him?

ZombieKitten said:

Mazinga Warrior!! I think I still have him somewhere in my basement.

johnart said:

SHUT UP!!!!!