A Benign Tale of Robots

The Richard Tufeld-voiced robot in “Lost in Space,” while referred to as Robot in the series, did have a real name (“ ‘Lost in’ Robot Names,” Calendar Letters, Aug. 2). Its designated call letters were B9.

Robby the Robot, who figured prominently in the MGM feature film “Forbidden Planet,” was seen for years off and on in different television series, including “Lost in Space,” in a first-season black-and-white episode called “War of the Robots.” Robby played a malevolent robot who had dire designs on the Robinsons, but our robot buddy, B9, saved the day for the humans, though doing so might have meant its own demise. True robo-loyalty.

Several Robby the Robots were beautifully rebuilt over the years, with spot-on duplicates made by Bill Malone (as well as a “Day the Earth Stood Still” Gort suit) and another by Louis and Mark Barton, extending Robby’s life in TV and movie work. One of Robby’s last appearances was in the Joe Dante-directed film “Explorers,” along with the time machine from 1962’s “The Time Machine,” lovingly restored and cared for by Bob Burns.

The “Lost in Space” (operated by Bob May inside) robot, B9, also had a less polished-looking stunt double built for the series (for shots requiring rough handling, flying, etc.). After the show was canceled, the original robot suffered the indignity of being significantly modified for a Las Vegas show.

Subsequent to that, the original robot has been lovingly restored by Greg Jein, a master Hollywood model-maker who worked on such big film projects as Spielberg’s “1941” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” among many others. Hollywood model-makers, I guess, take care of their classic own.

PAUL GENTRY

Granada Hills