Danger, Danger at Wild and Woolly!

by Rod Whitenack

Last Saturday, January 17, Wild and Woolly Video was visited by a mechanical monstrosity from outer space. We actually put in a call to the agent of the Mars Rover, but it turns out he was busy at the moment, so instead we settled for the B-9 Robot from "Lost in Space."

In celebration of the DVD release of the first season of the beloved "Lost in Space" series, an exact replica of Dr. Smith's B-9 Robot managed to get lost within the alien-green walls of Wild and Woolly. The Robot's owner, Jeff Baete, was on hand to display his incredible "Lost in Space" collection and answers questions about the Robot.

The Robot was a big hit at the store. Its mechanical parts twirled and lights blinked hypnotically while the booming, instantly recognizable voice delighted audiences with three seasons of memorable dialogue. You haven't lived until you've clapped your hands and stomped your feet along with a crowded store of hardcore "Lost in Space" fans to the Robot singing "Pick a Bale of Cotton."

Click here to see a short (and sideways) MPG of the robot saying "I Do Not Like It!"

Jeff also brought along prop replica laser rifles and pistols, autographed cast photos, model kits and rare toy collectibles. Donnie almost wept (and the rest of us stared slack jawed) at the sight of the original Remco Robot toy from the early 60s.

It was clear to us that "Lost in Space" lives on in the hearts and minds of a new generation as floods of fans stopped by with their kids to have their pictures taken with the Robot. We've had celebrities like Troma's Lloyd Kaufman, Ken "Dawn of the Dead" Foree and Caroline "Golden Voyage of Sinbad" Munro in the store before, but the B-9 Robot may have proved to have been our most popular guest so far. We thank Jeff Baete and his friend Richard Shannon for bringing him in to meet the fans. That bubble-headed booby still rocks the universe.

By the way, as of now, Donnie is fully restocked with "Lost in Space" Season 1 DVD boxed sets! Don't wait or they'll all be lost again! Oh, the pain! The pain!