- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAlbert Hodge
- Nickname
- Abie
- Height6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
- Hodge starred on radio as "The Green Hornet" in the 1940s. In the 1950s he was popular to TV fans as Captain Video. By the time of his death however, he had become an alcoholic and was living on $63 a week social security checks. He died alone and forgotten.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
- Al Hodge was born in Ravenna, Ohio, in the shadow of heroes, not knowing that he would one day become the most legendary hero in the annals of early television broadcasting. His father walked with heroes, and was a renowned Wild West rider, having been a member of Buffalo Bill (aka Buffalo Bill Cody's troupe. Al majored in drama at the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio, where he was a track star. He worked in summer stock, touring the country with the Casford Players, and worked on radio stations in New England, the UK and Detroit. At WXYZ in Detroit he was a one-man radio station--writing scripts, announcing and doing production work. He was the original Green Hornet on radio before World War II, and returned to the program after he had served as a lieutenant in the Navy. During the late 1940s he was often heard playing parts on "Mr. District Attorney", "Gangbusters", "Mr. Keene, Tracer of Lost Persons" and almost every soap opera broadcast from New York.
In 1951 Al, a muscular 6'2", got the part of Captain Videoon the TV series Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949), and from that time on would forever remain the popular hero of space and time. Al took the part and responsibilities seriously, and would often spend his weekends touring the country aiding such causes as muscular dystrophy, the Kiwanis Club, orphanages and various patriotic and religious organizations. He continued to teach Sunday School in Manhasset, Long Island. It is estimated that in 1952 and 1953 he traveled over 50,000 miles to appear before 2.5 million persons in cities, towns and hamlets throughout the country.
After "Captain Video" left the air Al had some trouble obtaining new television roles, but did do some spots as a dentist in a commercial for toothpaste. He spent a short period of time in California where he played roles in such television series as Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), Tightrope (1959), M Squad (1957), Coronado 9 (1960) and Hawaiian Eye (1959). He played a detective in a Mannix (1967) episode that would have been a continuing role, except that he decided he had had enough of California and returned to New York and austerity.
In his closing column for STARLOG #23, editor Howard Zimmerman said it all: 'Al Hodge was the idol of an age and spurred many to pursue careers in a variety of futuristic fields, from science-fiction publishing to astrophysics and astronautics. We remember the Captain with warm smiles and gratitude . . . we do not mourn his passing but rather celebrate his legacy.'
Thank you, Captain . . . and Spaceman's luck!"- IMDb Mini Biography By: Joe Sarno; April 1, 1979 (qv's & corrections by A. Nonymous)
- SpousesDoris Hodge ?(1948 - 1961) (divorced)Elizabeth ?(October 30, 1936 - 1946) (divorced, 1 child)Virginia Jane Hodge(? - March 19, 1979) (separated)Jane Osborn (his death)
- In 1959, four years after Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949) series had ended, he appeared as Captain Video at the Macy's Department Store in New York, drawing the largest crowd in the store's history.
- During the early 1950s he testified at a Senate hearing that was looking into television violence, a concern even then. He explained to those present that Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949) did not script violent actions, deaths or even hand-to-hand combat as a matter of course, and that weapons used on the series were shown to cause only reversible paralysis rather than overt injuries or death. The Senate sessions are notable because the legislators continually addressed Hodge as "Captain", an indication of how closely his persona had become identified with the character.
- During his Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949) years, he taught Sunday School classes at his Congregational church in Manhasset, Long Island, New York.
- After serving as a lieutenant (j.g.) in the US Navy, Hodge took ill with pleurisy and was bedridden for a year. Recovering, he left for New York and found widespread work, appearing on most daytime radio/television serials and nighttime dramas: "Mr. Keene", "Gangbusters", "Front Page Farrell", "Mr. District Attorney",and many more. Al then was asked to become "Captain Video" to replace Richard Coogan, who wished to resume stage work.
- Al was very active in community service, working with the Boy Scouts, North Shore Community Hospital, and the Manhasset (NY) Congregational Church, where he was Superintendent of Sunday School. In addition, he appeared at countless fundraisers for charity.
- [about his Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949) series] Everyone worked with everyone else. No one did just one thing. I've never seen such teamwork before or since in this business.
- [1958, in an interview with the Akron (OH) Beacon-Journal about life after his Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949) went off the air] It's a terrible thing. I can get in to see TV producers who were once unavailable to me, but they all tell me the same old story. When I go after dramatic parts, they say my "Captain Video" identification would destroy character illusion. Libraries, men's stores, real estate, clerical work--I have done it all since the "Captain Video" days. Unfortunately, there has been no show-business work.
- Fans expect me to be extremely conversant in every new technical marvel of the years to come. It's not unusual for a youngster to approach me after a program to question me about remote carrier patterns, designs for flying saucer rings, radioactivity, time elementation, and other terribly complicated mechanisms.
- [1953, commenting about his popularity among young children] Sometimes it's frightening, the responsible position I'm in, but I try to do a good job - and naturally I'm very happy about it all.
- [Discussing his Sunday-school teaching at the First Congregational Church in Manhasset, Long Island, NY] Every week, without fail, I see several new faces in class. At the end of each session, I notice that the newcomers have been taken aside and, in hushed whispers, learn that I am Captain Video himself. The identification does have a very good aspect. At least three times a week on "Captain Video", we deliver short messages to our youthful listeners. We stress the Golden Rule, tolerance, honesty, and personal integrity. I'm thankful for the opportunity of being associated with the show that helps, in a small measure, to illuminate for the young people of America the importance of courage, character, and the sense of moral values.
- Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949) - $60 .00 per week
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