Voyagers!

1 9 8 2 – 1 9 8 3 (USA)
20 x 60 minute episodes

A philosopher once speculated that the whole face of the world would have been changed if Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter. He might have approved of this series, a historical science-fantasy for younger viewers.

Ex-pirate Phineas Bogg (Jon-Erik Hexum) is a Voyager. “We’re the people plucked out of time to travel through the ages . . . kinda help history along.”

By dialling a date on his trusty Omni, a compass-sized time machine, Phineas (who is clueless about history) can find himself at the Boston Tea Party or smack in the middle of World War I.

Crashing in Manhattan, he meets up with Jeffrey Jones (Meeno Peluce), an 11-year-old orphan and (fortunately) a history whiz.

The two guys have some splendid adventures as they help Eddie Rickenbacker fight the Red Baron, lend a hand to the Wright brothers, give directions to Lewis and Clark, help General MacArthur get away from Pearl Harbor just before the Japanese attack in 1941, make sure the baby Moses is discovered by the Pharaoh’s daughter, prevent President Teddy Roosevelt from being killed by Billy the Kid, and help Spartacus escape from jail to lead a revolt against Roman oppression.

Because Phineas’ Omni is damaged, they can’t go any further into the future than 1982, except when the Voyagers bring them back to Phineas’ home time (never specified) to try him for violating the Voyager code by using Jeffrey as a guide (he is acquitted).

At the conclusion of each show, series star Meeno Peluce would suggest to young viewers that they go to the library to get more information about the historical periods featured on that episode.

Jon-Erik Hexum died in 1984 as a result of an accidental self-inflicted blank cartridge gunshot round to the head on the set of the CBS television series Cover Up.

Phineas Bogg
Jon-Erik Hexum
Jeffrey Jones
Meeno Peluce