Trivia

Ed Shifres' book "Space Family Robinson: The True Story" precipitated the arrangement for writer/director Ib Melchior to be given screen credit in the Lost in Space (1998) movie produced by Prelude Pictures and distributed by New Line Cinema, and Melchior worked as special adviser to Mark W. Koch in the film because Melchior was the creator of the original "Space Family Robinson" (1960) - a screenplay, which became the Irwin Allen Lost in Space (1965) TV series. Melchior was never credited for the creation, until the details were exposed in Ed Shifres's "Space Family Robinson: The True Story" (Windsor House - 1996) and re-published as "Lost in Space: The True Story" (Windsor House - 1998). The book was extremely controversial and earned Melchior a monetary settlement and recognition as the creator of what became Lost in Space (1965). The book was very controversial and critically acclaimed with excellent reviews from Hollywood notable writers. To satisfy Melchior, Prelude Pictures hired him as a consultant on their feature film adaptation. Melchior's contract also guaranteed him 2% of the producer's gross receipts, a provision that was later the subject of a suit between Melchior and Mark W.Koch of Prelude Pictures. Although an Appellate Court ruled partly in Melchior's favor, on November 17, 2004 [ironically the exact month/day of the Second Revised shooting Final Irwin Allen pilot script in 1964], the Supreme Court of California denied a petition by Melchior to further review the case.

Shifres was praised (via a published letter) by film critic Leonard Maltin for Shifres' ongoing biography column in The Three Stooges Journal (Issue 71, Fall 1994).

Shifres was praised by Screenwriter-Producer Aaron Sorkin for his role as the Videotape Stuntman in the episode Mary Pat Shelby on the Sports Night (1998) TV series (ABC-TV 1998).

The foreword to Shifres' book was written by Ib Melchior. The back cover attained excellent review blurbs from notables such as Curt Siodmak - Author of Donovan's Brain (1953) and Creator of The Wolf Man (1941), as well as Die Hard (1988) Author Roderick Thorp.

JFK Assassination Information Center - Associate Member as of 1991. Ed personally knew Eva Grant (Jack Ruby's sister) and Ed had a one-time business transaction with Earl Ruby (Jack Ruby's brother).Jack Rubywas the man who killed Lee Harvey Oswald (the man who allegedly assassinated JFK).

Ed Shifres and actress Felicity Huffman appeared together as the only two people in the video tape stuntman scene in the Sports Night TV series episode, Mary Pat Shelby. The scene was used in the ABC-TV spots for the Sports Night TV series. The scene was praised by series creator Aaron Sorkin.