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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2020 9:47:00 GMT -5
There has been some interest in a Gerry Anderson thread. So here it is!
Be random. Be non-chronological. Whether you wish to discuss the Thunderbirds episode "The Mighty Atom" or the character-driven moments in Anderson's live-action shows, this is the place to do it!
Post a brief bio of yourself if you wish.
I grew up in the 80s and watched the likes of Thunderbirds, Stingray, and Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons. Both on TV and VHS. Then came Terrahawks, which, astonishingly, has dated far more than other shows. Terrahawks ran from 1983 to 1986 yet when I revisited it on DVD a while back, the production/puppetry appeared to be "light years behind" the 60s shows.
My favourite Anderson show is a toss-up between Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons. Thunderbirds had 50 minutes per episode to play with, allowing for a better pace and more character development; Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons had advanced puppetry and some cracking episodes, but its 25-minute nature could be limiting. Like most shows of that era, and beyond, nothing ended conclusively. The final episode of Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons didn't feature a final battle between Earth and Mars. What I did like about the series was the fact that, although this went over my head as a kid, were the Mysterons really the bad guys? Earth forces had attacked them first!
I do like some of the live-action Anderson shows. UFO is solid, and it may well have my favourite music. I did like most of Space: 1999.
I could not really enjoy Joe 90 when BBC2 aired it in the 90s. And I haven't seen the likes of The Secret Service, which combined puppetry and live-action.
Anyway, post Gerry Anderson thoughts here! On a final note, I did read some comics published by Fleetway in the 90s. They had some rich and character-driven stories. I also read some reprints of 60s tales which showed the various Anderson shows existing in the same universe (one strip had Mysteron agents active in Marineville, the home of Troy Tempest and Stingray!).
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Post by brutalis on Jan 30, 2020 10:28:47 GMT -5
Grew up in the 70's, saw the occasional Thunderbird's Puppet shows on local television station and was blown away with Space: 1999 when it aired here in USA syndication. Found out about UFO in the early 80's when it went into USA syndication and then found quite a few of the Puppet Anderson shows on VHS and grabbed them up. Unique and odd in that British way, they were entertaining enough to enjoy every so often. Now I have the COMPLETE UFO and Space: 1999 on DVD to enjoy when I wish and CometTV free TV station will run the Anderson Puppet shows in marathon mode every few months and I will usually watch them playing in the background while I work around the house.
For me UFO holds up quite well as does 1999. I rather enjoy the more serious 2001 style 1st season of 1999 but the 2nd has some good episodes along with a campy/fun classic 60/70's USA style of Sci-fi. The model work for both UFO and 1999 are superb! Really liked the UFO mod design styles and that all the Moonbase gals wore the silver uniforms with purple wigs. How does that become a work rule? Crazy and silly but entertaining as all get out!
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Post by Rob Allen on Jan 30, 2020 12:09:34 GMT -5
As a young child in the 60s, I remember liking Supercar and Fireball XL5, but I have no clear memories of Thunderbirds or Captain Scarlet. I have vague memories of UFO and I definitely watched Space: 1999.
I of course bought all of the Space: 1999 comics and magazines from Charlton. Were those distributed in the UK? They're worth seeking out. The color series lasted seven issues, all with the painted covers that Charlton had for a few years in the 70s. The first two issues had art by Joe Staton. The next four were by John Byrne, and included his first solo scripting. The other scripts in the first six issues were by Nicola Cuti. The last issue adapted the origin of Maya from the first episode of season 2, scripted by Mike Pellowski and drawn by Pat Boyette.
The larger black & white magazine had eight issues. All of the covers (which are gorgeous) and a lot of the interior art was by Gray Morrow, with other art by frequent Morrow associates like Vicente Alcazar, Carlos Pino, Adolfo Buylla and Ed Davis, and a few others like Pat Boyette and Dick Ayers. Interestingly, the last issue here also has a story adapting the origin of Maya, also scripted by Mike Pellowski, but this time drawn by Gray Morrow. The two stories even have the same title, "The Metamorph".
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2020 12:29:41 GMT -5
I of course bought all of the Space: 1999 comics and magazines from Charlton. Were those distributed in the UK? Not sure as before my time, but I can say that, occasionally, publishers outside Marvel and DC did occasionally reach our shores, although it was very sporadic. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 12:59:43 GMT -5
As a young child in the 60s, I remember liking Supercar and Fireball XL5, but I have no clear memories of Thunderbirds or Captain Scarlet. I have vague memories of UFO and I definitely watched Space: 1999. I of course bought all of the Space: 1999 comics and magazines from Charlton. Were those distributed in the UK? They're worth seeking out. The color series lasted seven issues, all with the painted covers that Charlton had for a few years in the 70s. The first two issues had art by Joe Staton. The next four were by John Byrne, and included his first solo scripting. The other scripts in the first six issues were by Nicola Cuti. The last issue adapted the origin of Maya from the first episode of season 2, scripted by Mike Pellowski and drawn by Pat Boyette. The larger black & white magazine had eight issues. All of the covers (which are gorgeous) and a lot of the interior art was by Gray Morrow, with other art by frequent Morrow associates like Vicente Alcazar, Carlos Pino, Adolfo Buylla and Ed Davis, and a few others like Pat Boyette and Dick Ayers. Interestingly, the last issue here also has a story adapting the origin of Maya, also scripted by Mike Pellowski, but this time drawn by Gray Morrow. The two stories even have the same title, "The Metamorph". I don't think the Charlton comics were distributed in the UK. There were regular comics with the Anderson stuff, in the UK, like TV Century 21 |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 13:11:34 GMT -5
Born in the mid-late 60s, grew up through the 70s and early 80s. We didn't get any of the Gerry Anderson shows on our local tv until Space 1999 appeared on our local PBS station. I watched the pilot and first handful of episodes; but, it bored me stiff. It wasn't until the 90s that I saw Captain Scarlet on the Sci-Fi Channel, as well as UFO that I saw any of his other stuff, though I was aware of Thunderbirds. I did have a Thunderbirds Nintendo game (which I could beat).
I liked individual episodes of Captain Scarlet (loved the model designs), but they got repetitive. Same with UFO, when I bought the DVDs. Like the concepts, like individual episodes, like the model designs; just a little goes a long way.
I did buy the book of Mike Trim's model designs, which takes you through the different Anderson projects he worked on (which are most of the classics) and shows you the conceptual designs and the models. Great stuff. Loved the look of the technology for the more futuristic shows, with that mid-century modern design, the delt winged craft, the advanced vehicles and stuff like that.
Of course, the Sky Base model appears around the same time as the SHIELD Hellicarrier and would inspire the Valiant, for UNIT, on Dr Who.
I did watch and mostly enjoy the Anderson film, Journey to The Far Side of the Sun (aka Doppelganger), with Roy Thinnes.
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Post by brutalis on Jan 30, 2020 13:27:38 GMT -5
The best part of most those Anderson shows was always the vehicles and their designs. From cars to submarines, to planes and into spaceships they were all spectacular. I would draw Thunderbird ships and the Space: 1999 Eagles all of the time. The UFO interceptor was totally wild but dumb at the same time: only one missile to fire at extraterrestrial invaders? Boy are you screwed should you miss that 1st shot!!! But the Eagle, that is just one cool and functional ship design, complete with detachable cockpit and body/personnel carrier.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 30, 2020 14:05:47 GMT -5
I did watch and mostly enjoy the Anderson film, Journey to The Far Side of the Sun (aka Doppelganger), with Roy Thinnes. I had no idea that was an Anderson movie. I saw it just once in a small local community center that would hold a movie night a few times during the summer: the kind of event where you project a movie on a wall with a rickety projector that made enough noise to cover most of the soundtrack, with a dozen kids sitting on school chairs. I have fond memories of it!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2020 14:09:46 GMT -5
The best part of most those Anderson shows was always the vehicles and their designs. From cars to submarines, to planes and into spaceships they were all spectacular. I would draw Thunderbird ships and the Space: 1999 Eagles all of the time. The UFO interceptor was totally wild but dumb at the same time: only one missile to fire at extraterrestrial invaders? Boy are you screwed should you miss that 1st shot!!! But the Eagle, that is just one cool and functional ship design, complete with detachable cockpit and body/personnel carrier. My top three Anderson vehicles: Spectrum Saloon CarMaximum Security VehicleThunderbird 3 |
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 30, 2020 15:14:20 GMT -5
I'm from the Space: 1999 generation (BF lists UFO as his first Anderson show, has a Shado sticker on a guitar case).
Fanderson member: #10,499. Magazines: Fab #5-76,79-86. S.I.G. #11-20. Andersonic #2-24.
Favorite show: Stingray. DVD sets: Torchy The Battery Boy 1& 2, Four Feather Falls, Supercar, Fireball XL-5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet, and Space Patrol (non-Anderson like Torchy 2) (BF has UFO and Space: 1999 1& 2). Journey to The Far Side of the Sun. Also three DVD docs: 'Space: 1999/UFO: The Documentaries', 'The Future Was Fantastic' and The Supermarionation Story.
Vintage annuals: Countdown, Captain Scarlet's Angels, UFO.
For more info: Youtube - Fanderson for convention videos.
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Post by Prince Hal on Jan 30, 2020 15:17:05 GMT -5
The theme for today's thread: My younger brother got this for Christmas one year... I'm guessing 1963.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2020 15:19:23 GMT -5
I'm a Fanderson member, too. In fact, first magazine of 2020 arrived in the post yesterday, plus the membership gift for the year (a book about The Secret Service).
The main feature in the current issue of FAB, and I haven't read it in full yet, is an examination of the Thunderbirds episode "The Mighty Atom". This is a divisive episode that many seem to dislike. It features every character and every TB craft, but is seen as one of the weaker episodes. So there's a discussion we could have there. I haven't seen "The Mighty Atom" in an age, and cannot really remember it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2020 15:21:09 GMT -5
Great pics, Prince Hal!
I've only seen a couple of episodes of Fireball XL5, but many comic strips. Didn't the characters take "oxygen pills" while in space?
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 30, 2020 15:21:38 GMT -5
One of the first LPs I ever bought was the Space: 1999 soundtrack by Barry Gray. I think the music passed the test of time quite nicely. even if it is clearly a product of its era.
I don't know if season 2 ever got its own soundtrack. Derek Wadsworth's jazzier theme for that season was also pretty good.
Come to think of it, many of the Anderson shows had catchy musical themes: UFO, for one, certainly had a great one.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2020 15:22:22 GMT -5
I had a cassette in the early 90s, Geoff Love's orchestra playing the UFO theme. Something very haunting about that one. Bit disturbing, really.
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