A MONSTER COMEDY HIT...

It was back in 1973 and I had a Saturday job working in a CO-OP store in a far away neighbour-hood.  From about 8 a.m. 'til 12.30 p.m. I'd toil away for either £1 or £1.50 (I can no longer recall the precise amount), which went towards feeding my comics dependency of the time.  Trouble was, before I had taken this job, I had gotten into the habit of watching old black and white movies on Saturday morning TV, like OLD MOTHER RILEY Meets The VAMPIRE and various other comedies of that ilk. 

One Friday evening, I was torn over whether I should take a sickie as ABBOTT & COSTELLO Meet FRANKENSTEIN was the movie being shown the next morning, and it was one I'd wanted to see for quite some while, having previously caught a clip of it at some stage.  In the end, my conscience won out (to say nothing of my need for money) and off I dutifully trotted to work, though not without deep reservations.

Cut to around 12 or 13 years later (and another house away), and I eventually got to see the movie on TV one evening, finally fulfilling the ambition of almost half my life before at that point.  It's a great little movie (despite BELA LUGOSI's undead Count casting a reflection in a mirror), and it gave actor GLENN STRANGE more screen time as the monster than in any of his two previous appearances in HOUSE Of FRANKENSTEIN and HOUSE Of DRACULA from a few years before.

(Incidentally, LON CHANEY Jr. filled in for Strange in one scene when he injured his foot, meaning that Chaney plays two monsters in the movie, the other of course being the WOLFMAN.)

I've watched it quite a few times since then, having bought it when it was released on video and then on DVD.  If you haven't seen it before, it really is well worth checking out.  Each time I view it, I can't help but be reminded of my Saturday morning job in the Co-op and the smell of cold ham from the meat counter.  Glenn Strange was still alive in 1973 (he died in September that year), so I always regret not seeing the movie when I first had the chance, nearly 40 years ago.

START THE YEAR WITH YOUR VERY OWN BATMOBILE...

  

 

A great new fortnightly series from EAGLEMOSS COLLECTIONS has just hit the shops - BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA - devoted to BAT- VEHICLES, no less. The first issue is a paltry £2.99 and features the 1989 movie Batmobile (middle picture, above), but it's issue two I can hardly wait for - the 1966 TV Batmobile - at only £5.99, although the regular price for each new release will be £9.99.

 

Each vehicle comes in its very own display case with detailed base, featuring a '3D LENTICULAR'  background scene. I won't be buying every single one, but I'll no doubt pick up whichever little beauties grab my fancy from time to time. Maybe you'll want to do likewise.  Be sure to look for ISSUE #1 in the shops - NOW!

 

A DANDY TREAT AT HOGMANAY...

Copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

As a special HOGMANAY treat, here's the DESPERATE DAN story from the NEW YEAR edition of The DANDY, cover-dated January 8th, 2000.  This story, illustrated by the mighty KEN H. HARRISON, comes from a time when the strip was being drawn to a far higher standard than in the last few years.  That's probably why the digital edition of the comic has returned Dan to his classic look (so I'm told).  Long may it be so.

Happy New Year, everybody.

The WORLD'S TOUGHEST QUESTION?

Logo by me

Here's a question for everyone, so put on your thinking caps.  If, from this point on, you could re-acquire only one toy from childhood (assuming you wanted to, that is, and not counting any you may already have), which one would it be - and why?  Reveal all.

IT'S The MARVEL Of The AGE - CECIL COLEMAN SUPERCAR...

Take a look at the little beauty in the accompanying photographs.  It's only yer actual CECIL COLEMAN toy SUPERCAR from the 1960s - wow!  I've had this item for quite a number of years now, but it took me even longer to acquire from when I first saw this imitation BUDGIE TOYS plaything back when I was a mere kidlet.  (The flash has wiped out some colour and detail, but you get the picture - pun intended.)

Talking of Budgie Toys, I actually owned one of their diecast Supercars for half an hour or so (might've been a wee bit longer) way back in 1965.  I'd swapped a red toy yacht and a water pistol with a boy around the corner (BILLY THOMSON* if I recall correctly) for his rather beat-up "marvel of the age" - only to soon change my mind when I realized it was on the verge of falling to bits.  He was somewhat reluctant to swap back, but I 'insisted'.  (*Funnily enough, we'd lived next to another Billy Thomson in our previous house just a few minutes up the road.)

Regarding the Cecil Coleman version however, I first saw this toy circa 1966 or '67 in my local SAFEWAY store, hanging on an end-of-aisle display, whilst being dragged around the shops by my mother.  If I recall correctly, it was only 2'6d, but, despite my heartfelt pleas, I came away empty-handed.  A couple of years later, I saw another one on a stall in Glasgow's famous BARROWLAND market ('The Barras'), but again (even though it was only 1'9d this time) my earnest entreaties fell on deaf ears.

Cut to around 30 years later when I saw one advertised for £350 in a collectors mag.  I had to have it, of course, so promptly stumped up the admittedly over-priced amount, even by then-current standards.  (I bought it from a well-known seller who tends to charge on the extreme side compared to other dealers.)  What can I say?  These toys are as rare as hens' teeth and it's only money.

It came in a card-backed blister-pack, with plastic figures of MIKE MERCURY, PROFESSOR POPKISS, Dr. BEAKER, JIMMY (not the one from The Krankies), and MITCH The MONKEY.  I'll show them on the blog another time, as they're tucked away somewhere at the moment.  (And I want to repaint the figures to a higher standard first.)

It must be admitted that dear ol' Cecil's Supercar is a rather flimsy, underwhelming vehicle in the cold light of day, compared to how I remembered it from my childhood.  Then, it seemed like a plaything of unlimited possibilities; in reality, it's a two-colour, fragile affair that looks as if it might fall apart if someone breathes too hard in its direction.

Now, I have to admit that I've got quite a few items in my collection for which I've paid rather steep prices, but I don't buy collectables to cash in at a future date when they've increased in value.  I purchase things merely because I want them, and I don't mind bringing an item up to my rather high standards if I consider it can stand improving.  I'm lucky in being able to repaint things to a far higher specification than when they were originally issued.

A Coleman Supercar without 'improvement'

Case in point: when I acquired my excellent STEVE ZODIAC and ZOONY on a JETMOBILE toy by GOLDEN GATE, Steve's body wasn't glued together properly, leaving a one millimetre gap between the two parts.  Also, his hands weren't painted, and the seat of the jetmobile wasn't fitted properly.  They are now, and the overall look has been vastly improved since it came into my possession.



Same with my Coleman Supercar.  Previously, it boasted a mere two colours - red and silver, and was rather boring to look at.  Now, with a bit of 'detailing', it looks far more substantial than it actually is.  Some collectors would regard my 'improvements' as sacrilege, but, as I said, the monetary potential in the collectors' market is of no interest to me; all I'm concerned with is an item looking as good as it possibly can.

And doesn't my Supercar look brilliant?!

GERRY ANDERSON MERCHANDISE From The '60s...

In the comments section of the previous post, someone asked to see my collection of GERRY ANDERSON toys, so feast your eyes on a few random photos of just some of my goodies.  Not shown are more recent items, or books, records, annuals, comics, or my PEDIGREE CAPTAIN SCARLET action figure.  (Got two three- nyahh!)  First up, above, is me in 1968 with my STEVE ZODIAC & ZOONY on a jetmobile, plus my bendy Captain Scarlet figure.  From the collection below, I have the boxes and packaging for all but two of the items (the TB2 and FAB 1).  Replica boxes are available though, so maybe one day.

And finally, here's me again circa 1967, with my CENTURY 21 (J. ROSENTHAL TOYS) friction-drive TB1, which came in blue with grey wings and grey with blue wings.  I had both colour variations of this toy as a kid (at different times), plus the TB2 with a wee green jeep in the pod.  Handsome little devil, if I say so myself.  (Me, I mean.)

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE...

So, after PATRICK MOORE, CHARLES DURNING and JACK KLUGMAN, comes the sad news that GERRY ANDERSON, creator of shows like FIREBALL XL5, THUNDERBIRDS and the indestructible CAPTAIN SCARLET, has gone to that great TV studio in the sky.  Gerry more than deserves his place in television history, but I have to confess that I often found watching or listening to him being interviewed over the years to be quite an uncomfortable experience.

The reason for this is that Gerry himself seemed uncomfortable about being associated with kids programmes; appeared frustrated by it - to resent it, in fact, and spoke with apparent reluctance about his involvement in the cult shows which had made him a household name.  He always went to great pains to point out that it was never his ambition to produce entertainment for children, and that his shows were merely a showcase to demonstrate that he was capable of far more 'respectable' and prestigious projects, if only given half a chance by any movie moguls who might be watching.

Perhaps he was just painfully shy, but he more often than not came across as being embarrassed by his classic puppet programmes and only too eager to distance himself from them, although never quite able to escape their shadow completely.  After all, they were his main (maybe only) claim to fame, so it's understandable if he decided that he might as well try and salvage something from the situation - exploit it (however reluctantly) until something better came along.

At least that's how it seemed (to me) for most of his career.  Then something happened, and I can only hazard a guess as to what.  In later years, he seemed to finally give in and accept the cards that fate had dealt him; seemed to come to terms with his situation and realise that there was no shame in creating magic and enchantment that kids would fondly remember for the rest of their lives.  He began to relax and accept the high regard in which he was held as his due; see that the gratitude expressed by adults whose childhoods he had enriched as genuine expressions of respect and affection, as opposed to fawning flattery by a bunch of geeks and freaks who simply couldn't grow up.

I read his autobiography a couple of years ago and, in my opinion, it didn't always portray him in an entirely favourable light, though he was presumably unaware of the negative aspects he revealed about himself and his personality.  However, now is not the moment to dwell on the human failings that all are heir to; rather, it is a time to celebrate the life and achievements of a talented, creative man, whose triumphs touched the hearts and minds of a great many children and adults, and will doubtless continue to do so for a very long time to come.

To paraphrase LADY PENELOPE: "Oh, Gerry... well done!"

In Memoriam:  Gerry Anderson - 1929 - 2012.

JUST HOW FAST Is A FART From The FLASH?

Images copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

If ever I needed something to remind me of just how fleeting time is (which I don't), the above comic would have to be considered a leading contender.  The 50th Birthday issue of The DANDY, which I really do remember buying as if it were only a few months ago, as opposed to the quarter century it actually happens to be.

Think about that just for a moment; this comic is now 25 years old and comes from a time when The Dandy was but two-thirds of the way through its 75 year journey which ended only this month.  Those under a certain age will not yet be able to fully appreciate the enormity of the scenario I'm trying to describe.  If you're around 30 years of age, imagine going to your bed last night as a five year-old and waking up today the age you are now.  That's how mind-bogglingly awesome is the realisation that I actually purchased this comic back in 1987.

Well, while I sit here reeling from the shock of practically half my life going by faster than a fart from the FLASH, you can have a look at some of the contents of this anniversary issue from (gasp) so long ago - perhaps from a time before some of you were even born.  To those of you under 30 who bought the last ever Dandy and are wondering what the heck I'm wittering on about - comprehension will smack you right in the face like a wet kipper in around 25 years from now (if not sooner).  Hopefully I'll still be around to say "See?  I told you so!"

  

A BOXING DAY 'BEEZER' OF A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC...

 

Copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

 

Remember when comics were cheap, cheerful, and Christmassy at the appropriate time of the year?  Then you're sure to love this Yuletide edition of The BEEZER from 1986.  Let's not bother with any waffle from me - fling yourselves headlong into these lovely cartoon capers, lads and lasses (or 'lassies' if you're Scottish).  Most of your old favourites are here.  And be sure to record your reminiscinces in the comments section.