Continuing the Christmas specials here we have a copy of the once popular entertainment bible for the capital, WHAT'S ON IN LONDON. During the 1960s the front cover was emblazoned with what the publishers regarded as 'The' event or cinema release of that week. THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO was clearly thought of in these terms in this instance. Flicking through the magazine there are a number of interesting pieces for fans of this first big-screen outing for International Rescue.
First off is the prominence in London's West End of Cliff and The Shadows. Not only did they appear in puppet form in THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO but just across at another cinema in Leicester Square they starred in their own offering FINDERS KEEPERS. Meanwhile at the London Palladium, a stone's throw away, they starred in the flesh in the big London Christmas pantomime CINDERELLA. Cliff Richard And The Shadows really were the stars of London's theatre district that Christmas! Another interesting thing to note is the number of popular television shows of the period which had cinematic outings in London at the same time. THE FLINTSTONES appeared in A MAN CALLED FLINSTONE. MUNSTER GO HOME was screening too along with the Adam West BATMAN feature film.
Perhaps if each of these movies had been screened at different times of the year in England, and certainly London, they may have fared better at the box-office than they did. As a child all of these were shows I loved on television but a trip into London would have meant I only saw one of them. Therefore a very similar audience for all the films was spread thinly resulting in none of them making a huge impression in cinema ticket returns whilst still all remaining popular on television. Jim Lewis
Wish I'd have seen the film at the cinema! Amazingly I first saw the whole film last year on video! Did any readers see any of the Thunderbirds film at the flicks back in the 60's? Oddly enough I did see Moon Zero Two, with one scene scaring me to death - a slowly turning spaceman which has a skull inside its helmet! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteYep, I saw it "several" times! And had to sit through that awful "Namu the Killer Whale" as well! The theme tune still haunts me.
ReplyDeleteI saw both the Thuderbirds films. I think in the provinces, e.g. outside London, some of the other films listed were shown at different times. I managed to see the Batman one at the cinema as well (but for me Batman no longer has the same appeal as Anderson related stuff).
ReplyDeleteAt almost 47 I still seem to be a 'pup' compared to some of you guys! I was a little bit young to see THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO at the cinema. However in 1968/69 my local South London telly rental company, BRITISH RELAY, set up what most have been one of the earliest UK cable networks PAY TELEVISION. Literally a box on top of the telly that you'd put 'Two Bobs' in. My parents paid for me to see THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO, BATMAN and PLANET OF THE APES too. Black and white transmissions too but still amazing for me as a kid!
ReplyDeleteJim Lewis