The second part of my look at the vintage TV series related badges given free with Kellogg's Sugar Smacks: This time we go where no Sugar Smacks badges have been before!
My memories of collecting the Kellogg's Star Trek badges also put me in mind of the major change that TV21 went through at the time.
The BBC had begun broadcasting the original Star Trek TV series from 12 July 1969, I imagine to tie-in with the immense public interest in the impending Moon landing on 20th July. Joe 90 (Top Secret) comic was already running it's own Star Trek comic strip, and had been since the publication launched in January that year. I remember getting that first issue, and although I'd never seen an episode I was quite intrigued by the adventures of Mr Spock and Captain 'Kurt'!?
Joe 90 (Top Secret) issues 1 & 34
After just 34 issues the 'Rat trap' closed on Joe 90 (Top Secret) comic, which, although it had been reputably selling better than TV21, it was decided to amalgamate the two publications, and re-title it, TV21 & Joe 90.
By now Mr Spock had replaced Joe 90 as the face on the Sugar Smacks box, and the first issue of TV21 & Joe 90, dated 13th September, 1969, although delayed until w/e 27th September began to arrive at newsagents.
The front cover was totally underwhelming to me as it featured football, a subject that had begun creeping onto some the previous weeks' TV21 covers. The free gift of soccer stars portraits certainly wasn't a pull, either. Still, the comic retained a nod to a couple of Andersons' series; a single page full colour Thunderbirds strip and a page and half of Joe 90 in black & white.
The comic's high points for me were the Star Trek strip, and Land of the Giants, and as a bonus, the first issue also featured a full page painted advert for the Sugar Smacks badges. It showed drawings of the five badges, Mr Spock and a oddly proportioned 'Enterprise'.
The 32mm badges featured photos of four Star Trek characters: Captain Kirk, Mr Spock, Dr McCoy and Sulu. The fifth badge showed a Star Fleet emblem .
Written on the rim : Copyright 1969 Paramount Pictures Corporation.
Collecting them as a youngster, I do seem to recall getting a disproportionate number of Dr McCoy swaps, but in spite of that I did eventually get a set.
The fun thing about these badges is, apart from their nostalgic value they are still easily affordable. There's plenty of them about and generally speaking full sets can still be bought for a few pounds.
The final part of my Kellogg's Sugar Smacks promotional posts to follow soon.
I had (and still have somewhere) Mr Spock.
ReplyDeleteI had quite a few swaps as a youngster, Mish I must have eaten a heck of a lot of Sugar Smacks to get them. I'm surprised I've still got my own teeth! :D
DeleteGreat post, which enlightened me to many things about UK marketing of SF TV shows. There was such a crossover from the comics to the toys and badges to the cereals and other foods, you have to imagine they made alot of money with these wide-ranging merchandising schemes.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Zigg. I've just posted the final installment on the badges dealing with the Dr Who ones, and to be honest I can easily connect the Jon Pertwee's Dr Who badge promotion with Countdown comic.
DeleteThe Sugar Smacks Star Trek badges were and still are my favourite set. I was captivated by the photo illustrations of the crew. No wonder I struggled to find a Spock badge as a kid... you had 'em all, Scoop :)
ReplyDeleteMy three sugar smacks badges posts have proved extremely popular, Tony, with the last one I did showing my Dr Who badges currently top of the pops at the moment. It seems these little nostalgic items have struck a chord with a lot of people.
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