Gerry & Sylvia Anderson’s, Stingray has always been my favourite Supermarionation TV series, closely followed by Fireball XL5.
2024 is the anniversary year for the first 1964 screenings of Stingray in the UK, although in spite of that fact I always feel 1965 as being more relevant to my own personal memories of the Super Sub.
However, I can still remember my local TV station, Granada broadcasting the first episode precisely sixty years ago on Wednesday, 30th December, 1964 at 6.06 pm, after being called downstairs by my Dad just prior to it starting.
Just over three weeks later, on Tuesday, 19th January, 1965, TV Century 21 comic appeared at my corner newsagent, featuring a large colour photo of Stingray being pursued by a mechanical fish. I spotted it, and persuaded my parents to place a regular order.
I vividly remember getting the Giant 48-Page TV Century 21 Stingray Special, which appeared during May , and featured a couple of fabric Stingray stick-on badges, which fitted fine on my school jumper. However, in spite of their aquatic nature I should have remembered to remove them before they went into the weekly wash!
Around this time Stingray merchandise was beginning to become available. My brother and I both got a pair of Fairylite friction drive Stingray toys. To my young eyes, I thought it was just like the real thing. Actually, to my much older eyes, I still think it looks great!
Competition prizes in TV Century 21, especially during it’s first year, also doubled as clever adverts for usually lower cost items that birthday money or holiday treats would cover.
The Fairylite Stingray water pistol and Lone-Star cap gun were sought after.
July saw the release of the first TV Century 21 Summer Extra featuring Fireball XL5 on the cover. Inside amongst the usual comic strips are adverts for the forthcoming Stingray and TV Century 21 annuals, plus a Lady Penelope Investigates feature on A.P. Film, and a mention of the upcoming Thunderbirds TV series.
July also saw adverts painted by Ron Embleton for the Golden Wonder Stingray inflatable offer.
I never did send away for one, or buy the other aquatic item of merchandise, the Stingray Arm Fins . However, that might have been a good thing, as it seems the promotion was quickly withdrawn the following month over safety concerns. A similar fate seemed to have befallen the Stingray Arm Fins!
A shame really, as the memorable advertising artwork from Ron Embleton and Rab Hamilton was very good.
One of the Stingray merchandise highlights for 1965 was the Lyon’s Maid Stingray kit, and adverts for this exclusive mail-away appeared in TV Century 21 from issues dated July 21st until September 4th.
I do remember sending away for one at the time, or rather my parents did. All that was required was three Sea Jet ice lolly wrappers, and a 6/- postal order.
September, and the end of the school holidays. The month also saw the premier of Thunderbirds on TV, although my local TV Station, Granada, began to screen it the following month.
Stingray was still getting some attention, though with World Distributors did publishing a Stingray Fun Book. (as well as a Supercar edition)
In October, I was pleased to see the TV Century 21 International Extra appear with Stingray gracing the front cover.
The first of the two Armada Stingray paperbacks were published in November. I must have seen it, and maybe read a friends copy, but I don’t remember owning a copy at the time.
Stand by for tooth decay as I collected the Cadet sweet cigarette cards throughout the year.
Christmas 1965, and, in amongst my presents I remember getting the Lincoln International Stingray, the Chad Valley give-a-show projector, and the first TV Century 21 annual.
What a fabulous array of Stingray related products! Super collection Scoop!
ReplyDeleteAnd a great post too!
DeleteThanks fellas. To paraphrase Phones during a comic strip in the first TV 21 annual, 'Stingray sure made an impression on me!'
DeleteFantastic post Scoop. Is there anything you still want from the world's of Stingray?
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Woodsy.
DeleteI think we both know, there's always some piece of merchandise I didn't know I wanted just waiting to be found.
What a terrific memoir of that Golden Age! I had no idea there was so much Stingray merchandise released over there, as here in the States it was minimal. But it almost seems that the merchandising for Stingray was an early "Beta Test" for the merchandising juggernaut which would accompany Thunderbirds the next year. Ironically, I am revisiting Stingray for the first time in decades right now, and am impressed how well it holds up today. There are so many terrific sets and vehicles in that series, you can easily see it being an essential forerunner to Thunderbirds. Thanks for posting these amazing memories! SFZ
ReplyDeleteCheers Zigg.
DeleteAfter Supercar and Fireball XL5, Stingray was a much bigger step up. A.P. films had been sold to ATV, and consequently moved into new, much larger premises. Stingray had a bigger budget, and was of course was filmed in 'Videcolor'. Some of the more juvenile aspects of the previous Supermarionation shows where still there, like the more caricatured puppet heads, and Oink the seal, but the stories had some wonderful characterisation. Life in Marineville was almost like a high-tech soap opera, what with love triangles and endless dinner parties, not to mention a spot of home painting decorating. Heck, they even have their own pub, The Blue Lagoon! ;D
Great post Scoop.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful collection of childhood memories you've got there.
But surely The Blue Lagoon is a 'bar' Scoop, not a pub ?!
It's a pub to me!;D
Delete