Hi Woodsy
The On the Buses set contained 11 DVDs – and came in a special plastic case in the shape of a double decker bus, packed within a cardboard window box which showed off the contents.
I remember seeing this in the shops, but thought it was a bit expensive.
The bus was large, and moulded in green plastic. According to the box top it had working lights, moving wheels (green hubs, with black tyres), a figure of driver Stan Butler (Reg Varney) in the cab, and the sets were individually numbered.
It was a model of the Bristol Lodekka bus used in the series. From the packaging, it appears the upper deck was hinged along one side, allowing access to the 11 DVDs within.
The bus carried the markings of the Luxton District bus company, which Stan worked for. The side panel had the series title On The Buses, along with caricatures of the regular cast members.
Windows and interior detail were printed on. Trim was black and cream.
I could not find any photos of the bus model itself, just of the boxed set. The only listings I found for this carry the name Beyond Home Entertainment, which is an Australian company.
So, was this set unique to the Australian and New Zealand Market – DVD Region 4 ? It was certainly available in NZ.
Did you watch it?
Photographs from Ebay
Paul Adams from New Zealand
An amazing set Paul. I am attracted to box sets like this in Charity shops. The one I look out for is the blue Terminator tin. I remember On the Buses vividly watching it with my parents. Reg was always in trouble somehow. The whole thing about clippies, the lady conductors, I guess that's not for modern audiences, like so much comedy TV from the Seventies. A great set you got and as DVD fades away these sets will be less common. Charity shops can't handle all the dvds they get given.
ReplyDeleteOn the Buses is a series I never heard of before I bumped into it on Roku one day here in the States - a bizarre and hilarious show! I bet that set goes for a king's ransom these days! SFZ
ReplyDeleteThe TV show was so popular that three movie versions were made between 1971 and 73.
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, they were produced by none other than Hammer Films (yes that Hammer Films) !
That was a nice looking set, but it is not one I have. The photos are from a sales listing on-line that I found. You do not see these big boxed sets in NZ charity shops. British and US charity shops are so much better than the ones in NZ.
ReplyDeleteYes, I watched On the Buses on TV. I do have a DVD set of the three movie versions.