THE DALEK CHRONICLES: THE EMISSARIES OF JEVO

 

By Altered Vistas' Stuart Palmer, it gives me great pleasure to present once more his short animation from 2015 of the Dalek Chronicles: The Emissaries of Jevo.

CRAFT FAIR DALEK

I'm not too keen on craft fairs but Missus Moonbase is so I do visit them with her. 

I usually get round  the stalls quite quickly and then stand at the entrance rather awkwardly. I've nothing against crafts. They're just not my cup of tea although I do appreciate the time and effort put into them.

At one such fair in Helmsley on Saturday, stopping off whilst en-route home from the Moors, I saw perhaps the strangest crafted item I'd seen, at least at first sight: a rather nice metal Dalek zip fastener.

I first thought they were for trouser flies and wondered who would want a dalek dangling down there, but then I normalised and realised they were for zips on hold-alls, rucksacks and sweatshirts etc.

At a pound each I should have got one but my craft fair legs were already taking me out of the room.

My Missus was telling me she has similar twitchy legs when I drag her to toy fairs!

Do you like craft fairs and would you wear a dangling dalek?

DID THE DALEKS INVADE THE PLANET ORIC?

Hi sorry not to have been touch since earlier in the year, but am still an avid reader of your blog.

Treated myself to the recently reissued glossy collection of TV21 Dalek stories.

It follows the usual line that the stories were leading up to the 22nd Century invasion of Earth from Dr Who.

As I mentioned, I tried my hand at the outline of a plot for the Daleks to invade the Earth of 2068 in the TV21 Universe.

I have not go very far with it. Fanderson published a special TV21 edition a while back with a story by Stephen Baxter where the Astrans invade Earth. It ends with a reference to the Daleks.

I have found a 1965 cover featuring the Daleks in which the planet Oric appeals to the World President for help against a possible Dalek invasion.

The strip mentions the Daleks planning to invade Oric but no more is heard of this plotline.

I wonder if Alan Fennell did after all plan for his Daleks to invade his 21c Earth. Perhaps he changed his mind because this was too close to the TV and Film Dr Who invasion.

Such a shame.

Wishing you a safer and better 2021,

Ralph Morton

MARX DALEKS TAKE OVER THE BBC TOY SHOP DURING BBC INTERLUDE 1960's

Today I mentioned in a comment that Marx toy Daleks had allegedly appeared in Dr. Who episodes and the Invasion movie as described here in DenValdron's article https://www.thedoctorwhoforum.com/uncategorized/the-quirks-of-quarks-another-of-doctor-whos-also-ran-monsters/

I've not been able to locate any of the 'toy dalek' footage mentioned by DenValdron but ..... I have bumped into this fascinating clip of toys on the BBC including ....... Marx Daleks!

It was posted on You Tube in 2007 by Natalief2018.

I think it was called Toy Fair on the BBC and aired in the 1960's. Its described as an interlude. I know that means a break but how was it used at the time?

Anyways, its slightly demented and off-kilter and I love it!

What do you think?

TV21 DALEKS PROOF BOOK?

There is mention on Amazon of this TV21 book - here: "TV Century 21 Complete Dalek Strips In One Exciting Book Ultra Rare Proof Book".

It is described as:

"A fantastic 100 page Complete Dalek Comic Strips as they appeared in the TV Century 21 Comics of the 1960's. This book is one of the very few proofs that was made to be approved for a book release. Sadly, the book never went to print, hence the reason why it is so very very rare. Every comic strip that was produced for the comics, have been reproduced in this book, in full colour."

Now I know nothing about this proof book but the mention of TV21 drew me there. I'm not a big Dalek fan so I can't comment on its rarity. However, the publication in the pictures looks a lot like a report I might have done in my office, with a plastic cover and a plastic spine!

Does anyone know anything about it?

BY KID: THE MARX DALEK - APPROVED AND AUTHENTICATED...

Blog reader and fellow blogger Kid is a big Dalek fan. He has kindly given me permission to repost this article, which he wrote on his own cool blog Crivens! back in 2012.

If I remember my DOCTOR WHO history correctly, a DALEK's 'plunger' appeared on the programme on December 21st, 1963, but it wasn't until the following week (28th) that the pepper-pot perpetrators of planetary pulverisation appeared in their full glory and subsequently took the kiddie-contingent of the country by storm.  

MARX TOYS were amongst the first to jump on the merchandising bandwagon that followed, with an assortment of friction-drive, ball-bearing and battery-powered bump 'n' go plastic playthings in varying sizes and colours.  (Silver and black initially, with red and yellow ones a few years later.)

Although the demand for these toys was huge, it has to be admitted in the cold light of adulthood that they weren't entirely accurate in terms of detail.  True, they captured the essence of the aggressive aliens perfectly and were even used as stand-ins in the programme itself, but could hardly be considered as exact reproductions of their TV counterparts.  (Although Marx were not the only manufacturers of Dalek merchandise whose product differed from their cathode ray tube incarnations.)

At least, that's the generally-held view of collectors of these popular 'metal' mutants.  However, a few years back, in the pages of DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE, I spied an early production sketch by designer RAY CUSICK, which suggested a possible means of propelling the Scions of SKARO around the BBC studios.  

Take a good look at the drawing below - doesn't it seem remarkably similar to the Marx Dalek to you?  Look at the shape of the head - it's almost a dead-ringer for the Marx version.  (It's also got the same lights as the movie version - a couple of years before the big-screen adventure had even been thought of.) 

So, to all those inclined to write off the Marx Dalek as an inaccurate representation of the Doctor's arch-enemies, perhaps it's now time to re- evaluate that assessment.  The fact that it bears quite a resemblance to an approved (in appearance, if not in propulsion) production sketch by the actual designer means we can safely regard the most sought-after toy of Christmas '64 as an 'official', if variant, member of the Dalek ranks.

Obviously, as has been seen down through the years, Daleks come in various versions, and each one is as valid as another.  I can't help but wonder, 'though, if these tin-pot tyrants would have been as successful if either of the following two designs had been approved by those in charge.  Perhaps the whole future of the programme would have been different - if, indeed, it would even have had one.

So, go on - dig out your Marx Dalek today (if you're lucky enough to own one) and give him pride of place once more on your shelf or sideboard.  No longer need he play second-fiddle to his later brothers and cousins.  No hiding him behind the rest of them, mind - stick him up-front where he rightfully belongs.

DALEK PATROL SHIP & PILOT

As the hotly anticipated new series of Doctor Who featuring Peter Capaldi  is due to air next month I though it’s time to give some Who merchandise a mention.

Generally speaking Who merchandise for me means  Daleks, and my latest acquisition is this Dalek Patrol Ship complete with pilot.

As far as I’m aware  this particular Patrol Ship first appeared in the fiftieth anniversary special  ‘Day Of The Doctor’.

 It has a spring loaded firing cannon on top, and removable armoured panels.

It’s scaled to the 3.75” series and comes with its own pilot.

It’s a perfect complimentary vehicle to the previously released Dalek Hoverbout.

A DALEK IN LONDON

While taking a long weekend break in London seeing the sights and attractions, I found I had a couple of hours to spare one morning. I’d also bought a cheap classic Dalek toy from London’s Forbidden Planet store the day before, so I thought to myself , Dalek plus London - It’s got to be a photo opportunity!

The 1964 episodes that made up the Dalek Invasion of Earth have always been a favourite Dalek story for me and the extensive use of location footage shot in and around London just adds to the stark realism that just doesn't happen in studio bound stories. 

  

Several city locations were used. At the Albert Memorial  Daleks could be seen extending their sucker arms in what looked like a Nazi salute.  Here’s my Dalek trying it by the Thames Embankment.

Daleks also trundled across a deserted Trafalgar Square in 1964. The day I chose was anything but deserted.  A festival celebrating Valsakhi, the Sikh New Year had taken over the Square much more effectively than the Daleks ever did . My Dalek still got some funny looks though!  

The Houses of Parliament, a symbol of power and a perfect backdrop for Dalek Invasion.

My favourite images are those iconic ones showing  the Daleks crossing Westminster Bridge with Parliament in the background. This early publicity picture shows a single defiant Dalek.  

I took several photos on the bridge. Not an easy thing these days as there are a lot more people filling the pavement most of which, quite surprisingly had never seen someone take pictures of a toy Dalek!

Leaving the Dalek back at the hotel, I thought I’d catch the Tube and check out the BBC Television Centre at White City, which is around 4 miles from the City centre.

This is where the studio work for episodes making up the Daleks Invasion of Earth would have been completed.  The BBC used the building until it officially closed on March 31, 2013 and although parts of it are listed, large sections will shortly be demolished and turned into flats and offices. 

Curiously, one of the last things to be filmed at the Television Centre was ‘An Adventure in Space and Time’, a drama about the creation and early episodes of Doctor Who and the series’ saviours, The Daleks!  

DALEK!

While I admit to enjoying Jon Petwee’s and Tom Baker’s portrayal of the BBC’s errant Time Lord, I wouldn’t call myself a Dr Who fan and can honestly say I have absolutely no interest in the current series. But like most kids growing up in the sixties Dr Who’s arch enemies had much more appeal to me than the Doctor himself.

 

I have vivid memories of watching the first Dalek story shown on TV in 1963 and having nightmares, believing a Dalek was hiding in wait behind my bedroom door.

The Dalek strip on the back page of TV21 sealed the deal for me linking the worlds of Gerry Anderson and those mutant metal monsters. Indeed an edition of the comic was used to promote the colourful big screen adaptation, Dr Who And The Daleks .

The second film, Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. followed a year later in 1966. I still like those films packed with sixties kitsch and love re-watching them while munching through a bowl of Sugar Puffs! Strangely enough, in the film Dr Who And The Daleks, the Doctor, played by Peter Cushing is seen reading an issue of Eagle comic rather than TV21, but I suppose that makes sense, as he’d have prior knowledge of the Daleks if he turned to the back cover!

 

Peter Cushing's co-stars, Jennie Linden and Roy Castle  

The sixties was awash with Dalekmania making a lot of dosh for their creator, the late Terry Nation, and subsequently all types of Dalek toys were released.

The Louis Marx Bump & Go Robot Action Dalek was probably the most popular, available in either black or silver. Examples were even used in the actual BBC series during shots involving miniature Dalek crowd scenes. First in the 1967 story ‘Evil Of The Daleks’, and later in 1973 in the story ‘ Planet Of The Daleks’.

Tom Baker’s popularity as The Doctor in the early seventies meant the toy was re packaged with a more up to date box. These were available in either yellow or red. Other manufacturers got in on the act like Denys Fishers and Palitoy with new Dalek toys.

At the time of it’s release I always considered Palitoys Talking Dalek to be a fairly accurate representation, although looking at it now it’s far from perfect, but, even though I like them both, it’s certainly a better effort than the Marx Dalek.

Stay tuned for more Dalekmania.