YVONNE CRAIG R.I.P.

Batfans all over the world will be sad to hear that actress Yvonne Craig who is best known to have played Batgirl in the 1966 TV series has sadly passed away at her home in Pacific Palisades, surrounded by her immediate family.

She  began her career as the youngest member of The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, touring with them for three years before landing a lead part in the Movie The Young Land.

This was followed by many years of film and television, including two movies with Elvis Presley.

In the feature length  The Man from UNCLE two-parter  film version, One Spy Too Many, Yvonne is added in  a sub-plot flirting with agent Napoleon Solo, although she doesn't actually appear in the television  episode.

In The Wild, Wild West, her previous dancing experience came in handy as she played an exotic dancer who doubles as an assassin.

She is also remembered as 'Marta' in the third season Star Trek episode, 'Whom Gods Destroy, playing an insane green Orion Slave Girl.

It is as Batgirl  that most fans will remember Yvonne Craig. She joined the cast at the beginning of season 3, after the future of the show seemed uncertain. Executive Producer and series narrator William Dozier chose to introduce a female character, Batgirl.

Dozier went on to ask the editor of DC's Batman comics to further develop the character.

A promotional short was produced to convince the TV executives, featuring Yvonne as Batgirl, and Tim Herbert as Killer Moth, with guest appearances by Batman and Robin.

Yvonne joined the cast in 1967, for the third and final season of Batman. She got her name in the credits and an introduction episode - there was even a  Batgirl song played during a couple of episodes, specially written by composer and trumpeter, Billy May.

Following Batman, Yvonne, made occasional appearances in various television series including Kojak and The Six Million Dollar Man. Eventually she moved into private business.

Now it's time to hang up the cape & cowell.

Yvonne Craig 1937 -2015

Our sincere condolences to her family.

ALPHA: 2014 REMEMBERED

One of my favourite conventions from last year was the Alpha:2014 event which was totally dedicated to the Space: 1999 TV series,

There was a huge amount of original props and models provided by the All Sections Alpha modellers group, and the some of the friendliest attendees you could meet.

The guests, of course were a high point. Some big names in Space 1999 circles - Nick Tate and Catherine Schell being the headliners.

Here's a few more  photos' I took of the guests who attended and worked on the original series.

Nick Tate who played Eagle pilot Alan Carter. A popular witty and friendly guest.

The lovely Catherine Schell who played the Servant of the Guardian in the first season episode, Guardian of Piri, and the metamorph from the planet Psychon, Maya during the second season.

Prentis Hancock who played Main Mission Controller Paul Morrow in first season. Another popular guest  who really should have been in second season.

Christopher Penfold, one of the brains behind Gerry Anderson's Space 1999. He was story consultant for the first series, and re- wrote the series premiere, Breakaway.

Brian Johnson, the man behind the special effects and the design of the Eagle Transporter.

Anton Phillips who played Dr. Bob Mathias in the first series. He was replaced with a different character  in second season by Jeffery Kissoon who played Dr Ben Vincent in seven episodes.

Suzanne Roquette  played Main Mission Operative Tanya Alexander who appeared in first season only.

Sarah Bullen seen here holding the mic, next to Pam Rose in the baseball cap, did appear as a Main Mission background player in both seasons as Operative Kate.

Pam Rose, another popular guest, appeared in second season as another background player.

And now to some names and faces, some of you might not have seen .

 Suzanne Heimer who was Barbera Bain's stand-in, appeared in many major films prior to leaving the film busness, doubling for the female stars.Among them, Farrah Fawcett in Saturn 3, Melody Anderson in Flash Gordon, Valerie Perrine and Sarah Douglas in Superman, as well as Lisa Harrow in the TV series Star Maidens.

Stuntman, Paul Weston who appeared in several episodes of Space 1999, usually being violently flung across main mission. Another friendly guy. I had a brief conversation with Paul about him working on the Baron TV series

Finally, Camera focus puller Robin McDonald, who worked on not only Space 1999, but so many classic films and TV series.
His job as a focus puller, or 1st Assistant Camera  was maintaining image sharpness on whatever action or subject was being filmed.

 Oops, sorry Robin!

That's better!

Seriously, I really do hope the folks behind the Alpha: 2014 consider doing another convention at some point in the not too distant future.

TV21 STINGRAY SALVAGE CRAFT?

Browsing through my TV21's I noticed this illustrated plane in a Stingray strip from 1968 - the one just above the words Into the Drink.

It reminded me of several things at once - Thunderbird 2, the SpaceX Pleasure Cruiser, the Wombat and the SpaceX Salvage Craft.

What do you think?

PS. that was a beautiful Corgi model, the TV camera van. I remember it so well!

On Manoevres

 Back in 1973, I was Matchbox car mad. My dad had started me off, even before I was born, by buying me my first toy car and then carried on, as they were released, until I had almost every Matchbox regular series and then Superfast car, available. Apart from,for some reason, the early army series models. Matchbox and Husky both included military trucks, jeeps and armoured cars and most annoyingly a Half Track, which I never got. Then, as I grew older and started buying the cars myself, Matchbox and Corgi Juniors began to include military models again. One of the best of the later army series was the Rolamatics SP Cannon. 'Rolamatics' was an action feature included in certain models which activated a moving part and in the case of the Cannon, as the model was pushed forward, the barrel popped in and out simulating a recoil.

 I still have my original model and somewhere along the way I have picked up a second. At the weekend, I visited a large car boot sale and on the way out, spotted a small container of cars, including the Rolamatic Weasel Armoured Car and an SP Gun. At 10p each, it was a no brainer, so I bought six models.

 Until then, I had forgotten how robust and well made the Cannon was and popped into the attic to retrieve the other two.

The rubber treads had survived and the paintwork was in remarkable condition too, testament to Matchbox fabulous build quality.

BLACKPOOL AIRSHOW 2015: STRIKEMASTER

Always a popular jet aircraft seen at many current airshows  is the BAC Strikemaster, which was developed from the Jet Provost, another plane I saw at last year's Southport Airshow.

Unlike the Jet Provost, which was made between 1955 -1967 and is mostly retired, the Strikemaster , which was produced between 1967-1984, is still in service with 5 countries. The Strikemaster on display at Blackpool is in the Sultan of Oman's Air Force colour scheme.

The BAC 167 Strikemaster is a training and light attack aircraft,  powered by a Rolls-Royce Viper turbo jet giving it  a top speed of 481 mph (418 knots) at 18,000 ft.

It's a highly manoeuvrable aircraft, and perfect for smoke displays. 

Although the Strikemaster is an advanced trainer, it was capable of operating from rough air strips with dual ejection seats suitable for low altitude escape, which made it ideal for use by some third-world nations. However, following the discovery by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, of fatigue cracking in the wings of their  aircraft , military use was restricted.

The Strikemaster on display is maintained by North Wales Military Aviation Services who have become specialists in overcoming obsolescence in ex-military aircraft, and have  produced many spare parts for a several aircraft types.

  

Even though it's getting a little long in the tooth in comparison to some of it's contemporary's , its still a great looking aircraft.

NEW DIE-CAST THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO TOYS

Now that the first wave of Bandai Thunderbirds Are Go toys have all been released, including their  new interactive Tracy Island, we'll soon be treated to other manufacturers bringing out even more TAG goodies.

These little 2.35" die-cast toys are estimated to be released by Takara in October, presumably ready for the build up to Christmas.  

Best start saving the pennies.