A look at the pages of the 2001: A Space Odyssey souvenir brochure :
Friday, 14 January 2022
K WEST
I saw a purse the other day with a metal logo lettered K WEST.
I've no idea what K WEST means on a purse but it immediately took me back to my youth as K. West means something to me from way back when.
Its the illuminated sign in the street above Ziggy's head on the LP cover of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars! I adored this record and still have the very same one! How sad is that!
Small world though eh!
No idea what K. West meant on the LP cover either - a Martian quest maybe? - but I will always remember the name!
Did you have Ziggy Stardust readers?
Thursday, 13 January 2022
JANUARY SUPERFAST
I bought this batch of old Superfast on Ebay this January.
It was a real bargain and loads of touch-up potential for me on these long winter nights.
So getting stuck in I used my new acrylic paint pens and my trusty Sharpies. Here are the results.
Some of the cars required more patching up than others.
No work was done to the Guildsman as I don't have the right pink. Its not too bad anyway.
The red pick up just needed a little sprucing up. The blue Lotus Europa was so scratched that I took Wotan's advice and painted it with my Humbrol midnight blue paint leftover from my Batmobile project.
I enjoyed helping all thise cars along, the racing mini, the police boat, the Marzal and more.
The Guildsman remains one of my fave Superfast, just like it was when I was a kid.
What do you think readers?
2001 MEETS CENTURY 21
As a youngster I always felt a connection between 2001 and Century 21. I could hardly be aware at the time that director Stanley Kubrick, having apparently seen some of Gerry’s shows had called the Century 21 studios with the intension of hiring and using the unique skills of the special effects team on 2001. Century 21 were obviously reluctant to lose their people, although special effects assistant, Brian Johnson felt it was an offer he just couldn’t refuse, and left the studio towards the end of the filming of Thunderbirds, much to the annoyance of Gerry, who told him, ‘he’d never work in the film industry again!’
Brian, of course would return to work with Gerry again, first providing practical effects on the 1972 series The Protectors and then moving on to Space: 1999, which as we know drew a great deal of visual inspiration from 2001: A Space Odyssey, even the title is similar, which MGM considered suing over.
Stills from 2001: A Space Odyssey did appear a few times in TV21, which used quite a few publicity shots from the film starting with a short half page article in issue 178, dated June 15, 2068. It briefly describes the story up to the point when astronaut, David Bowman enters the star gate. An accompanying publicity photo shows fellow astronaut Frank Poole in the Pod Bay.
TV21’s occasional Saturn Probe feature also used photos from the film, although they are used to illustrate the article’s descriptions of the exploration of Saturn. (ironically, the originally screenplay had the planet Saturn as the destination for the ‘Discovery’, rather than Jupiter, however the special effects team had doubts about creating a convincing look for Saturn’s rings)
In issue no. 222 (dated April 19, 2069), a piece titled, ‘Exploring the Atmosphere’, used three photos. One is of astronaut Dave Bowman floating next to the ‘Discovery’s AE35 unit’s antenna’, another shows the Aries 1B lunar shuttle, and finally a photo of the rocket moon bus travelling above the Moon’s surface.
Issue no. 224 (dated May 3, 2069) has a half page colour spread apparently showing the crew of the orbiting Saturn space probe, ‘Shindig 1’. The photos actually showed stewardesses aboard the Aries 1B lunar shuttle and one the ‘Discovery’ astronauts.
In issue no. 226 (dated May 17, 2069) another colour half page proclaiming Saturn’s first city named Shidigville. The photo actually showed astronauts at the Tycho excavation site approaching the Tycho Magnetic Anomaly (TMA 1)
Issue no. 241 (dated August 30, 2069) carried a factual space article – Space Info, sub-titled, ‘Capturing an Asteroid’, and used a still showing the Orion Spacecraft approaching Space Station 5.
The Century 21 toy line Project SWORD also rode on the coat tails of 2001, as we’ve talked about many times previously on the blog.
Marketing events were conceived to publicise the Project Sword range of toys to coincide with cinema showings of 2001, including a display at Hatchett’s Playground Club in Piccadilly, London, as well as displays in cinemas. (Project Space was one of several proposed titles for the film 2001, so I wonder if that actually inspired the name Project Sword.).
When I went to see the film during its first release I can’t honestly recall seeing any displays in the foyer of my local cinema, but I do remember recognising scenes from the film in my Project Sword annual which is littered with publicity stills.
I still think it’s odd that TV21 didn’t capitalise on their advertising connection with the film and their range of toys. A photo spread in the comic would have gone down well with SWORD fans. Maybe it was a licensing thing, or possibly something that Director Stanley Kubrick wasn’t happy with?
THE SEVENTIES AND BEYOND:
By 1970 Century 21 Publishing had gone, but a new comic edited by former TV21 art editor, Dennis Hooper called Countdown, and published by Polystyle would continue to feature Gerry Anderson’s TV series, including the live action, UFO, which ironically did feature a surviving prop from 2001. A back pack originally worn by an astronaut in the Tycho Excavation scene is re-used by SHADO astronauts during a space- walk in the episode, Close up.
It also contained the eponymously titled Countdown, an original science fiction strip drawn by John M Burns, and not based on a TV series. The premise dealt with the return to Earth for the spaceship Countdown, (The design based on the 2001 Discovery) and finding a totalitarian government running things. The unique point about the strip is it used space ship and suit designs from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
And finally, a TV21 cover that never was...!
BOMB-A-SHIP AND TORPEDO ATTACK GAMES
Hi
Here is another fun game. The Bomb-A-Ship, which I found on Pinterest.
The set comes with a US Air Force B-29 bomber, an Atom bomb for it to drop, and an exploding Japanese battleship. 'Hit the target and battleship explodes harmlessly into 8 parts'. The battleship can be reassembled, and bombed over and over again.
Really, if you are dropping atom bombs on a ship, a direct hit would not be required. Plus, it seems fairly unlikely that a B-29 would be used for anti-ship strike missions. I would guess the game is 1950s - the description says Thomas Mfg, 1953. This company was based in Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Toys Bomb-A-Ship Play Set | Thomas toys, Nostalgic toys, Vintage toys (pinterest.nz)
It seems there was a very similar game called Torpedo Attack, again with an exploding Battleship, but this time with a torpedo firing Atom submarine. Oddly, the Battleship is described as exploding into 7 pieces this time.
Then there was the more basic Atom Bomber game (I think this may have been featured on Moonbase before ?), where you dropped your Atom bomb on to a target that seems to be the box the toy came in. There is even a very short film clip on You Tube showing the game being played. The bomb is loaded in to a working bomb bay. When a lever on top of the B-29 is pressed, the bomb doors open, and the bomb is dropped on to the target.
Thomas Toys Atom Bomber target game - YouTube
The colours of the plastic used for these toys seem to vary, with yellow, red, and blue being used for the Battleship, and silver grey for the B-29 and Submarine.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Wednesday, 12 January 2022
BURKE SHELLEY RIP: YOUNG IS A WORLD WHERE I OFTEN GO
I was very sad to learn that Burke Shelley, founder and frontman of the Seventies heavy rock band Budgie has passed away aged 71.
I adored Budgie in the early to late Seventies, had every album and saw them live too. Its incredibly sad that such a huge part of my youth has now gone too.
I've waxed on about Budgie ever since I started this blog and in remembrance of Burke here's the first thing I post about them again from way back in 2010.
My condolences to his family and his fans like me.
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It's pouring down outside. Just right for this pensive track from Budgie on their wonderful SQUAWK album 1972, YOUNG IS A WORLD. As for Budgie, they were my rock hero's back then and I thought Tony Bourge was the best lead guitarist I'd ever heard and similarly Burke Shelley on bass on vocals [the drummer I remember is Pete Boot - also brill].
I knew every riff and lyric up to either If I were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules or Bandolier, whichever was the later LP. Sadly I know nothing after that, which is how it went for all my fave bands. I just stopped at a certain point. Is that the same for everyone?
2010
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2001: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAL
Today is the HAL 9000's birthday: HAL became operational on 12th January 1992 at the HAL Laboratories in Urbana, Illinois.
Many happy returns, HAL
Infinity and Beyond: This is the original ‘Star Child’ prop sculpted by Liz Moore, which was thought to be lost until 2003 .Liz Moore joined the team of 2001: in 1966 and along with the ‘Star Child’, Liz worked in the art department assisting Stuart Freeborn in the creation of the first human masks, and helping to create the Lunar landscapes. For the Star Child which was built in autumn 1967, she created a clay mould sculpture with features intentionally similar to Keir Dullea. From this a fiberglass model was built.
According to a ‘Cinefex’ interview with Brian Johnson, Stanley Kubrick wanted the Star Child to have a more ‘evolved’ look with a slightly bigger head. Another ‘Cinefex’ interview with Douglas Trumbull described how Stanley Kubrick shot the model through around fifteen layers of special gauze made from rare, lady stockings from pre-war Europe which softened the tremendous over exposed backlight. The ten second shot was filmed over eight hours to achieve a large depth of field.
Liz Moore, amongst other works went on to design the C-3PO suit for the film, Star Wars. Sadly, Liz died in a car accident in 1976 at the age of 32.
The Dawn of Man: Some photos of the original ‘Moonwatcher’ costumes and masks on display which were designed by Stuart Freeborn, and worn by mime artist Dan Richter and Andy Wallace.
Dan Richter was working as a mime artist in London at the time, and choreographed the ‘Dawn of Man’ scene in the film. He spent hours at the Natural History Museum and London Zoo studying the movements of chimps and gorillas. When casting the man-apes, Kubrick decided that Richter should take the role of ‘Moonwatcher', as he is named in the novel.
Make-up artist Derek Freeborn developed the ape- heads, which contained intricate toggles and devices to move the teeth, cheeks and tongue muscles.
Jupiter Mission: The original ‘Discovery’ Space helmet worn by Keir Dullea as astronaut Dave Bowman. This and many more of the designs for 2001: were created by German film production designer Harry Lange. Lange had previously worked at NASA working on spacecraft designs with Werner von Braun. At NASA, Lange had met Arthur C Clarke, who introduced him to Stanley Kubrick. Lange, using his astronautical design experience went on to produce authentic prop and set designs for 2001:. He later worked on the James Bond film, Moonraker and the first three Star Wars films, although he was un-credited on the first.
The original ‘Discovery’ spacesuit chestpack.
The original ‘Discovery’ backpack. I believe this or one very much like it was seen again in the Gerry Anderson TV series UFO, during the episode ‘Close Up’.
Original spacesuit: At Clavius Base the crew wore silver/white versions of the suit, while on ‘Discovery’ there was four suits of different colours; a red and a yellow, a green one in the emergency air-lock, and a blue one seen, but not used by anyone in the film. (A replica was later used in the Babylon 5 episodes, ‘Babylon Squared’ and ’War Without End: part 2)
This is the red spacesuit Keir Dullea wore in the the film, 2010:The Year We Make Contact.
There was also a violet one, not shown in the film, but stored in a locker aboard the ‘Discovery’. This meant that each human member of the ‘Discovery’ crew would have their own spacesuit.
There were several reproduction spacecraft models on display. This studio size model Moon Rocket Bus is credited to Jeff Wargo.
‘Discovery One’ Spacecraft, made by Scott Alexander.
A 44” studio scale model of the Pan-Am ‘Orion III’ space plane, made by Stephen Dymszo, with contributions by Karl Tate.
The HAL 9000 interface with authentic screens. Sadly two screens appeared not to be working, could that be down to a fault in the AE35 unit?
A reproduction of part of Space Station 5, complete with Djinn chair and sofa, (1965: designed by Olivier Mourgue) and Saarinen Tulip low table. (1957: designed by Eero Saarinen)
There were plenty of other items on display, including photographs. One photo I saw might be of some interest to Thunderbirds fans like me. It shows a model of the Moon’s surface done by matte artist Joy Cuff who, along with special effects man Brian Johnson had left the Century 21 Studios, in Slough during the filming of Thunderbirds to join the 2001: production team. Joy Cuff was responsible for modelling the lunar landscapes such as the ones visible from the Moon Rocket Bus windows.
“If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed”
Stanley Kubrick
I'VE NEVER SEEN LADY PENELOPE'S FIRST FREE GIFT
Its a lovely thing by the looks of it, a simple signet ring, which doubles as a stamp. Have you ever seen one readers?
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lady-penelope-free-gift-signet-ring-248335504
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