I'm pleased to see that Thunderbirds is being shown on the UK nostalgia channel, Talking Pictures TV, starting in September.
For those who can't wait Thunderbirds is still available on streaming channel ITV X, here in the UK.
Sunday, 23 July 2023
KONGA THE NOVEL- RESEARCH BY PAUL ADAMS
Having already looked at the Monarch Movie Books novelisation of Gorgo, it is now the turn of Konga. Also published by Monarch, as part of their film tie-in line.
Monarch Books, of Derby, Connecticut, was a US paperback publisher, which was only active from 1958 to 1965. Most of their books were rather on the sleazy side, at least judging by the covers.
For a while they also published a few movie and TV tie-in novelisations. Most of these were grouped together in the Monarch Movie Books series, which only lasted from 1960-61.
For a more detailed look at Monarch Books, see this earlier post, which was part of Gorgo Week.
Numerically, the next book in the series after Gorgo, was Konga. MM604 Konga, was written by Dean Owen, which was a pen-name of Dudley Dean McGaughy or McGaughey (variously listed as 1906 or 1909 to 1986).
This site gives a list of his many books - there were a lot, under a number of pen-names.
The cover of Konga states 'This Novel Is Based On The Herman Cohen Production - An American International Picture'.
Inside is 'Based on an original story and screenplay by Aben Kandel and Herman Cohen. An American International Picture in Eastman Color'. AIP being the US distributor.
The copyright page says '© 1960 Alta Vista Productions, Inc'.
The book was published in August 1960, although the film would not be released in Britain and American until March 1961. Like all the other Movie Books, it sold for 35 cents.
Unlike most 'giant monster on the rampage' movies, Konga only got an A Certificate from the British Board of Film Censors, meaning those under 16 were admitted if accompanied by an adult. Today, it is a PG, for Parental Guidance advised, and deemed suitable for anyone over 8 years old.
It seems that this book too was 'spiced up' a considerable amount, compared to the movie. Monarch liked to mix risque material in with their mayhem.
Unlike most of the other Movie Books, Konga had a painted cover, but the artist appears to be unknown. Actually, very little of Konga is visible, with more attention being paid to the couple in the foreground. A close-up of Konga was repeated on the back cover, tinted green.
Charlton Comics also released a Konga comic book, which ran from 1961 to 1965. There was also a separate mini-series initially called The Return of Konga, before becoming Konga's Revenge with issue 2. This was very similar to the situation with the Gorgo comics.
Four photographs from Worthpoint.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
BLUE SHARK MEETS HAIR BRUSH
Spruced up this Superfast Blue Shark recently, always a favourite when I was a kid in the Sixties and early Seventies.
A few spots of blue Sharpie pen and a lick of chrome, the biggest job, if I can call it that, was replacing two black plastic exhaust rods. I used two tines from a hairbrush. I'm hard pressed to work out which they are now!
Have you got a Blue Shark? Did you have one as a nipper?
ITS KONGA AND FRIENDS WEEK!
Following on monstrously from Gorgo week we follow the massive footprints of the British Kong to his and his friends' lairs!
Join us this week for some proper movie monkeying around!
🦍
Saturday, 22 July 2023
BLAKE'S 7 AT SMALLSPACE 10
Unsurprisingly, there’s always a welcome Blake’s 7 presence at
Smallspace as one of the co-organisers, Mat Irvine, was part of the
BBC Special Effects team who worked on the original series. He still
has in his possession what’s left of the original large Liberator
model.
However for
Smallspace 10, modeller Richard Ashton brought along a brand new
Liberator model, complete with a highly detailed display base’
Much to Richard’s
surprise and delight the model won best in Solar System. Here’s
Richard being presented with the award by BBC Effects man, Mike
Tucker, with actor John Leeson in the middle.
This light coloured Federation Pursuit Ship was built by Gary Welsh, of ‘Model Behaviour’. Gary won the award last year with an impressive looking Dreadnought model from Star Wars.
Another of Gary’s
models. Not Blake’s 7 but still very tidy.
CARZOL PLASTICS
Wotan onced mentioned a company or product called Carzol. Until then I had never heard of the company. Well, apart from an insecticide, what I came up with was a Canadian toy company.
Carzol Plastics Corp., Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Apart from the Carzol name, some of their products were marked C.P., and Made in Canada, or Carzol - Canada. Some versions of the address say Carzol Plastics Corporation, Montreal, P.Q. (Province of Quebec, or Province du Quebec), with no mention of Canada. I do not know the dates the different versions were used.
They made toy vehicles, toy soldiers, tea sets, plastic musical instruments, at least some TV related toys, and sold American Pyro plastic kits in the Canadian market - the ones I have seen on Worthpoint all have the name CP rather than Carzol on the box top, but Carzol Plastics Corp., appears on the side of the box.
Scalemates only list one kit, a 1930s Hall-Springfield "Bulldog" Thompson Trophy Racer, as kit number 1102, with a scale of 1/32nd. Ex-Pyro.
Worthpoint also has the Laird-Turner Pesco Special Thompson Trophy Racer. Kit 1103. Ex-Pyro.
A Japanese Fishing Boat was kit 1106. Ex-Pyro.
Carzol also produced versions of the Pyro Design-A-Plane and Design-A-Car sets. The plane set was sold in Britain by Eaglewall.
From Alphadrome, an undated Carzol catalogue, giving the address as Carzol Plastics Corporation, 8490 Jeanne Mance St., Montreal, Canada. It also shows some of the other products the company made.
The Antique Toys Library shows a wonderful, and very colourful Paladin Gold Mine Adventure set, based on the US television programme Have Gun Will Travel (1957-63).
Various other toy figures and vehicles are listed on Worthpoint and Ebay. Other than that, there is very little information around on this obscure company.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
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