CHRISTMAS TELLY

I've just been browsing the TV listings for Christmas here in the UK. A few of my own personal highlights of what's on are:

1. Mighty Joe Young [1949]: the black and white original - I adored the lion cage scene as a kid!
2. Inside No.9; Sardines - a re-run of episode 1, which I don't think I've seen
3. Clash of the Titans [2010]: I'd prefer the original - but Greek mythology is always good.
4. The Haunting - one of the scariest old flicks ever relying almost entirely on sound effects for its shocks.
5. Wallace and Gromet Murder Most Fowl - the new one from the Lancastrian superstars
6. The Woman of Stone: BBC Ghost Story for Christmas - Mark Gatiss at it again; can't wait!
7. Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Speilberg's masterpiece and the he Grandon's favourite!
8. Kong; Skull Island; one of the modern King Kongers
9. A Christmas Carol [Alistair Sim] - the black and white ghost story that is as much Christmas as Santa himself.

I'm still looking for Jason and the Argonauts somewhere over the 14 day listings or indeed ANY Harryhausen. Its just not Christmas without a stop-motion monster!

I'll be checking the radio listings next. Ghosts and Ghoulies is what I want!

What are your TV and radio highlights around the world readers?

The Search for the Radio Times Lord of the Rings Art

In 1980/81 I worked and lived on an RSPB nature reserve, where in the winter evenings I listened to the BBC radio serial of Lord of the Rings in our cabin. Volunteers, hippies and punks gathered round the wireless to listen to Tolkien's tale.

It was a really wonderful production and fitted right into my Middle Earth craze at the time. I loved it.

I've loved all things Tolkien forever and remember seeing the amazing artwork connected to that BBC radio play, in particular this fantastic golden illustration on the big BBC box-set of cassette tapes that were released, one I still hope to own one day.

But here's a blog entry from Brian Sibley about searching for and eventually owning something much more unique, the actual original BBC and Radio Times artwork itself!

His story of how he tracked it down from the Radio Times is a truly fascinating tale. 

I hope you enjoy it on Brian's blog. I sure did.

https://briansibleysblog.blogspot.com/2021/02/cover-story-lord-of-rings-on-radio.html?m=1 

SHHHH! SECRET SUE AND OTHER SPY DOLLS

If like me you like vintage spy dolls then this article is for you. From the Doll Boldly site here's Double Trouble:

https://thebolddoll.com/vintage/double-trouble/

What do you think?

On your Christmas list now?

STAR TREK CARDS FROM PRIMROSE

 I find the simple drawings on this set of sweet cigarette STAR TREK  stamps from Primrose quite appealing for some reason.

Appearing in 1970, there's just 12 in the set, so not so hard to collect, and easier on the teeth!

THE OWL SERVICE

 

I don't remember Alan Garner's TV series The Owl Service but you may,

Episode 1 shown December 21st 1969.

A Seasonal Card from Paul

THE ANDERSON COLLECTION FROM MASTER REPLICAS

Some photos of the Anderson Collection 3.75” figures released by Master Replicas.

This is described as Collection 1, which comprises of Captain Troy Tempest, Scott Tracy, Captain Scarlet, Joe McClaine, Comr. Ed Straker and Comr John Koenig.

Each figure comes with small accessories.

Troy Tempest comes with a WASP sidearm, which fits into his holster.

Here's a comparison photo with the Matchbox Troy Tempest figure.

Scott Tracy comes with his own sidearm which fits into his holster. If you decide to display him without his hat, a replacement wig is provided!

Captain Scarlet comes with his Spectrum sidearm which can be placed in his holster.

Joe McClaine comes with his glasses and a opening case. The case is very well detailed, and although I haven’t attempted to open it yet, I understand it contains not only his school books, but also his gun and radio.

Comr. Ed Straker comes with a SHADO sidearm, and SHADO clipboard.

Comr. John Koenig comes with a stun gun and Commlock, both fit on the figure’s belt holster.

The overall detailing is very good, and the likenesses are reasonable for figures this size.

They all have 5 points of articulation.

The set comes with an acetate display base with, optimistically room for 18 figures. There’s also a printed backdrop painted by Graham Bleathman.

The dynamic backing card art is done by Lee Sullivan.

The collection was originally announced by the Big Chief Studios. However, the company went into voluntary liquidation in August, 2023, taking with it pre-order payments leaving many angry, and out of pocket.

According to Big Chief Studios prior to their demise, Collection 2 would be Phones, Virgil Tracy, John Tracy, Captain Black, Lieutenant Green, and Captain Alan Carter.

Hopefully, these will sell well for Master Replicas and we will get a 2^nd collection, and possibly a third.

The full set is available from Master Replicas, currently retailing at £74.99, with each individual figures for sale at £14.99. ( Note: Captain Scarlet, Comr, Straker and Comr. Koenig are already sold out)

https://www.masterreplicas.com/products/the-anderson-collection-1-box-set

https://www.masterreplicas.com/collections/the-anderson-collection-1

It's Not Just Cricket in Headingley

 The Missus and me went on our annual pilgrimage to Headingley last week. 

Not for the cricket but for the charity shops along the high street and the student eateries.

Originally it was on my birthday decades ago, a festive drive to the studenty Leeds suburb to browse and eat a cooked breakfast in Dare, a cafe I assumed was named after Dan, given their rocket logo outside.

Always great fun. I bet we've been going twenty years and I've bought vintage monster magazines, action man clothes, old baubles, horror story cassette tapes, gifts, books and much more over the last two decades.

Dare's gone now, replaced in the Pandemic by a Turkish restaurant, which we've eaten in too. Nowadays we've finished our shopping with a meal at the fab Zaap Thai.

This year it was very slim pickings in the charities. Very little vintage stuff and hardly any toys of any age at all. There were fewer charity shops too, two down since last year, leaving just five now, two of which are Oxfam.

Another thing is that we are buying less and less since our Autumn return from Germany with a carload of stuff. It has meant less Charity shopping in general and much less car booting. I have collected more than enough stock for ebaying next year and the same for the Missus and her craft materials.

So this time we came away with a single second hand paperback, which I bought in Oxfam books: The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

I seem to recall Viggo Mortenson starring in a film adaptation of The Road that I've yet to see, but I do get it mixed up in my head with a Denzel Washington flick called the Book of Eli for some reason, which I've seen.

Do you know The Road? 

The discussion driving home on our road was of this being our final trip to Headingley, a long Christmas tradition sadly drawing to a close.

It has been a year of  tying things off in general, but hopefully in some way leaving us new space for fresh beginnings in 2025.

Is anything old finishing for you readers or perhaps something new starting up? 

I will miss our festive mooches round Headingley though.