Super Space Theater 2

Back in the early eighties, ITC's New York office put together a series of movie-length compilations of Gerry Anderson's TV shows under the imaginative umbrella title of 'Super Space Theater'. It was an attempt to breathe new life into the properties which were not as big in the US as they were in other countries. There was also the fledgling cable television market which needed cheap product to fill its schedules outside of prime time. 

The titles were: 'The Incredible Voyage of Stingray', 'Invaders from the Deep', 'Thunderbirds to the Rescue', 'Countdown to Disaster', 'Thunderbirds in Outer Space', 'Captain Scarlet versus the Mysterons', Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars', 'The Amazing Adventures of Joe 90', 'Invasion:UFO', 'Alien Attack', 'Journey Through the Black Sun', 'Cosmic Princess' and 'Destination: Moonbase Alpha'. 

There was also an additional film culled from a non-Anderson series 'The Champions' which brought the total to fourteen.

The package was not a huge success in the States. In the UK, they fared better when Channel 5 Video released many of them on VHS into the then new sell-thru video market - The compilations sold very well and prompted them to continue to release tapes with unedited episodes on when the movies ran out. 

There's a good article about the 'Super Space Theater' features on the official Gerry Anderson website. 

Fast forward to 14 April 2021 and it's the very first international Gerry Anderson Day. To celebrate, in my own way, I came up with the idea of imagining a second run of 'Super Space Theater' features entitled 'Super Space Theater 2'. I managed eight - picking specific episodes and depicting them through the medium of faux movie posters. Here they are... 

MEGA TRUCK INFERNO

(Compiled from the 'Thunderbirds' episodes 'Pit of Peril' and 'Path of Destruction'.)

Two mighty vehicles are in danger. The incredible jungle cat SIDEWINDER is trapped in a pit of dangerously unstable explosives. The giant CRABLOGGER construction machine is locked on a collision course with a huge dam that threatens a South American village. International Rescue is their only hope.

THE DEADLY DANGEROUS ADVENTURES OF LADY PENELOPE

(Compiled from the Thunderbirds episodes 'The Cham Cham' and 'The Man from MI5'.)

Lady Penelope and her right hand man, Parker find themselves travelling from the French Riviera to the Swiss Alps as they track down foreign agents.

Features an animated Bond-style title sequence features Sylvia Anderson's rendition of 'Dangerous Game'. 

"The only Super Space Theater movie especially for girls!" 

JET ANGELS IN THE 21st CENTURY (Compiled from the Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons episodes 'Seek and Destroy', 'Model Spy', 'Manhunt' and 'The Trap'.

In the 21^st century, mankind battles a cold war with the strange Mysterons – an alien race from the planet Mars. Frontline in the battle, are the Angels. skilled jet pilots from all points of the globe dedicated to protecting mankind from the skies.

ON HIS HOLINESS' SECRET SERVICE (Compiled from four episodes (TBA) of 'The Secret Service'.)

 

The Reverend Stanley Unwin is no ordinary English country clergyman. He's a secret agent working for the British government!

Features some new specially filmed live action framing footage of the real Stanley Unwin being interviewed by a reporter (Keith Alexander) at a nursing home with the elderly priest relating his adventures as a secret agent with a miniaturised gardener. The closing scenes see the reporter dismiss the stories as the ramblings of a madman.

STRAKER VS STRAKER 

(Compiled from the two UFO episodes 'Confetti Check A-OK' and 'A Question of Priorities'.)

Earth is at war with alien body snatchers. Humans are being kidnapped and reduced to spare parts for a dying race. But they aren't the only victims of this secret battle. USAF Colonel Ed Straker has recently married his fiance Mary. He is unable to tell her that the Earth is in danger and that his work must take precedence over a settled and normal home life. It is a secret that will tear their relationship apart and cost him the life of his only son...

DOMAIN OF THE DEVIL GIRLS

(Compiled from the Space:1999 episodes 'A Matter of Balance' and 'Devil's Planet'.)

Violent alien she-devils from an anti-matter universe take Commander Koenig prisoner. Their strange leader, Vindrus, temps teenage botanist Shermeen Williams into releasing the anti-matter aliens from their dimensional prison so they can take over the galaxy. Will shape-changing wonder woman Maya be able to prevent the catharsis of spurious morality? 

THE UNDERSEA NIGHTMARES OF TROY TEMPEST

(Compiled from the Stingray episodes Raptures of the Deep, Cosmic Cavemen, Tom Thumb Tempest and Pink Ice.)

The evil underwater emperor Titan uses his new nightmare ray on the Captain Troy Tempest. The deadly beam sends him into a dangerous coma – where in a nightmare dreamscape he confronts cosmic cavemen, giant aquaphibians and destruction in a palace of treasures as Titan threatens the world with pink ice.

THE QUESTIONABLE ADVENTURES OF JOE 90 

(Compiled from the episodes Operation McLaine, Double Agent, The Fortress, Project 90.)

There are many strange secrets within the espionage business but none stranger than the case of Joe 90 – a nine year old boy with incredible skills thanks to a brain implant that allows him to become expert at any skill or task. But is it right to use a child in such dangerous situations. This is the report. You are the judge...

Features additional live-action framing scenes with Patrick Allen as Government Investigator Connors investigating the moral aspects of the Joe 90 case.

If you appreciate the incredible effort and imagination I've put into this silly excursion into silliness, then you can show your appreciation by purchasing me a coffee via my Ko-fi account here. Thank you.

Six Gerry Anderson Shows Finally Get Their TVTimes Covers!

I've been doing a bit of design prep for SHADOcon - a convention dedicated to Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's UFO During the process of putting together stuff for the day, it occurred to me that none of their series actually made the cover of the TVTimes. A shocking omission by anyone's standards. 

It was left to their eternal rvival the Radio Times to give Thunderbirds cover status in the 90s during one of the BBC's re-runs of the show. 

Never mind, I said. Let's put things right with the aid of Photoshop...

Columbo in Space Again!!

Yes. I've done Columbo in Space before. An off-the-wall piece with pics depicting the rarely seen crossover episode that the shabby but brilliant detective had with Space 1999 based on a Japanese graphic novel thing I couldn't translate. 

But.

The recent space rocket publicity launch by Elon Musk (I'm sure that's a 70s eau de toilette brand) made me return to the subject in an effort to get a handful of titters. 

Money for old rope... or something more sinister? You decide.

Columbo: 1999

The Plaid Stallions blog recently posted an image of a rather odd Japanese tie-in book. 

It seemed - as none of their writers spoke Japanese - to be a single publication featuring original fiction based on both Columbo and Space: 1999. You can read the article about it together with some clearer pics of it by clicking here. 

It should be pointed out that there isn't any discernible crossover of the two universes but it didn't stop me imagining one... 

(Apologies for the picture of Olive from On The Buses in a filthy bikini. It's merely provided for historical context.) 

 

The Story of the Chock-A-Block Computer Uncovered...

A complete history of the 

Chock-A-Block computer 

as seen on the BBC pre-school TV series. 

Chock-A-Block was originally broadcast in 1981 from May until August. It was presented by Fred Harris (as Chock-A-Bloke) and Carol Leader (as Chock-A-Girl) - though not at the same time. The single series was regularly re-run the lunchtime Watch With Mother slot until 1989. 

The main prop was a colourful computer - the Chock-A-Block of the title. 

It was originally built by BBC carpenters in 1953 to dress the set of the British Rocket Group's control room in The Quatermass Experiment.

It is believed to have been stored at the BBC for many years and was regularly used as set dressing on a number of BBC productions during the 50s and 60s. Here it is in a 1966 episode of TV's Doctor Who - the one about the evil computers who take over the Post Office Tower.

The computer was sold as part of a large selection of BBC props to a props warehouse in East London shortly after the opening of BBC Television Centre. It was hired out and appeared in a number of films following this. For the whole of 1974, it lived at Pinewood Studios as part of the set of Moonbase Alpha in the Space: 1999 series. Here it is. It can just be made out underneath the Main Mission's view screen. 

The famous space sci-fi series also marked the first appearance of the 'Choc-A-Truck' that Fred Harris and Carol Leader drove into the studio at the beginning of each 'Chock-A-Episode', though not at the same time. 

Following this, the prop appeared in several ITV and BBC productions. It had a main role as the atmospheric background to the slaughtering of Blakes's 7 in the final episode of that series. 

It was at this time, it was spotted by BBC Childrens Department who signed the prop up for thirteen episodes of a lunchtime pre-school series. Sadly it only ran for one series and the prop was last seen in a 1994 episode of EastEnders. 

It hasn't been seen since. 

Space: 1999 mini-albums - 21 Minutes of Moon Madness!

I haven't done any mini-albums for a while but I was reminded of the final four that the failing company (which had been sold off to K-Tel) released in the mid-seventies. 

They were based on the popular Space: 1999 and featured specially recorded performances by the three main stars - Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and the other one. 

Sadly the entire range was swiftly withdrawn from sale shortly after their release following complaints from parents about the John Koenig one. Can't think why... 

They occasionally turn up in charity shops but not as records.

Into Action with John Koenig!

Alan Carter's Fitness: 1999

Dr. Helena Russell sings Space Nursery Rhymes!

The Other One

Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Doctor Who

Heading back to the 70s for this trio. 

Nothing much to add to them other than the fact they are based on contemporary covers for UFO and Space: 1999 novelisations. 

Don't worry, I won't do any more of these... 

Amazing Charity Shop Finds From The World Of Cult TV!

Went to my local charity shop yesterday and found some interesting books in amongst the old Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels and Jane Goldman's X Files Books of the Unexplained. 

Can't think why I missed these gems first time round... 

Some More Recent Question Time Merchandise

They're still trying to peddle this stuff...

Episode of Missing TV Show about Missing Episodes No Longer a Missing Episode..

Anyone recall that wonderful little syndicated US TV show entitled 'In Search Of...' from back in the late seventies? 

It was about strange phenomena, missing persons, myths & monsters, magic & witchcraft, extra terrestrials etc... - the sort of stuff that science in the 21st century has now proved does not exist any more! It was fronted by TV's Leonard Nimoy - he who plays Mr. Spock in anything with the 'Star Trek' logo on it. 

Now, Len (he won't mind me calling him that!) is a huge fan of 'Doctor Who' and back in the late seventies, he got wind of the BBC's dumping of the series and set out to find as many missing episodes as he could. He has fond memories of watching the series in the 1960s on an old black and white TV set in his dressing room on the set at Desilu Studios. He once joked about having to hide behind Bill Shatner's pet doberman when the Cybermen were on. He also pissed himself laughing when William Hartnell banged his head on that ledge in episode four of The War Machines. 

Anyway, he convinced his then producer - Alan Landsburg - to devote an episode of his show - 'In Search Of...' to the subject of the mythical search for the lost episodes of 'Doctor Who'. Landsburg agreed as he wanted to keep his star happy. 

The episode was apparently only shown once in the States and over here in the UK, it was relegated to a late night slot when a repeat of 'Space 1999' - scheduled to replace a strike-hit edition of 'News at Ten' - was cancelled due to industrial action on the moon. 

For years it remained unseen and was thought lost as it wasn't included in the syndication package for the show when it was re-distributed in the 90s. 

Until now...


I managed to record it on my old clockwork, bakerlite VHS recorder when it was originally broadcast and I was hunting through some boxes in the attic last Sunday when I came across it. After I had cleaned the mess up, I realised what was on the tape and managed to play it on my slightly more modern machine. The quality isn't too good as the screen-grabs show but it is all there. 

Alas, one of the clips used in the edition is from 'Mission to the Unknown'. When Nimoy made the episode, it wasn't missing. (Rumour has it that Nimoy kept the print and privately shows it to visitors at Christmas parties who often don't know what the heck it is...!). The episode reveals that the alien delegates - when they were seated in the Dalek conference room - all sat behind cards that revealed their names! 

In the clip, these names are ALL clearly visible!

As all fans of 'Doctor Who' know, this is the answer to the last question. The great question that when answered will result in the total cancellation of 'Doctor Who' and all it's spin-offs, comics, magazines and figure collections. Their names must never be revealed. Even Ian Levine keeps his copy of Terry Nation's original storyline for 'Dalek Cutaway' in a specially built vault beneath the Bank of England lest someone accidentally reads from it aloud. 

For that reason, I am holding a barbecue next Sunday at my place when I will ceremoniously burn the VHS tape to safeguard the future of the world's most successful TV science fiction show. 

I'm an angel for doing this, aren't I? 

I've invited Leonard but he hasn't RSVP-ed yet!