“Sabermarionation” A Saber for Gerry Anderson Day (with The Atomic Mage)
Happy Gerry Anderson Day!
Greetings atomic mates! It’s been a while since I made a collaboration post with my good friend and fellow blogger FT at FTSabersite so today I am pleased to present our newest project in our joint series “TV & Film Inspired Lightsabers” We make tribute to Gerry Anderson who was the English television and film writer, director and producer of hit shows such as Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90, Stingray, Space: 1999, Terrahawks and others. Please check out FT’s fantastic “Sabermarionation” designs, and as well enjoy some wonderful vintage images from my archives showing the work of Gerry Anderson and his co-creators across the years… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …
Thunderbirds are go! Exhibition: “The Story of Children’s Television from 1946 to Today.” 2015. Coventry, UK. Photo – Ford.Colonel White from Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons production puppet mould. From the exhibition: “The Story of Children’s Television from 1946 to Today.” 2015, Coventry, UK. Photo – Ford Alan Tracy and Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds.
Much of Anderson’s TV work from the 1960s was pioneering in its approach to futuristic models and special effects, and was filmed with Anderson’s “Supermarionation” style of puppets containing electrical parts. Our tribute is timed to coincide with the first ever “Gerry Anderson Day”, today, April 14, the birthday of the man himself. I would also like to make mention in this tribute the talents of Sylvia Anderson (Gerry’s wife up until the second season of Space: 1999) and a major contributor to some of the most successful output by Anderson Entertainment; Reg Hill – model-maker, art director and producer; Christopher Burr – who along with Gerry co-created the excellent Terrahawks (one of my favourites alongside Thunderbirds); and the many other talented people whose efforts “to bring to life” futuristic puppet stories helped create a truly remarkable style of entertainment.
Below is a gallery of vintage images from my archive, featuring just some of the many Anderson Entertainment shows which made it into toy, book, video and other pop culture forms.
Lady Penelope’s FAB 1 by Corgi. 2004 TV Film and Cartoon catalogue.
Lady Penelope’s FAB 1 by Dinky. 1971 catalogue.
Terrahawks: The Menace From Mars print ad. 1984.
Terrahawks toys. Hamleys catalogue. 1983.
Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle (SPV) from Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Dinky toys. 1971.
SHADO UFO Interceptor vehicle from UFO. Dinky Toys. 1971.
Terrahawks toys print ad. 1984.
Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons Adventure Board Game made by Peter Pan Playthings in 1993.
Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons Adventure Board Game made by Peter Pan Playthings in 1993.
Another gallery: this time showing images related to Space: 1999.
Space: 1999 Eagle. 1979.
Space: 1999. Charlton Comics. 1976.
Space: 1999 Eagle and Gerry Anderson. 1979.
Space: 1999. Starburst magazine feature. 1979.
Airfix Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter model. 1977.
Dinky toys print ad featuring Space 1999 toys. 1976.
Bravo to FT for taking up the lightsaber tribute challenge, as always a brilliant contribution! Be sure to click his tribute post below to see some excellent designs!
Hello everybody….Stand By For Action, anything could happen in the next 30 minutes. Today is a big day for two reasons, firstly my good friend The Atomic Mage (The Vintage Toy Advertiser also formerly known as TVTA) is posting his first BIG post on his new blog (click here to visit : https://theatomicmage.wordpress.com/) and he has asked me to do a collaboration with him to celebrate another great talent…namely Gerry Anderson and his puppet television and live shows from the 1960’s to the 2020’s. So shall we begin?
The Atomic Mage informed me last week that April the 14th is International Gerry Anderson Day and asked if I could design/build something special for the event. I immediately set to work and in just over 24 hrs I had an idea and had sent an initial picture to his Mage. The design was inspired by one of Gerry Anderson’s most…
Happy International Gerry Anderson Day! Great collaboration and post. Love those adverts as well, especially for the USS Enterprise and the Eagle SPACE1999 ship, I’ve still got both of those! The Enterprise fires disk-like torpedoes and there’s even a little shuttle in the belly of the ship as well! 🙂
Cheers Paul! Happy Gerry Anderson Day! I’m still looking forward to if you post pics of your Space: 1999 Eagle – that was one of my favourite toys as a kid. The Enterprise sounds cool too! 😎
Thanks! Yes, I’ve still got the SPACE 1999 Eagle, must post those pics one day, and Enterprise as well perhaps. I’d forgotten, thanks for reminding me. 🙂
Ever since I landed upon the shores of your blog home, through TVTA, apart from your passion one thing stood out: the attention to detail.
And to see you maintain them both alive is a feat in it’s own right.
The Mage could not have a better way to cut the celebratory ribbon than your Saber!
I didn’t even know International Gerry Anderson day was a thing! I did really like UFO when I was a little ‘un, had the Interceptor toy too, unlike the pilots in the show though, I always hit what I aimed at!! 😉 How’s the new site treating you, my friend? starting from scratch must feel sort of liberating I guess, good luck for it’s future my awesome atomic affiliate. 🙂
Yes, the Gerry Anderson Day only started this year as a thing. I found out from another site. Cool you had the Interceptor toy 😎 The new site here is okay so far, kind of liberating as you say, and interesting to start from a blank canvas. Many thanks for the well wishes 😀
Lady Penelope’s FAB 1 by Corgi. 2004 TV Film and Cartoon catalogue.
Lady Penelope’s FAB 1 by Dinky. 1971 catalogue.
Terrahawks: The Menace From Mars print ad. 1984.
Terrahawks toys. Hamleys catalogue. 1983.
Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle (SPV) from Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Dinky toys. 1971.
SHADO UFO Interceptor vehicle from UFO. Dinky Toys. 1971.
Terrahawks toys print ad. 1984.
Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons Adventure Board Game made by Peter Pan Playthings in 1993.
Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons Adventure Board Game made by Peter Pan Playthings in 1993.
Space: 1999 Eagle. 1979.
Space: 1999. Charlton Comics. 1976.
Space: 1999 Eagle and Gerry Anderson. 1979.
Space: 1999. Starburst magazine feature. 1979.
Airfix Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter model. 1977.
Dinky toys print ad featuring Space 1999 toys. 1976.
The Atomic Mage 
Happy International Gerry Anderson Day! Great collaboration and post. Love those adverts as well, especially for the USS Enterprise and the Eagle SPACE1999 ship, I’ve still got both of those! The Enterprise fires disk-like torpedoes and there’s even a little shuttle in the belly of the ship as well! 🙂
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Cheers Paul! Happy Gerry Anderson Day! I’m still looking forward to if you post pics of your Space: 1999 Eagle – that was one of my favourite toys as a kid. The Enterprise sounds cool too! 😎
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Thanks! Yes, I’ve still got the SPACE 1999 Eagle, must post those pics one day, and Enterprise as well perhaps. I’d forgotten, thanks for reminding me. 🙂
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Now there’s a trip down memory lane. I wonder what happened to my Thunderbird Two?
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Cool you had a Thunderbird 2 🙂 I’m still looking for my 2004 annual I had, can’t find it anywhere.
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One of the originals from the ’60s (like me) – it even had a little T4 inside.
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Brilliant 60s toys. Dinky and Corgi were spot on for all the cool films and TV series then 🙂
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Ever since I landed upon the shores of your blog home, through TVTA, apart from your passion one thing stood out: the attention to detail.
And to see you maintain them both alive is a feat in it’s own right.
The Mage could not have a better way to cut the celebratory ribbon than your Saber!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well two things are obvious:
First, this was meant for FT’s post
Second, I’m getting inescapably older …
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Don’t worry, I not long replied to myself then accidently ‘liked’ my response 😂
Getting old, eh, it’s happening too fast!
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I didn’t even know International Gerry Anderson day was a thing! I did really like UFO when I was a little ‘un, had the Interceptor toy too, unlike the pilots in the show though, I always hit what I aimed at!! 😉 How’s the new site treating you, my friend? starting from scratch must feel sort of liberating I guess, good luck for it’s future my awesome atomic affiliate. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the Gerry Anderson Day only started this year as a thing. I found out from another site. Cool you had the Interceptor toy 😎 The new site here is okay so far, kind of liberating as you say, and interesting to start from a blank canvas. Many thanks for the well wishes 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person