Pod Stallions Episode 8: Anderson is FAB
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Seeing as it’s September 13th, there is no better time to talk about the creative force that was Gerry Anderson.
Eventhough much of the man’s output was done before Jason and Brain were even an idea, their timeless quality has fans talking about them to this day.
The guys show the evolution in puppets from Supercar to Captain Scarlet and the jump to live action with UFO and Space:1999. Mixed in with some discussions about Bond, Gold Key Star Trek comics, nerdy moments and of course, all the merchandise we could cram into a single show.
Anderson is FAB is
Show Links:
- The unsold TV pilot for the Solarnauts produced by former Anderson partner Roberta Leigh is retro sci fi gold.
- The Mattel Space:1999 Eagle is easily one of the coolest toys in the 1970s
- Some very cool Thunderbirds toys from 1960s.
- The Trailer for Alien Attack, two episodes of repackaged Space:1999 episodes.
- The Joe 90 Dossier you had to eat a lotta meat spread to get.
- One of those amazing Captain Scarlet paintings survived and in the hands of a collector.
- Some VHS covers from ITC’s Super Space Theater.
- Just some of the Space:1999 rack toys made by AHI.
- Klingons hawking Happy Meals, this happened.
- The Gerry Anderson Memorabilia Guide is out of print but a must have.
- The After School Special Into Infinity borrowed sets and cast members from Space:1999
- The German/UK co-produced series Star Maidens also feels like a low budget episode of Space:1999.
- This figure of Gay Ellis by Product Enterprise was in Brain’s top five favorites.
- The guys are lukewarm to the Terrahawks but both agree the ships look really cool.
Great episode, fun & educational! I had a Space:1999 coloring book and my friends had the playsets, but I swear – growing up in Maryland in the 70’s, I do not recall ever seeing the show on TV! I hadn’t even heard of Joe 90 or UFO, however I do recall catching glimpses of Space 1999 and Thunderbirds while visiting my grandparents in Philadelphia. Of course, I enjoyed them, and to this day I plan on owning Mattel’s Eagle 1.
I became more aware of Anderson thanks to Starlog Magazine, which leads me to a product you guys didn’t mention, the one thing that I actually associate with him most. Gerry became involved in a line of cutting-edge spaceship model kits in the mid-70’s. They were advertised heavily in Starlog. The first of the line was the StarCruiser 1. Not as clumsy or random as say, Kenner’s Millenium Falcon, this thing was sleek and interchangeable and just the epitome of 70’s sci-fi cool. In Starlog #21, Gerry’s “Space Report” details the genesis and design of the kit over a 2-page spread. I loved this thing and am always on the lookout for it and its follow-ups (of which I know there is a least one).
PS – loved the story of meeting Gerry and Anthony Daniels in the same weekend! How lucky is that?!
PSS – Love the opening music (AKA the ‘UFO’ movie theme) – was the soundtrack released officially?