Author
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Topic: Gerry Anderson, TV 'Thunderbirds' (1929-2012)
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Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-26-2012 12:59 PM
Associated Press reports Gerry Anderson has died. Gerry Anderson, puppetry pioneer and British creator of the sci-fi hit “Thunderbirds” TV show, has died. He was 83.Anderson’s son Jamie said his father died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday at a nursing home near Oxfordshire, England, after being diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago. His condition had worsened dramatically over the past six months, his son said. Anderson’s television career launched in the 1950s. Once “Thunderbirds” aired in the 1960s, “Thunderbirds are go!” became a catchphrase for generations. It also introduced the use of “supermarionation” — a puppetry technique using thin wires to control marionettes — and made sci-fi mainstream, according to Jamie Anderson. The Thunderbirds depicted astronaut Jeff Tracy and his five sons, all named after Mercury astronauts: Scott; Virgil (after Grissom); Alan; Gordon; and John. |
Jay Chladek Member Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 12-26-2012 01:16 PM
Gerry Anderson was the creator of many very popular (super)marionette puppet shows such as Supercar, Fireball XL-5, Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. But he and his Century 21 studio also made the jump to live action actors with the movie "Journey to the Far Side of the Sun" (aka Doppelganger) and used it to springboard the creation of the live action SF shows UFO and Space:1999.While he has undoubtedly influenced a whole generation of Brits, such was the popularity of his production company's products that it also inspired many around the world (including several people who work in the space program today). In my own case, Space 1999 was the first show of his that I saw as a child and it struck a major chord with me in wanting to explore space (I saw the other shows when my family got cable in the early 1980s). The creations from Anderson's model guys (such as Meddings and Johnston) also influenced my push into doing science fiction and real space models. Thank you Gerry for the visual trips you took us on. Maybe they were short on stories sometimes (made up for by A LOT of explosions), but they provided some excellent inspirational eye candy. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-26-2012 01:53 PM
I must have fashioned dozens of Fireball XL5 spacecraft out of paper tubes and cardboard fins as a child. Fireball XL5 was as much a part of my development into an Aerospace Engineer as the real space program was. . |
NavySpaceFan Member Posts: 655 From: Norfolk, VA Registered: May 2007
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posted 12-26-2012 02:18 PM
I was a big fan of his live action shows. I had a U.F.O. lunch box when I was 6, and the Mattel Space:1999 Eagle. RIP, sir. |
minipci Member Posts: 365 From: London, UK Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 12-26-2012 02:25 PM
UFO was always my favorite Anderson show. Just loved that the Colonel Alec Freeman character (George Sewell) was a hard drinker.RIP Gerry. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 12-26-2012 02:35 PM
Thunderbirds did it for me!. RIP Gerry. |
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3118 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-26-2012 05:34 PM
This is sad news to end a year of sad news. Another part of my childhood has passed away. Like other space enthusiasts, I grew up with amazing TV shows like "Fireball XL5" and "Thunderbirds" while real astronauts and cosmonauts were beginning the exploration of space. They were exciting times. Almost 48 years after "Thunderbirds" first burst onto our TV screens, it remains a much-loved TV icon. Now, the creation has outlived the creator. Thank you, Gerry, for exciting and entertaining generations of children of all ages. Thunderbirds are STILL go! |
mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-26-2012 06:12 PM
Fireball XL5, Supercar and Thunderbirds are the ones I grew up with. Fantastic! R.I.P. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 12-27-2012 01:27 AM
I remember some episodes of Thunderbirds but TV was not as "watchable" as it is today ("go play outside!" was the motto back then!) But it was an impressive show.R.I.P. . |
Rusty B Member Posts: 239 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 12-27-2012 01:56 AM
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moorouge Member Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 12-27-2012 06:15 AM
Now we'll never know for certain what 'FAB' stood for. Perhaps "Funderbirds Are Best".RIP Gerry. |
rjb1elec Member Posts: 212 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 12-27-2012 10:02 AM
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Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 12-27-2012 11:31 AM
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bwhite1976 Member Posts: 281 From: Belleville, IL Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 12-27-2012 02:43 PM
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Lunar_module_5 unregistered
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posted 12-27-2012 03:44 PM
How many times as a kid did I think I was indestructable like Captain Scarlett!! SIG Gerry - RIP |
space4u Member Posts: 323 From: Cleveland, OH USA Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 12-27-2012 08:13 PM
Wish I still had my Fireball XL-5 lunch box. I loved that show and Col. Steve Zodiac.
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Rob Joyner Member Posts: 1308 From: GA, USA Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 12-27-2012 11:30 PM
One of the best theme songs ever! Supercar! Supercar! Supercar! With beauty and grace, as swift as can be, watch it flying through the air. It travels in space or under the sea, and it can journey anywhere. Supercar! Supercar! It travels on land or roams the skies through a heavens stormy rage. It's Mercury-manned and everyone cries, "It's the marvel of the age!" Supercar! Supercar! Supercar!! |
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3118 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-28-2012 04:57 AM
Anyone wanting to hear a link between the science fiction future of Gerry Anderson and the real world of space exploration in the 1960s should play the "Spider" episode of "From the Earth to the Moon." The catchy opening song ("I wish I was a spaceman, the fastest guy alive....") was the end-title song in "Fireball XL5", the puppet show that gave us the orbiting mothership/separate landing vehicle concept before Apollo did it for real. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-18-2016 02:08 PM
Gerry Anderson's wife, Sylvia, has passed away on March 16. Sylvia Anderson, the co-creator of Thunderbirds who was best known for voicing Lady Penelope in the classic TV show, has died aged 88.A producer and writer, Anderson created the supermarionation puppet series with her husband, Gerry. She died at her home in Bray, Buckinghamshire, after a short illness. "Sylvia was a mother and a legend. Her intelligence was phenomenal but her creativity and tenacity unchallenged," her daughter, Dee Anderson, said. "She was a force in every way, and will be sadly missed." |
AlanC Member Posts: 147 From: Scotland Registered: Nov 2014
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posted 03-18-2016 04:40 PM
Sad news. As well as "Thunderbirds" one of my favourite Gerry Anderson shows was "Joe 90" although as a child I was always scared by the opening title sequence with Joe seated inside a spinning spherical cage! |
dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 03-19-2016 12:09 PM
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 03-19-2016 06:40 PM
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randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-19-2016 07:18 PM
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star51L Member Posts: 340 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 03-19-2016 09:01 PM
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Ronpur Member Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
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posted 03-19-2016 09:28 PM
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mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 03-19-2016 10:19 PM
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Kevin T. Randall Member Posts: 1082 From: Chesham, Bucks UK Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 03-20-2016 01:27 AM
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Lunar rock nut Member Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 03-20-2016 06:11 AM
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Panther494 Member Posts: 402 From: London UK Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 03-20-2016 11:45 AM
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Gilbert Member Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 03-22-2016 12:40 PM
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minipci Member Posts: 365 From: London, UK Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 03-23-2016 12:13 PM
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rjb1elec Member Posts: 212 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 03-23-2016 05:45 PM
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Wehaveliftoff Member Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 03-27-2016 12:02 AM
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pharoid Member Posts: 109 From: Registered: Jul 2010
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posted 04-20-2016 07:47 AM
My heartfelt condolences on the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. They gave us some wonderful and imaginative programs.For those of you who collect, Unstoppable cards has released and will be releasing a slew of autographed cards from most of these treasured shows including the Andersons - Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet are out now and Space 1999 and UFO are to be released soon. |