R.I.P. Gerry Anderson

[synsei]

This is a very sad day. Gerry and Silvia's ground breaking TV shows have given me so much pleasure over the years, shows such as Thunderbirds, Joe 90, Stingray, Captain Scarlet, UFO and Space 1999 captured the imagination of many a young boy from my generation and still do so to this day. My stepson, who is 11 years old, loves the shows and it is difficult to get a word out of him when he is watching them.

The special effects in these shows were state of the art for the time and those who worked their magic went on to work on some of the major sci-fi blockbusters of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Goodbye Gerry and thank you so much for the memories, you will be sorely missed :(

[Spectral Morn]

Very sad day indeed :(

[Marco]

Yup - not good news, as another 'special one' has gone..... :(

Marco.

[keiths]

Oh dear, that is sad. I met him once - completely by chance - i'd wandered into a sci-fi theme bar (The FAB Café) in Manchester and Gerry happened to be doing a talk. I got a brief chat with him - a totally modest, interesting and nice man. RIP Gerry Anderson.

[Thing Fish]

Thunderbirds was the very first thing I saw on telly in colour. The explosions in the opening sequence blew me away as a kid.

R.I.P Mr Anderson.

[kenworthy100]

Very sad news. R.I.P.

[John]

Sad news Gerry was a great part of childhood

[Richard]

RIP, he popped in to Cosgrove Hall Films a few years back. He had started to suffer mentally back then (around 98) but it was good to meet him.

Like Ray H he was a genius. Not many left now, it takes a team of 30 to create the same shot these days. Often not as good too!

Bless. R

[DSJR]

Gerry's Supermarionation work was a forming influence on me back in the early 60's onwards. Love 'em all - UFO is the favourite though...

RIP Gerry - and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

[Audioman]

RIP Gerry. Nobody mentioned the first sci-fi he did - Fireball XL5. That was done in Black and White.

[Rare Bird]

:(

[Haselsh1]

FAB Scott.

[synsei]

Thunderbirds was the very first thing I saw on telly in colour. The explosions in the opening sequence blew me away as a kid.

R.I.P Mr Anderson.

9XNWA_yZvWo

...and here it is in all its glory Dave...

[Mr Kipling]

It is sad news indeed.

I can remember watching his first creations Twizzle and Torchy The Battery Boy. What used to excite me the most though was the opening titles to Stingray and Thunderbirds. They were just so dynamic, and still are.

Oh, Wanda Ventham and Gabrille Drake in UFO used to get me quite excited too.

[Rare Bird]

Stephen:
People may not of realised Gabrielle Drake is the late Nick Drake sister..

I'm one of the worlds biggest UFO fans :eyebrows:

V7UzI0m9sAw

[Marco]

EVERYTHING about UFO was just so utterly AWESOME, it defies words!!

Marco.

[Mr Kipling]

Hi Andre,

I wasn't aware of the fact until quite some years later when I was watching a documentary on Nick Drake in which she took part.

The other two names that I remember from UFO are Peter Gordino who I remember being a dancer at one point and Ayshea Brough who hosted a music show "Lift Off". The string vests also stick in my mind.

Hadn't realised it's seven years since Ed Bishop (Commander Straker) died.

[Rare Bird]

Yeh Gordino played Cpt Peter Carlin in UFO,he's passed away a few years ago..

[Mr Kipling]

I didn't know about Peter Gordino. Thinking about it we've grown up during the golden age of film/tv/music/radio. For the current (and previous) generations they will not have any such individuals to feel a sense of loss for. At least I don't think they will.

[Rare Bird]

Na i can't take TV serious these days, infact the only reason i have a TV is for the wife.

[Mr Kipling]

Item on Newsnight tonight.

[MartinT]

Just caught up with this thread and I add my sadness at Gerry's passing. Thunderbirds was the TV programme when I was a boy.

I bought the Blu-ray set of the complete Thunderbirds as a homage and the transfer quality is simply stunning.

[MartinT]

Nobody mentioned the first sci-fi he did - Fireball XL5. That was done in Black and White.

I thought Supercar was before Fireball?

Agreed with the comments about UFO - it truly was one of a kind, like The Prisoner. Unique and unrepeatable.

[Barry]

It is sad news indeed.

I can remember watching his first creations Twizzle and Torchy The Battery Boy. What used to excite me the most though was the opening titles to Stingray and Thunderbirds. They were just so dynamic, and still are.

Oh, Wanda Ventham and Gabrille Drake in UFO used to get me quite excited too.

Good Lord! - I thought I was the only one who remembered "Twizzle" and "Torchy the Battery Boy"; though I thought Gerry Anderson's first outing was "Four Feather Falls". But it was a long time ago, and I was very, very young!

But of Anderson's creations, for me it was "Supercar" and "Thunderbirds", that caught my imagination.

Saw the appreciation tonight, and was surprised to learn that the voice of Parker and of Brains was from the same actor.

RIP Gerry. You brought a lot of joy and excitement into many children's lives. Thank you.

[Rare Bird]

I loved UFO ever since i first set eyes on it when i was a kid..This & The Prisoner are the greatest ever Sci-Fi programmes imho..

[Mr Kipling]

Looking on Wilipedia Barry, his productions are listed as:

The Advenures of Twizzle 1957.
Torchy The Battery Boy 1958/9.
Four Feather Falls 1959/60.
Supercar 1960/61
Fireball XL5 1962
Stingray 1964
Thunderbirds 1964/66
Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons 1967
Joe 90 1968
The Secret Service 1969 Cancelled.
UFO 1969

Apparently he did a James Bond script but nothing came of it and later went into litigation with Broccoli and Saltzman when his ideas found their way into Moonraker. He was initially offered £20,000 for his work, but refused and later ended up accepting £3000 in compensation.

After the two "Thunderbird" films he did one in 1969 "Doppelganger" with Roy Thinnes of "The Invaders" fame, which I don't think I've seen. This covers his classic period.

I watched the item last night and the thing that sadened him he said was that the world has changed - but people haven't. And it's true.

[Rare Bird]

After the two "Thunderbird" films he did one in 1969 "Doppelganger" with Roy Thinnes of "The Invaders" fame, which I don't think I've seen. This covers his classic period.



Yes also known as 'Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun'..i have it on DVD.

[Mr Kipling]

Thanks Andre. I'll have to look for it. I loved "The Invaders". Used to scare me witless! It just seemed so real.