Century 21 Organisation

Last updated
Century 21 Organisation
Industry
Genre
Predecessor AP Films
Founded1962 (name registered) [1]
Founder Gerry Anderson
FateDefunct
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
Key people
  • Keith B. Shackleton
    (Head of Century 21 Merchandising)
  • Louis Benjamin
    (Head of Century 21 Records)
  • Alan Fennell
    (Head of Century 21 Publishing) [2]
Parent Associated Television [3]
Subsidiaries

The Century 21 Organisation was a group of companies founded by Gerry Anderson in the early 1960s to expand on his television production company, AP Films (APF; later Century 21 Productions). In addition to APF, the group included:

Contents

Most of the companies' activities were marketing of products created by Century 21 Productions — in particular the TV series Thunderbirds , Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Joe 90 , [9] although some spin-off media were based on characters and machines from other media franchises, often connected to Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment.

History

The various "Century 21" brands predate Century 21 Productions — immediately following completion and the first TV screening of Thunderbirds , AP Films was renamed Century 21 Productions to align it with its growing merchandising sister companies Century 21 Merchandising, Century 21 Toys, Century 21 Records, [10] and Century 21 Publishing.

By the beginning of 1969, Century 21 Productions had become financially over-stretched. Within a few months, they had disbanded their three warehouse-sized studios on the Slough Trading Estate.

Century 21 Publishing

From 1965 to 1969, Century 21 Publishing partnered with the published City Magazines to produce weekly comics titles based on Anderson's Supermarionation properties. Century 21 packaged the comics, hiring the editors, writers and artists, which were then printed and distributed by City Magazines. The imprint's most prominent and long-running titles were TV Century 21 (later known as TV21) and Lady Penelope ; three other related titles — Solo, TV Tornado, and Joe 90 Top Secret — eventually merged into TV21.

Century 21 Merchandising acquired a line of plastic science fiction toys manufactured in Hong Kong, which they marketed under the name Project SWORD. Although not based on Anderson's creations, Project Sword did feature in two series of comic strips and text stories published by City Magazines/Century 21 Publishing. The only Anderson craft made by the line was a model of Zero-X, the spacecraft which first appeared in the film Thunderbirds Are Go . [11] A comic strip series based on the toys appeared in the short-lived comic Solo. After Solo was merged into TV21 , a second series of stories — text, illustrated by comics artists such as Ron Embleton and Don Lawrence — appeared. The publisher also released a Project SWORD annual, featuring text and comic strips. [11]

In June 1969 the entire staff of Century 21 Publishing were given a month's notice. A small nucleus of staff from the disbanded division were taken on by Leonard Matthews [12] and Alf Wallace — the ex-managing editors of Fleetway Juvenile Comics; and Eagle and Odhams' Power Comics line, respectively — who were now operating an independent studio off Fleet Street under the name of Martspress. [12] Martspress packaged the relaunched version of TV21 which soon phased out the Anderson-related content.

Century 21 Records

Mini-albums

A range of 37 "mini-albums" (7-inch EPs) were released under the Century 21 label. These were a combination of original material, with abridgments of TV episodes with linking narration, and soundtracks.

Issue numberTitleSeriesNotes
MA100Journey to the Moon Fireball XL5 Original story. Featuring Steve Zodiac and Venus in 'Project Apollo', with the voices of Sylvia Anderson, John Bluthal, David Graham and Paul Maxwell.
MA101Into Action with Troy Tempest Stingray Original story.
MA102A Trip to Marineville Stingray Original story.
MA103Introducing Thunderbirds Thunderbirds Original story. A prequel to Trapped in the Sky , in which Lady Penelope visits Tracy Island for the first time. Intended to acquaint potential TV viewers with the series' premise. [13]
MA104Marina Speaks Stingray Original story.
MA105TV21 Themesn/a Barry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA106The Daleks Doctor Who Abridged recording of episode 6 of the TV serial The Chase .
MA107F.A.B. Thunderbirds Original story. While investigating reports of supposed attacks by the legendary Abominable Snowman in the Himalayas, Lady Penelope and Parker are abducted by a disguised Hood. Features an original song, "The Abominable Snowman", composed by Barry Gray and sung by Sylvia Anderson and David Graham.
MA108Thunderbird 1 Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Trapped in the Sky , narrated by Scott Tracy (Shane Rimmer).
MA109Thunderbird 2 Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode End of the Road , narrated by Brains (David Graham).
MA110The Stately Home Robberies Thunderbirds Original story featuring Lady Penelope. A series of burglaries at various British stately homes draws Lady Penelope and Parker into a conspiracy to raid the Tower of London and steal the Crown Jewels.
MA111Lady Penelope Themesn/a Barry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA112Thunderbird 3 Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Sun Probe , narrated by Alan Tracy (Matt Zimmerman).
MA113Thunderbird 4 Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Terror in New York City , narrated by Gordon Tracy (David Graham).
MA114The Perils of Penelope Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode The Perils of Penelope , narrated by Parker (David Graham).
MA115Topo Gigio in London Topo Gigio
MA116Great Themes from Thunderbirdsn/a Barry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA117Space Age Nursery Rhymesn/a Barry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA118Lady Penelope and Parker Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Vault of Death , narrated by Lady Penelope (Sylvia Anderson).
MA119Brains and Tin-Tin Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Desperate Intruder , narrated by Tin-Tin (Christine Finn).
MA120International Rescue Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode The Impostors , narrated by Scott Tracy (Shane Rimmer).
MA121Thunderbirds Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Day of Disaster , narrated by Gordon Tracy (David Graham).
MA122Lady Penelope Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode The Cham-Cham , narrated by Parker (David Graham).
MA123Brains Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Alias Mr. Hackenbacker , narrated by Brains (David Graham).
MA124Brink of Disaster Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Brink of Disaster , narrated by Parker (David Graham).
MA125Atlantic Inferno Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Atlantic Inferno , narrated by Gordon Tracy (David Graham).
MA126Ricochet Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Ricochet , narrated by Brains (David Graham).
MA127Tingha and Tucker in Nursery Rhyme Time Tingha and Tucker
MA128One Move and You're Dead! Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode Move – and You're Dead , narrated by Tin-Tin (Christine Finn).
MA129Thirty Minutes After Noon Thunderbirds Abridged recording of the TV episode 30 Minutes After Noon , narrated by Parker (David Graham).
MA130Tingha and Tucker and the Wombaville Band Tingha and Tucker Features cover versions of Beatles songs.
MA131Introducing Captain Scarlet Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

An adaptation of the first episode of the TV series, The Mysterons , set during its dénouement, and featuring audio flashbacks with some newly recorded dialogue. The plot concerns Colonel White reporting to a military conference investigating the events of the first episode, surrounding Spectrum's first encounter with the Mysterons and its mission to protect the World President. The story ends with the news that the Mysteron double of Captain Scarlet has returned to life and that the officer's loyalty to Spectrum can be restored with the aid of an advanced computer (a feature of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's original TV script for the episode, but cut from the final version).

MA132Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Original story. The World Air Force plane Goliath has been taken over by the Mysterons and is now on a collision course with Atlantic Airport. Scarlet must board the aircraft and destroy it before it reaches its target.
MA133Captain Scarlet Is Indestructible Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Original story. The Mysterons threaten to destroy the World Cultural Council.
MA134Captain Scarlet of Spectrum Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Original story. The Mysterons threaten to destroy the Moon.
MA135Captain Scarlet versus Captain Black Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Original story. Captain Black steals a Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle equipped with one of the organisation's new electro-ray rifles. Pursued by Scarlet and Blue, he takes two children hostage.
MA136Captain Scarlet T.V. Themesn/a Barry Gray Orchestra musical recording.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarionation</span> Style of television and film production

Supermarionation is a style of television and film production employed by British company AP Films in its puppet TV series and feature films of the 1960s. These productions were created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed at APF's studios on the Slough Trading Estate. The characters were played by electronic marionettes with a moveable lower lip, which opened and closed in time with pre-recorded dialogue by means of a solenoid in the puppet's head or chest. The productions were mostly science fiction with the puppetry supervised by Christine Glanville, art direction by either Bob Bell or Keith Wilson, and music composed by Barry Gray. They also made extensive use of scale model special effects, directed by Derek Meddings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Anderson</span> English producer and director (1929–2012)

Gerald Alexander Anderson was an English television and film producer, director, writer and occasional voice artist, who is known for his futuristic television programmes, especially his 1960s productions filmed with "Supermarionation".

<i>Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons</i> 1960s British television series

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often shortened to Captain Scarlet, is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions for distributor ITC Entertainment. It is one of several Anderson series that were filmed using a form of electronic marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation" combined with scale model special effects sequences. Running to thirty-two 25-minute episodes, it was first broadcast on ITV regional franchises between 1967 and 1968 and has since been transmitted in more than 40 other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloudbase</span>

Spectrum Cloudbase, often shortened to Cloudbase, is the fictional skyborne headquarters of the international security organisation Spectrum from Gerry Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–68). In the 2005 animated remake, Cloudbase is re-imagined as Skybase.

<i>Stingray</i> (1964 TV series) British childrens science fiction television series

Stingray is a British children's science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. Filmed in 1963 using a combination of electronic marionette puppetry and scale model special effects, it was APF's sixth puppet series and the third to be produced under the banner of "Supermarionation". It premiered in October 1964 and ran for 39 half-hour episodes.

<i>Joe 90</i> British television series

Joe 90 is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company, Century 21, for ITC Entertainment. It follows the exploits of nine-year-old schoolboy Joe McClaine, who becomes a spy after his adoptive father invents a device capable of recording expert knowledge and experience and transferring it to another human brain. Armed with the skills of the world's top academic and military minds, Joe is recruited by the World Intelligence Network (WIN) as its "Most Special Agent".

<i>Supercar</i> (TV series) British television series, 1961–1962

Supercar is a British children's science fiction television series produced by Gerry Anderson and Arthur Provis' AP Films (APF) for Associated Television and ITC Entertainment. Two series totalling 39 episodes were filmed between September 1960 and January 1962. Budgeted at £2,000 per episode, it was Anderson's first half-hour series as well as his first science fiction production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle</span>

The Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle is a fictional pursuit and attack vehicle from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AP Films</span> UK film and television production company

AP Films or APF was a British independent film production company of the 1950s until the early 1970s. The company became internationally known for its imaginative children's action-adventure marionette television series – most significantly Thunderbirds – produced for British ITV network companies Associated-Rediffusion, Granada, ABC and ATV. At its height, the company employed more than 200 staff.

<i>Zero-X</i> Fictional spacecraft

Zero-X is a fictional Earth spacecraft that first appeared in two of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation productions, the 1966 film Thunderbirds Are Go and the 1967 television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Although publicity material for the various Supermarionation series, and the TV Century 21 comic, made references to connections between the Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet canons, Zero-X is the only official link between the two series.

<i>Thunderbirds Are Go</i> 1966 film directed by David Lane

Thunderbirds Are Go is a 1966 British science-fiction puppet film based on Thunderbirds, a Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. Written by the Andersons and directed by David Lane, Thunderbirds Are Go concerns spacecraft Zero-X and its human mission to Mars. When Zero-X suffers a malfunction during re-entry, it is up to life-saving organisation International Rescue, supported by its technologically-advanced Thunderbird machines, to activate the trapped crew's escape pod before the spacecraft hits the ground.

"Move – and You're Dead" is an episode of Thunderbirds, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company AP Films for ITC Entertainment. Written and directed by Alan Pattillo, it was first broadcast on 10 February 1966 on ATV Midlands as the 20th episode of Series One. It is the ninth episode in the official running order.

<i>TV Century 21</i> Weekly British childrens comic

TV Century 21, later renamed TV21, TV21 and Tornado, TV21 and Joe 90, and TV21 again, was a weekly British children's comic published by City Magazines during the latter half of the 1960s. Originally produced in partnership with Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Century 21 Productions, it promoted the company's many science-fiction television series. The comic was published in the style of a newspaper of the future, with the front page usually dedicated to fictional news stories set in the worlds of Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and other stories. The front covers were also in colour, with photographs from one or more of the Anderson series or occasionally of the stars of the back-page feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pit of Peril</span> 2nd episode of the 1st series of Thunderbirds

"Pit of Peril" is the second episode of Thunderbirds, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. Written by Alan Fennell and directed by Desmond Saunders, it was first broadcast on 7 October 1965 on ATV Midlands.

"Security Hazard" is the 26th episode of Thunderbirds, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. The final episode of Series One, it was written by Alan Pattillo, directed by Desmond Saunders, and first broadcast on 31 March 1966 on ATV Midlands. It had its first UK‑wide network transmission on 10 April 1992 on BBC2.

Anthony Clive Barwick was a British television scriptwriter who worked extensively on series created and produced by Gerry Anderson.

<i>Crossroads to Crime</i> 1960 film

Crossroads to Crime is a 1960 British crime film produced and directed by Gerry Anderson and distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated (AA). Starring Anthony Oliver, George Murcell, Miriam Karlin, David Graham and Ferdy Mayne, Crossroads to Crime is about a police constable who works undercover to bring down a gang of lorry hi-jackers. Made as a B movie by Anderson's production company AP Films (APF), which made children's puppet television series, it was APF's first film production as well as its first production with live actors. It was also the only film that Anderson directed.

"Path of Destruction" is the 28th episode of Thunderbirds, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. Written by Donald Robertson and directed by David Elliott, it was first broadcast on 9 October 1966 on ATV London and Anglia Television as the second episode of Series Two. It had its first UK-wide network broadcast on 24 April 1992 on BBC2.

<i>Thunderbirds</i> merchandise

This article discusses tie-ins for Thunderbirds, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by AP Films.

"Stingray", alternatively titled The Pilot, is the first episode of Stingray, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company AP Films (APF) for ITC Entertainment. Written by the Andersons and directed by Alan Pattillo, it was first broadcast in Japan on 7 September 1964 and in the UK in October.

References

  1. 1 2 Bentley, Chris (2017). Hearn, Marcus (ed.). Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: The Vault. Cambridge, UK: Signum Books. pp. 20–21. ISBN   978-0-995519-12-1.
  2. ↑ Rogers, Dave; Marriott, John; Drake, Chris; Bassett, Graeme (1993). Supermarionation Classics: Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. London, UK: Boxtree. pp. 204–205. ISBN   978-1-85283-900-0.
  3. ↑ Hearn, Marcus (2015). Thunderbirds: The Vault. London, UK: Virgin Books. p. 226. ISBN   978-0-753-55635-1.
  4. ↑ Archer, Simon; Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London, UK: BBC Books. p. 69. ISBN   978-0-563-53481-5.
  5. ↑ Archer, Simon; Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London, UK: BBC Books. p. 135. ISBN   978-0-563-53481-5.
  6. ↑ Vreede, Paul. "Jack Rosenthal". triangspacextoys.info. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  7. ↑ Archer, Simon; Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London, UK: BBC Books. p. 136. ISBN   978-0-563-53481-5.
  8. ↑ Bentley, Chris (2001). The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet. London, UK: Carlton Books. p. 108. ISBN   978-1-84222-405-2.
  9. ↑ Merchandising at Big Rat
  10. ↑ Archer, Simon; Nicholls, Stan (1996), Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Biography, ISBN   978-0-09-978141-7, p. 111.
  11. 1 2 Project Sword: The Forgotten Plastic Anderson Rockets of the Sixties
  12. 1 2 George Beal, Obituary: Leonard Matthews, The Independent , 5 December 1997
  13. ↑ Bentley, Chris (2005) [2000]. The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2nd ed.). London: Carlton Books., p. 349
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.