OT: First Glimpse of Memory "Fireball XL5"

[Muffit]

On a good note, just got my boxed set of Fireball XL5 in the mail today! For you young'uns out there, it's a famous but rare Gerry Anderson Supermarionation TV series from 1962 (okay my age is showing for sure).

I was six and it was the /only/ kids show on TV at nighttime (around 5-ish if I remember). My parents were so sweet and let us watch it (me being the biggest plaintiff). I haven't seen it at /all/ since then. So imagine my delight tonight to be able to plop it into the DVD player and sit back with my daughter to see this wistful gem.

Okay, okay, so it's black and white. And yes my daughter was dying laughing cuz she could see the strings :). But for me this moment was a treasure.

Incidentally, I couldn't help noticing a panning shot with 4 characters strung out on a tether in space - exactly like the intro to Lost in Space the TV show.

I feel like I'm six again...

:muffit:

[Thomas P]

Ahh... I remember it well. I recall having a XL5 toy with the little characters and a base. Everything would fit into the hull from a shuttle like door that opened on the top. Don't know what happened to it :(

[Thomas P]

The robot on the show was the coolest thing, because it was transparent and you could see the inner workings -- no man-in-suit problem with Supermarionation.

I wonder if "Supercar" is available?

[Hito]

Superanimaiton was the greatest.
I rember watching all the anderson shows when i visited my dad in England.

John Frakes is doing a remake of Thunderbirds.
I cant wait to see T-Bird 2 in all her CGI glory

[Muffit]

Thank you all for replying(!)

Hito, that news about Mr. Frakes is interesting.

Dennis, the robot was always my favorite too ("Nine-Five-Zero-
Greeeeen")

Thomas P, I had the playset too. It was so cool, and I can envision it even today just like if I got it yesterday. There was this huge scale model of the ship with detachable nosecone. And a cardboard mockup of the control tower. And 2 sets of figures, one big for the big ship and one set of smaller ones (in red) for the little cycles and such. The best part was the working launch ramp. It was a big red ramp with a spring loaded trolley that carried a smaller version of the ship. You launched the trolley and it shot down the ramp to the end, hit a trigger, and away flew the little gray ship that was riding piggyback. Too cool!

If I had that set today Ebay would make me a bundle :).

:muffit:

[Muffit]

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3117748735&category=727

Yes, folks, it's the complete original playset from 1964. At least SOMEONE knew how to take care of their stuff (unlike me) :D

:muffit:

[Thomas P]

Originally posted by Muffit


YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS

see link above :)

Yes, folks, it's the complete original playset from 1964. At least SOMEONE knew how to take care of their stuff (unlike me) :D



Just wet myself :nervous: - I'll have to keep my eye on it (yeah - sure!) You couldn't have that toy today without it getting recalled for pokin eyes out!

My brother had a Maj. Matt Mason set too!

[Iknowweather66]

Yes, "Supercar " is due on dvd in May. "Stingray" is also currently available. I remember "Fireball XL5" being on Saturday mornings. Unfortuantely it was opposite another program my siblings liked to watch, so I only saw a few episodes. Now I can see the whole darn thing. It is ironic that the control tower in the playset was made of cardboard. The "real" one on the set was cardboard too according to Derrick Meadings, from his book 21st Century Visions. They enjoyed blowing it up in the last episode because it was always giving them problems.

[Muffit]

Originally posted by viperman
Yes, "Supercar " is due on dvd in May.

That's cool! I loved Supercar too, still remember the jingle:
:music:
It flies thru the air
And under the sea
And it can journey anywhere
:music:

I like the anecdote about the control tower viperman, I always love tidbits like that :).
:muffit: