Filmed in Supermarionation: A History of the Future

by **Stephen La Riviere** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:09 am

Four year in the making and it's finally here... The most comprehensive history of the Supermarionation shows ever written:

FILMED IN SUPERMARIONATION: A HISTORY OF THE FUTURE

"They are all most keen and enthusiastic to make these the best puppet films ever made. I too feel that this is a wonderful opportunity, and may well be the beginning of something big!" -- 'The Adventures of Twizzle' Puppeteer, Joy Laurey. August 16th 1957

It's a well worn story that has been told in countless books, magazines and documentaries: the story of a group of film makers who decided to set up a production company in an old mansion in Maidenhead and waited for the phone to ring. After six months of silence, they were on the verge of liquidation when a children's novelist asked them if they would like to make some puppet films.

It's a touching story.

It's also completely untrue.

Filmed in Supermarionation is the story as you've never heard it before of the puppet empire that rose from the Slough Trading Estate in the 1960s and created shows such as Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90. Starting right at the beginning with Gerry Anderson's directorial debut in 1955 and finishing on the day the puppet studios closed in 1969, the book charts the rise and fall of the A.P. Films / Century 21 Organisation's 'Supermarionation' films. The book features a wealth of new information, hundreds of previously unseen photographs and is based on hours of interviews with cast and crew, newspaper articles and previously unpublished paperwork.

So if you want to know:

- How a two line advertisement changed television history

- What role the Conservative Government played in killing off Mike Mercury's career

- How three adverts helped lead to a multi-million pound empire

- What significance a Ford Anglia car held in the history of 1960s television

- What happened to their 21st Century Rolls?

- And why Slough Council tried to sue Century 21?

Then this is the book for you. If none of that interests you, then just pick it up for the scandal. Well, it's not really scandal. Just a bit contentious... ANd if you don't like scandal, then buy it for the happy stuff, of which there is lots

Anyway it's full colour, fully illustrated, hardback and softback. Awaiting the cover. And a proper press release. Obviously.

Please go forth and buy ten copies each immediately

by **chrisbishop** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:16 am

Hi, Stephen. Glad to see you're sticking around.

Next updates, I'll remember to put a link to this on the marchandise page, so that people will be able to buy it at Amazon. I think I neglected that section lately!

Best of success with the book

Chris

by **Stephen La Riviere** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:23 am

Thanks! The Captain Scarlet chapter is the third longest in the book - at nearly 10,000 words for the one chapter, there's lots to be read

by **MMK** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:13 pm

And I bet every word is worth reading, Stephen :wink:

by **DartBrat701** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:59 pm

Hey Stephen, long time no hear!

I think that should be a "Must read", for every Supermarionation fan! :wink:

by **hazel** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:32 am

Sounds good, Stephen! I will certainly buy it.

by **Mary** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:59 pm

Stephen, I sent you a PM

by **Stephen La Riviere** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:49 pm

Mary wrote:Stephen, I sent you a PM

Which I did... and then got locked out.

by **Spectrum Strikeforce** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:24 pm

Guys - if this is a private conversation, please keep it on PM. $\D/$

by **James. C** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:10 am

Is the FAB Forum still around Stephen?

by **chrisbishop** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:13 pm

I'll take the opportunity to catch the ball (with respect to my own Strikeforce!)

Regarding the lockdown problem: you're the second member to whom this happens, Stephen. Another long time member, who posts sparodically on this forum, got locked down, not so long ago, for apparently no reason. I saw his name appear on the 'non-active' list, and quickly re-actived it, just like I did for you. I don't know why the two of you got locked down, by the way, so accept my apologies for what seemed to be some kind of a bug in the system.

Members, if you realise you hav been locked out of the forum - for no apparent reason - and you wish to come back, please contact the administration of this website, so we will correct the situation quickly!

by **Stephen La Riviere** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:00 am

Details on the book, including how to order can be found at www.filmedinsupermarionation.co.uk

Books like this are very costly and difficult to get off the ground. Therefore, I ask you please to support us by ordering through our website.

Thanks!

by **Captain Indigo** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:36 pm

Hi Stephen.

Great to hear that the book is still in the pipeline, but the link you provided doesn't seem to be for an active website. Are you online yet? (And have you uploaded the files into the 'public_html' folder?)

by **Stephen La Riviere** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:39 pm

Sod's law dictated that it went down this morning. Not really a great start. Now waiting for the domain name to migrate - again.

Hopefully will be up again soon...

by **chrisbishop** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:30 pm

Go check the link on the Spectrum Headquarters' merchandises page. It will be working, to get you to the Amazon.co.uk website, where you will be able to order the book.

It's for the paperback edition only, I'm afraid. Amazon doesn't seem to offer the announced hardcover edition.

As an aside, any item that you buy at Amazon, while clicking on ANY Amazon links from the Spectrum HQ website, even if it's not a Gerry Anderson related item, gives a very small, but always welcomed donation to the website.