Star Trek - Gold Key Comics: 1967

Gold Key comics were published by Western Publishing, a company with an interesting and confusing history. Some comics in this series were published with US and UK price variants, pin-up photos, and the Whitman logo.

"The Planet of No Return"
Issue Number 1

The Enterprise is carrying out an exploration mission through "Galaxy Alpha", but has discovered no life until the "space scope" picks up a fertile green planet. Captain Kirk orders a close-up view on the "T.V. scanner." The planet is steeped in vegetation. (Scotty comments that it looks "Kelly Green") Kirk sends the Enterprise closer to the planet, and orders a landing party be assembled to survey the surface. While closing on the planet, theEnterprise passes through an "eerie space fog." Within the mysterious mist float a handful of strange plant spores, and they fasten themselves to the hull of the ship. In only minutes, the powerful one-celled spores have penetrated the ship, seeping through the very superstructure.

Spock and Dr. McCoy are gathering supplies in sick bay for the landing party. Suddenly, the laboratory guinea pigs begin squeaking frantically. The two go and look at the animals just in time to see them mutate into a form of plant! Before they can react, all of the other lab animals have transformed into "giant, hostile trees" which go on a rampage and try to destroy them. Spock calls for security. The guards arrive, and Spock orders them to fire their phasers at the central "pollen areas" of the plants. The plants are destroyed just in time before they crush McCoy and Spock with their tentacles. "We'd better report this to the Captain at once!" says the Doctor (really... you think?!) "no telling where or when those plant creatures will pop up again!"

Kirk calls an emergency conference to discuss the creatures. Spock suggests that they may be related to tests that were performed in space weeks ago on the laboratory animals, and that the animals may have picked up "alien spores." Kirk orders Spock to continue research on his theory, while he beams down to the surface along with Dr. McCoy, Yeoman Janice Rand, and several security guards. He tells Spock that he will make an "hourly t.v.-radio report" back to the ship.

The landing party arrives on the surface of the planet K-G (newly named in honor of Scotty's comment on the bridge), and begins a search. Crewman Hunt passes through a patch of the mysterious mist. He begins sprouting branches and turning into a plant, just like the animals on the ship had! At that moment, the crew members are pulled backwards toward a huge cannibal plant, which is trying to suck them in. Just before they are devoured, a giant tree attacks the cannibal plant and destroys it. After the battle, the giant tree collapses to the ground dead. The landing party discovers crewman Hunt's identification bracelet around one of the branches, and realize that Hunt had become the giant tree! He had died trying to save the landing party. The crew buries the remains of the tree in a shallow grave.

Kirk calls the ship and tells Spock what has happened. He decides to keep the landing party on the surface of the planet in order to find out what is causing the mysterious plant attacks. The party walks through the forest and comes upon a "community of vegetation", with plant creatures, houses, and buildings just like on Earth! The Captain realizes that it is an intelligent society, and leads the party toward the village for a closer look. As they approach, the party is suddenly attacked by trees on all sides. The crew members use their phasers to blast a path through the living trees and escape. The party sees a natural cave, and uses it for shelter. As they rest, a huge crawling vine attacks them! The creature wraps Yeoman Rand up in a tentacle, and takes her from the cave.

The remaining members of the landing party chase the giant plant. It takes Yeoman Rand to a large "cattle pen" made of thorns, and deposits her inside, where other animals are grazing. The landing party tries to use their phasers on the thorny wall of plants, but the thorns regenerate as fast as they are destroyed. Kirk guesses that the large plants use the animals for food, and since Janice is with them - she is in danger of being eaten!

Kirk calls the Enterprise and orders Spock to fire a pinpoint "laser beam" at the wall of the pen. The blast destroys the pen, and kills a large plant creature that is about to devour Yeoman Rand. The landing party rescues her, and Kirk tells Spock to bring them back up to the ship. They are beamed up just in time, before more deadly plant spores "pollinate" them.

When they arrive on the Enterprise, Spock tells Kirk that if the spores from the planet continue drifting through space, other planets may be in danger. "We must orbit that hideous little globe until all foliage upon it is decimated by our laser beams!" Spock says. "I have set a course for the mission already!" The Enterprise moves slowly over the surface of the planet - using its weaponry to destroy all life, before it can continue its tour of research through the vast reaches of the universe.

Look-in - Number 19 (1971)

The front cover and a few snippets from the classic kids mag Look-in. This particular edition dates back to 1971.

Remembering Harry O (1974-1976)

Harry O was an American Crime Drama series that aired for two seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred the late, lamented David Janssen and was executive produced by Jerry Thorpe. Harry O followed the broadcast of two pilot films: Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (airing March 11, 1973) and then the second (with noticeable retooling), Smile Jenny, You're Dead (airing February 3, 1974), both starring Janssen.

David Janssen starred as the title character Harry Orwell, a San Diego cop forced into retirement when he is shot in the back. To support himself, he sets up a Private Investigation practice out of his beach house on Coronado Island, in San Diego. Henry Darrow originally starred as Lt. Manny Quinlan. Late in the series' first season, the location of the series shifted to Santa Monica, California due to the high production costs of filming in San Diego. Harry again set up a PI agency out of his beach house (somewhere along the PCH between Santa Monica and Malibu), with Quinlan killed off, and Anthony Zerbe (who later won a Primetime Emmy Award for his role on the series) became Orwell's foil/contact, Lt. K. C. Trench of the Santa Monica Police Department.

Additional characters included Farrah Fawcett - Majors, as Harry's attractive next-door neighbor and sometime girlfriend Sue Ingram; Paul Tulley as Sgt. Don Roberts, Lt. Trench's assistant; Les Lannom as Lester Hodges, a bumbling private-eye wannabe; Tom Atkins as Sgt Frank Cole; and Bill Henderson as Spencer Johnson, Harry's frustrated car mechanic.

Ratings for the series were initially fair and got a boost after the series was retooled in January 1975. Harry O was picked up for a second season and continued to gain viewership and critical acclaim, however, then-ABC president Fred Silverman decided to take the network in a different direction and canceled the series in favor of Charlie's Angels. The last original episode aired on April 29, 1976. The series cancellation greatly disenchanted star Janssen, who vowed never to participate in a television series again.

Happy New Year - Abba (1980)

As we reach 2012 I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope you continue to enjoy my posts on Ado's Blog.

The song Happy New Year was probably the closest ABBA as a group ever came to a Christmas record. But over the years the individual members have made quite a few forays into the Christmas market. In this feature, we take a look at Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Frida’s musical season celebrations over the years.

"Happy New Year" is a popular song by Swedish pop group ABBA from their 1980 album Super Trouper. The song's working title was all the more festive and humorous; "Daddy Don't Get Drunk on Christmas Day". Although recorded in 1980, the English-language song wasn't released as a single until 1999 and charted in Sweden (No27), The Netherlands(No15) and Germany (No78) to promote the CD re-release of many of ABBA's singles.

"Felicidad" was the Spanish language version of the song. The single charted in the top 5 in Argentina. The song was also included on the South American versions of the Super Trouper album. Released in 1980 in Argentina, the single's B-Side was the album's title track, "Super Trouper".

"Felicidad" was first released on CD as part of the 1994 Polydor U.S. compilation Mas Abba Oro, and in 1999 on the expanded re-release of ABBA Oro: Grande Exitos.

In 2008, it was released again in several countries, and charted in Denmark (No25), Norway (No11), and Sweden (No4). It re-entered the Sweden and Norway charts in 2009 at No5 in both charts and reached the Dutch Top 10 in 2011.

In Vietnam, this song is still popular and played very often during new year holidays

Classic Corrie: The Rovers is Robbed (1975)

It's back to the good old days of Coronation Street before it became too shite and the programme deteriorated beyond belief! Back in 1975 Annie Walker found herself with visitors, unexpected visitors to say the least. After hiding themselves in the toilets after time was called, Les Grimes and Neil Foxall are intent of nicking from the Rovers. After finding nothing of value in the Living Room the pair go upstairs to Annie Walker's bedroom.

Annie refuses to tell the pair where the money is and a battle of nerves with Neil begins. Albert Tatlock notices that the lights are on and informs Len Fairclough & Ray Langton that there may be something wrong at the Rovers. Neil calls Annie a liar and refuses to believe that there is no money kept at the Rovers. The pair make there escape but are intercepted by Len & Ray and a battle of fists ensues.

Annie tells Len that she is worried the Brewery might think she is vulnerable and falls down the stairs knocking herself unconscious.

Classic Kids TV - Hickory House

Hickory House is a British television programme aimed at pre-school children. It was produced by Granada Television from 1973 to 1977 and broadcast on weekday lunchtimes.

Each programme was usually hosted by a pair of presenters, most often including Alan Rothwell. The setting was normal house, but in Hickory House household objects were brought to life through puppetry. The puppet characters included Humphrey Cushion (a grey cushion with a fondness for bananas), Dusty Mop (a mop with a long red nose) and the Handle Family. The puppets were created by Barry Smith's Theatre of Puppets.

All 129 episodes survive in Granada's archive, although none have yet been released on DVD.

The animated opening title sequence of Hickory House began with Granada Television's "G" logo transforming into a house. This innovation was used again in 1978 with the game show 3-2-1, when Yorkshire Television's "Y" logo was worked into an animated title sequence. Curiously, this later programme also featured a character named "Dusty" based on a household item (in this case, a dustbin).

The Persuaders - Episode One - Overture (1971)

Anonymous invitations to a luxurious Cote d'Azure hotel bring a wealthy American and an Aristocratic English man together - tricked into teaming up for what is to be a new challenging career of adventure and danger.

Danny Wilde (TONY CURTIS) and Brett Sinclair (ROGER MOORE) provide a striking contrast. Danny is a rough diamond, self polished - a man who has emerged from a tough New York slum background, now moves in high society, has made and lost several fortunes and never has to worry about being able to make another one if necessary. Brett, on the other hand, is a real live Lord from a long line of aristocrats, has the languish and polished perfection of his class and is very much a member of the caviar and champagne set.

Nevertheless, they have a lot in common. Both are handsome and highly personable and both are magnetic to beautiful women. Their meeting is unexpected, but planned. Each receives an anonymous invitation to a luxurious Cote D'Azure hotel. Their first encounters are skillfully manipulated, climaxing in a good-humoured but none the less vigorous fight which almost reduces the hotel restaurant to rubble.

Facing the prospect of imprisonment, they find themselves at the mercy of their mysterious host, a former Judge named, Fulton (LAURENCE NAISMITH) who berates them for being playboys but says he can help them. As an active Judge, he had applied justice according to the law which meant that many criminals escaped. In retirement, he has resolved to correct the balance between law and justice and Danny and Brett are his chosen instruments for righting legal wrongs!

Prison is their only alternative to complying with his wishes, so they comply. And their first task has its appealing aspects: to check out a lovely brunette by the name of Maria Lorenzo (IMOGEN HASSALL) who can be identified by a clothes-covered birthmark. This is easier said than done. Judge Fulton has set a trap to test them. They are attacked by a couple of thugs and they are shot at, but they do manage to identify Maria and discover - as Fulton already knows - that she is the sister of a crime syndicate boss said to have been shot two years earlier. But the usual battle for power following a top "Hood's" death did not materialise, why not?

Danny and Brett find that Maria really does believe that her brother is dead and that she has no idea what his business was. She is staggered when she discovers that her brother is still alive and is the most wanted man in the Mediterranean. Danny and Brett, as well as Maria and Judge Fulton himself are now in real peril!......

House of Fun - Madness (1982)

"House of Fun" was a song by British ska/pop group Madness, credited to Mike Barson and Lee Thompson. It was released as a one-off single on April 30, 1982, and reached No1 in the UK charts, spending 9 weeks in the charts. The song was re-released in 1992, reaching No40. As of 2008, it is the band's only number one single in the UK.

House of Fun was originally recorded under the title "Chemist Facade", without the "Welcome to the House of Fun" chorus. However, while the song was being recorded, head of Stiff Records, Dave Robinson demanded that the band add a chorus, to ensure the song was a hit. Upon hearing this, band member Mike Barson immediately wrote the "Welcome to the House of Fun" refrain on his piano.

However, at this point, the song was already recorded, and the management decided not to re-record the whole song. Instead, the recording was edited, and the chorus instruments and vocals dubbed onto the recording. This proved to be difficult, mainly due to technical limitations at the time, and it resulted in the first part of the word "Welcome" being cut off. Due to this, the chorus seemed to begin "Elcome to the House of Fun", so lead singer Suggs was forced to overdub the word "Welcome". Although this proved to be a tough task, it was completed successfully.

As well as the song's single release, it has featured on various compilation albums released by Madness. It was initially included on Complete Madness which also hit number 1 in the UK at the time of the single's release, meaning Madness were at the top of both the single and album charts. The song was then included on the 1992 compilation Divine Madness, which was later reissued as The Heavy Heavy Hits. The song was further included on The Business and It's... Madness. It featured in the Our House Musical, which was based on the band's songs, and as such appears on the accompanying soundtrack, Our House. Furthermore, it was part of the US releases Madness and Ultimate Collection.

In addition to these releases, the song also features on several "Best of the 80s" albums. In 2010, it was included on the re-release of the band's 1982 album The Rise and Fall, appearing on the second disc along with Driving In My Car, another stand-alone single from around that time. It's b-side Don't Look Back was also included.

Arthur Askey - This Is Your Life (1974)

  

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Arthur Askey, comedian, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at Thames TV’s Euston Road Studios.

Eamonn sprung from a Humpty Dumpty outfit to surprise the popular comedian, who was discussing the history of Pantomime with fellow comedians Jimmy Tarbuck and Ted Ray.

Arthur was celebrating 50 years in show business, and had previously been a subject of This Is Your Life in December 1959

  

Arthur recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography Before Your Very Eyes, beginning with a reference to his first tribute..."I would not put my This Is Your Life show among the top twenty. But sixteen years later... It is now December 1974. I am asked to do a TV discussion show, talking about pantomime with Ted Ray and Jimmy Tarbuck.

We were surrounded by pantomime animals - the cow, the cat, etc. - and the fairy, when suddenly ‘Humpty Dumpty’ waddles on and throws back the top of the egg. Out pops Eamonn, book in hand, and says (giving an impression of Mike Yarwood), ‘Arthur Askey - for the second time, this is your life.’ 

  

What a star-studded cast I had this time: darling Gracie Fields who had flown in from Capri, Sabrini who had travelled from Hollywood, Val Doonican, Jack Warner, June Whitfield, Dickie Henderson, David Nixon, Kathleen Harrison, Norman Vaughan, Jimmy Jewel, MacDonald Hobley, Barbara Mullen, Cyril Fletcher, Charlie Drake, Peter Butterworth, Jimmy Logan, and Charlie Chester!  Dickie Murdoch was again in South Africa so had to appear on film (ed - telephone actually!), as did Ken Dodd, who spoke from a classroom at the Liverpool Institute.

They also unearthed one of my old colleagues from the Education Offices - Frank Ball, now happily retired, as I would have been had I followed Father’s advice.  And, of course, Anthea appeared with Bill, her husband, and my three darling grandchildren - and, naturally, my sister Rene.

All in all, it was a marvelous thrill for me, only marred by the fact that I could not stay for the orgy afterwards as I had to appear in cabaret at Bournemouth at 11 o’clock.