'Dearly belovit'n all

gathery here,,,'

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A bit of a chat

Stanley on TSS

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Stanley on 'The Secret Service' (click on pix for bigger versions)

Stanley and Gabriel - puppet free zone

"The puppetry included model cars and to back this up, Gerry hired a genuine Model T Ford, vintage 1917, aptly named Gabriel. The only modifications were that a self-starter had been fitted and electricity had replaced the original oil lighting. I was frequently required to drive Gabriel into London Airport. This worried me at first because the car had brakes only on the rear wheels...but I need not have worried at all. Gabriel became the object of attention of most drivers [who would] look up with dignified amusement."

"Arranging the many explosions required a special department. To watch a small aeroplane being drawn by a very fine wire across Gerry Anderson's garden suddenly blown to bits, and then later to see the end product in the film, brought home to me the thought and careful work involved. There was only one thing the film could not show and that was the powerful, acrid smell of the explosion which pervaded Gerry's orchard. Harry chokers!"

"After shooting an episode at Burnham Beeches I was in a hurry to return home and hadn't bothered to change from my parson's clothes. Arriving at a set of traffic lights in Aylesbury, I was held up because the driver in front had stalled his caravan. Seeing my clerical garb he said: 'So sorry, Father. I'm in trouble'. I felt compelled to put him at his ease, so I said: 'Feel no sensy guiltit my soul. The transgressy is not yours entire. You possessy a car forrel. I suggest your future boil must be a British buy, not so?' With an air of relief he nodded approval of my suggestion and returned to his vehicle. I hope he did buy a British car next time."

"It was an attempt to add a new dimension to the puppet field, and the all consuming medium of films and TV surely needs encouragement in new ideas. It was a bit bizarre, but then aren't many new ideas a little odd at first?"

"The Secret Service never succeeded commercially, But there are some minority aspects of humour which are so strong that, in spite of their non-commerciality, they can be worthwhile."

"It was a disappointment that it wasn't shown all over the country, but then maybe it was a little bit before its time."