Tottering-By-Gently: Vol. III (The O'Shea Gallery; 2003) ISBN-13: 978-0953277223
First Appearances:
Luke Kirby (Summer Magic) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 571 (1988).
Births:
Des Taylor (1971)
Deaths:
Frank Reynolds (1953); Edward Barker (1997)
Notable Events:
Nelson and Tik and Tok newspaper strips ended in 1925.
The Jinks Family newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1927.
The Daily Express published the final Jeff Hawke strip in 1974.
Forbidden Planet (New York) opened at 821 Broadway (at 12th), New York, in 1981.
The Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival took place on this day in 2008.
Alan Moore: Storyteller by Gary Spencer Millidge was released in 2011.
The inaugural Birmingham Comics Festival began at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in 2015.
Showing posts with label Forbidden Planet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forbidden Planet. Show all posts
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Monday, April 8, 2019
On This Day: 08 Apr
Terrific (Odhams) #01 (15 Apr 1967)
Zenith: Phase Three (Rebellion; 2015)
Births:
James Herbert (1943)
Notable Events:
The funeral of Charles H. Bennett took place, at Brompton Cemetery, London, in 1867.
Patti newspaper strip ended in 1961.
The Deadline Signing Tour concluded at Forbidden Planet, at New Oxford Street, in London, in 1989.
Strip Search travelling exhibition opened at the Manchester Polytechnic, at the Righton Centre, Cavendish Street, Manchester, in 1991.
Zenith: Phase Three (Rebellion; 2015)
Births:
James Herbert (1943)
Notable Events:
The funeral of Charles H. Bennett took place, at Brompton Cemetery, London, in 1867.
Patti newspaper strip ended in 1961.
The Deadline Signing Tour concluded at Forbidden Planet, at New Oxford Street, in London, in 1989.
Strip Search travelling exhibition opened at the Manchester Polytechnic, at the Righton Centre, Cavendish Street, Manchester, in 1991.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
On This Day: 24 Mar
The A-Team Spring Special (Marvel) #02 (1986).
Fraggle Rock Spring Special (Marvel) #nn (1986).
Get Along Gang Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #02 (1986).
Secret Wars II Spring Special (Marvel) #01 (1986).
Transformers Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #3 (1986).
Zoids Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #01 (1986).
Team Toxic Classic Comic Collection in Toxic (Egmont) #159 (2010).
The Adventures of Meng and Ecker by David Britton. (Savoy Books; 1997)
Horror Panegyric by Keith Seward. (Savoy Books; 2008) ISBN-13: 978-0861301188.
Births:
Malcolm Muggeridge (1903); Glenn Fabry (1961); Steve Pugh (1966)
Deaths:
Ernest Howard Shepard (1976)
Notable Events:
The Greens newspaper strip ended in 1990.
Alan Grant, Simon Jacob, David Roach and John Tomlinson took part in a 2000 A.D. signing session at Forbidden Planet, 5 Duke Street, Cardiff, in 1990.
Fraggle Rock Spring Special (Marvel) #nn (1986).
Get Along Gang Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #02 (1986).
Secret Wars II Spring Special (Marvel) #01 (1986).
Transformers Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #3 (1986).
Zoids Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #01 (1986).
Team Toxic Classic Comic Collection in Toxic (Egmont) #159 (2010).
The Adventures of Meng and Ecker by David Britton. (Savoy Books; 1997)
Horror Panegyric by Keith Seward. (Savoy Books; 2008) ISBN-13: 978-0861301188.
Births:
Malcolm Muggeridge (1903); Glenn Fabry (1961); Steve Pugh (1966)
Deaths:
Ernest Howard Shepard (1976)
Notable Events:
The Greens newspaper strip ended in 1990.
Alan Grant, Simon Jacob, David Roach and John Tomlinson took part in a 2000 A.D. signing session at Forbidden Planet, 5 Duke Street, Cardiff, in 1990.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
On This Day: 21 Mar
World of Wonder (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (1970).
Toxic! (Apocalypse) #01 (1991)
Tank Girl: Armadillo and a Bushel of Other Stories by Alan C. Martin. (2008)
Hurricane and Champion: The Companion Papers to Valiant by Steve Holland (Bear Alley Books; 2011) ISBN-13: 9781907081538
V for Vendetta: Music from the Motion Picture by Dario Marianelli (2006)
First Appearances:
Robina Hood in June (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #[576] (25 Mar 1972).
Births:
Alfred Sindall (1900); Evelyn Flinders (1910); Bill Holroyd (1919); Gallieno Ferri (1929)
Deaths:
Eric Parker (1974); Ron Clark (2009)
Notable Events:
The Perishers animated series began on BBC 1 in 1979.
Nemesis, Torquemada and Purity Brown appeared at the Forbidden Planet store in Denmark Street, London in 1987, where Pat Mills and Bryan Talbot were signing copies of Nemesis Book 5.
Alan Moore appeared on the television series Inside Out in 2008.
Bear Alley Books published their first book in 2011.
Toxic! (Apocalypse) #01 (1991)
Tank Girl: Armadillo and a Bushel of Other Stories by Alan C. Martin. (2008)
Hurricane and Champion: The Companion Papers to Valiant by Steve Holland (Bear Alley Books; 2011) ISBN-13: 9781907081538
V for Vendetta: Music from the Motion Picture by Dario Marianelli (2006)
First Appearances:
Robina Hood in June (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #[576] (25 Mar 1972).
Births:
Alfred Sindall (1900); Evelyn Flinders (1910); Bill Holroyd (1919); Gallieno Ferri (1929)
Deaths:
Eric Parker (1974); Ron Clark (2009)
Notable Events:
The Perishers animated series began on BBC 1 in 1979.
Nemesis, Torquemada and Purity Brown appeared at the Forbidden Planet store in Denmark Street, London in 1987, where Pat Mills and Bryan Talbot were signing copies of Nemesis Book 5.
Alan Moore appeared on the television series Inside Out in 2008.
Bear Alley Books published their first book in 2011.
Monday, February 25, 2019
On This Day: 25 Feb
Battle (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #[356] (27 Feb 1982) *new look*
Megaton (Skyjack Publishing) #01 (2010) *magazine*
First Appearances:
The Fists of Jimmy Chang in Battle #[356] (27 Feb 1982).
The Hunters S16 in Battle #[356] (27 Feb 1982).
Truck Turpin in Battle #[356] (27 Feb 1982).
Births:
Antonio Canale (1915); Frederic Mullally (1918); Clifford Makins (1924); Cyril Alfred Jacob (Chic; 1926); Colin Whittock (1940); Arthur Wyatt
Deaths:
Sir John Tenniel (1914); Virgilio Muzzi (2010)
Notable Events:
Victorian thief Charlie Peace was hung from the neck until dead in 1879. His fictional adventures would later be serialised in Buster.
Jimmy Gimmicks newspaper strip began in The Daily Sketch in 1957.
Forbidden Planet opened a store at 36 Dawson Street, in Dublin, in 1989.
London Super Comic Con began at the ExCel Centre, London in 2012.
Megaton (Skyjack Publishing) #01 (2010) *magazine*
First Appearances:
The Fists of Jimmy Chang in Battle #[356] (27 Feb 1982).
The Hunters S16 in Battle #[356] (27 Feb 1982).
Truck Turpin in Battle #[356] (27 Feb 1982).
Births:
Antonio Canale (1915); Frederic Mullally (1918); Clifford Makins (1924); Cyril Alfred Jacob (Chic; 1926); Colin Whittock (1940); Arthur Wyatt
Deaths:
Sir John Tenniel (1914); Virgilio Muzzi (2010)
Notable Events:
Victorian thief Charlie Peace was hung from the neck until dead in 1879. His fictional adventures would later be serialised in Buster.
Jimmy Gimmicks newspaper strip began in The Daily Sketch in 1957.
Forbidden Planet opened a store at 36 Dawson Street, in Dublin, in 1989.
London Super Comic Con began at the ExCel Centre, London in 2012.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
On This Day: 03 Feb
Fantastic and Terrific (Odhams) #01
Births:
Charlie Pease (1905); Mary Cathcart Borer (1906); Eric Burgin (1926)
Deaths:
Ruth Adam (1977)
Notable Events:
Marvelman #25 and Young Marvelman #25 (the first issues starring the titular characters) were published in 1954, the characters having appeared in the titles in the preceding issues to make the change–over from Fawcett reprints less abrupt.
Punch published the controversial "Man Goeth Forth Unto His Work And To His Labour Until The Evening" cartoon in 1954.
Both Marvelman and Young Marvelman dropped to monthly schedules and began reprints in their titles cover–dated this day in 1960. Just three years later the characters would find flung into publishing limbo...
Forbidden Planet (Scotland) Limited incorporated in 1988.
Births:
Charlie Pease (1905); Mary Cathcart Borer (1906); Eric Burgin (1926)
Deaths:
Ruth Adam (1977)
Notable Events:
Marvelman #25 and Young Marvelman #25 (the first issues starring the titular characters) were published in 1954, the characters having appeared in the titles in the preceding issues to make the change–over from Fawcett reprints less abrupt.
Punch published the controversial "Man Goeth Forth Unto His Work And To His Labour Until The Evening" cartoon in 1954.
Both Marvelman and Young Marvelman dropped to monthly schedules and began reprints in their titles cover–dated this day in 1960. Just three years later the characters would find flung into publishing limbo...
Forbidden Planet (Scotland) Limited incorporated in 1988.
Friday, November 30, 2018
On This Day: 30 Nov
Sexton Blake Annual 1942 replica (Bear Alley Books; 2012) ISBN-13: 9781907081651.
Judge Dredd: Crime Chronicles - Blood Will Tell by James Swallow (Big Finish Productions; 2009)
First Appearances:
Brassneck in The Dandy (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #1202 (05 Dec 1964).
The Freedom Flyers in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #167 (03 Dec 1977).
Trask (Trash) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 760 (07 Dec 1991).
Births:
Mark Lemon (1809); Norman Yendell Ward (1906); Gary Lineker (1960)
Deaths:
Compton Mackenzie (1972)
Notable Events:
The Mekons' first album, The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen, released by Virgin Records in 1979.
Paul 'Gamma' Gamble's funeral and wake - at The Abbey Tavern - took place in 2010. Forbidden Planet and Titan Distributor staff were in attendance.
A restored version of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp was shown in London in 2011.
Jim Barker won the Rotsler Award, sponsored by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests, in 2012.
An article in The Independent outlined the history of the speech balloon in comics in 2013.
Judge Dredd: Crime Chronicles - Blood Will Tell by James Swallow (Big Finish Productions; 2009)
First Appearances:
Brassneck in The Dandy (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #1202 (05 Dec 1964).
The Freedom Flyers in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #167 (03 Dec 1977).
Trask (Trash) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 760 (07 Dec 1991).
Births:
Mark Lemon (1809); Norman Yendell Ward (1906); Gary Lineker (1960)
Deaths:
Compton Mackenzie (1972)
Notable Events:
The Mekons' first album, The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen, released by Virgin Records in 1979.
Paul 'Gamma' Gamble's funeral and wake - at The Abbey Tavern - took place in 2010. Forbidden Planet and Titan Distributor staff were in attendance.
A restored version of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp was shown in London in 2011.
Jim Barker won the Rotsler Award, sponsored by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests, in 2012.
An article in The Independent outlined the history of the speech balloon in comics in 2013.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
On This Day: 28 Nov
First Appearances:
Bonjo from Beyond the Stars in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 41 (03 Dec 1977).
Sgt. Grogan (Grogan's Guns) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #271 (01 Dec 1979).
Pierre Lebec (Deathtrack!) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #525 (13 Oct 1984).
Births:
Jack Le Grand (1919)
Deaths:
Enid Blyton (1968); Bill Thacker (2006)
Notable Events:
The Hoffnung Astronautical Music Festival took place at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 1961, two years after the death of Gerard Hoffnung.
The première of Carry On Up The Khyber took place in 1968 – the title sequence was designed by Larry (Terence Parkes).
Chris Donald took the first issue of Viz to get printed at the Tyneside Free Press in 1979.
Douglas Bader was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1981.
Forbidden Planet 2 opened at 58 St. Giles High Street, London, in 1982. Despite claiming to focus on film and television memorabilia, it had a wide range of material - including copious SF novels.
The Gorillaz compilation album, The Singles Collection: 2001–2011, released in the UK in 2011.
Tom Gauld discussed Baking with Kafka with Paul Gravett at The British Library in 2017. After the talk he signed copies of his books and handed out badges.
Bonjo from Beyond the Stars in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 41 (03 Dec 1977).
Sgt. Grogan (Grogan's Guns) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #271 (01 Dec 1979).
Pierre Lebec (Deathtrack!) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #525 (13 Oct 1984).
Births:
Jack Le Grand (1919)
Deaths:
Enid Blyton (1968); Bill Thacker (2006)
Notable Events:
The Hoffnung Astronautical Music Festival took place at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 1961, two years after the death of Gerard Hoffnung.
The première of Carry On Up The Khyber took place in 1968 – the title sequence was designed by Larry (Terence Parkes).
Chris Donald took the first issue of Viz to get printed at the Tyneside Free Press in 1979.
Douglas Bader was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1981.
Forbidden Planet 2 opened at 58 St. Giles High Street, London, in 1982. Despite claiming to focus on film and television memorabilia, it had a wide range of material - including copious SF novels.
The Gorillaz compilation album, The Singles Collection: 2001–2011, released in the UK in 2011.
Tom Gauld discussed Baking with Kafka with Paul Gravett at The British Library in 2017. After the talk he signed copies of his books and handed out badges.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
On This Day: 22 Nov
Births:
Eric Eden (1924); Tim Beaumont (1928); Derek Pierson (1938)
Deaths:
Hugh McNeill (1979)
Notable Events:
The second day of the Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festival took place at the Royal Festival Hall in 1958.
Alan Moore and Ian Gibson signed copies of collected editions of Halo Jones Book 3 and D.R. & Quinch's Guide to Life at the Forbidden Planet store in Denmark Street, London in 1986.
Eric Eden (1924); Tim Beaumont (1928); Derek Pierson (1938)
Deaths:
Hugh McNeill (1979)
Notable Events:
The second day of the Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festival took place at the Royal Festival Hall in 1958.
Alan Moore and Ian Gibson signed copies of collected editions of Halo Jones Book 3 and D.R. & Quinch's Guide to Life at the Forbidden Planet store in Denmark Street, London in 1986.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Not Really About Comics, But Still...
The database is still concerned, first and foremost, with publications, but there are things which touch on comics - and which have importance to the history of British comics - which aren't often discussed, or which, if they are discussed, are not thought of in the same way as print items. One of these almost-hidden pieces of history is best exemplified by the Great Eagle Travelling Exhibition of Modern Wonders. Despite a lot of digging, I haven't found out anything about the fate of these vehicles which were used to tour around various towns. At least one of them should have been saved for future generations. It is highly unlikely, after all this time, that contents have been preserved, but at least one van ought to be.
It is interesting (and truly frustrating) that I can't find photographs of Eagle vans. The illustrations printed in The Eagle can't be the only mark of their existence, and my curiousity can't let the print information in the comics be the entire story. Who bought them? Where did they go after the Exhibition was over? Without a paper trail to chase, these are questions which refuse to go away. Most importantly - was their presence in town so common as to negate the possibility of some youngster snapping a pic or two?
Then there were the Eagle cars. None of the cars (LYV 479, LYV 480, LYV 481, LYV 482, LYV 483 and LYV 484) have been mentioned in all these years, and searching the usual places hasn't turned up anything on their lives after the comic. I'm not 100% sure of the make and model used, so haven't searched vehicle MOT websites for possible information. It would be a real treat to see one of these turn up at a convention, if only for the puzzlement on the faces of some of the attendees.
I've still to uncover a single photograph of the Junior Mirror car, a Bond Mark C Minicar, reg 783 CML, which seems to be so obscure a comic-related car as to have no commentary whatsoever in intervening years. There's nothing to indicate if it was the sole vehicle used for promotion of Junior Mirror, nor how it was painted. There is one vehicle I know exactly how it was painted. In the early 90s a small pastel-yellow panel van (of unknown vintage) with a black Disney logo decal on the side was driving around Kent, but I'm not sure of any connection to a print title.
The Candy and Andy car has had some coverage, thanks to Steve Holland and Roger Perry (here and here). The striped Austin 7 Mini (which was notable enough to receive a Dinky model based on it), is one of the odder vehicles with a comic connection - mainly though association with one of the most disturbing comics ever published - and is iconic enough warrant more information being available. Again, there's nothing to indicate what became of "Stripey."
Then there are familiar branded vehicles from retailers.
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Lets hope that Forbidden Planet have learned from the lessons of the past, and preserve at least one of their early vans for the future.
There are spots of hope - because I can't neglect to mention the happy discoveries - as there are definitely vehicles related directly to comics still in existence. Much of the trains featured in Eagle cutaways, such as Mallard (the Flying Scotsman), still exist, as do a number of the racing cars. The green bus seen in Eagle Vol.3 24 can be seen here, and looking rather good. Travel enthusiasts can probably pick out a great many of the vehicles from Eagle cutaways which are still extant,
Of course, it isn't just cars and vans which have disappeared from the history of comics, but they represent a visible line of items which have long been forgotten or disregarded. Costumes and props which are occasionally deployed for advertising sometimes (though not always) get mention in comics, such as the Death's Head II outfit and mask seen during the 90s. While I'm not the most ardent Marvel fan, even I can recognise the importance of items like that being preserved.
Next post will actually be about comics. I swear.
It is interesting (and truly frustrating) that I can't find photographs of Eagle vans. The illustrations printed in The Eagle can't be the only mark of their existence, and my curiousity can't let the print information in the comics be the entire story. Who bought them? Where did they go after the Exhibition was over? Without a paper trail to chase, these are questions which refuse to go away. Most importantly - was their presence in town so common as to negate the possibility of some youngster snapping a pic or two?
Then there were the Eagle cars. None of the cars (LYV 479, LYV 480, LYV 481, LYV 482, LYV 483 and LYV 484) have been mentioned in all these years, and searching the usual places hasn't turned up anything on their lives after the comic. I'm not 100% sure of the make and model used, so haven't searched vehicle MOT websites for possible information. It would be a real treat to see one of these turn up at a convention, if only for the puzzlement on the faces of some of the attendees.
I've still to uncover a single photograph of the Junior Mirror car, a Bond Mark C Minicar, reg 783 CML, which seems to be so obscure a comic-related car as to have no commentary whatsoever in intervening years. There's nothing to indicate if it was the sole vehicle used for promotion of Junior Mirror, nor how it was painted. There is one vehicle I know exactly how it was painted. In the early 90s a small pastel-yellow panel van (of unknown vintage) with a black Disney logo decal on the side was driving around Kent, but I'm not sure of any connection to a print title.
The Candy and Andy car has had some coverage, thanks to Steve Holland and Roger Perry (here and here). The striped Austin 7 Mini (which was notable enough to receive a Dinky model based on it), is one of the odder vehicles with a comic connection - mainly though association with one of the most disturbing comics ever published - and is iconic enough warrant more information being available. Again, there's nothing to indicate what became of "Stripey."
Then there are familiar branded vehicles from retailers.
Lets hope that Forbidden Planet have learned from the lessons of the past, and preserve at least one of their early vans for the future.
There are spots of hope - because I can't neglect to mention the happy discoveries - as there are definitely vehicles related directly to comics still in existence. Much of the trains featured in Eagle cutaways, such as Mallard (the Flying Scotsman), still exist, as do a number of the racing cars. The green bus seen in Eagle Vol.3 24 can be seen here, and looking rather good. Travel enthusiasts can probably pick out a great many of the vehicles from Eagle cutaways which are still extant,
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Of course, it isn't just cars and vans which have disappeared from the history of comics, but they represent a visible line of items which have long been forgotten or disregarded. Costumes and props which are occasionally deployed for advertising sometimes (though not always) get mention in comics, such as the Death's Head II outfit and mask seen during the 90s. While I'm not the most ardent Marvel fan, even I can recognise the importance of items like that being preserved.
Next post will actually be about comics. I swear.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Missing Dates
Although I mentioned the missing references yesterday, I didn't elaborate. For those interested:
In adding notable events to the On This Day feature (which is only somewhere around 70,000 words, despite so much available history) there were things which seemed to elude all attempts at research. You shouldn't view this small sample as a gauntlet being thrown down, though if you happen to know any of the details it would help. Consider this a peek behind the curtain, and don't get too frustrated that any answers aren't forthcoming.
Three of a kind:
There is no date for the Odhams purchase of Hulton Press in 1959.
There is no date for the Mirror Group purchase of AP in 1959.
There is no date for the Mirror Group purchase of Odhams in 1961.
Despite being certain that I had read the information somewhere before, the dates are proving remarkably difficult to pin down.
There are stories that in the spring or summer of 1980 (annoyingly vague) 1300 people were sacked by IPC. The details are so sketchy that the report barely made it into my notes, yet I find not knowing to be a source of frustration.
There is no date for the Rebellion purchase of Solaris (Games Workshop book imprint). Come to mention it, the purchase of 2000AD doesn't have a specific date assigned either.
The Gugnunc Song, with ukulele accompaniment, by Rupert Graham & Douglas Graham needs a publication date, as well as that of a first performance.
The St. Trinians School Song, similarly, requires a publication date.
Oojah-Land (composed by Montague Ewing); Uncle Oojah's Frolic (by Cecil Rayners) and Uncle Oojah's Party (by Leslie Sarony) need publication dates. I'm not entirely certain that full-length musicals based on strips were published (completely) in sheet-music form, so the other songs in performances (including the aforementioned) might not have been properly affixed in print.
A double helping of Modesty Blaise:
Last Day in Limbo was adapted as a BBC World Service 6-part radio series in 1978, with Barbara Kellerman in the role Modesty. Not only haven't broadcast dates been easy to find, the date of initial commercial release on audio-cassette is unknown.
Similarly, I Had a Date with Lady Janet - an audio tape reading on the Pickwick Talking Books label, featuring John Thaw - was released at some point in the early 1980s. In this case I don't even have a year with which to kick off a search.
Of similar vintage, Th' Lone Groover's Abasement Tapes E.P. was released by Charly Records in Feb 1980. No day is mentioned in any of the references I have immediate access to.
Shoot Yer Load / Golden Showers, by Meng & Ecker was released in 1989, but I don't have a specific date.
Tangentially related to comics history (veeeeery tangentially), but the release date for Pete Shelley's XL1 is currently unknown. Chris Sievey's computer game The Flying Train was released on 20 May 1983 - the B-side of his Camouflage cassette single on Random Records. It counts as the first budget release, but discussion of who holds the honour of first multimedia release remains in doubt until Shelley's release date is known.
Still missing from the database:
A complete list of dates for Alan Moore's awards and accolades. I know Max und Moritz (the German comics awards) include a Lebenswerk (life achievement honour) for Moore, but my German is truly horrendous. What little knowledge of the language I possess is no tool in tackling the reports of German awards.
A complete list of dates for Neil Gaiman's awards and accolades. There are a few instances which come tantalisingly close to providing a date, such as being presented in March 1997 with a GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Award for 'positive portrayals of Gay and Lesbian characters' in Sandman. The problem? There are three dates awards were presented, and no indication which awards were presented on which dates.
Talking of Neil Gaiman... Back in the day he used to write short stories for Knave. If you happen to have those back issues (for the articles, obviously), then knowing which issues the stories appeared in, and when they were published, would be immensely helpful.
The date of Bob Monkhouse's first television appearance is giving me a headache. Three different dates have been suggested, although none have enough accompanying information to begin a search.
Archangel Thunderbird, which seemed (at the time) to get disproportionate coverage, doesn't appear to have its' initial broadcast listed anywhere. I haven't gone through each and every Visual Imagination magazine, but it isn't in Cult Times, Starburst, or TV Zone issues I have gone through. Admittedly, after a short while of looking through issues, they seem to blend into one another (the repetition of information across any dozen issues becomes painful to read) so it might have slipped through the cracks.
The NUT "Spotlight on Comics" film is missing a general release date, as well as preview screenings (mentioned by several people over the years).
The horror film The Hand, in which Michael Caine (as a British comic strip artist) faces off against a dismembered hand, was released at some point in 1981, but I can't find a UK release date. There are a few issues of Photoplay I can't track down yet - it may be noted in one of those.
It wasn't released theatrically, but the Flash! video comic (from Mountain Video, circa 1984) has so little written about it that there were serious problems in determining it actually existed. I still haven't seen it, but am hopeful that YouTube will someday provide the goods. Still, no dates on anything surrounding the video are available...
The Dominator feature is missing a UK release date, if it ever had one. It is also missing dates for any home release formats.
I have no idea where to look for either playbooks or sheet music for Ally Sloper and Bruce Barnsfather (and, for that matter, other) theatrical shows. The booklets which accompanied performances are also difficult to track down without spending a serious amount of time and money.
The opening date of Dark They Were & Golden Eyed is unknown. The closure (naturally) was much-discussed in fanzines around the time, but nobody thought to take note of the date on which it ceased trading.
Ditto for the opening of House on the Borderland.
Another World opened in October 1987, but no mention of the date seems to have been made.
Forbidden Planet, rather helpfully, announced a few opening dates as they happened. Others... Not so much. Also, the date at which FP company split in two has been given differently in references consulted. Given how extensively the shop is featured in various pages of the database, and how important they are to UK comics history, a proper outline of all important dates is needed.
Games Day '82 was when the Judge Dredd board game was previewed, but I can't find any flyers or adverts which date the event. I found the 1983 adverts, but there is nothing to indicate if it was held at the same time every year.
Clarecraft Giles Family figures, which I've seen being sold here and there, don't have launch dates which are easy to find. I'll admit that dates aren't a high priority to have, but lack of information on such a (relatively) recent product is somewhat irritating. Were press releases created? Are there catalogues sitting in someones attic with those dates?
While tackling the spin-off products, the numerous pre-war items are incredibly difficult to learn anything about. The plethora of Ally Sloper merchandise is but one example. Small ads buried in walls of tiny text aren't the most helpful in determining dates. I don't think I've ever seen the pipes which were released, but the fireplace figures are truly hideous. Also, while I'm on the subject, were the tie-pins a real thing or merely a joke? I've never seen an example, so have my doubts.
Bruce Bairnsfather's cartoons also had many items which appeared without a real launch date. The handkerchiefs are particularly odd (yet brilliant) items which deserve their place in the chronology.
The first two Dan Dare games are missing release dates.
The first Judge Dredd game is missing a release date.
UK release dates for the computer games WeaponLord and Gods are, predictably, absent. I've managed to pick out a few hundred release dates of old computer games (though most have no comics connection), yet ones which I am actively hunting for prove difficult to track down.
Dan Dare telephone cards (remember those?) were released in 1995. Again, a specific date is lacking.
That is probably more than enough for now.
Comparatively little of the history surrounding the publishers, creators, characters and titles has been recorded, and sticking it all together has been a more time-consuming than any other aspect of the database. Even with the use of a small mountain of reference material there is only a fraction of the history comprising the day-to-day goings-on of the British comic world available. Frustratingly scant on the details I was hoping to acquire, and contradictory in reference materials.
Lives are documented in broad strokes, while comics are reviewed, scoured for meaning, dissected for contributors and content. Beyond these easily-available facts we enter murky waters.
When I got back online I began to check resources for things which I had managed to create a partial index, and found that too much time had passed since pertinent events to get answers. One example: a number of exhibitions at the Cartoon Museum are no longer on the website (the curses of modern life), and hunting for the beginning and end dates of exhibitions is proving incredibly frustrating. I would like independent verification, but it seems I might have to add more information from primary sources.
In adding notable events to the On This Day feature (which is only somewhere around 70,000 words, despite so much available history) there were things which seemed to elude all attempts at research. You shouldn't view this small sample as a gauntlet being thrown down, though if you happen to know any of the details it would help. Consider this a peek behind the curtain, and don't get too frustrated that any answers aren't forthcoming.
PUBLISHERS
Three of a kind:
There is no date for the Odhams purchase of Hulton Press in 1959.
There is no date for the Mirror Group purchase of AP in 1959.
There is no date for the Mirror Group purchase of Odhams in 1961.
Despite being certain that I had read the information somewhere before, the dates are proving remarkably difficult to pin down.
There are stories that in the spring or summer of 1980 (annoyingly vague) 1300 people were sacked by IPC. The details are so sketchy that the report barely made it into my notes, yet I find not knowing to be a source of frustration.
There is no date for the Rebellion purchase of Solaris (Games Workshop book imprint). Come to mention it, the purchase of 2000AD doesn't have a specific date assigned either.
AUDIO
The Gugnunc Song, with ukulele accompaniment, by Rupert Graham & Douglas Graham needs a publication date, as well as that of a first performance.
The St. Trinians School Song, similarly, requires a publication date.
Oojah-Land (composed by Montague Ewing); Uncle Oojah's Frolic (by Cecil Rayners) and Uncle Oojah's Party (by Leslie Sarony) need publication dates. I'm not entirely certain that full-length musicals based on strips were published (completely) in sheet-music form, so the other songs in performances (including the aforementioned) might not have been properly affixed in print.
A double helping of Modesty Blaise:
Last Day in Limbo was adapted as a BBC World Service 6-part radio series in 1978, with Barbara Kellerman in the role Modesty. Not only haven't broadcast dates been easy to find, the date of initial commercial release on audio-cassette is unknown.
Similarly, I Had a Date with Lady Janet - an audio tape reading on the Pickwick Talking Books label, featuring John Thaw - was released at some point in the early 1980s. In this case I don't even have a year with which to kick off a search.
Of similar vintage, Th' Lone Groover's Abasement Tapes E.P. was released by Charly Records in Feb 1980. No day is mentioned in any of the references I have immediate access to.
Shoot Yer Load / Golden Showers, by Meng & Ecker was released in 1989, but I don't have a specific date.
Tangentially related to comics history (veeeeery tangentially), but the release date for Pete Shelley's XL1 is currently unknown. Chris Sievey's computer game The Flying Train was released on 20 May 1983 - the B-side of his Camouflage cassette single on Random Records. It counts as the first budget release, but discussion of who holds the honour of first multimedia release remains in doubt until Shelley's release date is known.
AWARDS
Still missing from the database:
A complete list of dates for Alan Moore's awards and accolades. I know Max und Moritz (the German comics awards) include a Lebenswerk (life achievement honour) for Moore, but my German is truly horrendous. What little knowledge of the language I possess is no tool in tackling the reports of German awards.
A complete list of dates for Neil Gaiman's awards and accolades. There are a few instances which come tantalisingly close to providing a date, such as being presented in March 1997 with a GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Award for 'positive portrayals of Gay and Lesbian characters' in Sandman. The problem? There are three dates awards were presented, and no indication which awards were presented on which dates.
Talking of Neil Gaiman... Back in the day he used to write short stories for Knave. If you happen to have those back issues (for the articles, obviously), then knowing which issues the stories appeared in, and when they were published, would be immensely helpful.
TELEVISION
The date of Bob Monkhouse's first television appearance is giving me a headache. Three different dates have been suggested, although none have enough accompanying information to begin a search.
Archangel Thunderbird, which seemed (at the time) to get disproportionate coverage, doesn't appear to have its' initial broadcast listed anywhere. I haven't gone through each and every Visual Imagination magazine, but it isn't in Cult Times, Starburst, or TV Zone issues I have gone through. Admittedly, after a short while of looking through issues, they seem to blend into one another (the repetition of information across any dozen issues becomes painful to read) so it might have slipped through the cracks.
FILM
The NUT "Spotlight on Comics" film is missing a general release date, as well as preview screenings (mentioned by several people over the years).
The horror film The Hand, in which Michael Caine (as a British comic strip artist) faces off against a dismembered hand, was released at some point in 1981, but I can't find a UK release date. There are a few issues of Photoplay I can't track down yet - it may be noted in one of those.
It wasn't released theatrically, but the Flash! video comic (from Mountain Video, circa 1984) has so little written about it that there were serious problems in determining it actually existed. I still haven't seen it, but am hopeful that YouTube will someday provide the goods. Still, no dates on anything surrounding the video are available...
The Dominator feature is missing a UK release date, if it ever had one. It is also missing dates for any home release formats.
THEATRE
SHOPS
Ditto for the opening of House on the Borderland.
Another World opened in October 1987, but no mention of the date seems to have been made.
Forbidden Planet, rather helpfully, announced a few opening dates as they happened. Others... Not so much. Also, the date at which FP company split in two has been given differently in references consulted. Given how extensively the shop is featured in various pages of the database, and how important they are to UK comics history, a proper outline of all important dates is needed.
OTHER
Games Day '82 was when the Judge Dredd board game was previewed, but I can't find any flyers or adverts which date the event. I found the 1983 adverts, but there is nothing to indicate if it was held at the same time every year.
Clarecraft Giles Family figures, which I've seen being sold here and there, don't have launch dates which are easy to find. I'll admit that dates aren't a high priority to have, but lack of information on such a (relatively) recent product is somewhat irritating. Were press releases created? Are there catalogues sitting in someones attic with those dates?
While tackling the spin-off products, the numerous pre-war items are incredibly difficult to learn anything about. The plethora of Ally Sloper merchandise is but one example. Small ads buried in walls of tiny text aren't the most helpful in determining dates. I don't think I've ever seen the pipes which were released, but the fireplace figures are truly hideous. Also, while I'm on the subject, were the tie-pins a real thing or merely a joke? I've never seen an example, so have my doubts.
Bruce Bairnsfather's cartoons also had many items which appeared without a real launch date. The handkerchiefs are particularly odd (yet brilliant) items which deserve their place in the chronology.
The first two Dan Dare games are missing release dates.
The first Judge Dredd game is missing a release date.
UK release dates for the computer games WeaponLord and Gods are, predictably, absent. I've managed to pick out a few hundred release dates of old computer games (though most have no comics connection), yet ones which I am actively hunting for prove difficult to track down.
Dan Dare telephone cards (remember those?) were released in 1995. Again, a specific date is lacking.
That is probably more than enough for now.
Comparatively little of the history surrounding the publishers, creators, characters and titles has been recorded, and sticking it all together has been a more time-consuming than any other aspect of the database. Even with the use of a small mountain of reference material there is only a fraction of the history comprising the day-to-day goings-on of the British comic world available. Frustratingly scant on the details I was hoping to acquire, and contradictory in reference materials.
Lives are documented in broad strokes, while comics are reviewed, scoured for meaning, dissected for contributors and content. Beyond these easily-available facts we enter murky waters.
When I got back online I began to check resources for things which I had managed to create a partial index, and found that too much time had passed since pertinent events to get answers. One example: a number of exhibitions at the Cartoon Museum are no longer on the website (the curses of modern life), and hunting for the beginning and end dates of exhibitions is proving incredibly frustrating. I would like independent verification, but it seems I might have to add more information from primary sources.
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