From: pmorris@kean.ucs.mun.ca
Subject: TB and SR hit the AIR
Organization: Memorial University. St.John's Nfld, Canada
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 11:37:57 GMT

In article <TN41qB1w164w@edale.amigans.gen.nz>, olive@edale.amigans.gen.nz (Wayne Hoyle) writes:
> brein@gpvax.jpl.nasa.gov (Barry Rein) writes:
> 
>> Before Thunderbirds there was Stingray.  Before Stingray there was Fireball
>> XL5.  And before Fireball XL5 there was...what?  In the dimmest recesses of
>> my memory I vaguely recall watching a sci-fi puppet series which may have
>> included a rotating ring-shaped space station.  Does anyone remember the
>> name of this series, if it existed?
>> 
>   Sounds like Space Patrol .... but there were a number before XL5 ie.
>   
>   Four Feather Falls
>   Torchie The Battery Boy
>   Super Car
>   
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>    Wayne Hoyle, Wanganui, NZ     |  I wanted to join the Stargazing Society
>  ( olive@edale.amigans.gen.nz )  |       but the subs were astronomical
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just finished watching Thunderbirds and Stingray on Canada's national
kiddies cable channel YTV this past weekend. I think both were the
original premiere epidsodes.

I had always enjoyed the Anderson's productions (esp. XL-5) as a kid but I
hadn't seen any for years.  Watching these shows, I was amazed by the
technically quality and the entertainment value. Much to my surprise,
I found that they still entertained me. Of greater note was the effect
they had on my two-year-old son. He loved them and spent the next day
running around the house screaming "Tunderbirds...GO"

I'm going to enjoy this...now if I can only convince the programmers to add
Fireball XL-5, I'd be able to see if Steve's girlfriend was all she was
cracked up to be, or was she just a front for an illicit relationship
with Zoonie.

BTW -- here's the plot lines of the Thunderbirds and Stingray programs shown

Thunderbirds -- supersonic passenger plane in peril from bomb planted by
evil bald guy. RAF tries rescue and fails. International Rescue intervenes
with TB 1 and 3 to assist the plane land at London Airport (I guess they
changed the name from Heathrow :)). The whole bomb threat was an excuse for 
the bad bald guy to get photos of TB 1. He does but is intercepted by Lady 
Penelope. I believe the bald guy is the brother of the Tracey's oriental
major domo. The photos are ruined but the bad bald guy lives to do his 
nastiness to International Rescue in future episodes.

Stingray -- Giant Mechanical Fish torpedoes a World Security Patrol 
submarine and Troy Tempest is pressed into action to investigate aboard 
Stingray. We are introduced to his partner, Bones (who is seen half-asleep 
at a table witha half-empty bottle of Johnnie Walker Red on it), and the 
father in the wheelchair (hover chair) and his daughter who seem to run the
World Security Patrol. Stingray is ambushed by the giant mechanical fish and 
Tempest and Bones are taken prisoner where they meet fellow hostage 
Marina (Aqua Marina). Their gaolers are some sort of amphibious bad guys 
who live 2,000 fathoms below the ocean surface. Marina helps them escape. 
They realize that these sub-oceanic bad guys are to be reckoned with in 
future (daughter who vies for Tempest's affections realizes that Marina is 
also to be reckoned with for same affections).

Both plots are structured along similar lines -- it'll be interesting to 
see if the parallels continue.

Stig (in Newfoundland)