Hardy annuals

     This post ought to be viewed through sepia-tinted spectacles as it's nostalgia time! While searching for music to add to the site I found a version of the theme from "The Man from U.N.C.L.E", one of my favourite programmes when I was a child. The series must have gone on being aired long after it ceased to be made, because I remember having a crush on David McCallum, who played the enigmatic Illya Kuryakin, when I was about fourteen.

     I knew I had some UNCLE pictures in an old annual, and I found it, complete with a rather orange Roger Moore on the cover (note the knitwear, girls), so I can tell you that those initials stand for United Network Command for Law and Enforcement, Robert Vaughn, who played the dashing Napoleon Solo, switched from journalism to drama at Minnesota University, and David McCallum narrowly avoided music college (he played the french horn) to go to RADA. Trivia apart, it was a great series.

    Beside my copy of "Star TV & Film Annual 1967" [I was a mere babe in arms when it was given to me, of course], I found these two old favourites:

I used to practise twitching my nose like Samantha in "Bewitched", desperately hoping that I could work magic, (hands up who else did that) and I loved "Daktari" with Dr. Marsh Tracy and Clarence the cross-eyed lion. Which leads me to ask all of you to name your favourite programmes from childhood. We once spent a great evening with a group of friends reminiscing about things like "Pogles Wood", "Noggin the Nog" and "Tales of the Riverbank" - remember the wonderful Johnny Morris, and the little hamster going up in the balloon? Any more nostalgic highlights to share?

[Re-reading the above, it occurs to me I ought to get out more....]

Comments

[Beloved Daughter]

Yes mum, you really should get out more, and in the words of Anne in Little Britain, eh eh eh

[rosie]

Oh, yes, Pogles Wood! And I loved the language of Noggin the Nog ("The high king, Olaf the Lofty"...which might explain why I learned some Old Icelandic many moons ago). And I was hooked on Bewitched. Still try to do that nose thing...

But let's also hear it for The Herbs and Roobarb and Custard, which were after-school treats in my teens.

And Alias the Jester and Bananaman which were after-work treats.

[A Wildlife Gardener]

I have been tagged to give eight random facts about myself...and have now offered the challenge to you, if you would like to accept :)

[Peter the Flautist]

Noggin the Nog, Roobarb and Custard, Dangermouse, Magic Roundabout (which is just as funny, but very different in the original French version - highly recommended if you can get hold of copies), Batman & Robin (the TV series) Man from UNCLE , early Blue Peter, CrackerJack, Tom & Jerry (the Fred Quimby ones were in my view the best), Mr Ben, various series involving Spike Milligan, Marty Feldman, The Goodies etc etc. Dark Puss has a long memory; pity it doesn't work so well for recent material!

[Debbie]

Hectors House, never liked frogs since!

[Jill]

What fun! I watched Man From Uncle and Daktari as well (really didn't care as much for Bewitched). But I love that you included such wonderful bits of trivia about the shows, particularly as I never could remember what the acronyms stood for. Any chance you remember the full name for THRUSH?

[carole bruce]

I have vague memories of 'Belle and Sebastian', also 'The Clangers'. I once saw David McCallum washing his car in Lexham Gardens, I was terribly shocked that he could be doing such a mortal task.

[Peter the flautist]

According to the Man from UNCLE FAQ "THRUSH stands for Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesireables and the Subjugation of Humanity" but the FAQ also states that the producers of the show did not regard it as an acronym. The above quoted definition apparently comes from "The Dagger Affair" which possibly I watched as a kitten but I certainly cannot remember.

Dark Puss

[Nan]

David McCallum is now on a US tv show called NCIS. He plays a medical examiner called Ducky, and is fantastic in the role. He looks barely a day older. :<) And Robert Vaughan is in a British series I have in my Netflix queue called Hustle. Have you seen either show?

[kathleen]

Oh my this brought back memories! I watched the same programs apparently, except for the children's programs. Ours were totally different. The Man from Uncle was a favorite though. David M. had that MOD hair!

[Elaine]

Bagpuss - got to be Bagpuss!!!

I, too, adored David McCullum