The Avengers 1961 ( Lotus Elan S2 ) 1965
The Avengers
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series created in the 1960s. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel (Ian Hendry) and his assistant John Steed (Patrick Macnee). Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, and partnered with Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman), Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), and later Tara King (Linda Thorson).
Theme Tune
Kinky Boots – Honor Blackman, Patric Macnee
Everybody’s going for those kinky boots, kinky boots,
(boop, boop)
Kinky boots,
It’s a manly kind of fashion that you borrowed from the brutes,
Borrowed from the brutes,
(boop, boop)
Kinky boots.
Fashion magazines say wear ’em,
And you rush to obey like the women in a harem.
Full length, half length,
Fully fashion calf length,
Brown boots, black boots,
Patent leather jackboots,
Low boots, high boots,
Lovely lanky thigh boot,
We all dig those boots.
Everybody’s crazy for those kinky boots, kinky boots,
(boop, boop)
Kinky boots,
And whether you’re in evening dress or bathing suits,
You wear boots, boots, kinky boots.
There are twenty million women wearing kinky boots, kinky boots,
Puss in boots,
Footwear manufacturers are gathering the fruits,
Gathering the fruits,
(boop, boop)
Kinky boots.
Advertising men say try ’em,
And you all run amok like a flock of sheep to buy ’em.
Sweet girls, street girls,
Grumpy little beat girls,
Square girls, cool girls,
Sexy little schoolgirls,
Maiden aunties,
Mayfair debutantes,
They all dig those boots.
Cast
Patrick Macnee … John Steed / … (161 episodes, 1961-1969)
Diana Rigg … Emma Peel / … (51 episodes, 1965-1968)
Honor Blackman … Catherine Gale (43 episodes, 1962-1964)
Linda Thorson … Tara King (33 episodes, 1968-1969)
Ian Hendry … Dr. David Keel (25 episodes, 1961)
Trivia
The 1961 series featured a jazz-influenced theme by John Dankworth. Library music was used sparsely as a soundtrack, sometimes with variations based on the main theme. Dankworth’s theme music was reworked for the third series. Dankworth’s first theme was recorded on the Columbia label, on a 45rpm single, and a new recording, similar to the reworked television theme was issued on Fontana in 1963. A very faithful cover version was released by Johnny Gregory.
Lotus Elan is the name of two convertible cars and one fixed head coupé produced by Lotus Cars. The original Type 26, 26R Racing version (of the S1 Elan), 36R Racing version (of the S2 Elan), 36 Fixed Head Coupe, 45 Drop Head Coupe, and the ‘Type 50’ +2 Coupe, circa 1962 to 1975, are commonly known as the ’60s Elans.
A similar Elan-inspired model called Evante was produced from mid-1980s by British Lotus specialists Vegantune.
The Avengers was produced by ABC Television, a contractor within the ITV network. After a merger in July 1968 ABC Television became Thames Television, which continued production of the series although it was still broadcast under the ABC name. By 1969 The Avengers was shown in more than 90 countries. ITV produced a sequel series The New Avengers (1976–1977) with Patrick Macnee returning as John Steed, and two new partners.
In 2007 The Avengers was ranked #20 on TV Guide’s Top Cult Shows Ever.
Trivia
The vast majority of the first series is sadly missing from TV archives and thought to be probably lost forever – only the first 15 minutes of the very first episode, The Avengers: Hot Snow (1961), and three complete later episodes, The Avengers: Girl on the Trapeze (1961), (which is one of only two editions not to feature the character of Steed), The Avengers: The Frighteners (1961) and The Avengers: Tunnel of Fear (1961) are known to have been recovered and preserved.
Quote
Emma Peel: Always keep your bowler on in time of stress, and watch out for diabolical masterminds.
John Steed: There isn’t a body.
Emma Peel: There’s no body?
John Steed: There’s no body.
Emma Peel: There’s ALWAYS a body!
Info
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| No. of series | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 161 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV/ABC/Thames |
| Picture format | 405-line 4:3 B/W (1961–1964) 35mm film 4:3 B/W (1965–1966) 35mm film 4:3 Colour (1967–1969) |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | 7 January 1961 – 21 May 1969 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The New Avengers |
Trivia
Emma Peel’s name was taken from the British film industry expression “M-Appeal”, or “man-appeal”, which is what the show’s producers were looking for in her character
QUIZ 1
The Late, Honor Blackman was Catherine Gale in The Avengers. What was her Name in the James Bond film “Goldfinger” ?
A. Holly Goodhead
B. Honey Ryder
C. Xenia Onatopp
D. Pussy Galore
Press for Answer
D. Pussy Galore
Scroll Down for More
QUIZ 2
What year did “The Avengers” begin production in Colour ?
A. 1967
B. 1966
C. 1968
D. 1965
Press for Answer
A. 1967
Scroll Down for More
QUIZ 1
The Late, Honor Blackman was Catherine Gale in The Avengers. What was her Name in the James Bond film “Goldfinger” ?
A. Holly Goodhead
B. Honey Ryder
C. Xenia Onatopp
D. Pussy Galore
The evocatively named Pussy Galore was an original Ian Fleming character from the novel.Cathy Gale was played by Honor Blackman who left the show after only two seasons. She then appeared in the James Bond film “Goldfinger.” Ms. Galore ran a flying circus of female pilots, who were hired by Auric Goldfinger to fly over Fort Knox and gas the soldiers, so that Goldfinger could break in to the gold vault.
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- Goldfinger (1964)
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- Goldeneye (1995)
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- Moonraker (1979)
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- Dr. No (1962)
QUIZ 2
What year did “The Avengers” begin production in Colour ?
A. 1967
B. 1966
C. 1968
D. 1965
In July 1967, the BBC led the way in broadcasting the first regular colour television service in Europe. The first programme was an outside broadcast of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. By mid-1968 almost every BBC2 programme was in colour. Six months later, colour came to BBC1
The colour era began during Mrs. Peel’s reign and the show was actually on the air in the U.S. at this time as well
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