So in the first of an occasional series we take a look at some of these. Who remembers Twizzle?
Early TV memories have to be dredged up from somewhere inside and trying to remember your first ever television programme is virtually impossible. For instance I remember a ridiculous cartoon character called Twizzle. Now through the wonders of the internet I am able to re-live those days and find out just what attracted me to some of these strange programmes.
Twizzle was a doll with the ability to extend its arms and legs to amazing lengths. He lived in a toy shop but at 2s 6d was just too expensive to buy - until Sally Cross comes in and purchases him for two shillings.
The importance of Twizzle is it stopped puppeteer Gerry Anderson from going bankrupt. It was 1957 and I was just five years old when dear old Gerry changed directions, lost his credibility as a film-maker but turned into a family entertainer.
The first episode of The Adventures of Twizzle was broadcast on November 13th, 1957 at 4.30 pm. I suspect I was there sitting on the floor (as I usually did) to see this ground-breaking show. The show also led to the meeting of Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Thamm who later became Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Of course I wasn't aware of any of this lovey-dovey stuff going down. I was more likely to believe that a doll could twist himself (and sorry to have to say that my recollections were that Twizzle was a girl) up to huge heights. That was much more likely than people "falling in love" whatever that was.
I believe that my presents for Christmas 1957 included a Twizzle annual. I just had one of those "I wonder what happened to that and how much would it be worth if I had kept it?" moments. Well the answer is not a lot apparently. As I build up my television heaven (and hell) I will often refer to the e-bay auction site.
A visit there showed that a Twizzle adventure book was going for £3.99, an early annual for £1.99, but there had been no bids, and a Twizzle puppet described as having "strings in a terrible tangle and a missing box due to the seller moving house when a bit of the back of Twizzle's hat also went missing" was going for just £21. Original episodes of Twizzle cost all of £450! The seller goes on to explain just who Twizzle is (or was). I can't imagine anybody would buy a string tangled puppet without knowing anything about it.
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"Found the following on Facebook, attributed to Pope Francis. Sums up my views admirably and good to hear a Pope being realistic and not thrusting religion down our throats.
It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way, the traditional notion of God is outdated. One can be spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church and give money - for many nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history did not believe in God, while some of the worst deeds were done in His name."