Century 21 Merchandising

Century 21 Merchandising and Century 21 Toys were merchandising companies associated with Gerry Anderson's Century 21 Productions. There was also a publishing line, Century 21 Publications which created the comic strips TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope and a music department, Century 21 Music which marketed audio books and soundtracks from the series. The various "Century 21" brands predate the renaming of AP Films to Century 21 Productions, which was rebranded soon after Thunderbirds was first broadcast in 1964 to fit with Anderson's other merchandising businesses.[1]

Century 21 Merchandising
IndustryMerchandising
Key people
Gerry Anderson
ProductsToys, comic books, audiobooks,

Most of the companies' activities were marketing products produced by "Century 21 Productions" - in particular Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Joe 90,[2] although some of the various spin-off media were based on characters and machines from other media franchises often connected to Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment.

Century 21 Merchandising also acquired a line of plastic science fiction toys manufactured in Hong Kong, which they marketed under the name Project SWORD, which although not based on Anderson's creations did feature in two series of comic strips and text stories published by Century 21 Publications. The only Anderson craft made by the line was a model of Zero-X, the spacecraft which first appeared in the film Thunderbirds are GO.[3] A comic strip series based on the toys appeared in the comic Solo. After Solo folded, a second series of stories - text, illustrated by comics artists such as Ron Embleton and Don Lawrence - appeared in TV 21. There was also an annual for "Project SWORD" featuring text and comic strips.[3]

Century 21 Music

Mini-Albums

A range of 37 "mini-albums" (7" EPs) were released under the Century 21 label. These were a combination of original material, with abridgements of TV episodes with linking narration, and soundtracks.

Issue numberTitleSeriesNotes
MA100Journey to the MoonFireball XL5Original story. Featuring Steve Zodiac and Venus in 'Project Apollo', with the voices of Sylvia Anderson, John Bluthal, David Graham and Paul Maxwell.
MA101Into Action With Troy TempestStingrayOriginal story.
MA102A Trip to MarinevilleStingrayOriginal story.
MA103Introducing ThunderbirdsThunderbirdsOriginal story. A prequel to Trapped in the Sky, in which Lady Penelope visits Tracy Island for the first time. Intended to acquaint potential TV viewers with the series' premise.[4]
MA104Marina SpeaksStingrayOriginal story.
MA105TV21 Themesn/aBarry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA106The DaleksDoctor WhoAbridged recording of episode 6 of the TV serial The Chase.
MA107F.A.B.ThunderbirdsOriginal story. While investigating reports of supposed attacks by the legendary Abominable Snowman in the Himalayas, Lady Penelope and Parker are abducted by a disguised Hood. Features an original song, "The Abominable Snowman", composed by Barry Gray and sung by Sylvia Anderson and David Graham.
MA108Thunderbird 1ThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Trapped in the Sky, narrated by Scott Tracy (Shane Rimmer).
MA109Thunderbird 2ThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode End of the Road, narrated by Brains (David Graham).
MA110The Stately Home RobberiesThunderbirdsOriginal story featuring Lady Penelope. A series of burglaries at various English stately homes draws Lady Penelope and Parker into a conspiracy to raid the Tower of London and steal the Crown Jewels.
MA111Lady Penelope Themesn/aBarry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA112Thunderbird 3ThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Sun Probe, narrated by Alan Tracy (Matt Zimmerman).
MA113Thunderbird 4ThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Terror in New York City, narrated by Gordon Tracy (David Graham).
MA114The Perils of PenelopeThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode The Perils of Penelope, narrated by Lady Penelope (Sylvia Anderson).
MA115Topo Gigio in LondonTopo Gigio
MA116Great Themes from Thunderbirdsn/aBarry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA117Space Age Nursery Rhymesn/aBarry Gray Orchestra musical recording.
MA118'Lady Penelope and Parker ThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Vault of Death, narrated by Lady Penelope (Sylvia Anderson).
MA119Brains and Tin-TinThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Desperate Intruder, narrated by Tin-Tin (Christine Finn).
MA120International RescueThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode The Imposters, narrated by Scott Tracy (Shane Rimmer).
MA121ThunderbirdsThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Day of Disaster, narrated by Gordon Tracy (David Graham).
MA122Lady PenelopeThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode The Cham-Cham, narrated by Parker (David Graham).
MA123BrainsThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Alias Mr. Hackenbacker, narrated by Brains (David Graham).
MA124Brink of DisasterThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Brink of Disaster, narrated by Parker (David Graham).
MA125Atlantic InfernoThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Atlantic Inferno, narrated by Gordon Tracy (David Graham).
MA126RicochetThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Ricochet, narrated by Brains (David Graham).
MA127Tingha and Tucker in Nursery Rhyme TimeTingha and Tucker
MA128One Move And You're Dead!ThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode Move – And You're Dead, narrated by Tin-Tin (Christine Finn).
MA129Thirty Minutes After NoonThunderbirdsAbridged recording of the TV episode 30 Minutes After Noon, narrated by Parker (David Graham).
MA130Tingha and Tucker and the Wombaville BandTingha and TuckerFeatures cover versions of Beatles songs.
MA131Introducing Captain ScarletCaptain Scarlet and the Mysterons

An adaptation of the first episode of the TV series, The Mysterons, set during its dénouement, and featuring audio flashbacks with some newly recorded dialogue. The plot concerns Colonel White reporting to a military conference investigating the events of the first episode, surrounding Spectrum's first encounter with the Mysterons and its mission to protect the World President. The story ends with the news that the Mysteron double of Captain Scarlet has returned to life and that the officer's loyalty to Spectrum can be restored with the aid of an advanced computer (a feature of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's original TV script for the episode, but cut from the final version).

MA132Captain Scarlet and the MysteronsCaptain Scarlet and the MysteronsOriginal story. The World Air Force plane Goliath has been taken over by the Mysterons and is now on a collision course with Atlantic Airport. Scarlet must board the aircraft and destroy it before it reaches its target.
MA133Captain Scarlet is IndestructibleCaptain Scarlet and the MysteronsOriginal story. The Mysterons threaten to destroy the World Cultural Council.
MA134Captain Scarlet of SpectrumCaptain Scarlet and the MysteronsOriginal story. The Mysterons threaten to destroy the Moon.
MA135Captain Scarlet versus Captain BlackCaptain Scarlet and the MysteronsOriginal story. Captain Black steals a Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle equipped with one of the organisation's new electro-ray rifles. Pursued by Scarlet and Blue, he takes two children hostage.
MA136Captain Scarlet T.V. Themesn/aBarry Gray Orchestra musical recording.

References
  1. Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Biography by Simon Archer and Stan Nicholls, p111; ISBN 0-09-978141-7
  2. Merchandising at Big Rat
  3. Project Sword: The Forgotten Plastic Anderson Rockets of the Sixties
  4. Bentley, Chris (2005) [2000]. The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2nd ed.). London: Carlton Books., p. 349
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