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Post by stevej on Apr 22, 2021 16:26:31 GMT
I guess if you are under 50 you may not be aware of Topo Gigio - he was (and indeed still is) a cute little Italian puppet mouse, rather beautifully performed on television in the 1960s by three very skilled puppeteers working in sync. Although he was first seen on Italian tv, he proved hugely popular with many appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show-
- and here at home notably on a number of London Palladium Shows
Presumably on the strength of his popularity on the latter, he was given his own series 'Topo Gigio Comes To Town' on ATV in late 1966. Remarkably the series survives complete according to TV Brain, although I've never seen even seen even the tiniest clip from it. Among the cast were the excellent Joe Melia, and Keith Alexander, later to be seen in U.F.O.
The series must have been popular as ATV issued at least two Topo Gigio annuals, as well as a 33rpm mini album. I'm intrigued to know how these came to be under the the Century 21 banner and indeed whether Topo Gigio was the only non-Gerry Anderson puppet to have a Century 21 connection...
Steve
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Post by Marie Griffiths on Apr 22, 2021 17:42:03 GMT
As an ATVLand girl I remember seeing him as a child.
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Post by John Green on Apr 22, 2021 19:11:01 GMT
He seemed to be on everything, for a while there!
I'm working on a script where a contract killer is hired to 'top' Mafia boss Oliverte Gigio. Hilarious confusion ensues.
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Post by paul carney on Apr 22, 2021 19:13:54 GMT
I remember Top Gigio.He irritated me😎
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Post by Richard Marple on Apr 22, 2021 20:27:27 GMT
Keith Alexander also voiced some character in Gerry Andersons Supermarionation shows.
In 1988 he managed to get an anime series in Japan.
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Post by stevej on Apr 24, 2021 7:57:43 GMT
Yes it seems that Keith Alexander provided the voice for the ATV series, for some reason replacing the regular Italian voice artist as heard on the Palladium and Sullivan clips. He must have sounded quite different!
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Post by Mark Tinkler on Apr 24, 2021 9:37:29 GMT
A long time ago, I opened a can of film at ITC called "Topo Gigio audition" which was a single camera shoot of Topo Gigio (who I used to live when I was a kid!) sitting on top of a piano with Bruce Forsyth. Was about 5 mins long and had film. But the film has not survived since - and I have checked a few times with ITC, Carlton and ITV Archive.
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Post by christian bews on Apr 24, 2021 13:48:19 GMT
i think century 21 also licensed a number of 'tingha and tucker' & 'treehouse family'
products including a couple of C21 mini-albums,books and toys.
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Post by stevej on Apr 24, 2021 16:57:26 GMT
A long time ago, I opened a can of film at ITC called "Topo Gigio audition" which was a single camera shoot of Topo Gigio (who I used to live when I was a kid!) I initially misread that as '... Topo Gigo (who I used to live with when I was a kid)'.... 
Anyway.... that's interesting to know, Mark. I wonder which show that was a test for? It depends on the year I guess. The Top Gigio appearances on the Palladium seem to post-date Brucie's period of hosting.
Christian- yes I did wonder whether Tingha & Tucker annuals and toys were done through Century 21. It certainly seems to have been a marketing arm for ATV children's merchandising. I'll have to read up on Gerry Anderson to see how it all connected.
Steve
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Post by stevej on Apr 24, 2021 19:07:50 GMT
Just stumbled across an ATV press photo for the series, which refers to a transmission time of 4.30 on Saturday afternoons in 'L' (London?), STV, Southern, Anglia and Grampian. Looks like viewers of Midlands ATV were denied the pleasure.
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Post by John Green on Apr 24, 2021 20:25:56 GMT
On Ed Sullivan, too.
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Post by stevej on Apr 25, 2021 16:14:44 GMT
See post #1 John!
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Post by John Green on Apr 25, 2021 18:06:38 GMT
Ooops!
I remember when Topo (not to be confused with Topol) burst on the scene. What a double-act he and Lamb Chop would have made...
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