Torchy the Battery Boy | |
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Released by | AP Films |
Producer | Roberta Leigh |
Director | Gerry Anderson |
Director of Photography | Arthur Provis |
Art Director | Reginald E.Hill |
Music Director | Barry Gray |
Special Effects | Derick Meddings |
Medium | Black and White |
Episodes | 52 (2 Seasons of 26) |
Duration | 13 Minutes |
Original Air Date | 1960 |
Previous | Next |
The Adventures of Twizzle | Four Feather Falls |
Torchy The Battery Boy was the second television series of 15 minute shows produced by AP Films and directed by Gerry Anderson. It was another collaboration with author Roberta Leigh (a.k.a. Janey Scott Lewin), who also co-produced with Anderson, with music arranged by Barry Gray (collaborating Leigh), art direction from Reg Hill and special effects by Derek Meddings. The second series of 26 episodes were produced by Associated British Pathe, but Anderson and AP Films were not involved in their production. However, the puppets and music were unconditionally donated. The series aired from 1957 - 1958
Torchy the Battery Boy followed the adventures of the eponymous boy doll with a battery inside him and a lamp in his head, and his master Mr. Bumbledrop, voiced by Kenneth Connor (who is probably best known for being a member of the Carry On ensemble cast), also voiced a number of other characters. Puppetry was still fairly crude then and their strings are easily visible, unlike later Anderson Supermarionation shows.
Series Overview[]
Mr. Bumbledrop was a toy inventor, who loved to have children play at his house with their toys. One day, the naughty children decided to tie all the toys to kites, and a strong gust of wind blew all the toys away. Without children at play, Mr. Bumbledrop invents his own; a toy boy by the name of Torchy.
Regular Voice Cast[]
Pom-Pom the Poodle - Patricia Somerset
Pilliwig the Clown- Kenneth Connor
Squish the Space Boy - Patricia Somerset
King Dithers - Kenneth Connor
Bogey Meanymouth
The Polikan Bird - Kenneth Connor
The Ting-a-Ling Bird - Patricia Somerset
Whirly the Humming Top - Kenneth Connor
Daffy the Donkey - Kenneth Connor
Sparky the Dragon - Jill Raymond
Ena the Hyena - Patricia Somerset
Clinker the Money Box
Gillygolly the Golliwog - Kenneth Connor
Pongo the Pirate - Kenneth Connor
The Moon Man
Bobby the Twin
Babs the Twin
Mrs. Meanymouth
Narrator - Jill Raymond
Various Characters - Patricia Somerset
Episode list[]
(First Season)
- Pom-Pom And The Toys
- Topsy Turvy Land
- Torchy And Squish
- The Building Of Frutown
- Torchy And The Broken Rocket
- King Dithers
- Torchy Goes Back To Earth
- Bossy Boots Goes To Topsy Turvy Land
- Bossy Boots Is Taught A Lesson
- A Bell For A Penny Farthing
- A Trick On Pom-Pom
- Torchy Is Stolen
- King Dithers Loses His Crown
- Pilliwig Gets A Present
- Bad Boy Bogey
- Torchy And The Strange Animal
- Bossy Boots Forgets To Be Good
- Hungry Money Box
- The Naughty Twins
- The Twins Learn A Lesson
- King Dithers Goes Down To Earth
- Torchy Escapes At Last
- Torchy And The Man In The Moon
- Bogey And The Statues
- The Moon Falls Asleep
- Torchy's Birthday
(Second Season)
- Flopsy Goes On A Picnic
- Torchy Gets A Surprise
- Banana Bridge
- King Dithers And Daffy
- The Toys Get The Collywobbles
- Bogey Learns Another Lesson
- The Pollikan Bird Is Stolen
- Torchy Has An Accident
- Sparky The Dragon
- Bogey Is Naughty Again
- Pilliwig Cleans The Chimney
- Pongo The Pirate
- Pongo In The Goldmine
- King Dithers' Birthday
- Washing Day In Topsy Turvy Land
- Gluebell Wood
- Squish Falls Down A Well
- Flopsy In Trouble
- The Big Storm
- Daffy's Birthday
- Flopsy Makes A Christmas Pudding
- Gilly Golly In Trouble
- King Bumble Drop
- A New Suit For Pilliwig
- The Obstinate Donkey
- Pom-Pom Gets The Hiccups
Merchandise[]
Trivia[]
- Torchy the battery boy was the first Gerry Anderson series to include space travel, which would not be fully present until later Supermarionation series such as Supercar & Fireball XL5.
- The rocket takeoff, made using a sparkler, was the first pyrotechnic effect in a Gerry Anderson series.
- Both seasons are now available on DVD.
Preceding series: | Torchy the Battery Boy | Following series: |
The Adventures of Twizzle | Four Feather Falls |