magazines & newspapers

 
1969 "Daily Mirror" Article: Here is one of the first (if not the first) newspaper articles about UFO, from the 13 November 1969 issue of the UK newspaper "The Daily Mirror", with a rare shot of Antonia Ellis as Lt. Joan Harrington! Zippy Gear for the Moon

1971-73 UFO Comics in "Countdown" and "TV Action": In February 1971, Polystyle Publications began publishing UFO comic strips in a UK magazine titled "Countdown".  This magazine was later renamed "TV Action + Countdown" and then just "TV Action".  Here is a summary of these comics plus those appearing in Polystyle "Annuals" (courtesy Anthony Appleyard).  And here are some scans from Countdown issue #1 -- note that the page numbering runs backwards! (from Angelo Finamore's UFO merchandise collection): 

1971 UFO Review: Here is a transcript and scan of UFO review which appeared in a 1971 issue of the Australian TV TIMES (scan courtesy of Dennis Nicholson)

1970's "Look-in" magazines: In the UK, "Look-in" was a "TV Times" for kids.  Here are some scans relating to UFO, Ed Bishop, and Ayshea (courtesy Angelo Finamore & Chris Freeman):

1971 UFO Photos in German Magazine:  Here are some UFO photos from 1971 issues of the German magazine "Bravo" (courtesy Micky Bister & Angelo Finamore):

1972 UFO preview: here is a transcript from the 13 July 1972 of the American magazine MONSTER TIMES

1972-73 USA TV Guide Stuff: here is a text file with a series review, plot synopses, and broadcast dates from 1972-73 issues of the American magazine TV GUIDE.

And here are some scans of ads for UFO (most courtesy of Jeff Leroy):

1971 - 1973 Mike Billington in teen magazines: here are photos of Mike Billington in some US/UK teen magazines, all taken during the filming of UFO (courtesy Danny Doyle):

1973 Ed Bishop interview: here is a transcript from an American newspaper dated 8 October 1973

NEW! 1973 Article on Straker's and Fosters Car: here is an article from the July 1973 issue of CARS AND CAR CONVERSIONS magazine, when the two UFO cars first went up for sale!

1973 Article on Straker's car: here is an article on Straker's car from a November 1973 issue of the UK magazine "FAB 208" (courtesy Danny Doyle)

1974 Italian Photo-Novelizations: In 1974, 18 photo-novelizations of UFO episodes were released in Italy. The series was titled "I Film Di UFO", and each issue had 52 pages of captioned B&W photos from the episodes. The issues were 190x255 mm in size and distributed by Romana Periodici Illustrati. Here are some scans (some courtesy Angelo Zumbo):

  1. IDENTIFICATO! (Identified) front cover | example page
  2. PROGETTO FOSTER (Exposed)  front | page
  3. SALVATAGGIO! (Survival) front  
  4. BONIFICA SPAZIALE (Conflict)  front | page
  5. CORTE MARZIALE (Court Martial) advertisement on back of issue 4
  6. L'INGRANDIMENTO (The Dalotek Affair) front | example page
  7. GLOBI DI FUOCO (Close Up) front | page
  8. SALVATAGGIO SUBACQUEO (Sub-Smash) front | page
  9. UCCIDETE STRAKER! (Kill Straker!) front | example page
  10. LA VIA DEL CIELO (Flight Path) front | page
  11. IL TRIANGOLO QUADRATO (The Square Triangle) front  
  12. CONTROLLO CONFETTI: O.K.! (Confetti Check A-OK) front | page
  13. PERCEZIONE EXTRASENSORIALE (E.S.P.) front | page
  14. UNA QUESTIONE DI PRECEDENZA (A Question of Priorities) front | page
  15. L' "AFFARE COMPUTER (Computer Affair) front | page
  16. IL SUONO DEL SILENZIO (The Sound of Silence) front
  17. UN POSTO DI RESPONSABILITA (The Responsibility Seat) front | page
  18. LA PROVA DEL FUOCO (Ordeal) front | page

1974 French Photo-Novelizations: 7 of the above UFO photo-novelizations were also released in France. This series was titled "Les Film De UFO", and was distributed by Skandia. Here are scans of the front covers of these issues (from Angelo Finamore's UFO merchandise collection): 

  1. IDENTIFIE'! (Identified) front cover 
  2. LE PROJET FOSTER (Exposed) front
  3. SAUVETAGE (Survival) front
  4. DECHETS DANS L'ESPACE (Conflict) front 
  5. COUR MARTIALE (Court Martial) front 
  6. L'AGRANDISSEMENT (The Dalotek Affair) front 
  7. BOULES DE FEU (Close Up) front
  8. SAUVETAGE SOUS-MARIN (Sub-Smash) front | back
1975 Article on Straker/Foster's car: here is a scan of an article from a 1975 issue of the UK magazine "Speed & Power" (courtesy Shaqui Le Vesconte)
1977 UFO article: here is a transcript of a UFO article from issue#5 of the American magazine STARLOG (courtesy Mary Veres) 
1979 UFO article: here is a transcript of a UFO article from issue#16 of the UK magazine STARBURST, with quotes from director David Lane and designer Keith Wilson (courtesy Mary Veres) 
1982 Ed Bishop interview: here is a transcript of an Ed Bishop interview from issue#55 of the American magazine STARLOG (courtesy Danielle Plamondon) 
1982 George Sewell interview: here is a transcript of a George Sewell interview from issue#5 of the American magazine FANTASY EMPIRE  (courtesy Danielle Plamondon) 
1983 Michael Billington interview: here is a transcript of a Michael Billington interview from issue#71 of the American magazine STARLOG (courtesy Mary Veres) 
1983 Straker's Car article: here is a 1983 picture and article about Straker's car, which appeared in the 20 May 1983 issue of the UK newspaper "Motoring Weekend Extra".

1981-88 "S.i.G" magazines: From 1981 - 88,  20 issues of "S.i.G." magazine were published in the UK.  This magazine was devoted to all of Gerry Anderson's work, and almost every issue had some UFO content.  Here are some highlights:

  • Issue 4: SHADO Mobile blueprint (2 pgs)
  • Issue 5: front cover featuring SHADO Mobile photo
  • Issue 8: UFO model  kits (2 pgs), Commander Straker character study (4 pgs)
  • Issue 10: Original Interceptor model (1 pg)
  • Issue 12: Critique of SUB-SMASH (2 pgs), Derek Meddings interview
  • Issue 13: back cover photos of the Interceptors, scratch building a Moonmobile (3 pgs), UFO blueprint (2 pgs)
  • Issue 16: front cover photo of Straker, UFO UK broadcast dates, Sky One blueprints (1 pg)
  • Issue 17: Writer Tony Barwick interview (3 pgs)
  • Issue 18: Ed Bishop interview (5 pg), scratch building SID (4 pgs), UFO article (2 pgs)
  • Issue 19: George Sewell interview (3 pgs)
  • Issue 20: front cover photo of Straker and Nina Barry, Lt Ellis color poster, UFO series guide and pre-production artwork (13 pgs)

1990-93 "Century 21" magazines: From 1990 - 93,  15 issues of "Century 21" magazine were published in the UK.  This was a glossy, high quality magazine devoted to all of Gerry Anderson's work, and almost every issue had some UFO content.  Here are some highlights:

  • Issue 1: front cover photo of Straker/Lake, UFO episode guide (14 pgs)
  • Issue 2: back cover photos of Lt. Ellis, UFO merchandise guide (6 pgs),  Ed Bishop interview (4 pgs)
  • Issue 3: Italy/Japan UFO merchandise guide update (5 pgs)
  • Issue 4: Ex-owner of Straker's car (scans & transcript) (2 pgs)
  • Issue 5: front cover photos of Skydiver/SHADO Jeep, rare photos of original Skydiver model under construction.
  • Issue 7: rare pre-production drawing for UFO's cancelled 2nd season.
  • Issue 8: front cover photo of Straker, UFO filming locations
  • Issue 12: front cover photo of Foster
  • Issue 13: Derek Meddings discusses UFO's special effects, current photo of Gabrielle Drake
  • Issue 15: Foster's car found!

1991-1999 Fanderson "FAB" magazines: The official Gerry Anderson fan club Fanderson has published a professional-quality magazine called FAB for their membership since 1991.  This magazine is devoted to all of Gerry Anderson's work, and almost every issue has some UFO content.  Here are some highlights:

  • FAB 1: front & back cover photo of Foster & Freeman, Alan Perry (director) interview part 1 featuring UFO behind the scenes photos
  • FAB 2: Alan Perry interview part 2 featuring UFO discussion & photos, Fanderson 91 convention photos
  • FAB 3: UFO shooting location tour part 1
  • FAB 5: front & back cover photo of Straker & Lake, KILL STRAKER script/episode comparison
  • FAB 8: Vladek Sheybal obituary & interview (transcript)
  • FAB 10: front & back cover photos from SUB-SMASH.  The making of UFO part 1 (5 pages), Michael Billington interview, UFO shooting location tour part 2
  • FAB 11: The making of UFO part 2 (6 pages)
  • FAB 12: The making of UFO part 3 (6 pages)
  • FAB 20: front cover photo of Straker/Ellis, back cover photo of Lake, UFO episode guide part 1 (9 pages) 
  • FAB 21: UFO episode guide part 2 (8 pages)
  • FAB 23: front cover photo of Miss Holland, back cover photo of Straker/Foster/Freeman, UFO episode guide part 3 (11 pages)
  • FAB 24: UFO episode guide part 4 (11 pages)
  • FAB 25: front cover photo of Straker, Ed Bishop profile (6 pages)
  • FAB 27: Ed Bishop interview part 1 (8 pages)
  • FAB 28: front cover photo of Foster/Linda Simmonds, back cover photo of Lake/Craig Collins, UFO writers guide part 1 (6 pages), Ed Bishop interview part 2 (6 pages)
  • FAB 29: UFO writers guide part 2 (6 pages)
  • FAB 30: UFO behind the scenes photos
  • FAB 36: updates on the UFO cars (5 pages)
  • FAB 37: Gabrielle Drake interview (8 pages with lot of photos, one in color)
  • FAB 38: Peter Gordeno interview (8 pages with lots of photos, one in color)
1992 Ed Bishop interview: here is a transcript of an Ed Bishop interview from issue#32 of the UK magazine TV ZONE (courtesy James Overton) 
1995 Ed Bishop interview: here is a transcript and a scan of an Ed Bishop interview from issue#3 of the UK magazine SFX.  Note how they've posed Ed Bishop to simulate the SHADO logo!  (scan from Angelo Finamore's UFO Collection)
1996 Michael Billington interview: here is a transcript of a 1996 Ed Bishop interview from special issue#21 of the UK magazine TV ZONE (courtesy Danielle Plamondon) 
1996 Ed Bishop interview: here is transcript of an Ed Bishop interview from issue#22 of the UK magazine DREAMWATCH  (courtesy Carol Kinkade) 
1996 Response to BBC2's UFO broadcasts: here is a transcript of a UFO article from issue#27 of the UK magazine DREAMWATCH
1997 Ed Bishop interview: here is a transcript of an Ed Bishop interview from issue#26 of the Canadian fan magazine JIGSAW (courtesy Bob Furnell) 
1999 Top 50 SF TV Shows: Here is a scan from UK magazine SFX issue #50 (April 99), showing UFO placing #11 in their list of the top 50 SF TV shows of all time! (courtesy Branko Vekic) 
2002 Ed Bishop interview: Here are two scans (photo | text) from the Spring 2002 issue of the UK magazine "SFX" featuring an interview with Ed Bishop to help promote the release of UFO on DVD! (courtesy Andy Lovie)
2003 Japanese Starlog UFO Article: The Autumn 2003 (Issue #18) of the Japanese Starlog magazine features a 4 page article on UFO.  Here are scans of these 4 pages 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (courtesy Hiroshi Ishizuka)