Sherwood Forester
Issue 17
Christmas 2009
In this Issue
Welcome back to the Sherwood Forester, our first issue since the summer of 2008!
To celebrate our return during the Christmas holiday, our cover image comes from the season 3 episode "Christmas Goose", first broadcast in the UK on the 23rd December 1957.
Also in this issue: -
Our regular contributor returns with an article in which he recalls the plastic toys of his childhood .
Something new, for our return - Fan Fiction - doesn't really need any explanation, but if we have any potential novelists out there, we'd love to hear from you. Lady Livvy kicks off with "Homecoming".
Steve Winders recalls the plastic toys of his childhood.
Even before we had a television I had a set of 1:32 scale plastic figures of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Made by Britain’s Models in their Herald range, they were officially sanctioned by the Sapphire Films television series and in the cases of the Robin and Marian figures; they bore a remarkable likeness to the actors who portrayed them. Given that they were first made in 1956, this meant that Marian resembled Bernadette O’Farrell, who was the first actress to play her.
Robin was posed with his bow in one hand and lifting an arrow from his quiver with the other. He wore a green sleeveless tunic with a white shirt underneath, a costume he often wore in the television series. He also wore the feathered cap seen in the opening credit sequence of the programme. Marian wore a long pink dress and a bright red cloak and her pose suggested she was hurrying, as she was holding her cloak close to her side and her long black hair was flowing back behind her. Both Little John and Friar Tuck were wielding quarterstaffs, though in different poses.
Unlike Marian and the outlaws who were standing figures, the Sheriff was mounted on a white horse. Of course he rode a white horse in the television series. However the model had black hair instead of the greying hair of the actor Alan Wheatley. The Sheriff was posed with his sword raised, about to strike at an opponent. He came in his own box and I recall this well because I kept the original box for many years, with his Lordship wrapped carefully in tissue paper inside. All the models were hand painted. Robin was made of white plastic, so his shirt and bow were not painted. Marian was made of red plastic, so her cloak was not painted. The Sheriff was also made of red plastic, but his horse was made of white. Little John and Tuck were made of brown plastic.
Robin and the other figures were available in a boxed set and also sold singly. I assume my father bought them in a set because I think I got them all at once, but as I was only about four at the time I cannot be certain. We must have got the figures about 1957 and they were soon reinforced by another group of figures made by Lone Star Toys. These were all standing figures, except for one who was kneeling down! They were also hand painted, but were not quite as finely detailed as the Britain’s figures. There was a Robin Hood figure holding his bow like the Britain’s model, but in a pose suggesting that he had just discharged an arrow. His feathered cap was on his base stand, suggesting that it had fallen from his head in the heat of combat. He was bearded, so clearly not based on the television series. My father painted his tunic red, so he became my Will Scarlet! There were three other hooded outlaws in the group. One carried a sword, one a quarterstaff and one a bow.
There were also three Sheriff’s men in this group. One was the kneeling figure, who I used as a catapault operator. The catapault was a die cast model made by Crescent Toys. The next Sheriff’s man was a standing figure holding a sword at his side and the other carried no weapon, but stood in a slightly stooped pose as though about to wrestle someone. All the Lone Star models were made of green plastic, so Robin’s men had unpainted tunics. Their hoods and boots were painted brown. The Sheriff’s men had green tabards and silver painted helmets and chain mail.
The final member of my band of merry men came free in a box of Kellogg’s Sugar Smacks. In the late fifties, Kellogg’s in Britain gave 1:32 scale plastic figures free in boxes of several of their breakfast cereals. Military bandsmen were given with Corn Flakes, knights in armour with Rice Krispies and Robin Hood figures with Sugar Smacks. All these figures were made by Crescent Toys and were unpainted.
There were six figures in the Robin Hood set, but we did not usually buy Sugar Smacks and I only managed to get one. This was the Little John figure, who had a similar pose to the Britain’s model. He was made of green plastic, so my father left the tunic green and painted the rest of the figure. Obviously I couldn’t have two Little Johns, so I named the new one Jack. The other figures in the Kellogg’s set were Robin, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, a standing Sheriff of Nottingham and Alan-a Dale.
Although we didn’t buy Sugar Smacks, we ate a lot of Rice Krispies so I soon had a lot of opponents for Robin and his men in the form of knights. My father made two impressive castles from hardboard painted grey, with stonework carefully drawn on with soft pencil. The first castle was on a flat hardboard base and had a working drawbridge and portcullis, operated by levers set in the base. In front of this castle was a green velvet ‘field’, with plenty of room for besieging knights or outlaws. The castle had a detachable turret, made big enough to just fit Maid Marian inside. It was made from a reinforced toilet roll which we got from our next door neighbours as we used flat packed toilet paper!
The black-and-white photos of the plastic models and toy castles were taken about 1959 - 61 by my father. The pictures were taken in our garden although normally the castles were set up in the house.
The second castle was much more elaborate. It was so big that we had to be able to take it apart for storage. It was built on a huge ‘rock’ made of papier mache sections, reinforced with chicken wire. The castle itself was supported on wooden pillars, but these were hidden inside the papier mache frontage. It had working drawbridge, portcullis and doors operated by controls at the bottom of the ‘rock’ face. It was an impressive model, but so large that it was difficult for my younger sister and myself to reach the top towers, even when it was on the ground. However my father had no trouble reaching the battlements and I am sure that he was enjoying his second childhood through our first.
The Kellogg’s knights were soon joined by more bought in toy shops. The Crescent knights were also available in shops and both Lone Star and Britain’s produced knights of their own. Britain’s had a series of extremely detailed models with detachable parts, called ‘Swoppets’. You could even pull the swords out of the scabbards on these toys. Although these were in the ‘Wars of the Roses’ range, we didn’t worry too much about the two hundred and fifty year difference between them and Robin Hood.
In addition to the figures we also gained a Sherwood Forest. Merit Toys made fir and poplar trees for railway layouts and we had several boxes of these. In the sixties, Britain’s began to produce a range of trees of their own, principally as accessories for their farm and zoo models, but Sherwood Forest now gained oak, elm, beech and cedar trees.
We enjoyed many happy hours playing with Robin Hood and his plastic men as they rescued Marian from the castles, fought the Sheriff’s men in the forest and on one occasion populated an Anglo Saxon village we made at school with huts we made from cardboard with straw glued onto them.
Despite the relative indestructibility of plastic, over the years some of the figures were damaged through wear and tear. The biggest victim was Robin, whose bow broke on either side of his hand. After several years of an unarmed Robin my father made a new bow from a twig, carved into the correct shape and made a hole in Robin’s hand to thread it through, so that my own children could eventually break it off all over again.
The castles gradually suffered from the ravages of time. The first castle is no more and only the keep from the second survives. If Britain’s made 1:32 scale plastic National Trust or English Heritage figures then the keep would be in their care.
Like the legend, Robin and his plastic men also survive and live in semi retirement in an old shoe box with a group of Native Americans, formerly known as Red Indians for neighbours. Old plastic soldiers never die and they don’t even fade away.
Steve Winders
Lady Livvy reviews Sybella from season 4
Two armed men attack and kill a lone knight and throw his body over a cliff. He is found to be carrying a letter of introduction to King Richard from Robin Hood. In Nottingham Marian has been invited to a banquet by the Sheriff where the entertainment is to be provided by Ali, a supporter of the King who passes information to Robin.
Unfortunately this is only part of the message, and after Marian leaves Sybella reveals that the Earl of Steyne is already dead and his place taken by Baron Onslow who is going to sail to the Holy Land impersonating the Earl and thus get close enough to the King to murder him. Realising the danger not only to the King, but more immediately to Marian, Robin rushes to intercept them.
Meanwhile at a nearby inn Baron Onslow, posing as the Earl of Steyne, is intrigued to receive a visit from a highborn lady who refuses to give her name but claims to come from Robin Hood. The wicked baron intends to take his guest with him to Dover to hand her over to the authorities of Prince John. Just in time, Robin arrives and in a spirited sword fight kills Baron Onslow and his squire. The lovers then tell Derwent, who arrives after all the fighting is over, that they will return “sooner or later” before disappearing through a door of the inn.
One or two other little points. Robin has emphasised to Marian that she must not reveal her identity to the Earl, yet when he arrives at the inn, he says “The Earl of Steyne is dead, Marian”, thus letting the villain know who she is. It reminded me of the classic scene in “Dad’s Army” when the German officer wants to know Private Pike’s name and Captain Mainwaring retorts “Don’t tell him, Pike!”. Robin has no option but to kill the baddies after that! Which brings me to the question of who cleared up the bodies cluttering the floor of the inn? A bit tough on the innkeeper! And come to that, what did they do with Sybella? But we shouldn’t nip our brains with little details like that. It’s not meant to be serious drama but glorious, rip-roaring fun. Forget the niggles and enjoy!
Lady Livvy
A challenge for the outlaws!
When Friar Tuck appears on the screen, we often hear a particular tune. I believe this is it – an Austrian folk song O du lieber Augustin:
I found the song in this German songbook with a beautifully nostalgic cover:
Are there any musical outlaws out there? Would they play it (or sing it), and let us know if this is indeed “the Friar Tuck’s tune”?
A. F. (With thanks to Uwe from Bremen, Germany)
The men were perplexed. The well-dressed stranger had arrived the day before and Robin had spent several hours alone with him before emerging to tell his fellow outlaws that he was leaving at first light. He was sorry, but he could give them no explanation. For all their sakes he could divulge nothing, but all would be explained in due course.
“What about Lady Marian?” asked Little John. “What should we tell her?”
“Tell her all will be well,” came the reply.
Ten days later Marian Fitzwalter could hardly contain her excitement. For days rumours had been circulating throughout the county and no-one knew what to believe. The King had returned; the King was dead; Prince John had fled the country; Prince John had been crowned king. Now, at long last, a messenger had arrived at Fitzwalter Hall with a letter from her father. She could scarcely credit it. After an absence of four years, Lord Fitzwalter was back in England... and so was King Richard. He had ridden triumphantly into London accompanied by his loyal followers and had already begun the task of righting the injustices perpetrated in his absence. Her joy would be complete if only she knew only she knew where Robin was.
And now Marian was summoned to London to be reunited with her father, detained in the capital on the King’s business. Accompanied by her loyal maidservant Alice and two men at arms, she had ridden through the spring sunshine, past fields and villages until at last she had reached the bustling, bulging, boisterous city of London. In the ante chamber of the palace where she had been told to wait, she paced up and down scrutinising every new face which appeared until at last she saw him, the father she had not seen for four long years.
“Papa!” In an instant she was enfolded in those loving arms just as she had been as a motherless child all those years ago.
“My dear girl!” He was older and greyer and a little stooped now, but still her dearest papa.
“You are grown more beautiful than I could ever have hoped. So like your dear mother...” His voice choked with emotion. “And I have heard such wonderful reports. You have managed my estates better than I could ever have imagined. I am so proud of you! But you must wonder why I have summoned you to London. The King requires my presence a little while longer in London before I can return to Fitzwalter. Besides, he has greatly honoured our family. He has chosen a fine husband for you, one who will raise the prestige of our family beyond anything I could have dreamed of. He has chosen the Earl of Yelland as your husband.”
Marian’s heart froze. This could not be. Not so soon. She knew as an heiress that her marriage was a matter of state concern, but she had prayed for time, time to plead her case for marriage to Robin, surely Lord of Locksley again now that the King was back.
“Father, please! While you have been away, I have become fond of a gentleman... We are pledged to each other... I hoped that we could marry once the King and yourself returned...”
“Marian, enough! You know that you have a duty to your family and the King. Love does not play a part in marriage for people of our rank. I hardly knew your mother before we wed, but affection came later. And it will be the same for you, my dear. The Earl of Yelland is a good man. I haven’t met him myself, but he is a loyal servant to the King. And handsome too, I’m told. Come, my love, don’t cry. You know I can’t bear to see you cry.”
“Then plead with the King for me. Please, Papa....” “It’s too late, my pet. The contract is drawn up. The marriage will take place tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! It can’t be!”
“Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday and the Earl wishes the marriage to be solemnised before Lent, as does the King.”
“But at least wait till after Easter. Please! Beg the King!”
“Marian, this is unworthy of you. You know your duty to me and your family. This is a great honour to the Fitzwalter name, and it will be a great benefit to our tenants and serfs if you marry into such a noble house. I will hear no more arguments. You marry the Earl tomorrow. Come,” he added more gently, “You know I only have your welfare at heart. Get some rest after your journey and prepare your finest clothes for tomorrow. Goodnight, my daughter. God bless you!”
Sleep was impossible. Eyes red from sobbing, Marian refused all Alice’s entreaties to take some rest.
“Please, my lady. You must rest. Tomorrow is your wedding day. You must look your best.”
But sleep would not come. Fervently she prayed for some miracle, for strength to defy the King and her father, to plead at least for a little time. If only she knew where Robin was! Two weeks now and no word. At last dawn broke, and with a heavy heart she allowed Alice to dress her in the fine gown she had brought to wear at court. She would have preferred rags, if that would dissuade this stranger from marrying her, but she knew her duty. Love such as she and Robin had shared was only to be found in the romances of poets and troubadours. The dream was over. Now she must face her destiny as Countess of Yelland.
It was a resigned and silent figure who accompanied Lord Fitzwalter through the chambers of the palace and into the magnificent throne room. She noticed nothing of the magnificent surroundings nor the crowd of courtiers who pressed in on either side. With downcast eyes she allowed her father to lead her by the hand to the front of the throng and she sank in a deep curtsy before a richly clad figure. As if in a daze, she heard her father say: “Sire, may I present to you my beloved daughter Marian”.
A ringed hand took hers from her father’s.
“Lady Marian,” she heard a distinguished voice say, “I have heard many tales from the Queen my mother of your loyal service in my absence. I thank you for your devotion and am honoured to see you grace my court.”
“Sire!” was all that she could murmur before a feeling of faintness began to steal over her. “And now, my lady, there is a gentleman here who has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. May I present to you my lord the Earl of Yelland?”
She was still sunk in a deep curtsy as the King placed her trembling hand in another, firm grasp, but she still did not raise her downcast eyes.
“Will my lady not honour me with a smile?” That voice! Slowly Marian raised her eyes. It could not be true. Before her, holding the hand placed in his by the King, stood Robin, newly created Earl of Yelland by a grateful monarch. Slowly he raised her from her formal curtsy.
“Sire,” he began, “You have most graciously given your consent to my marriage with this lady, and you, my Lord Fitzwalter, have given the match your blessing. But now before the company here assembled, I most humbly beg you, my lady, to grant me willingly your hand and heart”.
“Most willingly”. Her voice was shaking with joy.
“In that case, said the King, let us repair to my chapel where my lord bishop is waiting to perform the ceremony.”
“Er, perhaps the young people should be allowed some time to become acquainted,” ventured Lord Fitzwalter hesitantly.
“Dear father, I am quite content to be married today I assure you. Let us proceed to the chapel.”
It was a puzzled Lord Fitzwalter who led his daughter to her wedding, musing to himself that no matter how long he lived, he would never understand women.
It was later that Marian learned of the secret summons for Robin to join the King on his triumphal return to England; of the gratitude of the monarch who not only restored to him the lands of Locksley but also created him an earl in recognition of all the hardships endured in the King’s service; of the offer he had made to the King to give up all of that, lands and titles and riches in return for the hand of one particular lady, an offer which Richard had smilingly rejected but had added the lady to the list of rewards anyway.
And as they lay together that night, she wondered that she had ever doubted him.
Lady Livvy
The following interview was conducted by CuChullaine O’Reilly, who joins others in their admiration for the values, stories and historical characters depicted on the 1950s Robin Hood television program. When CuChullaine discovered by chance that the mother of a close friend had known Alexander Gauge, a.k.a. Friar Tuck, he asked the lady if she would agree to a brief interview for the sake of The Adventures of Robin Hood Appreciation Society?
Though “Lady Wendy” wishes to preserve her privacy, she has provided fans of the show with the following insightful, and moving, reminiscence about the faithful day she rode into the Greenwood, thanks to her friend, Friar Tuck.
Looking back, my day in the Greenwood with Robin and his Merry Men is a bit of a blur.
Having been a dancer most of my life I had switched over to the production side of films and made friends of actors and technicians. I counted Alexander Gauge, Friar Tuck, as such a friend. He was a highly intelligent Greek scholar, who translated many plays for the BBC Radio, performed Shakespeare on Broadway and starred in the film version of Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers.
One day my business partner and I were in the area and knowing they were filming, we decided to pop over to see Alex and visit the location of Robin Hood.
There was a full unit in the woods that day but it soon became apparent they were short of a shot of a woman riding away. I cannot recall why the scheduled actress was not present or for what reason they needed the shot then and there. Perhaps it hadn't come out well at rushes and was a day when the actress was not on call.
Regardless, my partner knew some of the technicians, so he suggested I might do it as in addition to being a dancer I had ridden a lot in my younger days. Trade unions were much in evidence then, and because I was not a certified stunt-woman, I worried that such a move might cause me trouble. Yet somehow or other a blond wig and costume were produced, upon which I found myself being helped into the side-saddle.
I had barely mounted up when someone gave the dear horse a bit of a slap on its rear end.
And that's it.
I galloped off into mythical Sherwood in search of my friend, Friar Tuck.
As for my scene, I don't know if it was ever aired and can't recall the name of the episode.
What I do remember is that Alexander Gauge was a man full of jollity and gave much amusement to those around him. Having spent many happy times with him, it was with huge sadness that I learnt that Alex took his own life a few years later.
My friend, “Friar Tuck,” was truly a modest, gentle man and I am sure Alexander would be very happy to know he is still remembered by so many people from around the world. I know I shall never forget the magical afternoon I galloped into the Greenwood.
Lady Wendy
Continuing our series where we look at the stories behind the series. This time Lynn Rogers remembers her father Howard Dimsdale.
Howard Dimsdale
Howard Dimsdale was born in Sioux City, Iowa, lived there for 3 years, and then moved to Chicago, Illinois before coming to Los Angeles. His father was an obstetrician/gynecologist and his mother was a homemaker. Dad went to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), but due to the untimely death of his father, had to quit before graduating to help support the family.
After he left the university, he worked at various jobs, including selling insurance. His first writing job was in radio, then he began writing films, and eventually became a television writer. He managed a well-known restaurant, The Dales, for several years when he was first blacklisted, but continued to write, using a pseudonym and a disguise (a toupee and fake mustache) when he had to go to the studios for meetings. We feel fairly confident that many people recognized him, but evidently were willing to look the other way.
Prior to his death in 1991, he was teaching at the American Film Institute (AFI) here in Los Angeles. He very much enjoyed helping to develop young minds, particularly in his chosen field of screenwriting. He was so well respected by his students, that they did honor his memory by giving his name to a character in the “X-Files.”
One of my most favorite memories was watching my father sitting in his home office, wearing headphones, and “conducting” a symphony playing on his record player. He knew a great deal about classical music, art and literature (he was a voracious reader).
He was my hero and I miss him every day.
Lynn Rogers
Do you recall that we reproduced Archie Duncan's get-well card in Issue 12? Alison Pritchard (Archie's great-niece) in Issue 16, deciphered most of the text. Philip Robinson has taken up the challenge and added further words (highlighted). However Philip believes that the missing line is in Latin!
Can anybody help further?
Are now, except for retakes, almost done,
The shooting schedules battles lost and won,
Forlorn and lofty stand the empty stages,
Cluttered with arches of the Middle Ages
No more the daily flick [?] of my script pages
No cries of QUIET, or even quiet please,
No cheerful trolley rattle with the teas
And, worst of all there's Duncan's outlaws knees
........ ........ ......... ............
Hospitalised to save the second unit
The producer tore his hair and cried "That’s done it...
There's little we can shoot less Little John
Get the Insurance and crowd ............. on the phone"
In the uproar Archie's left on’s own
But now peace reigns and now that we are free
The undersigned do undertake to see
That Archie vanquishes adversity
Grapes, gossip and good usquebaugh we'll bring
And tales of what's been done on a shoestring
But just for now we all combine to sing
GOOD LUCK AND HEALTH TO ARCHIE
This time cast your minds back to our last issue (Issue 16), in which we reproduced an article about a competition from the Picture Show & Film Pictorial magazine. David Rayner has come up with the competition winner's details. We have reproduced David's correspondence and a copy of the extract from the magazine.
David writes: -
Regarding the item about Alan Wheatley's chain of office in your latest issue: by chance, the pile of old Picture Show magazines I have includes the issue listing the name and address of the competition winner. The Picture Show in question is dated July 13th, 1957 and the details are given as follows on page 13:
"The Chain of Office worn by Alan Wheatley in the "Robin Hood" Television series has been awarded to:
Miss P. GOVIER,
ABBOTS HOUSE,
TACHBROOK ESTATE,
LONDON,
S.W.1.
Arrangements are now being made for Miss Govier to be presented with her prize by Alan Wheatley in person."
As a footnote, our team of researchers (Anna) has phoned every Govier in the London area without success. However if you know of her please let us know, it would be interesting to see if she still had the Chain of Office!
A Guest for the Gallows
Suzette: He was the best-looking butcher, not just in the shire, but probably in the whole of England.
I loved that outlaw sleeping in the pile of leaves, like a hedgehog. And the pictorial message with a drawing of the gallows…
I get the impression that Robin was often very impatient in those early episodes, and could even appear inconsiderate; and that he calmed down later on in the series. Have you noticed that too, or am I imagining it?
Marian: Yes, Suzette, he most certainly was the "best-looking butcher in all of England". I was a little confused with this episode. I think that it seemed out of place in order; I think it was earlier than its place on the list. It surprised me that the Sheriff didn't recognize Robin right away, and when Robin kissed the lass as her payment for the beef, the first time it seemed like an innocent kiss, but the second kiss! It was funny when she brought the other woman over to buy some beef - great expression on Robin's face; always kind and considerate.
I don't think at the time of this episode that Robin had become reacquainted with Marian - hence "the kiss".
Very funny scene between Robin and Little John bartering over the butcher's cart and beef. No, Suzette, you weren't imagining it, Robin did seem very young, and mischievous, perhaps hadn't settled into "the leader role" - but his heart and mind were always in the right place. "Let your wits be stronger than your enemy's sword" - he quoted King Richard. I think he had a good mentor during the Crusades.
When he was arrested and taken before the Sheriff - very funny, pouring himself some of the Sheriff's wine and gaining the Sheriff's confidence at the same time. Alan Wheatley does such a superb job as the Sheriff - this is the episode where he signed his real name. He has great expression, love to watch his eyes, very expressive; he makes a great nemesis for Robin.
Very fun and playful episode - Robin is certainly "the master of "disguise"; another wonderful episode written by Ring Lardner, Jr. He seems to be a master of intertwining tragedy with comedy, I wonder if it was a reflection of his own life?
Suzette: It’s possible that the order in which the episodes were filmed is different from the order in which they were meant to be shown. But we have no way of knowing if that was the case, and, if so, why. We can speculate, of course…
Is there any reason why A Guest for the Gallows should have been shown earlier? Is it just because of the kiss scene? Wouldn’t Robin kiss the girl if he had been reacquainted with Marian? I think he would! It didn’t mean anything, and Marian wasn’t there… He did it once when she WAS there (in The Sheriff’s Boots). He was used to the single life, and - he just forgot himself.
Now that I’ve seen the whole series, I’m amazed how Robin’s personality changed throughout the series, and how convincing it appeared – from a swashbuckling hero, to a resistance leader; wiser, more mature, calmer, but, of course, older, and sometimes – maybe a bit tired of the life in Sherwood… There wasn’t that much in the script, it was mostly Richard’s acting. And he must have found it satisfying, because it was well above what was expected (or required) in a children’s series.
Back to A Guest for the Gallows, I liked the final scenes very much – the tense moments when the prisoners were exchanged, and later, when Robin welcomed the new outlaw; what happened to his voice then, have you noticed? Did he sound a bit emotional? Or was he just breathless after the ride?
I imagine that some scenes here were done by a stuntman, but it’s not obvious. But it’s a different story in the later episodes! I have a strong suspicion that in certain “unimportant” outdoor scenes, where we see Robin walking away, or at a distance, Richard was replaced by a double. And that’s apart from some riding and sword fighting scenes! Perhaps you’ve noticed that, too?
Marian: Interesting observations about "doubles/stuntmen" - my view is that "doubles" were used in the riding on horseback or chase scenes. I think they used "doubles" for all the actors - it was probably risky to have the actors doing those scenes and they probably used professionally trained horsemen/women for the "wild rides on horseback".
My feelings of the early Robin Hood episodes were that Richard Greene was putting his "personal stamp" on RH. He had probably done research into who Robin Hood was - perhaps seen other movies such as the Errol Flynn version - but wanted to make his own "definitive Robin Hood", not a Robin Hood copy. I think it was Richard Greene who came through in Robin Hood, his own personality, and that was the true success of the series. He made Robin Hood evolve - starting with Robin of Locksley - trying to find his way - to becoming the leader of Sherwood Forest, which the outlaws needed very badly if they were to survive. I think it was "on the job training" - he was young, perhaps impatient, a warrior - it did seem a little rash to have himself be "arrested", but Robin is very smart and clever at getting himself into and out of situations. The ending scene of exchanging the Sheriff for Will was very emotional, thank goodness for the intervention of Friar Tuck.
Another enjoyable episode. I always enjoy when they combine humor with danger - brilliant writers.
Lucy has been seen spending all her waking hours on eBay! Luckily only to bring us the latest discoveries in memorabilia, it's amazing what people sell. First up is an outlaw outfit: -
The badges below were accompanied with the seller's following description: -
"THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD Richard Greene Pinback Button--This Was Both A British And US Television Show In The Late 1950's--Measures 1 1/2" In Diameter--Manufactured By Green Duck Co.--My Father Collected Pinbacks From The Time He Was A Young Boy (From The Early 1930's On) And I'm Currently Liquidating Part Of His Collection--Has A Few Light Scratches."
Any ideas what price they went for?
That's All Folks
We hope you all enjoy our returning issue, and that it inspires you to write to us with items of memorabilia, episode reviews, short articles, in fact anything that brings pleasure to you as an "outlaw" and that you feel can be shared. Just email trhas@hotmail.com.
And finally best wishes to all for Christmas and the New Year.
The Editorial Team
Anna, Lucy and Mike