MOTHER'S DAY
Happy Mother's day from Spy Vibe! In the final Diana Rigg episode of The Avengers ("The-Forget-Me-Knot"), agents John Steed, Emma Peel, and Tara King are first seen answering to their own controller, codename: Mother. The wheelchair-bound spymaster was portrayed by Patrick Newell (1932-1988). His base of operations moved from one eccentric location to another, which became a charming convention during the last season of the series. Briefings were held in places like the bottom of a lake, atop a double-decker bus, riding in a Rolls, and at a desk in a swimming pool- and always accompanied by his six-foot Amazonian assistant, Rhonda. Although some felt the Mother character broke the chemistry of the program's proven formula, his dream-like quality was well-rooted in the surrealism boom in England during the 1960s and certainly added additional flair and humor. Before taking the role of Mother, Patrick Newell appeared in two earlier episodes of The Avengers: "The Town of No Return" and "Something Nasty in the Nursery". Newell passed away in 1988 at the age of 56. More info at The Avengers Forever website here. Spy Vibers, have you heard my new radio show with Cocktail Nation? Episode #3 is coming up and I'll be talking about On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Here are info links for Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim). Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Fahrenheit 451 50th, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.
