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Lot #100: CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS (TV SERIES, 1967-1968) - Captain Black Head with Replica

Currency:GBP Category:Memorabilia / Movie - Props Start Price:30,000.00 GBP Estimated At:60,000.00 - 120,000.00 GBP
Lot #100: CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS (TV SERIES, 1967-1968) - Captain Black Head with Replica
Please note that all bids placed through 3rd party platforms will be subject to a buyer's expense of 5%. There is no fee for bids placed on propstoreauction.com

Day 1 and 2 of the auction will be held live with in-person bidding on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th November 2023 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN.

Please note in-person bidding is not available on Days 3 and 4 (Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November), bids can be placed online or via telephone or written absentee form.
CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS (TV SERIES, 1967-1968) - Captain Black Head with Replica Body and Costume

An original Captain Black puppet head from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic Supermarionation series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. The alien Mysterons controlled Captain Black as their agent in the "War of Nerves" they declared on Earth (as seen in the pilot episode "The Mysterons"). The series was the follow-up to the Anderson's commercially successful Thunderbirds, which captivated audiences worldwide.

Puppeteer Christine Glanville has stated that Captain Black was only meant to appear in the first episode, but when Gerry Anderson saw how effective his gaunt face looked after his "Mysteronisation", he decided to keep him as the nemesis of Captain Scarlet. This is the only known surviving Captain Black puppet head, understood to have been given to a studio scriptwriter as a part payment.

The two-part head is 11cm (4 1/4") high. It is made of fibreglass, painted and wigged with mohair, with resin eyes, each of which has a photograph of a real eye inserted. The lower lip is hinged and held shut by a spring allowing the puppet to talk. To create a more realistic effect, the Andersons' team pioneered the use of a solenoid to enable accurate mouth movements synchronised with recorded dialogue. The rear of the head is detachable to gain access to the internal mechanisms and is held in place by a magnet. Different versions of the head were made, including "normal", "smiler", "frowner" and "blinker". This head was a frowner, as indicated by the inscription of "CAPT BLACK FROWNER" on its interior.

The replica puppet body and costume were made by Terry Curtis, one of the original studio team's sculptors. Curtis worked with the Andersons during the 1960s on Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and other Supermarionation series, including Thunderbirds, The Secret Service and Joe 90.

This Captain Black puppet, like most puppets from the series, was re-used for guest roles in later Supermarionation series. It appeared in Joe 90 (as General Valdes in the episode "Viva Cordova") and The Secret Service (as Kroner, in "The Deadly Whisper"), among other roles. The lot comes with a custom-made display, allowing it to stand upright, and an original booklet created for the production featuring character outlines and a synopsis. Dimensions: 23 cm x 28 cm x 65 cm (9" x 11" x 25 1/2")

Estimate: GBP 60000 - 120000 M

Bidding for this lot will end on Thursday, November 9th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM BST and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, November 10th, Saturday, November 11th or Sunday, November 12th.