WHICH AWARDS? WHAT YEAR? WHO WON AND WHAT IS THE CUSHING CONNECTION?

ABOVE: BACK A FEW DAYS AGO, I set this little teaser, as one of our daily posts at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE to see of anyone would solve the questions on the photograph above . . . 😏😊

"A RARE press photograph of Peter Cushing looking dapper and smart for one of his rare appearances, at a televised Awards Evening... BUT ... without me giving anything away, WHO do you think WON this award? Which Awards Ceremony was this? What year was this... and WHO won??? I have a photograph of the successful too and will give you the answer later... have fun!"- Our Facebook Post August 12th 2020

IT WAS GREETED with quite a few suggestions and answers. Some were close, good guesses but the majority incorrect. I thought for a hour or so, I MAY have foxed our good friends. And then, a BIG hint for many, when hinted suggestion was posted . . 'I'm pretty certain, the winners weren't there to pay Cushing! The answer will 'bring sunshine' to many, even if one of them had 'short fat hairy legs!' THEN, I knew the game was up! 😆 Well done, Anthony Stuctbury!

ABOVE: ONE OF THE MANY appearances Peter Cushing made on the MORECAMBE and WISE show.This one is from 1969with . .  Peter Cushing as King Arthur, Ernie Wise as Merlin, Eric Morecambe as Sherlock Holmes and Ann Hamilton as Guinevere in the play what Ernie wrote - Knights Of The Round Table. This appearance was Cushing's first show, and set the 'framework' for all his other appearances with Eric and Ernie, where he was chasing the PAY for this first show! 😁😅

 

 

PLEASE COME JOIN US at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features ad prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing OBE! 

AND FROM SHERLOCK HOLMES TOO! RARE BBC SHERLOCK VINTAGE AUTOGRAPHS!

#PETERCUSHING #AUTOGRAPHS : The 'going rate' for Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee autographs has always been quite heathy, for those who trade in such memorabilia. After BOTH Cushing's and Lee's passing, as one would expect, the value of their signed notes and 'best wishes' certainly went UP in value. For the past 20 years a signed photograph of Cushing has remained steady, with prices from £150 to £250. Many would include, after the passing of his wife, Helen in 1971 to include the sentiment of 'May God's Blessing Be With You Always, In All Sincerity,  Peter Cushing' That's NOT Force but God's Blessing' 😉 IF the signature also included a dedication of, for example 'To Fred' or 'To Aunty Mary', it would carry a value of  LESS than a autograph WITHOUT a dedication! All autographs, without the 'May God's Blessing' inscription, pre-1971 always carry more value, even if the autograph is JUST his signature, on a piece of paper or a photograph!

THE AUTOGRAPH that most are seeking these days of course is Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin from 'Star Wars' ... most desirable, with a dedication. These have sold for between £2,500 and £3,000.. again, in all these 'market-places' something is only worth, what I guess what they WILL actually pay for it.. unless either person sadly gets duped..and there are many, like THIS example of a .... FAKE!

ABOVE ANOTHER SHADY FAKE!... If you have a Peter Cushing autograph, enjoy it, look after it and keep it safe 😉A Tale of Caution : A few years ago, a very dedicated Hammer film and Cushing fan got in touch wanting some advice, on what I thought MAYBE the value of his EIGHT signed photographs of Peter Cushing... 'Well, I am no expert but I can take a look' says I 😊 So, I asked him how did he come across them, 'I bought them years ago from collectors!' he said. 'Are they in good condition' I asked. 'Oh yes...!' said he, 'I will take a photograph of them all now, laid out on the table, for you too see them' he replied. After twenty minutes, an email arrived of a grand display of all eight colour 10x8 photographs, laid out and all catching the light, from the living room window, upon their... plastic lamented SEALED covering!!! Eight colour photographs : Signed amazing! Sealed in plastic, every one of them : worthless.... 😮☹️😖 😢- Marcus

SUBSCRIBE AND FOLLOW THE PCASUK YOUTUBE CHANNEL : HERE!

 

PLEASE COME JOIN US at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE now with almost 34 thousand friends and followers. Daily posts, rare photographs, features, prize competitions and friends! Anyone and everyone welcome, wherever you are, whoever you are! JUST click here to FIND us : WELCOME!

STILL ON THE STEPS OF POPULARITY WITH AUTOBIOGRAPHIES THAT STILL ENTERTAIN!

#PETERCUSHING : Sherlock HOLMES! This rare photograph was shared this weekend at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE to an enormous response of LIKES and comments! Once again, proving that Cushing's interpretation of  probably the most popular detective in the world... is still just as popular as ever!

PETER CUSHING 'Past Forgetting' . . the publishing of Cushing's First autobiography . . 'Peter Cushing An Autobiography' in 1986.. was such a surprising and success to both him and his publishers, that another volume was quickly written and published in 1988, 'Past Forgetting' contained stories and anecdotes from his career before and after his time with Hammer films and his success appearing in fantasy genre cinema. 

MANY READERS FELT they wanted more, and maybe had his health improved, we may have also have received a third volume? A short time after the Peter Cushing Centenary in 2013 both the volumes were repackaged and published as 'Peter Cushing : The Complete Memoirs', with some new photographs... this book sold out within days, copies flew off the shelves in bookshops and drained the publisher!

ONE OF THE MANY positive things about the publishing of Peter autobiographers was, for both volumes he 'stepped out' and made signing sessions at book stores around the country. After a what was almost a 15 year period of quite reclusive living, leaving home in Whitstable only to work... Cushing was shocked by the love, affection and gratitude he received from the his public.

ABOVE: A LOVELY STORY from one of our followers and friends at the FACEBOOK fan page,  Jake! : RIGHT HERE!

FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, it was common to see him on his bike in his home town, eating in public and appearing on chat shows and radio.. writing the books would be and were indeed, as his good friend Sir John Mills told him, 'Wonderful therapy'! . .. So, I am curious as to how many of us at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE actually own a copy, of either or both or the combined book..and have read it? I have therefore, requested everyone to feel free to snap a selfie of you or your book and share with us at the page! Who would have thought, so many copies! 😮😀 Stay Safe everyone... love and take care 😉 - Marcus

 

WHAT MAKES A GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES : VINTAGE TRAILER : NAME THE MUSCLE MAN!

TWO FILMS and 16 Television Episodes! Over at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page, I have asked : What Do You Think, Made Peter Cushing such a popular Sherlock Holmes? From 1959 and the Hammer film adaption of 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' the role of probably the world's most famous detective 'Sherlock Holmes', became quite permanently welded to Peter Cushing as one of his most entertaining roles... from a filmography containing over 90 motion pictures! From the many actors who portrayed Holmes, what was it in Cushing's performances that made him so popular?? . . . And as you wouks expect, there are some interesting theories and strong opinions... HERE!

A CHUMP AT OXFORD (1940) was the penultimate Laurel and Hardy film made at the Hal Roach studios. Stan Laurel played Stan / Lord Paddington, Oliver Hardy is Ollie! The film is of particular note to us, because Peter Cushing also featured in the cast.
 

#STANLAUREL was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson on the 16th June 1890, at 3, Argyle Street, Ulverston, Cumbria, England. He travelled to the US with the Karno trope, and after a long period eventually Laurel signed with the Hal Roach studio, so did Oliver Hardy, who was a member of the Hal Roach Studios Comedy All Star players...and the rest is history! If I were to pick anyone from this era of cinema history, Stan and Olly get my vote every time.

IF YOU HAVE NOT seen A Chump At Oxford, I highly recommend it, I have added the the theatrical trailer above! It's not just for an opportunity to see a young Peter Cushing at work, but also the joy of watching the skill and talent of the two 'boys'. It never got better. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Stan, you still remain head and shoulders above the rest!

#RichardBurton and Claire Bloom's 1956 production of 'Alexander the Great' might have been seen as 'not so great' at the box office, but #PeterCushing turned in a very good performance, even with such a damp squid of a script.. it also gave us a fabulous colour image like this this one, just months before Cushing's career would take such a dramatic turn!

ABOVE : HERE IS A GOOD FRIEND friend to Peter Cushing, who played more than one villain alongside him.. a STRONG character too! Over at the Facebook Fan Page, I have posted this and  asked if you name him and the two films in which he appeared with Peter Cushing? It's funny how some have complained that the question is too easy, while quite few.. are miles off and have ID the guy, incorrectly! 😀😉  

CELEBRATING PETER CUSHING BIRTHDAY TODAY! COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE!

TODAY HERE AT THE PCASUK WEBSITE AND AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE we mark and celebrate the #BIRTHDAY of one Peter Wilton Cushing OBE born today May 26th 1913 😀😊 Lots of opportunities for posts, a quicky COMPETITION, a MAJOR COMPETITION and a MOVIE this evening! So there will be TWO posts here at the website today! Meanwhile . . .

HERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING to think on today, BUT only today as this a QUICKY COMPETITION that closes 6AM GMT TOMORROW (Wednesday)! Here is YOUR chance to bag yourself a prize, marking Peter Cushing Birthday today. Back in the 60's, 70's and 80's it was a regular task to post and pass on any gifts that arrived for PC for his birthday. It was a busy time. Sadly, this is something we no longer have to do. But back in the day, many loved to shower Peter with gifts. There were many who never missed his birthday. Aftershave, chocolates, books, cufflinks, ties, teddy bears all with cards, notes or letters! 

BUT TODAY ..It's something in our PCASAEU 😃 (Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Alternative and Expanding Universe!! 😊😂) we can do 😂😉 So here is the deal, think of a IMAGINATIVE and INTERESTING gift you could have sent PC on his birthday, back in 1959!! There are no boundaries, it's a bit of fun! YOU could bag yourself a prize for your suggestion! Just post your BIRTHDAY PRESENT SUGGESTION on the thread today at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page, BEFORE 6am GMT tomorrow! Have Fun and Good Luck!  Our PCASUK MAJOR PC BIRTHDAY COMPETITION will be posted here later today. So, keep your EYES peeled and remember, get IN or miss OUT! 😉 See you LATER - Marcus

WONDERFUL WANDA : INTERVIEW : BLOOD BEAST : DOCTOR WHO : UFO AND MORE!

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! POSTING AND SHARING  a great INTERVIEW with actress WANDA VENTHAM today here and at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE certainly has taken off! It's a pretty neat interview with a very relaxed and most informative #WandaVentham! LOTS to learn here about the making of her and Peter Cushing's 'The Blood Beast Terror', on working with Cushing, the director Vernon Sewell, others in the cast, #DoctorWho, #PatrickTroughton, #Hammerfilms and the tv series #UFO! Mr H does well with the questions and some answers are quite surprising! Wanda has a great fan club site too RIGHT HERE!: Enjoy! Keep safe, stay well and look after each other 😀😊😉- Marcus

ABOVE :  A #MONSTER MONDAY BANNER from a whole ago, when Wanda's MOTH went through our weekly MONDAY trial! 

ABOVE : PETER CUSHING AND WANDA VENTHAM'S 'THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR' is also part of our #WATCHWITHCUSHING! 2020 #LockedDown season of posts at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page. YOU can still watch it! RIGHT HERE! 

ABOVE : PETER CUSHING  chats with producer Tony Tenser on location shooting 'THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR' 

A DIFFERENT DOCTOR WHO FROM A DIFFERENT TIME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN?

#MEANWHILE IN A #TARDIS, not that far away! Here is a FINE piece of 'imagine IF' art from the twitter page of 'Timeless Tim'! #PeterCushingISDrWho! I have no idea who did this work, but would love to so I could congratulate them. IF only. You can see how the whole concept would work. The image of Peter Cushing is from around the mid 1960's 'Frankenstein Created Woman' time, the lab coat 1957, 'The Curse of Frankenstein', a wonderfully appropriate TARDIS interior . . an the 1970's K9, is the cheery on the cake...it crosses all kids of era's, styles and Doctor Who periods of time Just like all the best episodes, all about time 😊 Over at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page we are asking, 'Would YOU have WATCHED this, as a TV series??' Feel free to join in on the opinions and comments!

CONNECTING NICELY to the post above, here's a great photograph on set of Cushing's Dr Who in 'Dalek Invasion Earth 2150 AD' I remember when first seeing this pic when I was I my early teen and being shocked that the set was actually INSIDE the lots at Shepperton studios! Clever chaps, these film makers 😃

ALSO MARKED AT THE   FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY MAY 14TH is  the birthday of Eric Morecambe, one half of the most successful comedy team in the UK. Still missed, loved by all, with Eric's passing back in 1984, it left a hole not only in the entertainment world but also in people's hearts. With his partner, Ernie...they provided one of tv's longest running gags, 'Peter Cushing and his Money!'... he did eventually get it , but not until the boys, had a lot of fun with it, stretching over many years and several programmes. God bless, Eric, Happy Birthday and thanks for all those precious memories and laughs 😅😀 

ABOVE is one of my favourite Peter Cushing guest spots with Eric and Ernie! Peter has come for his money, paying for when he is first appeared on their show. It's ironic that the BBC wanting value for money, also show a clip from that previous show, in this one!! Eric's teasing of Ernie for being tight with money was really a cover for the reputation the BBC had for being known as notoriously tight and mean with paying anyone... except their executives, in the 60's and 70's! Times haven't changed....

YOU CAN EASILY jump on board the PCASUK Facebook Fan Page, by clicking  RIGHT HERE!. PCASUK, it's posts, features and competitions are open to EVERYONE, whoever, wherever you are!

#LOCKDOWN BEWARE THE HOUND OF HELL : PCASUK #WATCHPARTY RIGHT NOW!

PCASUK WATCH PARTY! Tonight, you get the opportunity to judge which version of Peter Cushing Sherlock Holmes 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' you enjoy best! The BBC version we shared with you a short while ago on another #WatchWithCushing! Watch Party OR THIS version, produced by Hammer films also starring Christopher Lee in 1958? Directed by Terence Fisher, it has fine photography, performances and a cracking film score too by James Bernard! Look out for scene stealer Miles Malleson as the Bishop. YOU can join the PCASUK WATCH PARTY HERE! Like all the Watch Party films and posts, this film will remain on the page after tonight too 😉

SURPRISE! It has been often said that, typecasting hung around Christopher Lee for quite some time, maybe until later in his career when, he believed there was a little more flexibility. Personally, I always thought the majority of his roles, were often quite different, the genre may have been somewhere in a shared ball park, but I wouldn't say his role as the evil Edward Blake in 'I Monster' was the same as say, Francisco Scaramanga in 'The Man with the Golden Gun' or even the role of 'The Monster' in 'The Curse of Frankenstein' was in any close to Kharis in 'The Mummy' . . In this interview, which you can find HERE he makes his point in discussing how he always tried to surprise his audience.. which I think, he in most cases certainly did. At the PCASUK FAN PAGE, we ask IF there are role you can remember, where Christopher Lee played this card very well.. and surprised you?? Please feel free to skip to the page and tell us your thoughts 😊

FINALLY, A FEW DAYS AGO I posted and shared this photograph of  #VincentPrice and director #PeteWalker during the making of 'House of the Long Shadows' in 1982. Price was offered this movie and accepted before the script was written. The producers Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan never read the script . .. interestingly the film ran out of money three weeks into shooting. The film took five weeks to shoot and cost just under one million pounds sterling and is the only film where all four, #PeterCushing, #ChristopherLee and #JohnCarradine, all appear on screen together! Many 'Hammer and Amicus fans were a little disappointed with the film and script when it was released. Personally, I am very fond of it 😊 and on asking our followers and friends if they were too... got some interesting comments and answers! You can catch this photograph and those comments, which you too may want to contribute too maybe, RIGHT HERE! What are your thoughts??? - I hope you are all well and keeping safe this weekend? 😐😊- Marcus 

PART ONE OF 'BASKERVILLES' AND VINCENT PRICE INTERVIEW 1973

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! . . 'Can you hear GROWLING' ? For your weekend, and continuing our Peter Cushing Sherlock Holmes posts, over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE is Part One of a classic. Said by many to be the best of the BBC Cushing series. You think? We all know the ending, but it's a LOT of fun getting there 😃I'll be posting and sharing Part Two tomorrow!

HERE'S AN INTERVIEW shot back in 1973, when both #PeterCushing and #VincentPrice were busy making the AIP Amicus films, 'Madhouse'. This section of the interview, was shot by the #BBC tv show 'Film Night 74' also contained a longer section with both #PeterCushing and Price. This is a separate piece with just Vincent. Always good value for the lolly, VP starts with self-depreciation, slips in about six jokes and even ends with gallows humour! 😆 I have never seen a dull interview with Vincent Price..and you can catch this one today, at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE take care and stay safe, 😉- Marcus

CLICK HERE  TO FIND TWO GREAT RARE PHOTO GALLERIES of behind the sceneson the VINCENT PRICE and PETER CUSHING AIP Amicus films 'MADHOUSE'. Below TWO PCASUK promo banners during the launch of the galleries on our socila media platforms . .