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

 

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

CAN YOU NAME THOSE FACES???

POSTED TODAY over at The UK Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page Peter Cushing and a gathering of other film and tv stars, who came together to help Save Hammer Films Bray studios in 1990. Cushing was actually helicoptered to the site, from his home in Whitstable, Kent to Bray studios on the day and landed on the green, just at the side of the Thames river! I put out the question of, how many of those four other faces did everyone recognise?? A question that proves that PCASUK is an international society and that there are certainly more followers and fans of Peter Cushing at the PCASUK sites from the US and Europe than there are from the UK! It was a tough question, with only a few correct suggestions! Can YOU name those faces? I will post the answer here tomorrow!

RAW FOOTAGE TV INTERVIEW AND SURPRISE PARTY!

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! There are some clips of #PeterCushing, which I really enjoy and make me smile. Here are two of them. The first is a raw UK TV studio interview. Here PC is very much 'Johnny On The Spot' Charming and relaxed. Quite the gent, wit style and having fun. The second, is a clip of more raw footage, that some of you may have seen here before. It's Peter Cushing's Surprise 80th Birthday Party! Here of course he is older, but still able to have a lot of fun and is quite genuinely surprised and happy to see everyone. This always make me smile. I hope you smile and enjoy this too! Stay safe everyone and look after yourselves 😊 You'll find the clip at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE HERE!!

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TIGHT BOOTS AND THE TARKIN TEN TOES!

UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH WE CAN REVEAL TODAY!

 

AT HOME WITH PETER CUSHING: GALLERY TWO : SOUNDS NATURAL BBC RADIO FOUR JANUARY 1972

PETER CUSHING AT HOME and on the beach. GALLERY Part TWO: Wednesday December 1st 1971. ON SEEING these rare and unpublished photographs for the first time, it maybe isn't obvious at first glance, who the man in the pics actually could be. A neat and trim moustache, the absence of a hair piece and several pounds of body weight along with clothing that wasn't the usual attire familiar to the thousands of cinema goers, who had watched him on the big screen and over the past three decades.1971, this year had been a year that changed Peter Cushing's life forever. The loss of his wife, #HelenCushing in #January after many years of fighting her illness, set Cushing on a path of work, that would have psychically and emotionally exhausted many others . .

THE GRIEF AND LOSS effected everything in Cushing's life, except as he saw, his one distraction away from the loneliness and pain. Work. These unpublished stills were taken in December 1971, as part of a #RadioTimes magazine feature, promoting a BBC radio programme Peter had recorded earlier on July 27th -29th July 1971 at his home in #Whitstable. The programme 'Nature Spectacular' focused on the wildlife and birds of which Peter was very familiar and loved around his beach front home. I am sure you have seen the many watercolour's and sketches that Peter produced over the years, here on PCASUK. He was a lover of all nature. Wildlife, birds, flowers, sea life . . .

THIS LOOK INTO Peter's home study, gives us a peep into the things that surrounded his day, the photo portrate of his late wife, the paperwork, the delicate bird figures he made and his desk. Just a few weeks before these photographs were taken, Cushing had began his journey, in 'keeping busy' in March until April, he returned in his first film just weeks after Helen passed, #Hammerfilms 'Twins of Evil'. September he filmed his award winning performance as Arthur Grimsdyke in Amicus films, '#TalesfromtheCrypt' at #Sheppertonstudios, work on Hammer's #DraculaAD1972' as Van Helsing with #ChristopherLee as the Count, kept him busy from September 27th until November 5th along with several radio appearances from September 30th until early November.

ABOVE: THE PHOTOGRAPHS in this feature were a series of snaps taken by a photographer from the BBC RADIO TIMES listings magazine, to provide a photo illustration to support and promote the above BBC RADIO programme. Sounds Natural was a weekly radio programme that interviewed guests and celebrities on their views and opinions on the subject of their choice, within the theme of countryside and nature in the UK. Cushing's programme centred on wildlife and countryside of his home in the seaside town of Whitstable in Kent. A town that had been home to he and his late wife, Helen since the late 1950's.

THE RADIO TIMES 1ST -7TH JANUARY 1971 : There was of course much to choose from to grace the pages of this weeks issue of the BBC listing magazine, 'Radio Times'. Ironically, characters that Peter Cushing himself was more than familiar with.... Dr Who and the ever popular Daleks were rolling the drums for the arrival of a new series of episodes were Jon Pertwee's tv Doctor Who would be taking on the fiends for another welcomed and entertaining and cliff hanger battle. Cushing had played a 'version' of the good Dr / Doctor in two full colour films during 1965 and 66, 'Dr Who and the Daleks' and 'Daleks Invasion of Earth 2150 AD'. Neither of which are really canon to the tv series...or are they? Decide for yourself : HERE! 
 

CUSHING brought the year to an end, with shooting Hammer films, 'Fear In The Night' with Ralph Bates and Judy Geeson .... hence the little moustache, of his character headmaster, Michael Carmichael. #PeterCushing was allergic to spirit gum that would hold on a false tash, so he grew his facial hair when roles required it! A busy time, indeed. - Marcus Brooks

COMPETITION! TWO SETS OF PC BOOKS UP FOR GRABS WITH TWO GREAT RARITIES!

I AM SURE MOST of you will know TWO of these books, the one other maybe not. The first published in 1986, 'Peter Cushing An Autobiography' was reviewed at the time as ' Peter Cushing discusses his childhood, his early acting career in films and on stage, his BBC television work and his renowned years at Hammer, all with literary wit and charm. While Mr. Cushing's humour will tickle readers' funny bones, the everlasting love story between Mr. Cushing and his dear wife Helen will touch their hearts' It is I am happy to say, all that and more . . 

THE SECOND AUTOBIOGRAPHY , 'Past Forgetting : The Hammer Years' published in 1988 picks up from the end of the first, covers lots of anecdotal material from his TV and theatre years, he does dip into 'Hammer Time' but many thought at the time... not enough. It's a good read and links with Volume one perfectly

THE THIRD BOOK 'Peter Cushing' was edited and published by Donald Fearney in 1996. It's Mr Fearney...and a whole raft of actors, directors and friends paying tribute to Cushing, with personal stories and impressions of working with Peter. Every page carries one or more very nice photographs, beautifully produced with large-format glossy pages. The tributes include contributions from Ingrid Pitt, Christopher Lee, Joyce Broughton, Francis Matthews, Charles Gray, Barbara Shelley, Freddie Francis and many more. 

THIS BOOK RARELY sits on eBay, but when it does it sells for £25 and up to £40, depending on its condition. This one is mint! You can enter this competition either by sending your entry via email to 'theblackboxclub@gmail.com' label YOUR entry 'BOOK COMPETITION' OR you can zip along to the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE and send your entry via the chat / message box! Any entries posted onto the post or the thread below the post, will be deleted and not entered into the competition.   Good luck Everybody! Have fun!

ABOVE: IF YOU ALREADY OWN the Peter Cushing autobiographies, if you haven't read them yet... have you CHECKED them??? READ HERE!

ORIGINALLY POSTED AND SHARED HERE  two years ago. ANOTHER great story, with a Peter Cushing Autobiography connection: READ HERE!

#WORLDBOOKDAY2020 COMPETITION : THE AMAZING AND STRANGE BOOKS THAT HAVE FEATURED PC!

TODAY is #International / #WorldBookDay2020 😐What a great opportunity to share and take of the best of books, that feature #PeterCushing and his work, his autobiographies, their contents, repackaging, YOUR favourite books that include PC and what maybe the rarest of books that covers a specific time and studio he for who he may have produced some for his best fantasy genre work. PLUS there's a chance to WIN a nice bundle of Peter Cushing books too 😊 So, which are YOUR favourites and how do they compare to other Cushing books??? 😉- Marcus

#WORLDBOOKDAY2020 : IF A BOOK is considered to be rare, because of it's limited edition run .. . then this one I think ticks the box . .. BUT there's more! 😉 'Amicus : The Vault of Horror' was published back in 2014. Its author Donald Fearney was at that time, raising funds to support the budget of his planned 2 and a half hour long dvd documentary, of the same name. Over three years, a vast bank of material was brought together, a small fortune spent in order to support the needs of the documentary visuals. Contact sheets, rare photographs, posters, scripts, correspondence and more is used in the subject matter... every theatrical released film, that the company Amicus produced!

ABOVE: FRIENDS SENT IN AND POSTED PICS OF THEIR FAV CUSHING BOOKS TO ON THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE

IT WAS QUITE THE HAUL and much of the material, due to time restrictions, was not included in the edited documentary. This plus the visuals that made the final edit and included in doc make up the contents of this book! The hardback glossy cover with sepia tint, features Peter Cushing in one of his most loved and sad performances, Arthur Grimsdyke from the Amicus 1972 'Tales from the Crypt' ... there after a forward by director of Amicus films, 'I,Monster' Stephen Weeks, rolls out a pretty impressive huge collection of full page, minus boarders behind the scenes photographs, studio photographers contact sheets back / white and colour too, set drawings and set designer plans .. and more. The matt finish to the pages, is a nice touch. What is more, after Week's intro page... there isn't a word of text! Not a titter! The visuals say it all. A brave move, an even more interesting point is, this book only had a VERY limited run of ONE DOZEN COPIES. No more. It's asking price was reachable and certainly worth it.The book was promoted in a whisper, on the release of Fearney's Amicus documentary . . and before you knew it, gone! Many of the contents I have shared here for you on the Facebook PCASUK Fan page and website over the last few years. Yup it's a go to book for material alright . . I think both Milton and Max would have liked it too! -

AT THE TIME OF THE release of the AMICUS  : VAULT OF HORROR dvd documentary and the BOOK, we gave away many copies of the Doc as PRIZES in PCASUK Competitions too... BUT understandably, NOT the book 😀😊

UPDATE: EVEN THOUGH ALL DOZEN COPIES vanished very quickly. . .with one copy being given away as a prize, connected to the release of the DVD, where a 'Torture Garden' packet of seeds inside the DVD case contained an exclusive 'prize entry draw number'. That gave book owners the chance of winning a copy of the book . .  BUT following a comment by follower Ann Keil on the PCAS Facebook Page last night, it appears there is the chance of buying just one copy NOW.... The copy THAT was won by the lucky seed packet winner, yesterday decided to part with their copy! Maybe they saw the post on the PCAS Facebook Fan Page post??? It's  currently on EBAY and sitting with a bid of £899.00. This copy also contains 18 signatures and autographs of actors and people connected with Amicus films, including Amicus producer, Milton Subosky's actual past-port photograph, attached to the inside of the cover!!! 😮😀... We'll keep you posted on the progress of the bidding 😉😀

 

ONE LAST WORD ON THIS BOOK... as if a low publishing number wasn't tempting enough, there was also just TWO copies that had an extra supplement of a further 60 pages... One thing for sure, Fearney published his books like his documentaries, packed and full of rare material - Marcus (PCASUK) 

#WORLDBOOKDAY2020 : ANOTHER BOOK OF NOTE... and probably one of the strangest books I have ever read, certainly on the subject of Peter Cushing is ..... 'Peter Cushing: Spending Time with #Frankenstein' written by Nicolas Gadd, published also in a limited run by it seems #PeterCushing's own little label 'Sea Way Publishing' .. priced £15.00, soft cover, held together with like a binder! This appeared in the last few years of Peter's life, had his full support and supplied endless hours of access to him personally... Gadd, his wife and Cushing were close friends.. for a while. No doubt it reads as weird, it also reveals some very odd and private details, which has for years has had me more than scratching my head. It was around for about a year.. then puff, vanished! 😳😯 I would love to chat with ANYONE who also holds or owns a copy of this, as in my experience of the last ten years NO ONE wants to discuss this book, but I would love to hear what they make of it too..Message me at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE OR email me @ theblackboxclub@gmail.com. If you are missing some pages, I will gladly supply them for you, as this book is not only strange, it's fragile too! 

FACEBOOK LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM TINDER . . .PC!

HMMM  . . prompted by #DollyParton, it seems everyone is doing these at the moment. So here's our version of maybe how Peter Cushing's would have looked 😃😊😉 - Marcus

TWO AMAZING CUSHING IMAGES PLUS FLESH AND THE FIENDS COMING BLU RAY VIA KINO

A POST I SHARED TODAY at the which became very popular with almost a THOUSAND LIKES, is this colour photograph of Peter Cushing, in his home at Whitstable in 1974. Until today, it was very rarely seen . .  thanks to your shares at the 'fan page' now everyone has the pleasure of seeing it!

I LOVE IT WHEN friends and followers, send in artwork of PC. This one was sent by George T, of the very talented artist Colin J Fenwick . . posted on New Years Eve I believe, Colin wanted to share it at midnight I guess, though explained the pattern on Cushing neck tie took him hours longer! Many identified the character captured in the artwork portrate, as Peter Cushing as Doctor Know, from the 1959 film ''THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS' a not so well know film or role of Cushing's, and has been quite a find, if when fans have managed to source a good dvd. THANKFULLY, KINO have NEW 2K REMASTERS OF BOTH CUTS OF THE FILM and have set a release for this early this year, which will be quite the treat, I am sure! As soon as I have any details, I will of course, let you know!  can get to see it.- Marcus