THE DAVE PROWSE AUCTION AND REMEMBERING ACTOR MICHAEL COLES

NEWS! During the casting by director, actor David Prowse was given a choice of either playing a friendly furry eight foot tall 'wookie' or playing 'the bad guy'. – Lucky for Prowse, he chose 'the bad guy' ... because bad guys, are more memorable. Well, he chose right, and cinema history was made, right there! On May 4th, the doors open on the Dave Prowse Auction, a whole mass of artefacts, memorabilia and some. 

 

THE DAVE PROWSE AUCTION is being managed by East Bristol Auctions, UK. More than 500 items are on the block, and the collection goes beyond Star Wars. Prowse kept scripts and posters from other projects and his body-building career. Auctioneer Andrew Stowe has helped organise the collection – '‘‘When I was rummaging through the boxes from his house, every now and then I’d come across something special and it would send my brain racing. In one box I’d find his 'Empire Strikes Back' script, in another I found an actual piece of the Millennium Falcon, then a little deeper down I found letters from Peter Cushing.” And what very cool correspondence they are! If you are interesting in owning something from the career of one of the kindest and most gentlest of men, here your chance. 

 

The auction is being managed by 'East Bristol Auctions UK and starts on May 04, 2021 at 9:55 AM BST. All proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s Research UK. Good Luck.. and May the Force be with You 

 

REMEMBERING MICHAEL COLES, who passed on this day, back in 2005. Born Ernest Michael Coles on 12th August 1936. Coles appeared in a mass of Brit television programmes / dramas. He appeared in THREE films with Peter Cushing, 'Dr Who and the Daleks' in 1965, Hammer films 'Dracula AD 1972 and 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula'. You'll find some great stills and banners I have made, from his pasts posts here at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page today😊 Finding info on his life, is a bit of a challenge, but here is a little, courtesy of 'Jodean' : 

 

"Michael - contrary to previous rumours - really did die, this Wednesday, at his home of 45 years, in Drayton Gardens, Chelsea. He was 70. His career as a TV actor in the 6Os and 70s included roles in the Professionals, Sweeney, the Movie, #Randall&Hopkirk...his theatrical triumphs included Maggie May and the Laurence Plays at the Royal Court...before that he was boy sailor of HMS Ganges. There is too much to say about Michael. He was a a man who lead life to the full. He stopped acting for over 20 years and 'took his theatre to the street' - a well known character on the Fulham Road - and the Kings Road. . .

 

In the mid 90s, he revived his acting career - appearing with #LeslieGrantham in 99-1. 'Pie in the Sky' with #RichardGriffiths and Warren Clarke in Dalziel & Pascoe. The casting directors - particularly Doreen Jones and Marilyn Johnson - seemed pleased to have him back. They were all great roles. He loved it - but a heart condition brought it to an end  .

 

Michael saw 'The Producers' musical with Lee Evans on the Friday before he died, and thought it was wonderful. He spent a good deal of the rest of the night in Gerry's Club. He lived and died well, without compromise.
 

He lived and died well, without compromise.Much missed. God bless." .

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE    

HAMMER FILMS CENSORS NORTH SOUTH EAST AND WEST : PETER CUSHING INTERVIEW : MICHAEL ARMSTRONG VAST AUCTION @EWBANKS

OVER AT THE  FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE yesterday I posted a NEW clip from a 1973 Peter Cushing Interview. If you missed it when posted, it's still there, so click that link above and maybe learn about Cushing's experience of shooting the 'alternative European, Japanese and US' additional footage. If you are wondering why, I have of late not been actually posting the LIVE video clips, here on the PCASUK Blog, it's not about driving traffic at all really, more about YOUTUBE now slashing and pulling 'anything and everything'. Facebook too has now also banned the option of sharing links to websites and blogs on their fan pages. All part of their new policies and the stupidity of the few ruining the fan and harmless practices of others. Oh btw,  the puffing sound you hear, in this interview is Peter doing his impersonation of a 'props man' blowing smoke from his cigarette under camera below Peter in shot! Just saying... 😊😉

NEWS: Something we are seeing quite often these days, is the selling of private collections of #Hammerfilms, #PeterCushing, Amicus films and #ChristopherLee memorabilia. Some items certainly getting quite respectable estimates too. I am pleased to say, both of these items are also in the PCASUK collection, the 'Brides' poster I believe, is a reprint from the re-release of the film in the mid 1960's. Both posters were purchased in the mid 1970's for £20, from 'S and P Parker'.. who back then sold all manner of lobby stills sets, posters and press kits, for a song! Of the collectors, still breathing out there... I wonder how many of you remember 'S and P'.. or Greg Edwards too? - Marcus

 

'THE CINEMA FILM POSTER and memorabilia collection owned by one person and up for auction at Ewbank’s is so extensive the sale had to be delayed a week to complete cataloguing the content. The vast size of the Michael Armstrong collection, set for sale on Wednesday, May 7, is not its most important feature, said Ewbank’s partner and specialist Alastair McCrea.“The outstanding factor is its condition.” he said. “Mr Armstrong was the long-standing projectionist at The Regal cinema in Wymondham, Suffolk when it closed in 1993 and he kept all the promotional posters and lobby cards in first-class condition. “Unlike other posters and cinema memorabilia, they have not been damaged by changing hands from collector to collector.” Expected to fetch a hammer total of about £50,000, the 320-lot sale includes thousands of single items, comprising 25 sets of eight front-of-house cards, as well as press books, movie brochures and, of course, the posters'.

 

Highlights include posters for the 1967 British horror flick Quatermass and the Pit (estimate £700-£1,000), The Beatles’ three, Yellow Submarine (£700-£1,000), A Hard Day’s Night (£500-£800), Help! (£500-£800) and the 1960 Hammer horror classic, The Brides of Dracula (£400-£600).

 

The Michael Armstrong Cinema Collection Auction, takes place on 7th May 2021, 12:00pm at Ewbanks, Surrey.  
 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE  

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY BROOKS

 

OVER AT The Facebook PCASUK Fan Page we are celebrating and wishing actor RAY BROOKS, a VERY Happy Birthday today! Anyone in the UK over the age of 25 would get a flash of nostalgia when they hear #RayBrooks speak. Brooks has rarely been out of work since starting his acting career in 1959. The broadcast of the bleak and hard hitting #KenLoach Wednesday Night Play 'Cathy Come Home' in 1966, showcased Brooks as an actor of substance in the role of Reg Ward in the bleak tale of young girl, Cathy who loses her home, husband and eventually her child through the inflexibility of the British welfare system. Those of us who watched it, would find it hard to forget! Just months before families had been enjoying his appearance with Peter Cushing as David in '#Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 ad' at the local flicks!

 

BUT IT MAYBE for voicing a short series of 13 animated shows for children that he holds a special place in the hearts and minds of most – and the inhabitant of 52 Festive Road is the focus of his new one-man show. A creation of illustrator David McKee, Mr Benn was about an ordinary man in a suit and bowler hat who embarked on extraordinary adventures every time he visited a fancy dress shop. His adventure always ended when, as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared to bring him back to reality. 

 

THE FULL IMPACT of #MrBenn – and idea for the one-man show – really hit Brooks two years ago when he was at an event marking the 100th anniversary of PETER CUSHING'S BIRTH. “We did the Dr Who film Daleks – Invasion Earth 2150 AD together,” says Brooks. “I was on stage talking about the film and Peter, and the interviewer brought up #MrBenn. When I said the phrase: ‘As if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared’ the audience leapt to their feet. I thought it was quite extraordinary." In 2002, he acted in BBC drama Two Thousand Acres of Sky. He joined the cast of the long-running BBC soap opera #EastEnders as Joe Macer in 2005.

 

ON SEPTEMBER 30th 2006, his character left the soap, in a very fitting and dramatic fashion (!!) ... happy to say, RAY is still with us, and here's to many more days and treats of watching Ray's work! A HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ray! - Marcus Check out VIDEO CLIP of Ray Brooks celebrating the 2013 #PeterCushing Centenary with a birthday cake, at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page HERE! 

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE      

'WELL YOUNG ACTORS TODAY AND IT'S ONLY MY PERSONAL OPINION!' CHRISTOPHER LEE SPEAKS OUT IN 2010 INTERVIEWS

 

THE FIRST OF THREE SHORT INTERVIEWS with #ChristopherLee was shared on the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE late last night. Lee shares his thoughts back in 2010 on the internet, how his new website has helped promote his work and surprisingly for some, who actually manages it! PART TWO will arrive on the Fan Page this afternoon! The interviews : Copyright John Farrell : Forbes : 2011

 

THE SECOND INTERVIEW,also contains some surprising points. We get more than a good idea on Lee's opinions on not only the state of the film  industry, back in 2010, but also his thoughts on young actors and the impact of their presence in some of the big movies of the last ten years. He has a very good point, and it will be interesting to see your opinions, in the comments over the next few days too...  

 

THE PCASUK YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE!

 

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE? JUST MESSAGE US HERE! 

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE     

THROWBACK TO 2016 BRINGS BIG GUNS AND THE MUCH LOVED VINCENT PRICE AND JON PERTWEE

HERE'S QUICK CATCH UP ON hat has been shared and posted at the over the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE over the past four days! Starting BIG GUNS, with prompted quick a few interesting suggestions and comments! Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward during the making of 'The Wicker Man' .. the release of the complete and unedited dvd and blu ray of the film is a real plus, seeing something of how the film should have looked, before it was hacked and grudgingly released back in 1973. I think Woodward makes a superb, Howie.. and not so sure, if Cushing's scheduling had fitted, if his portrayal of that role, would have been so different, to have maybe changed the film? Lots of comments when we asked, 'What do you think?' Feel free to click the link and add your thoughts too..

 

BEHIND THE SCENES: Fun at Pyrford Place, West Byfleet, Surrey, England during the making MADHOUSE of with Peter and Vincent Price.

 

ON #THROWBACK THURSDAY yesterday, April 15th 2021 we shared these TWO posts from April 15th 2016, posted FIVE years ago at the PCASUK fan page 😊 Great photographs of Peter and Vincent Price back in 1974 making 'Madhouse' and two great shots of #JonPertwee in 'The House that Dripped Blood' Goodness, so much has happened since then? Can you recall where you were and what you were doing TODAY five years ago? - Marcus

 

Jon Pertwee and Geoffrey Bayldon in The House That Dripped Blood (1971) from the very popular 'The Cloak' Segment

 

A rare publicity portrait of JON PERTWEE as Paul Henderson in the fourth story "The Cloak", from Amicus / AIP 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' (1971)

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE