 Dinky Toys' Spectrum Patrol Car (from Captain Scarlet), licensed by Century 21 | |
| Industry |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Predecessor | AP Films |
| Founded | 1962 (name registered)[1] |
| Founder | Gerry Anderson |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Key people |
|
| Parent | Associated Television[3] |
| Subsidiaries |
|
The Century 21 Organisation was a group of companies founded by Gerry Anderson in the early 1960s to expand on his television production company, AP Films (APF; later Century 21 Productions). In addition to APF, the group included:
- a property licensing company, AP Films (Merchandising) – established in 1960 as an APF subsidiary, later Century 21 Merchandising;[4]
- a record label, Century 21 Records (established in 1964)[5] – a joint venture with Pye Records, producing soundtracks and tie-in audiobooks;
- a toy manufacturer, Century 21 Toys (established in 1966) – formed by Century 21's acquisition of toymakers J. Rosenthal;[6][7]
- a publishing company, Century 21 Publishing or Century 21 Publications (established in 1966).[1] In partnership with City Magazines, it created the comics titles TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope, among others. It also published tie-in novels through Armada Books.[8]
Most of the companies' activities were marketing of products created by Century 21 Productions — in particular the TV series Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Joe 90,[9] although some spin-off media were based on characters and machines from other media franchises, often connected to Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment.
- ^ a b Bentley, Chris (2017). Hearn, Marcus (ed.). Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: The Vault. Cambridge, UK: Signum Books. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-995519-12-1.
- ^ Rogers, Dave; Marriott, John; Drake, Chris; Bassett, Graeme (1993). Supermarionation Classics: Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. London, UK: Boxtree. pp. 204–205. ISBN 978-1-85283-900-0.
- ^ Hearn, Marcus (2015). Thunderbirds: The Vault. London, UK: Virgin Books. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-753-55635-1.
- ^ Archer, Simon; Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London, UK: BBC Books. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-563-53481-5.
- ^ Archer, Simon; Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London, UK: BBC Books. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-563-53481-5.
- ^ Vreede, Paul. "Jack Rosenthal". triangspacextoys.info. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Archer, Simon; Hearn, Marcus (2002). What Made Thunderbirds Go! The Authorised Biography of Gerry Anderson. London, UK: BBC Books. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-563-53481-5.
- ^ Bentley, Chris (2001). The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet. London, UK: Carlton Books. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-84222-405-2.
- ^ Merchandising at Big Rat