Fanderson

Last updated

Fanderson
Formation20 August 1981 (1981-08-20)
Type Not-for-profit
PurposeOfficial appreciation society for the works of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Location
  • United Kingdom
ProductsMembers-only magazine and merchandise; events and services
Chairman
Nick Williams (since 2007)
Key people
Gerry Anderson (honorary president)
Website www.fanderson.org.uk

Fanderson is the official appreciation society for the works of British film and television producers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Based in the United Kingdom, but with an international membership, it is a not-for-profit organisation run by a small committee of volunteers. [1]

Contents

The club is endorsed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, ITC Entertainment Group, The Indestructible Production Company, Anderson Entertainment and the family of Sylvia Anderson.

Activities

The club was formed on 20 August 1981 at a meeting convened by ITC and Gerry Anderson. Previously, ITC had supported the various clubs and societies that followed Anderson's work; in 1981, it requested that these groups merge and, in exchange, promised to give its full backing (except financial support) to the new organisation. [1]

In the early 1990s, the club had approximately 1,600 members. [2] By 1996, it had about 2,000. [3] Anderson was the club's honorary president until his death in 2012.

Paid members receive a subscription to the club magazine, FAB (which is published three times a year – usually in March, July and November), as well as access to exclusive merchandise such as books, DVDs and soundtrack CDs. [1] [4] [5] The club has also held conventions featuring guest appearances by actors and crew from the Anderson productions. [6] [7] [8]

In March 2014, the club severed ties with production company Anderson Entertainment (run by Anderson's widow, Mary, and their son, Jamie), stating, among other claims, that it was pursuing a "commercial agenda that is at odds with Fanderson". [9] Anderson Entertainment called the allegations "demonstrably false". [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Fanderson FAQs". fanderson.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014.
  2. Supermarionation Classics, p. 284.
  3. Nelson, Sue (30 August 1996). "50 Years and Counting". The Independent . London, UK: Independent Print. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  4. Clark, Anthony (2009). "Stingray: Original Television Soundtrack – Soundtrack Review". sci-fi-online.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. Supermarionation Classics, p. 188.
  6. Clark, Stuart (August 1991). Payne, Stephen (ed.). "Fantasia" (PDF). Starburst . Vol. 13, no. 12. London, UK: Visual Imagination. p. 11. ISSN   0955-114X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2014.
  7. White, Jim (26 September 2005). "Wilson talked of technology – and along came Thunderbirds". The Daily Telegraph . London, UK. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014.
  8. O'Connor, Tara (2 October 2017). "Fanderson Convention Celebrates 50 Years of Captain Scarlet". Maidenhead Advertiser . Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. Williams, Nick (24 March 2014). "Chairman's Letter: Fanderson's Relationship with Anderson Entertainment". fanderson.org.uk. Bradford, UK. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  10. "Response to Fanderson's Open Letter". anderson-entertainment.co.uk. 26 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2020.

Works cited