The Prisoner at 50

[Alaskossie]

There was a segment on NPR Morning Edition today, marking the 50th anniversary of the release of the first episode of The Prisoner.

 

See: http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/09/29/554067095/number-six-at-50-the-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-prisoner

 

The 17 episodes of The Prisoner became increasingly surreal, and its finale left the situation unresolved and its viewers split into two camps -- a first for a television series, according to the segment.

 

The NPR segment did not mention Number 6's mode of transport, but KAR120C can be heard accelerating away as the segment ends.

[lucky dawg]

In Seattle this weekend https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/one-night-mini-con-for-fans-of-classic-the-prisoner-coming-to-seattle/

[MoBoost]

Growing up, we used to watch all the Brit TV show. The Prisoner was the first I saw a Seven. Must have sparked something in me that eventually led to me owning one.

[hairball29]

Same here. I still want to drive a seven under a car park's barrier as show in the intro to the very first episode. My friend and I used to watch the intro again and again to see the Lotus

[DeanG]

I remember straining to see the last episode on TV. Our family went to a restaurant. I was sitting where I could just see the through the door to the TV over the bar in the next room. Scarred me for life it did.

[James A]

BBC, back in the day it was on PBS, was at fault for my Lotus leanings, Emma Peel and her Lotus Elan and Number 6 and his Lotus 7. I have owned an Elan and still have two 7s, I've also had a Europa and an Elise.

[Kitcat]

James, I think it was called "National Educational Television" back in the day. It seems to have lived up to that name for a lot of folks on this thread:). I blame Road and Track for my se7en addiction. It started in 1961-62 or so when I read an article there about Lotus 7's , sold as kit cars, as I recall, for around $1.2K. Not sure if that was with the engine, details like that didn't seem important then since the whole thing was a fantasy anyway (And continued to be for about 45 years).

[Alaskossie]

 

I also blame Road & Track, the July 1961 issue, to be precise. R&T had a great road test of the Lotus 7 America, with all of 40 hp and a dry weight of 960 lb. The sub-head to the test was a cute pun: "What is it, daddy? It's a kit car, son."

 

It took me from 1961 to 2007 to finally fulfill my life-long dream -- the ownership of a Seven. Lots of wasted time and opportunity in between those two years.