The Adventures of Twizzle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Adventures of Twizzle |
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The Adventures of Twizzle title screenshot
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Roberta Leigh |
| Written by | Roberta Leigh |
| Directed by | Gerry Anderson |
| Voices of |
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| Narrated by | Nancy Nevinson |
| Composer(s) | Leslie Clair, arranged by Barry Gray |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
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| Cinematography | Arthur Provis |
| Editor(s) | David Elliott |
| Camera setup | Single |
| Running time | 13 mins approx. per episode |
| Production company(s) |
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| Distributor | Associated-Rediffusion |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV Network |
| Picture format | Black and white |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | 13 November 1957 – 10 June 1959 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Torchy the Battery Boy |
The Adventures of Twizzle was a fun children's television show. It was made by AP Films and Gerry Anderson. The idea for the show came from author Roberta Leigh, who also helped produce it. It first aired in 1957.
The show is about a character named Twizzle and his friends. They go on many exciting adventures together. Twizzle has a special power: he can make his arms and legs stretch really long! Even though 52 episodes were made, only one episode still exists today. This special episode can be found on the Space Patrol box set. This series was important because it was one of the first to use detailed puppets. This puppetry style became very famous in Gerry Anderson's later shows.
Meet Twizzle and Friends
Twizzle's legs looked a bit like drinking straws with swirly lines. In the first episode, Twizzle lived in a toy shop. He was almost bought by a naughty girl named Sally Cross. But Twizzle hid and escaped that night!
He traveled far away and found a dog kennel to hide in. There, he met Footso, a cat who had run away from home. Footso had very big feet, which sometimes made children laugh at him.
Twizzle was a hero when he saved a child from a fire. He used his stretching legs to reach a high window when no ladder was available. As a reward, he got a racing car. But after crashing it, he traded it for a breakdown truck. He used this truck to rescue other toys in trouble.
Later, Twizzle and Footso met Jiffy the Broomstick Man. Jiffy was a mix of a broom made of twigs and a man in a suit. He could sweep floors all by himself! Twizzle and Footso saved Jiffy from a mean witch who wanted to burn him. Jiffy escaped by flying up the chimney. The witch came back in another episode, and they had another close call! Jiffy could fly by lying flat and could carry others out of danger.
Twizzle and Footso built a special place called Straytown. This was a home for lost or "misfit" toys. They lived in a cabin there. This idea of a home for special toys was also used in another show, Torchy the Battery Boy. These stories are a bit like Peter Pan and Neverland.
Songs and Other Characters
Each character in the show had their own fun song. Footso's song was about "dreaming of herrings and kippers and creamy cream." After his song, he would loudly say, "Purr! Purr! Purr! Meowwll!" Then the show would continue. Roberta Leigh wrote all the songs.
Other characters included Chawky the white-faced Golliwog. He would often complain, "Who wants a white-faced Golliwog?" There was also Candy Floss, a "Mamma Doll" who couldn't say "mamma." Bouncy was a ball who had lost his bounce. A thin Teddy Bear, a China Doll, and a Jack in the Box also lived in Straytown. Sometimes, The Toy Inspector would visit Straytown to check on the toys.
Episode Adventures
There were 52 episodes of The Adventures of Twizzle. Each one told a new story about Twizzle and his friends. Here are some of their adventures:
- Twizzle And Footso
- Twizzle And Footso Get Caught
- Twizzle Saves The Doll
- The Breakdown Van
- Footso Is Stolen
- Twizzle and the Golliwog
- Jiffy and the Chawky Quarrel
- Footso Disappears
- Twizzle and the Broken-Down Toy
- Twizzle Builds Stray Town
- A Flag For Stray Town
- Jiffy's New House
- Twizzle And Footso Go Fruit Picking
- Twizzle Has Some Fun
- Twizzle And Candy Floss Open A Cake Shop
- Twizzle Saves The Broken-Down Toys
- Twizzle Gets Lost
- Jiffy Opens A Barber Shop
- Another Racing Car
- Twizzle And His Friends Go to the Circus
- The Toys Go To School
- Bouncy The Ball
- Jack-In-The-Box
- Twizzle Catches Cold
- The Naughty Girl
- Jiffy's New Twigs
- Twizzle and the Snowman
- Twizzle and the Thin Teddy Bear
- The Lazy Broomstick Man
- Twizzle and the Polly Moppet
- Footso and the Magic Seeds
- Jiffy and the Polly Moppet Quarrel
- Footso Gets A New Tail
- Twizzle Is Naughty
- Twizzle Is Stolen
- Chawky Gets A Present
- Twizzle and the Toy Inspector
- Twizzle and the Naughty Breakdown Van
- Orange and the Banana Tree
- Jiffy's Birthday
- Polly Moppet Disappears
- Naughty Polly Moppet
- Footso and the Naughty Girl
- Stray Town Thief
- Twizzle Papers The Cabin
- Twizzle And Footso Go Camping
- Twizzle Goes to the Seaside
- Twizzle Goes to the Fair
- Twizzle Goes Fishing
- Twizzle Goes to the Zoo
- Candy Floss's Birthday
- Footso Has A Toothache
Twizzle Books
In 1960, a British book called More Twizzle Adventure Stories was released. It was published by Brin Brothers Ltd. The book had 91 pages of stories, some with text and some in a comic style. F. Woof drew the pictures. The covers and the very first picture were in full color. The rest of the pictures were black and white with one extra color like red, orange, blue, or green. This book was printed on simple paper and is now very rare.
