Century 21 Organisation

Did You Know?

• Century 21 Records released 37 mini-albums (7-inch EPs) combining original material, abridgments of TV episodes with linking narration, and soundtracks.
• Century 21 Toys was formed by the acquisition of J. Rosenthal Toys in 1966.
• Century 21 Publishing also released tie-in novels through Armada Books.

History

The various Century 21 brands predate Century 21 Productions; after Thunderbirds was completed and first televised, AP Films was renamed Century 21 Productions to align with its merchandising sister companies. By around 1969, the merchandising, toys and publishing arms were controlled by a new entity, Century 21 Enterprises, while Century 21 Productions had become financially over-stretched. Within a few months, the company shut down its three warehouse-sized studios on the Slough Trading Estate.

Century 21 Publishing

From 1965 to 1969, Century 21 Publishing partnered with City Magazines to produce weekly comics based on Anderson's Supermarionation properties. Century 21 packaged the comics, hiring editors, writers and artists, while City Magazines handled printing and distribution. The most prominent titles were TV Century 21 (later TV21) and Lady Penelope; three other titles—Solo, TV Tornado, and Joe 90 Top Secret—eventually merged into TV21. Century 21 Merchandising acquired a line of plastic science fiction toys made in Hong Kong, marketed as Project SWORD, which were not based on Anderson's creations but featured in comic strips and text stories published by City Magazines/Century 21 Publishing.

The only Anderson craft in the line was a model of Zero-X from the film Thunderbirds Are Go. A comic strip series based on the toys appeared in Solo, and after Solo merged into TV21, a second series of illustrated text stories followed. The publisher also released a Project SWORD annual. In June 1969 the entire staff of Century 21 Publishing were given a month's notice.

A small nucleus was taken on by Leonard Matthews and Alf Wallace, operating as Martspress, which packaged the relaunched TV21 that soon phased out Anderson-related content.