editor-107
I loved "Ace Of Wands" when it was on, but was never allowed to see it unless I was at my grandmothers in Brighton (rare) when my parents no longer had control over what was on "the box".Sadly, one of the things that crippled it was the level of complaints. As it dealt with magic and was a children's show, Thames TV was besieged by complaints from British fundamentalist Christians who kept demanding that it was pulled. Briefly, it held the World Record, according to Guinness, as the most complained about TV show in history and newspapers were filled with damning letters about it. However, in this day and age, in this era of Harry Potter, it seems laughable for such a response to such a tame, well meant and well produced show, entirely free from sex and violence. Sadly, this pretty much stopped any large scale merchandising of "Ace Of Wands" by Thames.
jc-osms
I suppose everyone has one television programme from their childhood which stays with them down the years and evokes instant nostalgia at the slightest remembrance. Well for me "Ace Of Wands" is that show, as, aged about 10 I would rush home after school to watch it before going out to play with friends.Of course, the groovy, spacey, psychedelic theme tune, by later Status Quo side-man Andy Bown was a great hook for starters, but I remember the stories too as being exciting and imaginative, each episode invariably ending Dr Who-style, with a cliffhanger of some type.Michael MacKenzie was Tarot, a magician/conjurer hero long before the days of Jonathon Creek, leading his companions in and out of danger, the peril usually supernatural in some way. I duly bought the boxed DVD of the surviving third series and of course it's not as good as I remember, with iffy special effects, dodgy sets and some unconvincing acting. But you know, nothing can take away the nostalgic glow I get just remembering it again and would dearly love to see the sadly wiped first two series.That, however, is a mystery that even Tarot himself couldn't solve these forty odd years since...
screenman
Here was another series from that late 1960's to early 1970's period of inspirational television creation.The lead character, 'Tarot', was a handsome young bloke who was gifted in the art of conjuring and 'magic'. Each week, assisted by his charming associate Lulu (or something similar) he found his peculiar talents called into service to deal with a variety of suspicious and seemingly supernatural issues.Although it was very entertaining, I don't think the idea was explored half as far as it might have been. He really could have engaged with a supernatural world and become a kind of 'Dr Who', of the paranormal, an 'Amazing Mr Blunden' for the 20th century. When you think how long the 'Timelord' has lasted, with his now international fan base, it gives some idea of how successful 'Tarot' and the 'Ace Of Wands' might have been if only it had caught on. I suspect a serious anti-hero was lacking.But production values were, as usual, telly-tacky, and the idea badly conceived. It lasted for less than a year. What could have been a megabuck franchise in the long-term, with a universally popular hero, faded into obscurity instead. Such is the British way.It had a catchy little theme tune too.
mabelgarland
I remember this TV series back in the early 1970s because it had such an impact on me as a young teenager(only just). I fell in love with the lead character Tarot and aspired to be like his assistant Lulli.It has stayed in my mind over 20 years so it must have had something. I remember the main character was a performing magician/conjurer who was involved in solving mysteries of a supernatural/magical nature and I remember a guy with a white glove who used to refer to it as the hand of stabs or something similar. I used to rush home from school to watch it - wish we'd had video recorders then I'd love to see it again. Anyone else out there remember it?
