The Enid Blyton Society

Anita Bensoussane wrote:

Moonraker wrote:Our grandson has just spent a week with us and we have been watching the 70s' series. He is six and absolutely loves them. I must say, I have enjoyed them too. He can't get over the fact that the end of every episode features everyone laughing!

So glad to know that young'uns are still enjoying this classic series. As a child watching one episode a week on TV, I didn't really notice that most stories ended with everyone laughing. It is noticeable when you watch a few on video or DVD though!

We always called it the Mystery Moor laugh because that was the first of a great many forced end-of-episode laughs.

pete9012S wrote:I feel sure that if Gary chanced upon this thread and read your comments he would happily confirm that meeting and getting to know you dear Nigel was a momentous, life changing event that he too will never ever be able to forget.

That kind of affirmation requires money to change hands. Notes. Not coins.

Gary Russell wrote:We always called it the Mystery Moor laugh because that was the first of a great many forced end-of-episode laughs.

That's interesting, Gary.

Gary Russell wrote:

pete9012S wrote:I feel sure that if Gary chanced upon this thread and read your comments he would happily confirm that meeting and getting to know you dear Nigel was a momentous, life changing event that he too will never ever be able to forget.

That kind of affirmation requires money to change hands. Notes. Not coins.

I'll buy you a ginger beer if you make Exbury next May, Gary!

All this talk about this wonderful series, has me on the trail of all the places. Today we're off to Highcliffe Castle. Changed a bit since the series was filmed there, but still a place we're off to see.

Julie2owlsdene wrote:

John Pickup wrote:I'll never forget meeting Nigel for the first time either!

Why what did he say, John!

Mine's a pint.

Enjoyed seeing Highcliffe Castle today. Couldn't see Julian and Dick on the roof though!

Took two of my grandkids to Exbury Gardens today. They loved it, especially when they saw the house and recognized it as Owl's Dene, in the DVD.

Sounds great, Julie! I'd love to have visited Exbury as a child and seen some of the locations used in the TV series, but back then it didn't occur to me that people could do that (and of course, it wasn't as easy in the days before the internet).

I like the sound of Exbury Gardens, Julie. Glad to hear that your grandchildren enjoyed it.

I'm so impressed with Exbury Gardens, and the view overlooking the river Beaulieu is lovely. This was our second visit, and we still saw parts of the gardens we hadn't seen in the last visit just a few weeks ago. Amazing place.

I'd love to go around the house, but as it's privately owned, I guess that's not possible.

One of the grandkids did say to me, - Did they film inside the house? - I said I wasn't really sure, and Brynley said, they must have filmed one scene, as you could see Dick looking out from one of those upstairs windows.

I think some of the rooms in Exbury House were used, and that the "secret passages" which feature in many of the stories were specially built in a basement kitchen or cellar. Gary Russell has given a few details in at least one of our 70s series threads, though I haven't time to look up what he said at the moment.

I think I vaguely remember that now, Anita. Thanks for reminding me. I'll check out some of Gary's thread again when I have a bit of time. I find it really interesting.

Pretty much *every* interior of a house/castle/mansion/Kirrin Cottage etc was filmed inside Exbury House, as were all secret passages/dungeons etc. The only interiors that weren't Exbury were a couple of moments in Run Away Together which I think the inside of the actual Kirrin Cottage location was used and, in Season 2, the interiors of Kirrin Cottage only were actually Gatewood House, the house where we all lived.

Thanks, Gary!