Well; someone has to make a start. And it needs to be a contributor with a long memory. Captain Moonlight was the first 'ordinary' human hero - at least on television. By that I mean he wasn't blessed with special powers: just courage and wits. And, of course, some style.
As I recollect he wore a cape and carried a sword-stick. He also travelled about in a BMW 'Isetta' bubble-car, which gave him a rather comic vulnerability. It was a children's programme. Basically he got into various adventures that usually entailed bad guys - typically 'Teddy Boys'. And being a hero; he always won. He also tended to be nocturnal in his activities - hence the name.
Captain Moonlight was the forerunner of almost every human hero that followed. And let's face it; there have been many. The most obvious was almost a metamorphosis: one 'Adam Adamant'. He appeared 3-4 years later. Played by suave Gerald Harper, this program had a more adult theme and was screened an hour or two later in the evening. Although the cape and sword-stick remained, the Isetta was jettisoned in favour of a Mini Cooper. Bubble-cars by then being rendered obsolete and highly unfashionable thanks to Mr Alec Isigonis.
Later still we had 'Gary Halliday', 'The Avengers', 'The Man From Uncle', 'The Persuaders', 'Department S', and of course: 'The Saint'. But Captain Moonlight was the first.
More recently, 'Birdseye Foods' blagged his intro and used it as a ditty for their 'Captain Birdseye' advertising marathon. But some of us still know the truth!
As I recollect he wore a cape and carried a sword-stick. He also travelled about in a BMW 'Isetta' bubble-car, which gave him a rather comic vulnerability. It was a children's programme. Basically he got into various adventures that usually entailed bad guys - typically 'Teddy Boys'. And being a hero; he always won. He also tended to be nocturnal in his activities - hence the name.
Captain Moonlight was the forerunner of almost every human hero that followed. And let's face it; there have been many. The most obvious was almost a metamorphosis: one 'Adam Adamant'. He appeared 3-4 years later. Played by suave Gerald Harper, this program had a more adult theme and was screened an hour or two later in the evening. Although the cape and sword-stick remained, the Isetta was jettisoned in favour of a Mini Cooper. Bubble-cars by then being rendered obsolete and highly unfashionable thanks to Mr Alec Isigonis.
Later still we had 'Gary Halliday', 'The Avengers', 'The Man From Uncle', 'The Persuaders', 'Department S', and of course: 'The Saint'. But Captain Moonlight was the first.
More recently, 'Birdseye Foods' blagged his intro and used it as a ditty for their 'Captain Birdseye' advertising marathon. But some of us still know the truth!
