Weird old title sequences: ITC shows (1960s)

Last time in Weird Old Title Sequences, we looked at some of the ITC shows of the 1950s. This week, we’re going to move forward a decade to the 60s.

Now ITC produced some of the most iconic TV shows – and title sequences – of the 60s. It was in this decade that ITC really flourished as a company and where the genre of show known as the ‘ITC show’ crystallised. I’ve already covered quite a few of those shows in some depth: The Avengers, The Prisoner, The Champions and The Baron. But that’s just the tip of the ITC iceberg. So after the jump, we’re going to run through some of the most popular ITC shows’ title sequences, as well as the sequences of some shows that are perhaps not as well remembered.

So brace yourself for the fabulous, iconic title sequences (with equally fabulous title themes) of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Department S, Man in a Suitcase, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), The Saint, Danger Man, The Strange Report, and Jason King. There are probably more I could add to that list: what others would you include?

Incidentally, for a good(ish) overview of ITC shows, you could try Cult TV: The Golden Age of ITC, which I reviewed all of half a decade ago. Sigh.

Thunderbirds

Captain Scarlet

Department S

Man in a Suitcase

Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)

The Saint

Danger Man

The Strange Report

Jason King

Author

  • Rob Buckley

    I’m Rob Buckley, a journalist who writes for UK media magazines that most people have never heard of although you might have heard me on the podcast Lockdown Land or Radio 5 Live’s Saturday Edition or Afternoon Edition. I’ve edited Dreamwatch, Sprocket and Cambridge Film Festival Daily; been technical editor for TV producers magazine Televisual; reviewed films for the short-lived newspaper Cambridge Insider; written features for the even shorter-lived newspaper Soho Independent; and was regularly sarcastic about television on the blink-and-you-missed-it “web site for urban hedonists” The Tribe. Since going freelance, I've contributed to the likes of Broadcast, Total Content + Media, Action TV, Off The Telly, Action Network, TV Scoop and The Custard TV.

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