Garry Halliday (1959–1962) User Reviews (13)

Biggles, Dan Dare and all that

[rushmore24 · 8/10 · 18 November 2009]

Having just seen Elwyn Brook-Jones in 'Odd Man Out' it took my mind back to Gary Halliday, the first UK TV series to make a real impression on my young mind. I've never seen any repeats or articles on the series but the fact that it had an aviation basis and the mysterious 'Voice' was enough to hook me. Perhaps it's best that it remains a vivid, if slightly scary, memory as its production values may not stand up today? Of course Terence Alexander went on to be a television staple whereas Terence Longden and Elwyn Brook-Jones became rarer commodities. Anyway it remains stronger in my memory than all its contemporaries like Ivanhoe, Robin Hood and William Tell.

A true Boys' Own hero

[bestbutter-1 · 10/10 · 14 September 2009]

Here's a name from the past. Given a seven-year-old's preference for aeroplanes over football any day (and 48 years later, nothing's changed) 'Garry Halliday' was the most important part of my week and a blessed antidote to the endless combovers, long shorts and sheepskin coats of its immediate Saturday evening predecessor.

Favourite moment? Pretty much the only one I can remember, actually: the one where The Voice's gofer Traumann, presumably having failed yet again to deal with the accursed Halliday, was finally offed by his exasperated guv'nor. "It won't happen next time, Voice", stammered Traumann to The Unseen One; "There isn't going to be a next time, Traumann", came the dismembered, mittel-European reply, followed by the silenced automatic pistol nosing shakily in from screen right and dispatching the hapless bagman to join the great supporting cast in the sky. (You could tell Traumann was the bad guy because of the shades - but I swear he reappeared a few years later playing lead with Adam Faith & The Roulettes).

Other than The Voice the true star, of course, was the DC3: an aircraft just made for Boys' Own adventures and a design triumph, with more personality in its tail-fin than could ever be mustered by a dozen Wolverines or Men-in-Black. 'Garry Halliday' was a pop-cultural milestone that should have been preserved in perpetuity; it remains yet another good reason for consigning the wipe-happy pygmies of 60s/70s broadcasting to the same nether regions as Sgt Traumann.

Garry Halliday

[bob-theil · 9/10 · 2 January 2010]

Compulsive Saturday evening viewing, Garry Halliday represented the perfect seamless transition from boys own adventures such as 'The Lone Ranger' at 5pm, to the later more adult evening shows such as 'Dixon of Dock Green' and er... The Billy Cotton Band Show'. Halliday was indeed slick, fast paced, suspenseful and an acknowledgement by the BBC that 'kids' TV did not have to be ropey costumed dramas or feature Billy Bunter. I always knew when serious action was about to start on GH when video tape or live transmission changed to film about 10 seconds before a fight commenced. Presumably action sequences had to be prerecorded on film.

The Voice was far more frightening than those later multi handled dustbins called Daleks. I remember the shock and disbelief I felt during the last series when the Voice suddenly changed appearance, Dr Who like, from one actor to another, following the death of Elwyn Brook Jones. The BBC could have handled this much better. The series , for me, lost all credibility at this point and maybe represented the loss off a certain innocence. I still have the Justin Blake book 'Garry Halliday and the Disappearing Diamonds' my Mum gave me at Christmas 1960! Good that Terence Longdon and Bill Kerr are still going strong and God bless Terence Alexander who died in 2009.

All-time Favourite

[miles-cheshire · 3 September 2004]

This was my all-time favourite children's TV programme, essential viewing after Grandstand on a Saturday afternoon. The episodes opened with a shot of whirling propeller blades and a voice-over giving a brief introduction to The Halliday Charter Company and a synopsis of the current story to date. The chief characters were the urbane Garry Halliday, played by Terence Longdon, and his "silly ass" co-pilot, Bill Dodds, (Terence Alexander). They were in constant pursuit of their sinister arch-enemy, "The Voice" (Elwyn Brook-Jones), a master criminal who protected his identity by never letting his face be seen. I wrote to Terence Alexander some years ago to express my appreciation and he wrote back to tell me that he is amazed by how many people still mention "Garry Halliday" to him. Apparently there is only one episode of the programme still in existence, the BBC had the practice of "wiping" old tapes.

Pleasant Memories

[chris-1850 · 9/10 · 17 March 2008]

Like the other contributors I eagerly sat waiting for Gary Halliday to start on a Saturday evening - the spot later occupied by Dr Who.

At the time, very few young children ever had an opportunity to fly and therefore Gary Halliday seemed to have such an exciting and glamorous life.

During the series I had an opportunity to fly to Guernsey in a Douglas DC3 (the ubiquitous Douglas Dakota) from a grass field in Portsmouth. I remember getting on the plane imagining the two Terences were up front in the cockpit.

It's very sad that only one episode survives and I would certainly like to see it.

It's good to see that the two Terences are still around - I wish them well and hope they are enjoying retirement.

Anyone who remembers Gary Halliday would enjoy the late Gavin Lyall's early flying novels such as The Wrong Side of the Sky, The Most Dangerous Game, Shooting Script and Judas Country. They were set in the same era and everything to do with the aircraft and flying is meticulously described. It would be well worth seeking out copies.

Stunning impact

[nigeldouglasgb · 10/10 · 25 January 2015]

The focal point of the week for me and my friends. Bored with Captain Pugwash, we wanted some real drama and Gary delivered. A testament to the impact of this series is that not only do I remember it, more than half a century later I also recall how I took over the family's Saturday routine to ensure I watched it. In 2015 I can still whistle the theme tune. Stellar television. This series represented the first real quality drama written for children and broadcast nationally. Whilst its replacement in Dr Who has developed to cover a generation of televisión, I would compare it to perhaps 'Blakes Seven' in the audience gap it filled.

Re Garry Halliday

[fiona1953 · 10/10 · 14 September 2006]

I had no idea anyone other than my brother or myself even remembered Garry Halliday or the Voice.. We were avid fans during 1959 ,1960 and 1961 I was 6-8 and my brother was 10-12 years old. Our family went to Cyprus for 18 months and by the time we came home in Aug 1962 it was no longer on air. However we continued our love for the show by writing little illustrated stories of the adventures of Garry, Bill and of course The Voice. I still have these crude but very funny stories written in pencil . I would like to know if there is any way I would be able to get hold of a copy of the only episode available? I now live in Australia, but my brother is in the UK. We had a favourite saying from the show, that is from "The Voice" "Its not only the end of THAT Mr Dodds.. but the end of you" August 08 : Wow guys, it seems that Garry, Bill and The Voice are well remembered. That's great.

Great boys own TV

[croftlea-sim-624-531010 · 9/10 · 2 January 2010]

Over dinner several years ago , I had an argument with some friends that this great boys own adventure ever existed! Well I'm glad to see there are some people like me who never forgot it ! I too remember it starting after Grandstand, but the bit from the start which sticks in my mind was the big radar scanner revolving round and round. Happymemories indeed ! I just wish somebody could find some recordings in the archives so we could relive the memories! I think 'Dodds' the copilot was the guy who played Jim Bergerac's father in law, if I'm not mistaken. I think I read somewhere that an old episode had been found locked away in some vault in Honkong.

Opinion based on memories from the time of I was 8yrs

[Joekerr-3 · 8/10 · 17 July 2006]

This brings back memories of waiting to the end of boring Grandstand and settling down in my neighbour's house to watch what was for children a fantastic double feature. First the Lone Ranger television show; an exciting fast action short story. Then Garry Halliday followed which was a slightly more adult/sinister and local thriller that continued from week to week. The cliff hangers of Halliday contrasted well with the "all is well again" endings of the Lone Ranger. What fun and now all we get is reality rubbish and hopeless Dr. Who. Halliday was very modern for its time and unlike the ever popular westerns was not a costume drama. Instead there was an edge of reality about it that is why it frightened children. The VOICE was a great idea and the actor played this frightening fiendish figure brilliantly. He sat behind a two way mirror and all his hired baddies and sometimes his captured victims had to face a mirror and listen to the threatening intimidating Voice. Great stuff!

A Blast From The Past.

[screenman · 7/10 · 25 July 2008]

Well; several other old codgers remember 'Gary Halliday', and his reliable side-kick Bill Dodds. These were the days when a male could have a close friend without any sexual implications.

I can remember watching this programme with my siblings. I recollect that Halliday was a pilot, and that Dodds was his co-pilot, but not much else. I also remember that Bill Dodds sometimes rode a motorcycle. However, I only now recollect 'The Voice' after reading other contributions.

So; can anybody tell me what was actually going on?

The fact that a bloke happens to fly aeroplanes is hardly a basis for having a mysterious enemy like 'Dr No' - who was also fond of disembodied voices. Surely Halliday was up to something else as well. Was he a secret agent for which his flying was just a convenient cover? And what did 'The Voice' actually want? Presumably he meant to overthrow Halliday. But why? Was he the covert boss of a competitor airline?

Can someone spill the beans on this, 'cos I haven't a clue?

I've given it 7 stars because I remember finding it pretty exciting. But that's just a vague memory, now. The funny thing is; I saw the actor featured in several other dramas, not least of which was 'Carry On Nurse' where he played a patient awaiting surgery on a bunion. And I always called him 'Gary Halliday', or said that 'Gary Halliday' was in it. And everyone seemed to know exactly who I meant. That's probably why he's still remembered; he got typecast to a generation of telly-kids.

But what was he up to; that's what I want to know?

And while I'm shuffling down memory lane, doesn't anybody remember 'The Guardians' and 'Quick, Before They Catch Us'?

Childhood favourites

[then-why · 22 April 2007]

For some reason this series popped into my head this morning... I was thinking back to early experiences that may have influenced my own writing! Saturday evenings were 'Garry Halliday' (just as Friday evenings were 'Dr Kildare'). I was always anxious to get home to watch and staying for tea at Granny's inevitably meant I would miss an episode in the days before video recorders! Terence Longdon must have been my first TV heartthrob - it was probably the uniform, although possibly having a much older brother who was doing National Service in the RAF may have been a factor too! I was so enthralled that we even used to recreate the action in the garden until the next episode came along! So pleased to see that I am not the only one who remembers this exciting series!

quality live tv from the 50s

[peedee100 · 17 May 2003]

This series was (I believe) broadcast live during the late 50s and early 60s. It featured a "Biggles" type character who flew into all kinds of excitement with his faithful co pilot played by Terence Alexander. Their sinister adversary "The Voice" was only ever seen from the mouth to the chin and seemed to be in constant radio contact with the flight deck of Halliday's aircraft. As a ten year old watching childrens tv, I found it deeply disturbing but unmissable! I hope some tapes remain so future generations can enjoy this series.

Dr Who was not the first children's TV character to have the actor replaced..

[RogF · 16 January 2003]

This story (which is actually just one adventure in the "Garry Halliday" series (qv)) was broadcast in the glorious era when most of the action was done live in the studio. Unfortunately, Elwyn Brook-Jones, who did a magnificent job of playing the silkily malevolent villain, The Voice, died part-way through the series. His replacement (whose name I do not remember, but who was introduced by a rather apologetic announcer) unfortunately did not look or sound much like Brook-Jones, and I suspect that the series then died without his contribution.

The replacement of an actor playing a major role in children's television may have been short-lived, but it preceded by several years William Hartnell's replacement as Dr Who, which usually gets credit for being the first.