CommanderBond.net
  1. More 007 guests announced for Autographica 14

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-08-15

    Since our last report on the CommanderBond.net main page, additional James Bond film guests have been announced as attending the upcoming Autographica 14 event in Birmingham, UK.

    In addition to being headlined by one of the most memorable Bond girls of all time—Dr. No‘s Ursula Andress—the following 007 alumni will also be available:

    • Carmen du Sautoy (Saida, The Man with the Golden Gun)
    • Eva Rueber-Staier (Rublevitch, The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only & Octopussy)
    • Olga Bisera (Felicca, The Spy Who Loved Me)
    • Edward Fox (M, Never Say Never Again)
    • Julie T Wallace (Rosika Miklos, The Living Daylights)

    More actors and actresses from the James Bond films are expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks.

    'Dr. No'

    Autographica is unlike any other similar event you have ever attended. At Autographica you will not just see and meet the guests, but get to know them, as the entire event is held in a luxury hotel, with all the facilities that that encompass. All of our guests stay in the same hotel, so you may well find yourself having breakfast with any one of our guests.

    Most guests are available all day both days for signing, and some also offer talks or Q and A session too. In addition, and where time allows, we also have photo shoots with specific guests, and all of these can be booked in advance.

    Autographica 14 will be taking place from Saturday, 12 September through Sunday, 13 September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel in Birmingham, UK. Specific times follow:

    • Saturday, 12 September: 11:00am – 4:00pm
    • Sunday, 13 September: 11:00am – 4:00pm

    Ticket prices are £10 per day. Early-Bird tickets are available at £15 per day.

    Note that there are only 1,000 tickets set aside each day for at the door purchases, so pre-booking is strongly recommended. Pre-booked tickets are only available to buy in advance. Phone 01959 573792 for details or visit the official website.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page&—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  2. Expansion plans for Keswick's James Bond museum

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-08-09

    This April saw the opening of the newly designed James Bond museum in Keswick and now owner Peter Nelson already has plans to expand the massive collection.

    The Times & Star reports that Nelson has applied to the Allerdale council to build a £50,000 extension for several large 007-related vehicles, including the Fairy Huntress Speed Boat, which appeared in From Russia With Love and a Russian T-55 tank from the GoldenEye.

    Nelson said: ‘At the moment we’ve had to loan the motor boat to the National Motor Boat Museum because we haven’t got the room to house it here. So the extension will definitely help us to keep bigger vehicles and props that have appeared in the films.’

    ‘We will be funding the development ourselves as there are not many grants out there for museums,’ he continued. ‘I hope that the work will be finished before our three-day convention, which we will hold next October. We’ve only been open since April but we have visitors coming from all over the world, so it would be great to encourage them to come back to see these new features.’

    Nelson added that the new extension would ‘soften’ the front of the Bond museum and improve the overall logistics of the space.

    For more details on the James Bond museum, visit the official website.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page&—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  3. Ian Fleming's James Bond first editions hit the auction block

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-08-08
    Ian Fleming's 'Goldfinger'

    Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger

    London’s Bloomsbury Auctions will be holding their Bibliophile Sale later this month and a selection of James Bond first editions by Ian Fleming are among the lots included.

    007 novels, including some signed by several Bond girls, make up four of the 700+ lots in this sale, which are set to hit the auction block on Thursday, 20 August at 10:30am (lots 1-338) and 2:00pm (lots 338-701) precisely.

    Bloomsbury Auctions is located at: Bloomsbury House, 24 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1PP. For further details, phone +44(0) 20 7495 9494 or visit the official website.

    Details on the James Bond lots follow below:

    Lot 560 – Goldfinger

    Goldfinger, first edition , signed by both Shirley Eaton & Tania Mallet on front free endpaper, bookseller’s small sticker on front pastedown, original boards, dust-jacket, neat, near-invisible reinforcement to inside spine, in effect an excellent example , 1959.

    Signed by the actresses who played Jill & Tilly Masterson respectively in the 1964 film, identifying their characters.

    Estimate: £500 – £700


    Lot 561 – Thunderball

    Thunderball, first edition , original boards, dust-jacket, slightly soiled and creased at extremities, 8vo, 1961.

    Estimate: £100 – £150


    Lot 562 – The Spy Who Loved Me / On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

    The Spy who loved Me, 1962; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1963, first editions , original boards, dust-jackets, torn and soiled, a little loss ; and another, Wain, 8vo (3)

    Estimate: £80 – £120


    Lot 563 – Octopussy and The Living Daylights

    Octopussy and the Living Daylights, first edition , signed & inscribed by both Maud Adams & Maryam d’Abo on title, original boards, dust-jacket, small sticker mark on inside front flap revealing publisher’s printed price 10s6d, othewise a near fine copy, 8vo, 1966.

    The female leads from the movies of Octopussy and The Living Daylights respectively.

    Estimate: £100 – £150

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  4. James Bond limited edition watch registries launched

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-08-08

    Five new registries are now publicly available for the people most passionate about exclusively-numbered James Bond watches.

    CommanderBond.net presents the full details below in the following press release:

    “The James Bond Limited Edition Watch Registries”

    Between 2002 and present day, Omega SA has produced exactly 40,035 sequentially-numbered wristwatches under license with Eon Productions, and associated with the last three 007 feature films.

    Where did each individual watch start out? Where are they now? What sorts of “stories” go along with them: From where they’ve been worn, what personal life events they may been used to time, reasons they were subsequently sold—and bought by the next person? Additionally, there are print ads, images, press releases, and specifications to be included as well.

    JamesBondWatches.com has created specific Blogs to answer all these questions and indulge passions. A great deal of information is already online in each one right now.

    The 2002 Omega Seamaster watch, limited to 10,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, and in overall commemoration of 40 years of 007 feature films

    The 2006 Omega Seamaster watch, limited to 10,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

    The 2006 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean BIG SIZE watch, limited to 5,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

    The 2008 Omega Seamaster watch, limited to 10,007 pieces and released while Quantum of Solace was being filmed, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

    The 2008 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean watch, limited to 5,007 pieces and released in conjunction with Quantum of Solace, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond

    An overall Registry Index is available at the following link: http://jamesbondwatchregistries.blogspot.com/

    “This is a rather die-hard group of James Bond fans,” observes Dell Deaton, creator of www.jamesbondwatches.com, and these new Registries. “As we reach critical mass with registries and followers to the Blogs, I wouldn’t be surprised if a get-together of some sort was arranged in 2010. I can already think of a great venue here in the United States. Similar collecting groups may see this as a common draw for places in their countries around the world as well.”

    Blogs will be updated at most once per day. Each Blog includes an eMail link to get in touch with JamesBondWatches.com for those who have suggestions for information, including photographs, to be included. Contributors may choose not to have their names included.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CBn main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  5. James Bond featured in Science of Spying exhibit in Dallas

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-08-06

    The Dallas Museum of Nature and Science in Texas is making this the year of the undercover agent with their Science of Spying exhibit and unsurprisingly, James Bond is one of the main features.

    The Dallas News reports that the traveling spy exhibit, designed in London, will make Dallas its home until the end of January 2010. It features many different kinds of games and devices designed to give visitors a hands-on look at the world of secret agents. These involve allowing them to create their own scanned identification, hack into the computer system of an evil corporation, uncover the secret plot and then stop it by cracking a code and escaping undetected.

    Docent Norm Bodily said younger children will probably enjoy the activities most at the exhibit. ‘I honestly think that 8- to 12-year-olds will get the most out of this exhibit. Older kids probably won’t get as big of a kick out of it.’

    007 is featured in the Shaken Not Stirred movie series, which includes three James Bond films in the IMAX theater and an expert speaker at each. Fans can catch Daniel Craig’s debut in Casino Royale on Saturday, 22 August.

    For details on attending, visit the museum’s official website.

    As always, keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page — and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest on James Bond.

  6. 007 marathon on USA Network kicks off

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-08-05

    In addition to the month-long James Bond marathon taking place on Universal HD, USA Network is also joining the Bond-fest with a selection of 007 titles throughout August.

    CommanderBond.net brings you the complete schedule…

    'From Russia with Love'

    Thursday, 6 August:

    • 12:00am: The World is not Enough

    Monday, 10 August:

    • 6:00am: You Only Live Twice
    • 8:30am: For Your Eyes Only
    • 11:30am: The World is not Enough
    • 2:30pm: Live and Let Die

    Thursday, 13 August:

    • 12:00am: Diamonds are Forever

    Monday, 17 August:

    • 6:00am: Moonraker
    • 8:30am: A View to a Kill
    • 11:30am: Never Say Never Again
    • 2:30pm: Diamonds are Forever

    Thursday, 20 August:

    • 12:00am: Thunderball

    Monday, 24 August:

    • 6:00am: Octopussy
    • 8:30am: From Russia with Love
    • 11:30am: The Man with the Golden Gun
    • 2:30pm: The Living Daylights

    Tuesday, 25 August:

    • 1:00am: Octopussy

    Thursday, 27 August:

    • 12:00am: You Only Live Twice

    Monday, 31 August:

    • 6:00am: The Spy Who Loved Me
    • 8:30am: From Russia with Love
    • 11:30am: The Man with the Golden Gun
    • 2:30pm: The Living Daylights

    For further details, visit the official USA Network website.

    Keep turning to the CBn main page for all the latest news from the world of 007. Be sure to check out our Twitter feed as well.

  7. Universal HD launches Prime Bond marathon in August

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-08-05

    James Bond is back in action all month long on Univeral HD.

    007 fans will be able to tune in all month long to catch every Bond film from Dr. No through GoldenEye as part of their Prime Bond marathon.

    The full schedule follows below. For additional details, visit the Universal HD official website.

    'Diamonds are Forever'

    Diamonds Are Forever

    Wednesday, 5 August:

    • 12:30am: Dr. No

    Thursday, 6 August:

    • 9:00am: Thunderball
    • 11:30am: You Only Live Twice
    • 2:00pm: Thunderball
    • 4:30pm: You Only Live Twice
    • 9:00pm: The Spy Who Loved Me

    Friday, 7 August:

    • 3:30am: The Spy Who Loved Me

    Sunday, 9 August:

    • 7:00pm: The World is not Enough
    • 10:00pm: The World is not Enough

    Tuesday, 11 August:

    • 9:00pm: From Russia with Love

    Wednesday, 12 August:

    • 12:30am: From Russia with Love

    Thursday, 13 August:

    • 8:00am: Licence to Kill
    • 11:00am: Live and Let Die
    • 1:30pm: Licence to Kill
    • 4:30pm: Live and Let Die
    • 9:00pm: For Your Eyes Only

    Friday, 14 August:

    • 3:30am: For Your Eyes Only

    Sunday, 16 August:

    • 7:00pm: Tomorrow Never Dies
    • 9:30pm: Tomorrow Never Dies

    Tuesday, 18 August:

    • 9:00pm: Diamonds are Forever

    Wednesday, 19 August:

    • 12:30am: Diamonds are Forever

    Thursday, 20 August:

    • 8:00am: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
    • 11:00am: Moonraker
    • 1:30pm: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
    • 4:30pm: Moonraker
    • 9:00pm: A View to a Kill

    Friday, 21 August:

    • 3:30am: A View to a Kill

    Sunday, 23 August:

    • 7:00pm: Never Say Never Again
    • 10:00pm: Never Say Never Again

    Tuesday, 25 August:

    • 9:00pm: Goldfinger

    Wednesday, 26 August:

    • 12:30am: Goldfinger

    Thursday, 27 August:

    • 9:00am: Octopussy
    • 11:30am: The Living Daylights
    • 2:00pm: Octopussy
    • 4:30pm: The Living Daylights
    • 9:00pm: The Man with the Golden Gun

    Friday, 28 August:

    • 3:30am: The Man with the Golden Gun

    As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news from the world of 007. Be sure to check out our Twitter feed as well.

  8. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stage production concludes national tour

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-28

    The national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang soars into Starlight Theatre on July 28-August 2 for six adventurous evening performances. In consideration of the many children expected to attend, Starlight has moved up its show time to 8 p.m. each night.

    The stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, adapted from the beloved 1968 film starring Dick Van Dyke, opened in London in 2002 and continues to tour in the United Kingdom. The show opened on Broadway in April 2005 and received five Tony Award nominations. The current North American tour began in November 2008 and will conclude its 26-city route at Starlight.

    Based on Ian Fleming’s timeless novel and adapted for the stage by director Ray Roderick, the production remains faithful to the film’s story line. It features the original music and lyrics of The Sherman Brothers, whose credits include nine Oscar nominations (one for the title song of this show), two Oscars for Mary Poppins, three Grammys and 24 gold or platinum albums.

    The star of the show is, of course, the vintage car that sprouts wings and flies (and sails, too!). The original film team – screenplay author Roald Dahl and producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli – always intended to move the story from the big screen to the stage, but it wasn’t until recently that newly developed stage technology turned their dreams to reality. Today’s high-tech modern machinery equips Chitty to fly effortlessly across the stage, although the show’s creators prefer to keep the engineering details under wraps.

    “Each summer Starlight provides at least one musical production that is completely appropriate – and entertaining – for all ages,” said Denton Yockey, Starlight president and executive producer. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is definitely this summer’s ‘must see’ for Kansas City families.”

    The show’s cast of principals is led by several Broadway veterans, including Steve Wilson in the lead role of eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts. Wilson’s Broadway credits include Sunday in the Park with George, Lestat, The Frogs and By Jeeves.

    Also featured in the show are eight youngsters from the Kansas City metropolitan area. Cast as orphans, the local children auditioned at Starlight earlier this year. They will rehearse with the national tour’s cast members upon their arrival in Kansas City and perform on stage each night. The aspiring local stars who will shine in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are Luke Boyce, Carter Gonzales, Diana Hunter, Grant Karpin, Faith Kopecky and Emily Levinson, as well as alternates Aurora Kuhn and Avery Mullaly. Throughout its nine-month tour, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has involved local children at each stop.

    Also cast in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are 13 rescue-dogs-turned-show dogs who travel with the production. The dogs’ owner and trainer, JoAnne Wilson of Wilson Productions, transports the canine stars in a custom-made tour bus. Samantha, a sheepdog mix, stars as Edison, the Potts’ family pet. Most of the other dogs star in the show’s Scrumptious Sweet Factory scene.

    The story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang spans generations. Ian Fleming, who is best known for authoring 14 James Bond books, published this story for his son, Caspar, in 1964. While a children’s book, it included the key things – cars, bombs and spies – that fascinated Fleming. Tickets for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are on sale now at Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road. Ticket prices range from $9 to $79 and are available at the Starlight Theatre box office, at http://www.kcstarlight.com or by calling 816.363.STAR (7827).

    Discount prices for groups of 15 or more are available by contacting Bob Potemski at 816.997.1137
    or [email protected].

    All performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang begin at 8 p.m.

    For more information about the touring production, visit www.chittyontour.com.

    Presenting Broadway entertainment since 1951, the non-profit Starlight Theatre Association is Kansas City’s oldest and largest performing arts organization. The Association operates, programs and maintains the largest stage in the United States, as well as the 16-acre Starlight Theatre complex. While assuming all annual operating costs for the complex, the Association also raises funds for capital improvements and a variety of programs, including national Broadway musical performances, concerts, community outreach and education. Since 2000, the Association has contributed more than $25 million of privately funded improvements to the Kansas City, Mo.-owned Starlight Theatre. Each Broadway season, Starlight donates more than 11,000 tickets to its performances to regional non-profit organizations serving the disadvantaged.

    In 2008, Starlight Theatre was selected as the “Favorite Performing Arts Venue or Organization” in the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association’s Visitors’ Choice Awards program. Starlight also received a Gold Award for “Best Performing Arts Venue” and a bronze award for “Best Theatre” in Ingram’s 2008 Best of Business Kansas City Awards. The theatre seats approximately 8,000 and is located in Swope Park.

    As always, keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest James Bond-related news from around the world.

  9. Ian Fleming Foundation eyeing Illinois facility for James Bond museum

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-24

    The Ian Fleming Foundation is considering potential locations for a James Bond museum that would display the numerous vehicles used in the popular films and may have found suitable location in a former Momence auto dealership in Illinois.

    My Web Times reports that Doug Redenius, a Momence post office employee and the vice president of the Ian Fleming Foundation, has addressed Momence aldermen about using the former Case Motor Sales dealership near the intersection of Illinois Route 1 and Illinois 114 on the city”s south side to display the 007 vehicles valued at $5 million.

    The non-profit Fleming foundation owns 32 original James Bond vehicles, many of which are currently stored in Momence already. However, because there is no single place to put them all on display, they are all currently closed to the public.

    ‘Did I ever envision something like this would be right here in our backyard? No,’ Redenius said of the dealership facility. ‘It’s a perfect facility. There is certainly room.’ He added that there was no firm timetable for a decision set and that the foundation would not be interested in operating a museum. ‘This was only a first step.’

    At the moment, the 5,000-square-foot building is currently owned by the city and is the home of the Momence Community Center, which is available to rent for parties or gatherings. If it was indeed turned into a museum dedicated to 007, it’s unclear exactly how many of the vehicles would be put on display.

    Redenius estimated that 30,000 to 40,000 people would visit the museum in its first year. ‘… There are different degrees of Bond fans just like there are with anything. But the number of people that are familiar with Bond is very large.’

    Momence Mayor Mick Porter said this is a perfect opportunity for Momence and one he wants to continue exploring. ‘This is international, it just is,’ he stated. ‘We are always thinking of what we can do to bring Momence to its fullest potential. This can be a step.’

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest James Bond-related news.

  10. Bond girl Ursula Andress to headline Autographica 14

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-23

    Autographica 14—the world’s largest autograph show—is now just around the corner and one of the most memorable Bond girls of all will be headlining the event: Dr. No‘s Ursula Andress.

    She will be joined by Eva Rueber-Staier, who portrayed Rublevitch in The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy as well as Olga Bisera, who portrayed Felicca in The Spy Who Loved Me. This will be the first convention event for both actresses.

    More actors and actresses from the James Bond films are expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks.

    'Dr. No'

    Autographica is unlike any other similar event you have ever attended. At Autographica you will not just see and meet the guests, but get to know them, as the entire event is held in a luxury hotel, with all the facilities that that encompass. All of our guests stay in the same hotel, so you may well find yourself having breakfast with any one of our guests.

    Most guests are available all day both days for signing, and some also offer talks or Q and A session too. In addition, and where time allows, we also have photo shoots with specific guests, and all of these can be booked in advance.

    Autographica 14 will be taking place from Saturday, 12 September through Sunday, 13 September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel in Birmingham, UK. Specific times follow:

    • Saturday, 12 September: 11:00am – 4:00pm
    • Sunday, 13 September: 11:00am – 4:00pm

    Ticket prices are £10 per day. Early-Bird tickets are available at £15 per day.

    Note that there are only 1,000 tickets set aside each day for at the door purchases, so pre-booking is strongly recommended. Pre-booked tickets are only available to buy in advance. Phone 01959 573792 for details or visit the official website.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest James Bond-related news.