David O’Brien has built a customised version of the Polar Lights Land of the Giants Spindrift kit with lighting. Click on the image above or the link below to view a photo gallery, an informative build presentation, and a video of David’s Spindrift build.
Shocked and stunned to hear the tragic news regarding the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife who were found at their home in New Mexico on Wednesday 26th February 2025. Gene Hackman is prominent and much loved and respected in the Irwin Allen universe for his leading role as Reverend Frank Scott in The Poseidon Adventure. It is going to take time for everyone to digest and understand this very sad news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to all of their loved ones.
BBC: Gene Hackman: One of Hollywood’s greatest ‘tough guys’
ABC Obituary: Gene Hackman, Oscar-winning star of ‘Hoosiers’ and ‘Unforgiven,’ dies at 95
News release 31st January 2025: Big Finish Productions are bringing out an exciting new audiobook drama series for Irwin Allen’s The Time Tunnel:
“Story details are revealed for The Time Tunnel: The Nightmare Begins, Big Finish Production’s full-cast audio drama continuation of the classic Irwin Allen TV show, coming February 2025.”
We have just learned through the Hollywood Reporter that Christian Juttner (Paul Durant in The Swarm) has died of natural causes at the age of 60 on 29 November 2024. Christian appeared in several well-known television shows and movies during his ten year acting career which began at the age of 7. His list of credits includes Bewitched, Ironside, The Bionic Woman, and Wonder Woman.
The incredibly sad news that we have heard in the past few hours is that James Darren, star of Irwin Allen’s The Time Tunnel, passed away on Monday September 2nd, 2024, at the age of 88. James not only starred in The Time Tunnel, but also guest starred in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and appeared in the presentation reel for The Man from the 25th Century and in the 1971 television movie, City Beneath the Sea.
James Darren in The Time Tunnel episode The Day the Sky Fell In
James Darren in the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea episode The Mechanical Man
James Darren in City Beneath the Sea
James Darren in The Man from the 25th Century
We spotted a rare find in the latest auction from Heritage Auctions, 25-26 JULY 2024 Hollywood/Entertainment Signature® Auction #7361, namely Irwin and Sheila Allen’s directors chairs. We remember seeing Irwin’s chair in their sitting room when visiting with Sheila in the 1990s. Sheila’s chair says “Mother” on the back, the role she played in the 1985 television movie Alice in Wonderland. The auction also features a couple of Alice in Wonderland items.
An auction takes place on Saturday 15 June 2024 at Julien’s Auctions, dedicated to The Irwin Allen Storyboards. These are all original art pieces including storyboards from The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, and The Swarm. Many of these pieces of artwork were drawn by Tom Cranham.
The Irwin Allen Storyboards (images courtesy of Julien’s Auctions, juliensauctions.com)
A number of Irwin Allen related collectibles feature in the 12-14 June 2024 Julien’s Auctions Hollywood Legends, Danger, Disaster & Disco Auction including the original 17 foot Seaview filming prop.
Irwin Allen Related Items (images courtesy of Julien’s Auctions, juliensauctions.com)
Great news for Irwin Allen fans, especially those who weren’t able to afford or get hold of the original The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen by Jeff Bond. The cost of shipping such a substantial book overseas will have been prohibative for many. Advance orders are now being taken in both the US and UK for a re-release of this amazing book which is being re-published with a fresh cover design and a lower price point by Titan Books on 15 October 2024.
Coming up on 29th March 2024 is the The Greg Jein Collection Hollywood/Entertainment Showcase Auction #41185 which includes some further Irwin Allen props and scripts.