#ken james

By Ken James: I was so stoked to go take a picture of this barn, but then out of nowhere it decided to rain all day. I was quite bummed because I really had a picture in mind and knew it would be basically impossible because I needed to leave this day. Turns out it rained enough to provide a few nice sized puddles and the photo I took I like better than if it didn't. *However, Ryder had an even better time 🤦‍♂️.

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo was an Australian-made adventure television series which was produced from 1967-69 and ran for 91 episodes with one feature film spinoff. Although predating colour TV in Australia, the series was shot in colour for international sales and enjoyed huge success, reportedly reaching an audience of around 300 million in 128 countries. (ATV picked up the UK rights).

The story centred around the expansive Waratah National Park, (Ku-Ring-Gai Chase, New South Wales) and the household of the head ranger, widowed Matt Hammond, played by British-Australian actor Ed Devereaux, and which also included his sons, Sonny and Mark, (Garry Pankhurst and Ken James), 'flight ranger' Jerry King (Tony Bonner), and family friend Clancy Merrick (Liza Goddard), as well as Skippy herself.

Mark Hammond (Ken James), Skippy, and helicopter pilot Jerry King (Tony Bonner)

Although made for children, it frequently dealt with confronting storylines, featuring car chases and fistfights, mid-air helicopter dramas and the occasional crash, boating accidents and shark attacks, kidnapping and hostage scenarios, poaching and animal cruelty, a missing baby feared drowned, traumatised war veterans, indigenous tribal culture, and bushland confrontations with armed and dangerous criminals on the run. Skippy herself was always on hand to stop the humans making a complete mess of things and ensure each episode ended happily.

The producers were no doubt mindful of the mums who would be watching afternoon television with their children, so Tony Bonner and Ken James, looking strikingly fit and tanned in the days that nobody gave a second thought to melanoma, were required to get their shirts off at every opportunity. The main cast frequently showcased their athletic skills in fighting, precarious cliff and water rescues, and on horseback in very difficult terrain - Liza Goddard in particular showed some exceptional equestrian skills at dangerous speeds.

Towards the end of the series, it appears that the budget (and commitment) had diminished somewhat, with less focus on the adventures of the rangers, minimal use of the helicopter and boat, and stories being more centred around comic turns by guest stars with the main cast increasingly absent.

The series remained in international syndication, and was rerun in Australia in 1975 with the emergence of colour television.

Ed Devereaux continued his extraordinary international career in movies and on stage and television, while Liza Goddard went on to a successful career in British theatre and TV.

A very different side of Ed Devereaux as the armed robber, Harry Biggleswade, in The Sweeney.

Tony Bonner worked mainly in Australia, carving out a successful career as an actor in numerous successful productions, while Ken James continued to act and also became a popular guest on daytime television as a celebrity chef. The youngest member of the cast, Garry Pankhurst (Sonny Hammond), did not continue acting and reportedly went on to work in hotel management, and has kept a low public profile ever since.

It appears the actors did not share in the series’ ongoing financial success (what a surprise!), and Tony Bonner unsuccessfully sued the production company in 2008 for AUD 750 000 unpaid residuals from merchandising and video/DVD sales;

BBC News reported in 2009;

"...When I signed the agreement with them for production in 1967, VHS was not even heard of, let alone DVDs or the internet," (Bonner) said at the time...However, Supreme Court Justice Ian Gzell said the actor, now 65, had been paid for his services with the A$140 weekly salary he earned in 1968..."

Rituals has been released on Blu-ray via Scorpion Releasing. It's available exclusively from Ronin Flix for $24.99. It features reversible artwork and comes with a slipcover and a 9x11 mini poster of Nathan Thomas Milliner’s new artwork.

Also known as The Creeper, the 1977 Canadian horror/thriller is directed by Peter Carter (High-Ballin'). Hal Holbrook, Lawrence Dane, Robin Gammell, Ken James, and Gary Reineke star.

The uncut version of Rituals has been newly scanned in high definition from original film elements. Special features are below.

Rituals (1977) | Peter Carter

Do you have a photo that you have taken that when you scroll through your gallery it still amazes you that it came from your camera? This is one of those for Ken.

A long exposure of one of Ken's favorite places on earth. You must put Crater Lake on your bucket list. It was one of the few times he was at a loss for words.