Tales of the Golden Monkey
September 24th, 2008 by Michelle Diener
I loved this show. I’m not sure why, but driving to Whiteman Park in Perth on Saturday, I suddenly thought of it, after years. I couldn’t remember if it was set between the world wars (as a book I’m working out the rough outline is) or not, but as there is a Nazi spy in it, I was pretty sure it was just before WWII. So I googled it and it was set in 1938.
I was in my early teens when I saw Tales of the Golden Monkey, and I would love to see a few episodes now just to see how it compares to my memory (I can buy the whole series on DVD for around US$45, and I’m considering it). There was action, intrigue, romance and more action. To me, it captured the essence of entertainment, sweeping me into a new world, and I loved it.
I attended an interview with a literary author a short while back, and while I enjoyed a lot about the evening, one thing rankled, and that was the snide comments that were made about commercial writers during the interview. The comments were initiated by the interviewer, and I noticed the writer in question tried to avoid a direct answer, to his credit, although he didn’t step up to the plate as I’d have liked and roundly put the interviewer in his place.
Because commercial fiction (or any commercial entertainment) has enormous value. It is accessible. It is fun. And there is something for everyone. It can uplift and it can inspire. And when I’m feeling run down and in need of some true relaxation, it is to commercial fiction that I turn, rather than literary fiction, in order to right the world around me and pick myself up again.
I saw in the information I found online about the show that there were a few problems with accuracy in the series, for example some of the aeroplanes used were not in existence in 1938, but to me, it was the characters, the setting and the intrigue that was important, not plane models.
Is there any show or book from your early teenage years that left an impression that has lasted until today?
22 Responses to “Tales of the Golden Monkey”
Never heard of the “Tales of the Gold Monkey” Michelle, but it does sound intriguing. Personally, give me commercial fiction over literary fiction any day. Each have their place in the world, but when I want escapism, I’d much prefer commercial.
I used to watch the “Twilight Zone” as a kid. Still have episodes pop up into my head at the oddest moments decades later. This was entertainment and probably the kernal of inspiration that steered me toward the paranormal genre.
Liz, I also watched Twilight Zone. And I don’t usually like scaring myself stupid, but there was something about that show. And the music. Well, that’s just a legacy that lives on. It has become synonymous with scary or weird moments, hasn’t it?
I remember Tales of the Gold Monkey. It wasn’t my favorite show, but it was a good one. I was a MacGuyver girl all the way. I’ve been tempted to buy Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits shows on DVD, but I’ll have to wait and see what my Christmas budget looks like. If I can, I might sneak in Witch Blade or American Gothic.
I loved Tales of the Gold Monkey and was crushed when it went off the air. It was such great fun. Very Indiana Jonesish.
I also loved Doctor, Doctor which I thought was hilarious.
I never watched Tales of the Gold Monkey. I would have remembered it. My favorite shows were comedies. Mary Tyler Moore Show, WKRP in Cincinnati. Looking back, I see they were shows with great ensemble casts.
I just picked up Witch Blade on DVD, Marcia. Haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, but I’ve been reading the graphic novels. Those are so cool.
Great blog, Michelle. Now I want to see Tales of the Gold Monkey, sounds great! Growing up, I loved the Flying Nun with Sally Field. I watched Twilight Zone, and was a huge fan of old movies. Oh, anything Gidget too.
Yeah, the Night Gallery episode with the doll that wouldn’t die. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.
And all the original Night Stalkers. Loved them as a kid, but I just saw one, and dude, it was a guy in a dinosaur suit! I am totally bummed.
Margaret
Liz, you lucky stiff!
I’ve been on the fence about it…until my $25 Amazon gift certificate arrived in the mail on Monday. Now, I’m really torn.
Okay, I’m really going to date myself. When I was in my early teens, Star Trek was on television, and I loved it…I do have a vague memory of the Gold Monkey, it came out after Indiana Jones. The first movie…Sort of a spin off on it, but it didn’t last long. My kids loved it. Now I’m really dating myself.
I loved to watch Medical Center with Chad Everett. I had a crush on him.
As far as commercial fiction getting slammed, doncha love it? I mean what other genre gets this disrespected by those who can’t get past their own self-importance?
I spoke with a librarian the other day and she made it to SF for the conference this past year, she told me she had never felt so welcome in her life. “Everyone smiled!” she said.
“Yes,” I told her, “We’re romance writers, we have a lot to smile about.”
From like 13 to 24 or so, I didn’t watch much TV. I wasn’t home. When I went to college, my TV lived in my closet. It wasn’t until I got sick that I started to watch TV again.
So… I remember Gilligan’s Island and Little House on the Prairie. As soon as I started watching TV again, I was all over Star Trek, lOL!
I loved this show, too, but I’d completely forgotten about it. Thanks for the post, Michelle–and for jolting my memory!
Ooooh, Marcia. Me and McGyver, we were soul mates
. And I really liked that one around the same time with the ex Vietnam vet helicopter pilot – Stringfellow Hawk. Oooooh.
And Witch Blade is also great, although I didn’t like the second series so much.
Barbara, the site I googled about the show said it had been in the pipeline for a while, but only got the go-ahead when the producers saw the success of Indiana Jones. Horrible to think it might never have been aired had IJ not done so well at the box office.
The cost of producing it, though, was too high to justify in the end, apparently, so it only lasted one series, despite its popularity.
Edie, now you’re taking me back. I LOVED WKRP. That was a funny, funny show.
LaD, living in South Africa, we got things long after they aired in the States, and I am pretty sure we never had the Flying Nun. Sounds good, though.
LOL, Margaret. I watched the A-Team the other day, and I was in stitches. Corny doesn’t begin to cover those special effects. But at the time, I loved it.
Lee, Star Trek was another fave of mine. I can still remember some of the original episodes quite clearly.
Karin, I don’t think we got MC. And its that so true about romance writers. I liked that SF newspaper article about the conference, where the journalist mentioned he’d never come across a group of writers who so genuinely supported each other.
Spy, I only got ‘American’ TV from about 13 to 18 years old. That was the window. Before that, it didn’t exist on SA TV and after that, I was overseas for a year and then at university. I did another degree through distance education after I finished my MA, while I was working, and my husband was doing the same thing, so we didn’t get a TV then, either. I first got a TV again when I was 31, LOL.
Pleasure, Therese. It was such a fun show, wasn’t it?