These were excellent. Most of them were made in the late
1970s warning the public of the dangers of going with
strangers, crossing the road, playing with fireworks,
being drunk on the neach, climbing electricity pilons,
floating out to sea on rubber dingies, not dipping your
headlights, and so on. They were supposedly deadly
serious, but are in fact bloody funny. So much so
that they've released a load on video. The most famous
series being "Charlie Sez", remixed by beat combo
The Prodigy in the early 90s.
Anyway, here are some of the ones I remember:
The one warning of the dangers of drinking on the
beach. Fat drunk runs along a jetty, jumpinging off
the end, and breaking his legs in the process, as
the water wasn't very deep. Cut to scene with bloke
being carried away on a stretcher.
Another scenario. Two drunks and their "birds" hire
a speed. One of the drunks starts larking about,
pretending to be Roger Moore in "Live and Let Die"
causing the boat to capsize. They all drown.
Saw this next one in primary school. Warning about
the dangers of playing on railway lines, narrated
by a very young and late '70s Keith Chegwin (someone
the kids'll look up to.
A keen footballer, little Jimmy is walking home from
the football match with mate and his older brother who
is 'ard! Older brother forces the pair to take a short
cut over the railway lines. Jimmy's friend falls over
on the track. They all laugh. Jimmy helps his friend up
A train appears. Jimmy legs get chopped off. They all
laugh.
Cut to scene of Jimmy sitting in a wheel chair in his
room, looking mournfully at the trainers. Ends with
Cheggers damning voice-over "Jimmy won't be playing
football anymore" and then all laugh
Don't Dazzle! (BOING!!! sound effect)
Dip your headlights!
The classic don't go with strangers one.
Dennis Waterman haired type bloke in '70s gear pulls up
outside the local school. Leans over to girl waiting for
her mum:
For this reason only our "stranger" will be called Dennis,
not that I'm saying Rob Cowler's strange or anything
Dennis: "'ello love. Want one of these?
Girl: "No thanks"
Dennis: "C'mon, jump in"
Girl: "No thanks. I'd better not"
Dennis: "Okay (Look you know you want it you harlot)"
V/O: "Remember kids. Always say no to ex-Minder stars(,erm strangers)
Mother talking to policewoman in the street. Foolishly
left the gate open. Mothers son runs out gate, and into
the road. Cue dramatic crunch sound effects, as son gets
squashed to a pulp. For some reason they showed a
freeze-frame of a load of eggs being dropped on the floor.
More soon............