A 32 Year Old Crystal Maze Mystery Solved - The Golfball from an IBM Selectric Typewriter (Thank you @Chrissie_c)

It's 1989, and series one is in production ready to broadcast in February 1990. The Crystal Maze is still finding its feet. They're producing a big elaborate game show and they still aren't 100% on the best way to do and present everything. When you watch it through now, there are little varied elements that stand out as slightly off. Maybe there's a music cue out of place, or there are bits of games that are slightly changed in later plays to account for something that just doesn't quite work.  The games aren't quite as big yet either. When looked at against games from later series, they're a little basic. Not that there's anything wrong with that, the creativity will come in time. 

One game that can be seen as a little basic was in Industrial and involved the contestant identifying small items by touch, needing to get 4 out of 5 correct to win the game. It was all fairly simple, small items. Wood shavings, tools, toys, things that should be easy to guess. However, for the last 32 years, I've had no clue what the hell these things were meant to be.

Never had a clue. Always thought they were a cap or stopper for some kind of equipment. Then @ElongatedCrab on Twitter was asking the same.

I was watching the crystal maze and there was a puzzle where you identify items by only touching them

What the hell is this thing? I can see it and I have absolutely no clue pic.twitter.com/Gp1fpaA725

— 🦀The Long Crab🦀 (@ElongatedCrab) April 12, 2022

Well, a quick retweet later and mystery solved. And I could never have figured this out with a lifetime of guesses.

It's the 'golf ball' head off a golfball typewriter.

Instead of keys that had the letters on them IBM Selectrics had a golfball-type thing that was electronically controlled to select the right letter when a key was pressed. https://t.co/EGLMWRLqrd

— Chrissie Caulfield (@Chrissie_c) April 12, 2022

That's been itching at the back of my head for decades, so thank you @Chrissie_c 

It's such a random item though, anyone else reckon they'd have eventually figured this out by touch alone?

Ed Tudor Pole Appearing at Stoke Con Trent 2022

Conventions are one of those things a lot have us have missed over the last two years. Getting together with hundreds of other fans of various franchises and properties. We've missed the cosplay, the stalls, and most importantly the opportunities at meeting a host of familiar faces.

At Collectormania in Milton Keynes once, I met Colin Baker as I was hiding behind him, avoiding being seen by someone from work who was wearing a less than flattering Power Ranger costume. It may have been the same day my mate and I literally bumped into Sir Geoff Hurst and I, very annoyed, had to explain to my non-football fan mate who SGH was.

Anyhow, conventions are back. And on April 10th, Stoke Con Trent shall have Ed Tudor Pole in attendance. 

As far as I'm aware, this is a rare convention appearance for Ed. But, given the opportunities performers have had in the last two years, I can imagine many may turn to conventions as they're a great earner for people. If someone's popular/busy, they can be earning thousands just signing autographs. 

In the past, I've managed brief chats with guests at conventions during their quieter moments. Never bought an autograph, always just went for the day out and to see who I can see. Just going to them as a day out, I've met Geoff Hurst, Colin Baker, D-Von Dudley, had a guy who played a blue Power Ranger ask me where I got my beer from as he needed a drink, seen a teenage crush in Alyson Hannigan in person, seen Mads Mikkelsen who I think is now just in everything, cons are just a fun day out seeing familiar faces.

Mentioning crushes, just checked the Stoke Con Trent guests and I can imagine this one was a crush for many. (I preferred Jet)

Tickets to attend Stoke Con Trent can be bought HERE

Happy 80th Birthday Richard O'Brien!

The legendary original Maze Master from The Crystal Maze, Richard O'Brien turned 80 today. (Yes, 80!). Happy Birthday Richard, we hope you have a lovely day and Mumsie has bought you a nice present. You are probably reading this. If you are, say hello.

Richard randomly sent a signed note to me during lockdown, which was amazing. Which leads me to believe that he does indeed read this blog.

Richard should be called a "Sir" - but he once said he would turn down a knighthood as it goes against everything he believes in.

Thank you for your amazing talent - Rocky Horror and The Crystal Maze still endure all these years later. It is a testament to your hard work and zany personality.

Richard is probably throwing a party in the Medieval Zone today - but in reality he lives in New Zealand. Have a great day Richard!

Best Wishes

Crystal Maze Fan Blog and Fans Worldwide. 

Maze games of a birthday nature....

It's Been A While - I Took Some Time Off - Saw @Ashens, @NostalNerd, @TristaBytes, @mrbiffo and co. have been to Crystal Maze Live

 It's been a while since I did one of these. I've been doing 14 hour days, 9 days a week and I inevitably burned out. The last few weeks haven't been great for me so I've had a mental health week to myself. Honestly, barely moved from the bed. According to my phone, I've gone from 55k steps a week to 400. But if you aren't coping, you aren't coping, simple as that. 

So it's left me some time to catch up on a lot of things. Fixed my laptop for example. For several months the concept of sound has been beyond this thing, input or output, nothing. May as well have tried getting it to accept eclairs as a form of audio, just nothing. And nothing says I've been binge eating quite like shoehorning eclairs in there for no sensical reason whatsoever.

Washing piles are done, the sun's been out so I've been able to plough through the numerous mounds of washing that have accumulated around the house without relying on an electroholic tumbler.

Now, when I dragged my carcass out of bed eventually this morning (been really struggling on mornings so when I saw today would be hot, hung my washing out last night. Woke up to dry clothes.) I sat down at my laptop and saw that several of my favourite Youtube and Twitch types were at Crystal Maze Live.

Last night, These excellent folks and I cracked the Crystal Maze (Team Cygnet Moon ~don't ask).

I did two physical games, got two crystals, almost died of exhaustion. WOULD RECOMMEND.@TristaBytes @myunie @ashens @mrbiffo @SlopesGameRoom @quangdx @TheCrystalMaze @CrystalMazeHQ pic.twitter.com/ZVoV1mRtSu

— Nostalgia Nerd (@nostalnerd) March 24, 2022

 Content creators whose work has really helped over the last couple of years, so it put a smile on my face seeing them there. 

Just putting it on record some of these were in my fantasy celeb episode casting, and I did put forward the idea of a YouTuber team to producers, to be told Youtube types want too much money.

Ah well. This is the next best thing isn't it? 

The Story of The Crystal Maze Documentary

We are excited to bring you a documentary on The Crystal Maze. First of it's kind, made by a YouTuber called "Back in the Day". 

Enjoy - we would be keen to hear your thoughts.

The axing of The Crystal Maze

A video I did a few months ago on Youtube. 2021 was a sad year for the Maze - however it has come back before, so let's not get too upset. The legacy continues with the live experiences, so hopefully another revival may come back when the pandemic fades away. The show is too iconic to just disappear forever.