Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Kids TV
    Kids TV TV Shows - 1950s 4 Mins Read

    Rubovia/A Rubovian Legend

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 5 – 1 9 5 6 (UK)
    3 x 20 minute episodes
    1 9 5 8 – 1 9 6 5 (UK)
    26 x 20 minute episodes
    1 9 7 6 (UK)
    6 x 14 minute episodes

    Created by Gordon Murray (who worked in the BBC Children’s Department in the early 1950s) A Rubovian Legend began as a series of original black and white plays for children performed by The BBC Puppet Theatre.

    The first three plays – ‘The Queen’s Dragon’, ‘Clocks and Blocks’ and ‘The Dragon’s Hiccups’ – were transmitted live to air.

    rubovianlegend

    Murray then re-built his marionettes, redesigned the sets and costumes and chose new voice actors to record 26 episodes (including remakes of the ‘Clocks and Blocks’ and ‘Dragon’s Hiccups episodes) which were transmitted – and regularly repeated – both in the UK and to many British Commonwealth countries.

    The magical kingdom of Rubovia was ruled by King Rufus XIV (voiced by Derek Nimmo) and Queen Caroline, who had a pampered pet Chinese dragon called Pongo (who turned into a cabbage whenever he hiccupped).

    King Rufus was frequently up to no good, usually in the company of his Lord Chamberlain.

    Multi-talented Mr Albert Weatherspoon played an important role in the running of Rubovia. His official titles included Royal Gardener, Court Historian, Court Photographer, Royal Plumber, Master of the King’s Horse, Master of the Rolls, Decorator-in-Chief, and Postmaster General.

    Mr Weatherspoon (Rubovia’s equivalent to King Arthur’s wizard Merlin) was also a prolific inventor – he created the speaking tube – and the founder of civil engineering company, Weatherspoon and Cat Ltd.

    He often played the Royal Rococo organ, assisted by his cat, Rubina, who pressed the air pump (“pressure up puss!”).

    King Boris (friend and cousin to Rufus) ruled the neighbouring kingdom of Borsovia. Queen Caroline’s best friend and cousin was the Grand Duchess Arabella of the neighbouring small kingdom of Humperstein.

    Although the setting looked very medieval, Murray pointed out that the series was set in modern times: “The time is the present. It’s just that Rubovians are out of touch. Everything in their blissful country stopped at gas and steam. They love clockwork, and spring-driven gramophones, and things worked with bellows and bits of string. They’ve no telephones either. You see, they’ve never heard of electricity. That’s why they’re so happy.”

    rubovian_077

    Six of the plays were remade in colour in 1976 as Rubovia, with newly designed puppets and sets.

    The colour episodes utilised stop-motion animation (for which Gordon Murray had become renowned with his Trumptonshire series’) rather than marionettes.

    Other characters included Farmer Bottle and MacGregor, a turban-wearing Indian with a Scottish name and a Chinese accent (“Velly good. Me vellee solly!”) who would often give hints to Mr Weatherspoon from over the garden wall from the top of a ladder. MacGregor was changed to a “red” Indian (native American) for the 1970s colour episodes – thus replacing one racial stereotype (albeit a complex one) with another – simpler – one.

    King Rufus
    Raymond Rollett (1)
    Derek Nimmo (2)
    Queen Caroline

    Violet Lamb
    Lord Chamberlain
    Philip Latham (1)
    Peter Hawkins (2)
    Roy Skelton (3)
    Albert Weatherspoon
    Peter Hawkins (1)
    James Beattie (2)
    King Boris
    Roy Skelton
    Grand Duchess Arabella of Humperstein
    Pamela Binns

    Episodes

    The Queen’s Dragon | Clocks and Blocks | The Dragon’s Hiccups // Clocks and Blocks | The Dragon’s Hiccups | Mystery of Rubovia Castle | The Wonky Wand | Zaza Knows All | Spray Fever | Chickweed Wine | Knight for a Day | Crafty Art | Fit and Well | Something in the Air | The Bell | Gala Performance | Bees and Bellows | The Enchanted Duck | The Trap | A Cranky Banquet | The Clue | The Secret River | Stop Press | Fire, Fire, Fire | Calling All Trunks | The Troublesome Double | Bewitched Boots | A Sinister Visitor | The Giddy Ghost // The Unreliable Wand | Dragon Doctor | The Magic Scent Bottle | The Magic Duck | The Enchanted Clock | Tunnel Trouble

    Related Posts

    • Railway Children, The
      Railway Children, The
      1 9 5 7 (UK) 8 x 30 minute episodes This 1957 version of The Railway Children featured Anneke Willys as Bobbie,…
    • Five Children and It
      Five Children and It
      1 9 5 1 (UK) 2 x 30 minute episodes E. Nesbit's Five Children and It was broadcast for the first time in…
    • Larry the Lamb in Toytown
      Larry the Lamb in Toytown
      1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 8 (UK) 9 x 10 minute episodes 1 9 7 2 -…
    • Muffin The Mule
      Muffin The Mule
      1 9 4 6 - 1 9 5 5 (UK) Partnered by Annette Mills (sister of actor John Mills) Muffin The…
    • Seven Little Australians
      Seven Little Australians
      1 9 5 3 (UK) 5 x 30 minute episodes This period adaptation focussed on the lives of the Woolcott family…
    • Railway Children, The
      Railway Children, The
      1 9 5 1 (UK) 8 x 30 minute episodes 4 x 60 minute episodes In 1951, Edith Nesbit's story was…
    • ALF Tales
      ALF Tales
      1 9 8 8 - 1 9 9 0 (USA) 21 x 30 minute episodes Originally incorporated into the animated…
    • Why Can't I Go Home?
      Why Can't I Go Home?
      1 9 7 9 (UK) 12 x 25 minute episodes This ATV children's series was subtitled The Story of a Children's…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticlePlay Away
    Next Article Deputy Dawg Show, The

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Monty Python’s Flying Circus
      1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 4 (UK) 45 x 30 minute episodes From their […]
    • Raggedy Man (1981)
      Who is the Raggedy Man? Who is this curious figure who always […]
    • Radio 1
      Radio 1, the BBC’s pop music station, began broadcasting […]
    • Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954)
      Choreographer Michael Kidd’s exuberant dance numbers are […]
    • Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)
      James Taylor (in his acting debut) is The Driver – a […]
    • Teenage Filmstars, The
      The Teenage Filmstars was formed in 1979 by former members of […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    7 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    1 day ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢 ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Great band

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.