19 replies to this topic

[Daddy Bond]

No, this is actually NOT a joke.

My wife and I were watching the 4th Season episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" entitled "The Indespensable Jeannie", and at one point Maj. Nelson checks the time on his watch (and the camera shows a brief closeup of the watch face). I was surprised by what I thought I saw with the watch closeup, so I rewound the DVD and froze the frame and this is what it said on the watch face...

"Thunderball, James Bond, 007"

I believe that the episode itself was shot in either 1967 or 1968 (a couple of years after Thunderball's release).

So what's up with this? Anyone have any idea?

Maybe a Bond fan was involved with the series? I have no idea.

It's not a big deal, I just got a kick out of this little send up to Bond in a very unexpected place.

And yes, I like I Dream of Jeannie okay!

[Kilroy6644]

That's really cool. I wonder if maybe they needed a watch, and that one happened to be available? I'm going to guess that while that watch may have been collectible even then, the James Bond collectible market was much smaller and less lucrative. This was prior to eBay and every candy wrapper found on the set being valuable, and I can imagine smething like that slipping through the cracks and winding up on some sitcom.

And yes, I like I Dream of Jeannie okay!

Hey, I liked it too.

[Daddy Bond]

The watch was pretty nice looking too. It was not the same kind of watch Bond wore in Thunderball, it had a leather band with a blue face - but it was nice enough looking to be a REALLY cool collector's piece (I Googled it but couln't find an image of it. I will post an image of the watch if someone can fill me in on how to include pics with our posts.

Yes, I know that I click the "insert image" button, but then how do I get it to pull the image from my computer? Say I have it in "My Documents" under "My Pictures"?

Thank you,

Daddy Bond

[Righty007]

Perhaps it was a watch made to coincide with the release of Thunderball and somebody on the crew got a hold of it to use as a prop for the show.

By the way, I also like I Dream of Jeannie.

[stromberg]

Yes, I know that I click the "insert image" button, but then how do I get it to pull the image from my computer? Say I have it in "My Documents" under "My Pictures"?

Right below the field in which you post your reply, there's the attachment system.
Click on 'Browse' to search for the image on your computer, then click on 'Upload'. After the pic is uploaded you can chose under "Manage Current Attachments" how the pic should be handled: delete, insert into post or insert at the end of the post. It's that easy.

[zencat]

That's cool. Great find.

It could be that it really was Larry Hagman's watch. Some high-end Thunderball tie-in. He could have been a big Bond fan, most men were back then. Those shows were shot pretty fast and furious, I don't think they'd go to the trouble of costuming him with a special watch. Seems logical they would just shoot what was already on his wrist.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

I'm also a viewer of Jeannie.

I remmember a chapter about a spy replacing Nelson and Maj. Haley calling him a Goldfinger clone.

[Daddy Bond]

Yes, I know that I click the "insert image" button, but then how do I get it to pull the image from my computer? Say I have it in "My Documents" under "My Pictures"?

Right below the field in which you post your reply, there's the attachment system.
Click on 'Browse' to search for the image on your computer, then click on 'Upload'. After the pic is uploaded you can chose under "Manage Current Attachments" how the pic should be handled: delete, insert into post or insert at the end of the post. It's that easy.

Thanks! I'll get a screen capture tonight and will post the picture tomorrow. I wouldn't mind finding one of these watches.

By the way, a few episodes later, Jeannie gives someone a false name, and refers to herself as "Jeannie, Jeannie St. John Smythe". I know that there is absolutely NO connection to AVTAK produced over a decade later, but still, after the Thunderball watch's appearance it brought a smile to my face.

[Daddy Bond]

Oh, one other note, I Googled Hagman and James Bond and came up with an interesting tidbit on www.obsessional.co.uk/swingin.htm, where it said:

"With Thunderball filming in 1965 and Casino Royale in 1966 and Oscars for both Goldfinger and Thunderball, James Bond was swingin. So what else was..."

Then, down below, it lists the "swingin" TV shows of 1965 and 1966. It lists 18 TV shows, including:

The Saint
Danger Man/Secret Agent
Mission Impossible
The Avengers
The Man from UNCLE
Get Smart
Batman
and I Dream of Jeannie

No connection, but interesting nevertheless. N'est pas?

[Cruiserweight]

Nice little find

[Daddy Bond]

Here is the shot of the watch. My recollection was slightly off as to what it says on the face of the watch. Here is what it says:

1. Underneath the center it says in small letters "Operation"
2. In large letters running up the left side across the top and down the right is the word "THUNDERBALL"
3. In small numbers under the hand pointing at the 12 are the numbers "007".

 Tony_Checks_his_Watch.jpg   39.5KB   39 downloads

 I_Dream_of_Jeannie_Watch_Face.jpg   30.05KB   59 downloads

Anyone know anything about this watch?

[MarcAngeDraco]

Might just be me, but it looks like too many letters to be 'Operation'...

Perhaps it's Italian (Operazione) or some other language?...

[Daddy Bond]

Actually, I'm pretty sure it is "Operation" - it is much clearer on the DVD.

[Agent J.Bond]

I think it actually says 'appreciation'....if you look closely, the first letter resembles an 'A'....

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Fine watch, Tony!

[Daddy Bond]

I think it actually says 'appreciation'....if you look closely, the first letter resembles an 'A'....

I went back and checked the DVD, and yes, you are right, it does say "appreciation". So, the question is, why is Larry Hagman wearing this watch? Where did it come from? Does anyone know anything about it. Any clues?

[scaramunga]

: )

I'm also a big fan of I Dream Of Jeannie!

Who isn't?

[Daddy Bond]

I think it actually says 'appreciation'....if you look closely, the first letter resembles an 'A'....

I went back and checked the DVD, and yes, you are right, it does say "appreciation". So, the question is, why is Larry Hagman wearing this watch? Where did it come from? Does anyone know anything about it. Any clues?

So, still wondering if anyone knows the history behind this watch?

[RazorBlade]

As for the history, we can only speculate but I think there are no end of fan boys out there.

I love I DREAM OF JEANNIE. What a show.

[Daddy Bond]

As for the history, we can only speculate but I think there are no end of fan boys out there.

I love I DREAM OF JEANNIE. What a show.

I don't know where Larry Hagman got it, but I wonder if anyone knows about this watch design? Was there a Thunderball promo watch sold at one point? Given to certain people.

Oh, well, if no one knows that's fine, but I sure was curious.