MovieChat Forums > The Avengers (1966) Discussion > How did Steed and Peel support themselve...

How did Steed and Peel support themselves?

posted 14 years ago by DoctorWhoFan
5 replies | jump to latest

I remember watching this show when I was a kid, although I was quite young at the time. And being young, certain details never occurred to me to ask. Yesterday I watched the first episode from the 1967 season, which was the first one shown in the US, according to IMDb. One thing I didn't think to ask myself, when I was watching it as a kid, was how in heck did Steed & Peel support themselves? Who did they work for? Why they go about doing what they did?

Doctor Who fan

[–] ghostfan 14 years ago

I always assumed Steed was paid (very well) because he was a full time secret agent. Emma was rich. Her father founded Knight Industries - a company that made tons of money (it's mentioned in The House that Jack Built.) so money was not a problem, though I imagine she got some kind of payment when she was on a case. Tara of course was also an agent. I think Cathy Gale had enough money in her own right that making a living wasn't a problem. Not sure about Venus Smith.

[–] DoctorWhoFan 14 years ago

Thank you, Ghostfan. I'm not familiar with Tara, Cathy Gail or Venus Smith, but I appreciate you're giving me the answer you have.

Doctor Who fan

[–] grendelkhan 14 years ago

Steed would have been on a civil service salary; hardly the greatest, though not the worst. The rest is probably family money. Mrs. Peel also had family money and was probably well compensated for her many expertise.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."-Groucho

[–] chongajuly 14 years ago

Was that first episode you saw "From Venus with Love"? (it was the first color episode). The color shows with Emma Peel were pretty much shown in order, but America's first broadcast of THE AVENGERS was "The Cybernauts," on March 28 1966, just after productuion wrapped on season four. The black and white shows aired in no particular order through September ("Too Many Christmas Trees" was broadcast August 11!) The Tara King episodes began airing in the US a full 6 months before Britain saw them. Nice to see so many huge fans of the show. More fascinating facts can be found- theavengers.tv/forever/guide.htm

"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond

[–] different-drummer 14 years ago

They supplemented their official income with a sideline as high-class jewel thieves, for which their various talents were admirably suited.