The Hidden Glasgow Forums

Does anyone else remember this?
Much less have any pics?

I used to get taken there when I was very little - it was basically a theme-restaurant based upon the Buck Rogers sci-fi TV show.
It had a mock-up "spaceship control panel" ,which in memory was simply an area of wall on a raised stage with some arcade-machine buttons attached. I got into trouble once for playing with the better-looking controls... The controls for the wall of video screens showing the TV show!

Anyone?

:), I remember it but my pocket money didn't stretch that far

It was in Queen Street near to Tam Shepards in the early 80's IIRC?.

Remember? I worked there

It was called
Buck Rogers Burger Station.
It was indeed above Tam Sheperds. It was now what is Arcahos (did i spell that right?) The company Owned the first and third floor in between was a carpet shop think it was called Behar cant remember. Beside Tam Shep was a Health Club. It was on the ground floor and basement. We used to do filming in ther for the tele monitors round the resturant

hope this helps

F

You, sir, are a GOD!

I thought that the screens showed episodes of the TV show... but I have some lingering weird memory about a gorilla being on the screen, and I don't recall any episodes of Buck Rogers featuring men in gorilla suits!

So what WAS the space-ship mockup like?
I was only about 3 or 4 at the time I think and I've got so many very very vage recollections!

Don't suppose you have any pics, or know where I could get some?

I do remember this place...only just. I've asked people about it too, but I always got a funny look in response. As years have gone by I had come to the conclusion that I must have just dreamt it up. BUT NOW, I'M NOT MAD AFTER ALL! It would be great if someone had photos of it.

stevoooo

I do remember this place...only just.

Yeah, I went there once. It was, it must be said, pretty crappy even to the eyes of a 12 yr old sci-fi fan. IIRC it was mostly painted black and silver either to give it a futuristic vibe or to hide the dirt

It was in the building that is now Archaos. Entrance was on the street, and you went up a flight of stairs.

It was grey silver fibreglass panels with buttons from fruit machines. The delivery of buttons was 1300. Dotted about wree monitors and the moulded fibreglass tables and chairs very slippy. Don’t forget at this time in Glasgow there was no MC D’s Burger king et al. It was Buck Rogers, Wimpy, Pitssaland and
The Blue Lagoon (barf “ Can I get chips with ma lard mate“).

Top floor had a film studio. Small movies were filmed up stairs. Sickbay, command deck, engineering and other make ups in the offices.
They got some actor from America called Rocky (honest!).
Also filmed on an aircraft at Glasgow airport, think it was £500 for 2 hours in the morning.
Gorilla? Yes your right. Stinky and smelly, the mask was rank.
Don’t you remember Tweekie? Wee Alan still see him sometimes.
In the kitchen he used to bite the girls a*s*s well he was about 2foot 5.
And the robots? Come on think……..
Russell Hunter (ask yer maw or paw or even your granny who he was) was in some of the films as the engineer.
The set for the spaceship was Hardboard painted and perched on milk crates.

Did have pics cant find them got a mug though somewhere.

I remember the designer was Paul Mc G went on to set design for beeb in London “Red D” I think. Came from Kings Park.

I thought I dreamt it all I tell ye.. they remember they remember

This place sounds spectacularly awful - I'm sorry to say I dont remember
it

As for Russell Hunter, I know who he is. IIRC, he played a jaikie who
jumps in the clyde to make Rab feel guilty in an episode of Rab C Nesbitt.




James H

and dont forget he was in Callen

I wasn't even going to MENTION Tweekie!
I figured there was maybe a cardboard cutout or something, and my memory was playing tricks.

Wow.

Midgets.

Cool.


So, let me get this straight - You lot actually filmed low-budget shorts, to play on the screens in the bar?
Involving Buck Rogers fighting a gorilla?

I'm sure there's a load of people out there who'd love to see them again...

OMG I forgot about that place!

I mustve been about 7 at the time. Just remember it being very dark and dingy looking

I was in this place a couple of times. It didn't really live up to expectations! Looked very home-made. Just out of interest, who owned and operated this place. Did they actually have permission to use the name and characters etc, or were they just 'chancers'?

G.

Several years later, this same venue became the 'Triangle Restaurant' which was very good. That was just before Archaos.

yeh they had full permission for the use of the name and characters. It was going to be a franchise and Glasgow was the pilot. As you can see now, it never made it..

It's a place of myth and legend, is The Buck Rogers Burger Station!

Yeah, the door was next to Tam Shepherd's and the place was on the floors above. I'm amazed to hear about these films with (the late) Russell Hunter in them - I don't remember those.

Mind you, I only went once and that was very early after the opening. The Evening Times had run wee three-box comic strips to promote it for a few weeks - I cut these out and kept them but they've long sice disappeared!

I was about 11 at the time and a big Buck fan so I loved it. The menus were all black with white type, laminated and everything on it was incredibly expensive!

We didn't see Twiki that time as his costume wasn't ready - so we only got 'Alan the Alien', a wee man in a silver jumpsuit and rubbish rubber mask (probably fae Tam's doonstairs!).

A mate of mine tells me that the guy in the Twiki costume was actually some Kung Fu expert fae Milton!

You asked for photos, well here we are, from the pages of TV TOPS comic, May 1983. At last - a visual record, scanned in from my own collection

The burger station must have run into money troubles pretty quickly - before long the sign on Queen St was reading 'Buck's Burger Station' thanks to some cunningly applied paint - maybe the licence expired? May 1983 seems really late for it to be open - the TV series was off the air by 1982!

Enjoy the pics, folks.

Alistair McGown

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