John Steed
( full name John Wickham Gascone Berresford Steed)
The original, and some may say, best Avenger character. Steed has been in the Avengers since the very beginning. He is clearly an upper class gentlemen with roots which go way back to the Norman conquests. This Edwardian style gent is forever seen sporting a bowler and a rolled umbrella. Patrick Macnee (who played this character) stated that he never wanted Steed to carry a gun but this was not always the case. However weapons Steed would use included his reinforced steel bowler and sword-stick umbrella.
Although Edwardian in dress Steed was not so in beliefs. Every female partner was his equal (although Tara was taken under his wing) and could often be seen rescuing Steed as often as he would be rescuing them. Steed was always able to adhere to the correct ettiquette for the occasion (he was the perfect gentlemen role-model for those in training at SNOB) with the correct hold of the umbrella and the right doff of his bowler.
Every partner was known formally as Mrs. Gale, Mrs. Peel and Miss. King unless Steed was expressing concern when first names were only right.
In the Keel episodes Steed began life as a raincoat-wearing, cigarette smoking cop as seen so often in US down-town homocide programmes. The directors insisted that the character developed and Macnee was sent home to ponder it. He says the the eventual outcome was inspired by his father who was a dandy and his captain in the army. His father would never be seen without a button-hole and was always immaculately dressed.
Steed is caring, intelligent, strong and witty. He has won the hearts of many on and off screen and in the programmes always gets his gal (except his ever enduring partners!).
Patrick Macnee is also in The Avengers movie as Colonel Invisible Jones as he could not refuse to be associated with the film which paid homage to his great series.
KINKY BOOTS
Honor Blackman and Patrick Macnee
Everybody's going for those kinky boots, kinky boots
Kinky boots! It's a man-ly kind of fashion that you borrowed from the brutes,
Borrowed from the brutes, Kinky Boots! Fashion magazines say wear 'em
And you run to obey like the women in a har'em
Full length, half length
Fully fashioned calf length
Brown boots, black boots
Patent leather Jack-boots
Low boots, high boots
Lovely lanky thigh boots
We all dig those boots!
Everybody's crazy for those kinky boots, kinky boots, kinky boots!
And whether you're in evening dress or bathing suits
Your wear boots, boots, a- Kinky boots!
There are twenty million women wearing kinky boots, kinky boots
Puss in Boots! Footwear manufacturers are gathering the fruits
Gathering the fruits. Kinky boots! Advertising men say try'em
And you all run amock like a flock of sheep to buy'em.
Sweet girls, street girls
Frumpy little beat girls.
Square girls, cool girls
Sexy little school girls.
Maidens, aunties
Mayfair debutanties.
They all dig those boots!
Everybody's rushing for those Russian boots
Prussian boots
Kinky boots!
Cover up those slender little tender foots
with kinky, slinky [Leather is so kinky]
Come and get those Kinky boots, boots, Kinky Boots!
