1948:

Second edition of James Bond's (the ornithologist) Birds Of the West Indies is published. At this point James Bond is a very common name in England - And in America also where 467 men have a similar name in the 1930 census - and has no other significance. The James Bond mentioned here grew up on the Willowbrook estate in Lower Gynwedd outside of Philadelphia, moved to England with his father in 1914 and returned to the Philadelphia area post World War I. At that time he began a lifelong association as a researcher/scholar at Philadelphia's Academy of natural Sciences.

Corridor of Mirrors is the first movie that Terence Young directs solely per the credits. Interesting enough, the movie has as one of its stars, Christopher Lee. Lee is related by marriage to Ian Fleming and would go on to be the villian in The Man With The Golden Gun when filmed in 1974. Terence Young would go on to direct the first two James Bond movies.

1949

1950

1951

For many years Fleming had been having an affair with Anne Charteris Rothermore, wife of Esmond Cecil Harmsworth (Viscount Rothermore). She would claim that she was staying with Noel Coward (Fleming's neighbor in Jamaica) while consorting with Fleming. Her husband finally wises up and files for divorse and Ann is now free to publicly deal with Fleming and by the end of the year (or beginning of the next year) is pregnant with Fleming's child and prepared to marry Fleming when her divorse is final.

Sean Connery's first acting part on stage is the London version of South Pacific

Irving Allen and Albert Broccoli found Warwick films in London. Warwick, which broke up in 1960, would provide Broccoli with the experience he needed to be a producer when he secured the James Bond books for filming. In addition, several individuals important to the success of the early Bond films were associated with Warwick including Terence Young, Ted Moore for visual effects and Bob Simmons for stunt arrangement.

For the last time, Winston Churchill is called upon to lead the British Government. Churchill and Ian Fleming's father were part of the same regiment in the pre WWI British army and Churchill writes Valentine Fleming's obituary when Fleming's father is killed in WWI in either 1916 or 1917 as sources vary. It is not unreasonable to assume that Churchill's stealthy hand was in the selection of Ian Fleming to be the assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence for the British navy. Even while a back bencher, Churchill had great personal relations with Navy Personnel given that he was first lord of the admiralty during much of WWI.

1952

Fleming and Anne are married in March while he is at Goldeneye, his estate on Jamaica's North Shore. It is his claim the he starts the first James Bond book shortly before his marriage to Ann and finishes it on March 18th, 1952. Various sources claim that Fleming was unemployed and living, at that point, year round in Jamaica. Other sources claim that post-war (which would have started in 1945 or 46) he was contracted to the Sunday Times of London and he would have been on his two to three month vacation which he had negotiated with his employer. Whichever the case, it is clear that for the rest of his life (up to 1964) Fleming will write the next James Bond adventure, while on his vacation in Jamaica, in the first two months of the year.

Fleming buys the shell of Gildrose productions  as a tax shelter against any future profits of Casino Royale (and the other Fleming publications) although apparently at this point none of the James Bond books had been published.

Casper Fleming is born to Anne and Ian Fleming on August 12^th. This is exactly 12 years prior to Fleming's death. Casper Fleming would die (supposedly of a drug overdose) in 1975

1952 is a very important year for Fleming given the creation of Casino Royale, his marriage and the birth of his son. In addition, he founds 'the Book Collector' dedicated to book collecting which correlates with his love of books and the Ian Fleming collection that he acquired in the 1930's

1953

Casino Royale is published in England in April

Terrence Young directs "The Red Beret" produced by Irving Allen's and Albert Broccoli's Warwick films. Broccoli would go on to create Eon productions, an entity whose main function was to be a vehicle for the production of the Bond movies. You can see the link that existed between Broccoli and Young which led to Young taking the reins of the first two Bond movies (and Thunderball)

In August James Bond, the ornithologist, marries Mary Wickham in Philadelphia. Bond is working at Philadelphia's Academy Of Natural Sciences.

December 1953 would see the first edition of Playboy. In later years condensed versions of Fleming’s books would appear first in this publication

1954

Casino Royale is first done on American TV as CBS buys a one time airing right. Barry Nelson plays the CIA agent, Jimmy Bond. If you watch this, it's quite interesting in several ways. It follows the book plot to a good degree except for the torture scenes and, if memory serves, the ultimate fate of Vesper Lynd. What's also interesting is that Barry Nelson would ultimately be known for guesting on quiz shows such as What's my Line, so go figure that he would be the star of this.

1955

By way of many intermediaries, Charles K  Feldman obtains the movie rights of Casino Royale. Casino Royale, until publishing rights are restored in 2006, would always be the book that got away from Eon productions.

Rod Serling writes the play "Patterns" which became one of the classic live broadcasts on American TV during that time period.

1956

Fleming is invited to spend a week at a bird sanctuary run by one of the world's avian protection agencies. This trip influences Fleming as he writes his next book, Dr No, at the beginning of the next year and bases the book in a Avian protected island he calls Crab Key.

Anthony Eden, then the Prime Minister of England, spends a month at Goldeneye, Fleming's home in Jamaica. This is probably in response to the Suez conflict and its aftermath. While Fleming and his family had political sway based on their grandfather's fortunes, the visit probably was arranged by Anne Fleming based on her political connections.

1957

Connery has the starring part in Requiem for a Heavyweight on the BBC. This play, originally aired in the United States, was written by Rod Serling. Since Patterns, indicated above, Serling, a ex marine who served in the Pacific in WWII, had become a well known playwrite and Requiem was one of several plays of his that were enacted on live American TV during the late 50's.

From Russia With Love appears in Hardback in April of this year. Bond is left fighting for his life at the end of the novel. Fleming claimed that there were so many inquiries on Bond's status that he was forced to issue bulletins as to how this fictional character was progressing during his supposed hospital stay and convalescence. This may have been one of Fleming's red herrings but there is no doubt that James Bond had become very popular in England by this time.

Supposedly, while in Washington, Fleming has his first encounter with Jacqueline and John Kennedy at a dinner party. They become fans of the James Bond character and books.

John Barry Prendergast (shortened to John Barry) studied both classical piano when younger and (we believe) clarinet as his musical interests turned to Jazz in his 20's. In 1957 he created his own own band, the John Barry Seven. The John Barry Seven (designated as the John Barry Orchestra) would play the James Bond theme in the titles of Dr No and Barry would have a great role in the creation of this theme although Monty Norman would be given credit for its creation.

Publication this year (and in 1958) of the Diamond Smugglers

The movie "Action Of the Tiger" is released in the United States. Directed by Terence Young, it has Sean Connery in a bit role.

1958

The James Bond novels become serialized comic strips in several British papers due to public demand.

1959

                In March or April, Goldfinger is published in England.

Enro Goldfinger threatens to sue Fleming over the name 'Goldfinger'. The case is settled before going to trial. One of the outcomes of this is the now standard practice in novels of indicating all the characters are fictional and in no way represent real people.

Fleming, via several round about routes, asks if Alfred Hitchcock would be interested in directing the first James Bond movie. The screen play that Fleming had in mind would eventually be known as Thunderball and was a collaborative effort between Kevin McClory, Fleming and others. Apparently Hitchcock declined and even more importantly the collaboration of McClory would cause a lawsuit when Fleming published Thunderball as a novel in a few years..

And speaking of Hitchcock, 1959 would see the release of North by Northwest. Several claim that in the ways of presentation, NXNW is the first James Bond movie with the minor detail that James Bond does not appear. Many of the other elements are there. It is said that the movie adaptation of From Russia With Love's helicopter fight was put in as a homage to this movie's crop duster scene.

For the fall 1959 TV season, CBS begins to televise "The Twilight Zone" hosted and generally written by Rod Serling. The Twilight Zone series was an anthology of generally sci-fi scripts. This television program would be the vehicle for young actors to display their talents. Such young actors as Robert Redford and William Shatner would be the star on a specific Friday night. In addition, a New York actor, Joseph Wiseman, appears in an episode where he plays a very egotistical, self centered Howard Hughes type named Paul Radin in a manner similar to what Wiseman would exhibit in the movie, Dr No

1960

                Third Edition of James Bond's (the ornithologist) "Birds Of The West Indies" published. The reviews in London are interesting as they make mention both of the Philadelphian James Bond and his fictional namesake.

James Bond, the ornithologist and his wife become aware that there is something going on with the name James Bond. Mary Bond is told about her husbands mythical adventures by her dry cleaner – mistaking the fictional versus the real – who has seen the first instance of a Bond book serialized in Playboy. In addition, the reviews of Birds Of The West Indies in England talk jockingly about a change in the direction of James Bond's activities, which neither of the Philadelphia Bond's understand

As indicated above, Playboy magazine has begun to serialize the Bond novels as they are published. The first instance is the serialization of the short story, the Hildebrand Rarity, taken from For Your Eyes Only published in 1960. The marriage of Bond and Playboy is a natural and Playboy would not only serialize future Bond novels by Fleming but include multiple spreads for each of Bond movie and plenty of photographs (generally naked to some degree) of the movies' Bond girls.

Noel Coward published his first and only novel. pomp and circumstance. Part of the plot is a fictionalized account of his role (assumed by one of the characters) of Coward's role in the coverup of Anne Fleming's activities before her marriage to Ian.

John F Kennedy elected the 35th Preident of the United States on Nov. 8th, 1960. It is probably true that if Richard Nixon had won the election there would not have been as successful a series of movies and certainly not the James Bond craze that would engulf the US in a few years.

Shortly after Kennedy's election, a Welsh singer makes her debut on the Sunday night Ed Sullivan show on CBS TV. This singer is well known in England and has been in the States but for most Americans, this is their first introduction to her. In the future, in 1964, they will again be introduced to her as she sings the movie soundtrack of Goldfinger. We are of course talking about Shirley Bassey.

1961

In March: The top 10 favorite books of President Kennedy appears as a Life magazine article. The only fictional work is Fleming's From Russia with Love. How this book makes the list - given that the other nine entries are histories or biographies - remains a historical mystery. Was it really a Kennedy favorite or put there to humanize the president.

End of March sees the hardback edition of Thunderball released in England. Fleming is sued by Kevin McClory for appropriation of a proposed script for a Bond movie

Sometime during this year Mary Wickham Bond sends a correspondence to Fleming complaining about the publicity she and her husband are receiving

Sometime during 1961, Fleming agrees to option the movie rights of the Bond novels (except for Casino Royale which had already been sold) to the producer Harry Saltzman. Saltzman introduces the idea to Albert Broccoli and they create a company, Eon Productions, which will deal with filming the Bond books. Sometime during the year Fleming meets Saltzman and Broccoli at midnight in San Francisco to finalize the deal. The first movie to be made is Dr No.

Broccoli and Saltzman hire Terence Young to direct the first James Bond film. Young is involved in the process to hire the actor to play James Bond and it is said that Cary grant and David Niven are offered the role. Whoever is offered prior to our next item turns it down or accepts with conditions that the producers will not accept

By various sources and contacts, the producers become aware of Sean Connery. Terence Young has a connection with Sean Connery given that Connery was a bit player on Action Of the Tiger directed by Young. After Connery's selection, Young takes Connery around London and starts to dress him as the character.

Late in the year: Pre-production of the movie, Dr No

1962

Early in the year Dr No is filmed in Jamaica not far from Goldeneye, Fleming's home in Jamaica

In February, Fleming leaves with a copy of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Although the film Dr No has yet to be released to the public (it will later in the year) Fleming has been watching the filming with stars Ursula Andress and Sean Connery close to his estate, Goldeneye. Andress becomes a mention in the newly written book.

Fleming's health had been deteriorating over the years. He had suffered several attacks of Kidney stones and the constant cigarette smoking was a detriment. This came to a head as he suffered a serious heart attack in 1962. In essence, he never recovered his health and began to age and slow down visibly.

After Fleming's heart attack, he took to inventing a story about a flying car which he would recite to his son at bedtime. A compilation of these tales would become the children's book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This would later be a movie filmed in 1968 and is now a popular musical. As this is written it is playing to sellout audiences in Australia among other locations

In October, the Cuban Missile crisis occurs. Sad to say, the press coverage of this world crisis set in the Caribbean, which almost leads to a nuclear war, is eclipsed about two and a half years later when Thunderball is filmed in the Bahamas.

                Late in the year (Apparently Oct 6th), the movie Dr NO is premiered in London. Fleming is said to have seen this and not been pleased with the movie adaptation of his book and the character of James Bond.

1963

                May'63 sees the US opening of the movie, Dr No

                In October, the premiere of 'From Russia With Love'  in London

                In November, President Kennedy sees the movie 'From Russia With Love' prior to its proposed opening in US

                Kennedy Assassinated on Nov 22^nd, 1963

Several days after the Kennedy assassination, the lawsuit with McClory is resolved. McClory is given the screen rights to Thunderball

                Premiere of From Russia With Love delayed in US due to assassination of Kennedy.

Publication of "Thrilling Cities" in England at the end of the year

                Pre- production work on Goldfinger the movie begins. Initial plans are for using Portugal as the base for shooting.

1964

A demand by Terence Young to share the profits of Goldfinger is rejected by the producers. Guy Hamilton replaces Young as director.

In February, James Bond the ornithologist (and wife) meet Fleming at Goldeneye in Jamaica. This is filmed by a BBC crew present at Goldeneye coincidentally. This will be the only meeting between Fleming and Bond but both seemed to enjoy the experience

                Fleming leaves Jamaica with the new book, the Man with the Golden Gun, only partially finished

If Bond and the Bond films can be considered a British cultural invasion, a second British cultural invasion arrives at the newly renamed Kennedy airport in New York on Feb 7. Scheduled for appearances on the Ed Sullivan show on two successive Sundays (Feb 9 & 16), the Beatles arrive in the US. One of the Beatles, Paul McCartney, once the band breaks up, will create the music for the first Roger Moore appearance as Bond in Live and Let Die in 1973.

                During Spring and early summer, the filming of Goldfinger at Pinewoods studio in London is underway. While the first two Bond movies were largely filmed on location, Goldfinger is mostly filmed at the Pinelands movie studio.

From Russia with Love is finally released in the United States after a delay caused by the assassination of President Kennedy. For most people, this film will be the highlight film of the James Bond genre.

                On Her Majesty's secret service is released in paperback.

                Fleming dies on August 12^th, 1964

                In September, the movie Goldfinger debuts in London

                In November, Lyndon Johnson reelected President.

                On Dec 21^st, the Movie Goldfinger debuts in New York

                For the Philadelphian Bonds, harassment just gets worse. Calls to their house asking to speak to James and other calls claiming to be Pussy Galore, as examples, are really bothersome to a very private couple.

                Dec 23: Goldfinger is the first movie to go 24/7 in New York

1965

                Goldfinger is released throughout the US in January

                In April,  "The Mna With The Golden Gun" is published in England. It is also serialized in Playboy in April and May. Playboy had a relationship with the Fleming books printing condensed versions from 1960.

                During the spring the film "Thunderball" begins film production in the Caribbean.

                July/August sees the publication of the paperbook version of "You Only Live Twice". The number of paperbooks printed, 2000007, was a record at that time

                Thunderball is released in December 1965 in both the US and England