The Enid Blyton Society

Rob Houghton wrote: ....'Five Have Fun In the Snow' (which is the only one I actually own) is surely based on Five Get Into A Fix? They are skiing in mountainous countryside, the puzzle came out in 1958 - the same year as the book, and there's a mysterious old house depicted on the far slope!

Comparing the jigsaw pic with the following two illustrations,both from 1958 would seem to indicate you are right Rob! (Although Timmy has moved position.)

Here's a similar scene from the 1986 Enid Blyton's Adventure Magazine:

pete9012S wrote:Here's a similar scene from the 1986 Enid Blyton's Adventure Magazine:

Rob and Pete, to me the house looks more like a castle with the many pointy roofs.

I can't remember,but wasn't it called 'Old Towers'...or something??

Yes, I think it was 'Old Towers House' - but certainly did look more like a castle! Interesting to see all the different illustrations depicting this scene, Pete! Those hats they are wearing in the 1986 version look like tea-cosies though!!!

I always think Chuckler's Weekly looks a great comic to have! Love the artwork. I know they also had Find Outer short stories in there occasionally.

This is the first time I see Chuckler's Weekly. Thank you, Pete.

Yes,it's a great pic.
Thanks go to Tony for putting it into the cave.

Rob Houghton wrote: I always think Chuckler's Weekly looks a great comic to have! Love the artwork. I know they also had Find Outer short stories in there occasionally.

Yes Rob, Chuckler's Weekly was a great Australian Children's magazine. I was the perfect age when they were produced and my parents allowed me to have them delivered by the local newsagent. I loved them, they were very different to Enid's magazines, but they were produced in a way to really involve the readers just as Enid's were. I had several things published in them and still have those copies. They also had lots of competitions with money prizes. The fact that they had some Enid Blyton books serialized was a bonus for me. I believe the Rat-A-Tat Mystery was first serialized in Chuckler's weekly before coming out in book form.

The Find-outer short story was actually in the Annual that they brought out for Christmas not in the actual magazine.

Unfortunately the paper they were printed on was really bad, so those that have survived are often a bit shabby. I agree there were great illustrations. Marty Webb was one of the main illustrators and some time ago,I managed to buy his original mint copies of the magazines he illustrated, from his son.

This is really bringing back some great childhood memories for me.

cheers
Sue

Thanks for bringing the illustrations together, Pete. I like them all. It must have been an enjoyable scene for an artist to work on in colour - bright winter clothing, plenty of action, sweeping mountains, snow-clad trees and a grand old house with towers.

Aussie Sue wrote:
Yes Rob, Chuckler's Weekly was a great Australian Children's magazine. I was the perfect age when they were produced and my parents allowed me to have them delivered by the local newsagent. I loved them, they were very different to Enid's magazines, but they were produced in a way to really involve the readers just as Enid's were. I had several things published in them and still have those copies. They also had lots of competitions with money prizes. The fact that they had some Enid Blyton books serialized was a bonus for me. I believe the Rat-A-Tat Mystery was first serialized in Chuckler's weekly before coming out in book form.

The Find-outer short story was actually in the Annual that they brought out for Christmas not in the actual magazine.

Unfortunately the paper they were printed on was really bad, so those that have survived are often a bit shabby. I agree there were great illustrations. Marty Webb was one of the main illustrators and some time ago,I managed to buy his original mint copies of the magazines he illustrated, from his son.

This is really bringing back some great childhood memories for me.

cheers
Sue

thanks for the extra info - very interesting. I wondered why I never see Chucklers magazine on eBay! Obviously they are few and far between!