60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Discuss Blyton's magazines, short stories and poetry here.
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Rob Houghton
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Rob Houghton »

Julie2owlsdene wrote:
Moonraker wrote: Maybe I should put a link to your EB Magazine thread, too, Rob! :D
Rob Houghton wrote:I just love teasing and making fun of Nigel - but he should know by now that this is my way, and I enjoy the banter between us! :-)
You'll have to stop the banter now then, Rob, and start licking his boots. :lol: :lol:
:lol:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by sixret »

Thank you.
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Learn the history. Do research.

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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by pete9012S »

Image

Rob's Reviews & Sunny Stories

For me personally,the two threads,Rob's 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 & 80 Years Ago This Month - Sunny Stories 1937 which include reviews and links to unpublished stories and articles are some of the freshest, most exciting threads we've had on the forums ever in my humble opinion.

We get access to articles we would otherwise never be able to read.
The stories are unedited or altered in any way.

Yes,in my humble opinion,they are even better than the ubiquitous 'tea thread' and right up there at the top along with 'The Great Carrot Cake Challenge Thread'.
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Rob Houghton
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Rob Houghton »

Not sure how to take that, but, as everyone likes tea and everyone enjoys cake, I'll take it as a compliment!! :lol:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Courtenay »

I'll drink (tea) to that. 8)
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Rob Houghton »

I don't like the 'no cake' sign though Pete ;-) - Cake is always good!! :D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Rob Houghton »

Here we are, receiving another treat-packed issue through the post! This one takes us into March - and I must say I'll be glad to see the back of February! ;-)

Image

As usual, you can read the stories here - and also Tony has been good enough to reproduce the Editorial, which is a great help to me, as I no longer have to quote massive bits of it! Read that also by following the link -

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/maga ... ?magid=905

This weeks Magazine has a lovely cover, depicting a moment from the first story, One Of These Days! Its a story that is very entertaining - even maybe a bit bizarre...maybe even horrific, lol! I enjoyed it - although I did think it was a shame that poor Old Woman Green-Eyes had to sacrifice her old fur cape just to teach Sly-One a lesson! The illustrations, by Hilda McGavin are exceptionally good - they make the story look very attractive indeed.

Next we have the Editorial which as always is brimming with news about life at Green Hedges and also the goings-on at Enid's various clubs and the children's home etc. I was interested to read that Enid has many birds nesting already - considering this was obviously written some time before 27 February which is the start date for the magazine. I wonder if Enid wrote these letters as if they were being written during the fortnight the magazine covered? I haven't seen much sign of birds building nests where I live, but maybe being further south, as Enid was, they would start nest building earlier.

I was interested also to read about the Noddy books being produced in Braille. I wonder if any of these original Braille Noddy books are still about?

Following on from the first entertaining short story, we have the continuation of Secret Seven Mystery - a story most of us are familiar with - but I do enjoy seeing the 'new' illustrations by Burgess Sharrocks. I wonder why they were so much better in the magazine than in the book? Not as good as other Secret Seven illustrators, but still better than he produced in book versions. Maybe he preferred working at a slower pace and only produced one illustration per fortnight for the magazine, but felt more rushed when re-illustrating the booK! I know I would have!

Next, another short story - A Rush-About Afternoon' - another one I really enjoyed, although its 'plot' is familiar to all Blyton fans - one of those 'knock-on effect' stories...you can have this if you do that and you can do that if you help with this...turning a lazy child into a very industrious one. I read a similar story in The Yellow Story Book the other day, called 'She Didn't Want To Go' - about a little girl chasing after her runaway balloon. :-) But 'She Didn't Want To Go' is a much more effective story, I think.

A Rush-About Afternoon is a story all about Don, who wants half of his sister's stick of seaside rock. Its an amusing story - and I guessed the outcome a long while before the end - but as always Enid keeps it entertaining. I did notice she got her names a bit mixed up though - which isn't surprising given just how many children's names the story contains! At one point she has a character called Tom saying 'Why don't you tell Tom to fetch them himself?' - rather than 'Why don't you tell George to fetch them himself.' ;-)

One thing I did think about this story when I reached the end - what a lot of obnoxious, lazy, greedy, selfish children it contains! I'm sure this wasn't Enid's intention - but boy - they are the worst bunch of mean-spirited children I ever read about!!

The illustrations - by Alice Bush are beautiful - really full of detail - just the sort of illustrations I would hold up as an example of 'good illustrations' when we are talking about 2017 book covers! They are some of my most favourite illustrations in any EB Magazine so far.

Next - Noddy Went Too Fast! - and I know Anita is longing to know how this story ends - or at least, she's looking forward to WHEN it ends! ;-) Noddy bursts into tears when he haers how kind Mr Tinny has been because Noddy thought Mr Tinny was stealing his house and car instead of helping him to keep his business of taxi-driving afloat...poor Noddy! Noddy sobs 'I'm the horridest person there ever was!' and I'm sure there are a few who would agree with him! :lol:

Five Go To Billycock Hill comes to 'An Exciting Finish' this issue...with what appears to be a longer chapter than usual - without even room for the usual illustration - which is unusual. Enid tells us that she will soon write another one.

Puzzle Page this issue has some entertaining puzzles as usual. The one thing that strikes me about Enid Blyton's Magazine is just how many prizes were offered - no wonder it was so popular! Of course, some competitions could only be entered if you were a member of one of the clubs - but other competitions - like the painting competition - or a prize-winning letter - could be done by anyone. I think each fortnight ENid gave away quite a number of sgned books...so its surprising there aren't more of them about!

The Famous Five Puzzle asks -

Can you find the countries hidden in the following sentences? -
"I find I am late for school."
"Do you agree, Cecil?"
They all liked this painting best.


8)

Club News has an entertaining account of the Magazine Party held for the 100,000th member of the Magazine Club, as featured in the last issue. Jennifer Fletcher, who was one of Enid's 'Club Leaders' writes -

The party was very nice and I enjoyed it very much. All my club went - the youngest member was seven, nearly eight. Roger had never been to London before and it was his second time in a train. The journey took some time because it is a long way and we arrived in Victoria at 3:40 p.m. We caught an underground train to Russell Square, but none of us knew where Montague House was and we had walked three sides of the square when Daddy, who had lingered, shouted 'You have gone right past.'

When we went in, our coats were taken and I was taken to meet Miss Blyton. I sat next to her and Miss Blyton is exactly like her icture in the magazine.

The cake was a lovely fruit cake. It had the badge as well, just the same as Miss Blyton said. When the cake was cut a photograph was taken with three of my members with her. The tea was lovely. There was a delicious chocolate cake as well as the special cake.

Silky and Noddy came from the Toyland Play. A photograph was taken of them kissing Miss Blyton.

Linda Hooks sat at the other end of the table on a big cushion. She chose her books very well, I think. Everybody was given a Magazine Annual and the people who had it or read it, chose another book. Linda Hooks gave Enid Blyton a brooch of our magazine badge from all the club members. It is a day I shall never forget'


I wonder where Jennifer Fletcher is today?

The last of the three short stories (again, all uncollected this issue!) is a nice little home-set tale called Hunt The Sugar. Its a very simple story - but again, the illustrations by an uncredited illustrator, are really affective and well-drawn. I love the fact that this story manages to impart a basic science fact for young children, whilst at the same time being very entertaining...although I can't help feeling Jimmy was a bit of a cheat at playing 'Hunt The Sugar'...

There's an advert, next, for Chivers - The Chivers Noddy Corner again showing the badge Chivers were offering Noddy fans - and also the special Toyland Chivers marmalade!

Our Letter Page this time round has two letters from boys - which is quite unusual! usually girls definitely write more letters than boys - or at least, more girls are chosen to have letters in the magazine. One little boy, Paul Bassett from Southampton, tells us about his 'bird cake' - or 'pudding' as he calls it - I mix soaked stale bread with scraps and melted fat, and a packet of bird seed, and mash it all up with a fork. Then I put it into a basin to set and turn it out onto my bird table the next day.'

Another letter is from a girl in Australia, which tells us about the nesting bag she made - Last saturday I and my sisters and brother, made a bag out of binder twine, and stuffed it full of feathers, wool, shredded string and cowhair, for the birds to use for their nests. During the next week the supply of feathers and shredded string vanished quickly but the wool and cowhair took longer to go. This evening the bag was empty! So tomorrow we will refill the bag for the birds. Love from faraway friends, Valma, Marylin, Bronwyn and John Nankwell The one thing I wondered about this...would it be nest-building time in February in Australia? I'd have thought it would be heading towards autumn?? :?

And so, with some news on various clubs, and the new Noddy book ' Noddy and the Bumpy Dog' and a reminder to buy a Famous Five sweater - which are really fine - according to Enid - and to save up some tokens for the free Chivers Noddy badge (which Tony kindly posted a photo of higher up this thread) the February 27 - March 12th issue of Enid Blyton's Magazine comes to an end.

Hope you enjoy the stories and ENid's Editorial. They are well worth reading, as always! 8)
Last edited by Rob Houghton on 26 Feb 2017, 18:51, edited 1 time in total.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Kate Mary »

Thanks again Rob for the review. The second story A Rush-About Afternoon is definitely not one of Enid's best. One wonders why Mrs Thomas didn't buy them a stick of rock each! Or even why she bothered at all, maybe Susie had redeeming qualities that her brother lacked. I thought it was a shame too that Old Woman Green Eyes had to cut up her cape. Lovely illustrations though. An interesting report from Jennifer Fletcher about the party, what exactly is a Club Leader I wonder? Thank you Tony as always for putting the stories in the Cave.
Last edited by Kate Mary on 26 Feb 2017, 18:56, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Courtenay »

Rob Houghton wrote: Another letter is from a girl in Australia, which tells us about the nesting bag she made - Last saturday I and my sisters and brother, made a bag out of binder twine, and stuffed it full of feathers, wool, shredded string and cowhair, for the birds to use for their nests. During the next week the supply of feathers and shredded string vanished quickly but the wool and cowhair took longer to go. This evening the bag was empty! So tomorrow we will refill the bag for the birds. Love from faraway friends, Valma, Marylin, Bronwyn and John Nankwell The one thing I wondered about this...would it be nest-building time in February in Australia? I'd have thought it would be heading towards autumn?? :?
You're right, Rob — February is right at the end of summer and is one of the hottest months of the year before the weather starts to cool off from March onwards. I suppose there might still be a few birds nesting by then if they raise more than one brood of chicks, but it's definitely not the height of the season. Maybe the letter went by sea rather than air mail and the "last Saturday" described by the Aussie children was actually in October or November?? :lol:

Anyway, thanks for another very enjoyable sharing, and to Tony too of course for his excellent scanning work. I agree that One of These Days! was a bit scary from Sly-One's point of view — although at least we readers are in on what really happened! :wink:
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Lovely little stories, I guess these days the lady with the fur cape wouldn't admit to having an animal fur. :lol:

Amazes me how many stories Enid produced.

Really great to read them. :)

8)
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Eddie Muir »

Great stuff, as always. Many thanks, Rob. :D
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by pete9012S »

I love this thread,along with the unpublished stories.
We're jolly well spoilt here!

Many Thanks Rob & Tony
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by deepeabee »

I enjoyed reading this, thank you for posting it. :D
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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Rob Houghton »

Thanks all! :D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: 60 Years Ago This Week - Enid Blyton's Magazine 1957 -

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

An interesting account as always. Thanks, Rob and Tony.

Beautifully-illustrated stories but 'One of These Days!' isn't all that convincing to me and 'A Rush-About Afternoon' reminds me of other tales which I liked better. I agree with Rob that it's dispiriting to see so many mean children.
Rob Houghton wrote:I did notice she got her names a bit mixed up though - which isn't surprising given just how many children's names the story contains! At one point she has a character called Tom saying 'Why don't you tell Tom to fetch them himself?' - rather than 'Why don't you tell George to fetch them himself.'
Yes, and later Susie says to Don, "Goodness - now you'll have to buy Tom another book" when she means George.

I did enjoy 'Hunt the Sugar!' as I thought Jimmy's "trick" was clever and amusing.
Rob Houghton wrote:I was interested also to read about the Noddy books being produced in Braille. I wonder if any of these original Braille Noddy books are still about?
It would be interesting to know. And how many of Enid Blyton's other books were issued in Braille, I wonder?

Lovely to read Jennifer Fletcher's write-up of the Magazine Party. It's nice that all the children got a book - and that they were allowed to pick a different title if they already had the Magazine Annual. I wonder which twelve books Linda Hooks chose?
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