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

Discuss Blyton's magazines, short stories and poetry here.
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

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

Post by John Pickup »

Thanks for the great review, Rob. I think I preferred One Bonfire Night out of this fortnight's stories. What A Shock For Jeff reminded me of another short story that appeared in another magazine review not so long ago about another child who was paid back for not returning items to their rightful owners. Can you remember it, Rob?
I like the illustration by Eileen Soper, what a pity it doesn't appear in the book. I'm not normally very good with puzzles but the Sunbeams one was the easiest I've seen so far.
Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

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

Post by Rob Houghton »

John Pickup wrote:What A Shock For Jeff reminded me of another short story that appeared in another magazine review not so long ago about another child who was paid back for not returning items to their rightful owners. Can you remember it, Rob?
Thanks John - not too sure, but I know there have been a few similar ones in various books. One I read the other week was in a short story collection (I forget which) where the boy who borrowed everything found that the belongings got fed up and all marched out of the playroom on their own, back to their rightful owners! 8)
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

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

Post by John Pickup »

The story I'm on about was included in one of your reviews of the magazine not so long ago but I can't remember the title. A boy and a girl went round to the person's house in that one.
Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

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

Post by Courtenay »

Right, now I've read this week's as well! :wink: All good stories once again and well worth reading.

I think I also liked One Bonfire Night the best — although as you say, Rob, it's unusual in that it starts out in a magic village and switches to the ordinary human world later. And it's nice to have a story of a black cat bringing good luck, in the face of the old superstition that black cats bring bad luck! I remember reading an article about an animal charity (I forget which one) that was doing a special promotion for black cats, because apparently they're the least popular colour and the hardest to re-home. That's cat racism!! :twisted: (I should add we've had two black cats in our family at different times, and very nice cats they were, too.)
Society Member

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)
User avatar
Kate Mary
Posts: 1916
Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
Favourite character: Barney
Location: Kent

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

Post by Kate Mary »

It's always a pleasure to read your reviews Rob and to read the stories thanks to Tony. I seem to remember a similar story to 'What a shock for Jeff' too, maybe it's in one of the many collections I have, it is a good story though.
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith

Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

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

Post by Rob Houghton »

Courtenay wrote: And it's nice to have a story of a black cat bringing good luck, in the face of the old superstition that black cats bring bad luck! I remember reading an article about an animal charity (I forget which one) that was doing a special promotion for black cats, because apparently they're the least popular colour and the hardest to re-home. That's cat racism!! :twisted: (I should add we've had two black cats in our family at different times, and very nice cats they were, too.)
Yes - I've always found it odd that black cats are considered by some to be unlucky - because by others they are considered to be lucky! I'd always believed a black cat was lucky, as they feature on 'Good Luck' cards and also on wedding cards and trinkets etc, such as horseshoes. My mom had a black cat attached to her bouquet when she was married, as a symbol of good luck!

We also had a pet cat who was black, and she was one of the most placid cats we've ever had - very much a 'lap cat' too!
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
sixret
Posts: 4130
Joined: 16 Aug 2006, 14:25
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
Favourite character: Mr.Twiddle,Fatty,Saucepan,Snubby

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

Post by sixret »

I used to have black cats and I didn’t consider them as lucky or unlucky. I just loved them like the rest of my cats. They were just cats with black colours like other cats with other colours.
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

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

Post by Rob Houghton »

John Pickup wrote:The story I'm on about was included in one of your reviews of the magazine not so long ago but I can't remember the title. A boy and a girl went round to the person's house in that one.
I vaguely remember it, John - but have had a brief look through some magazines and can't find it. Maybe it was much longer ago than we think! :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)



Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17568
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

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

Post by pete9012S »

A most enjoyable review. Thanks to Tony and Rob yet again.
I'm hoping Rob may eventually start a review from series one of the magazine when he procures a set??
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

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

Post by Rob Houghton »

Hmmm....if people keep reading it, lol! ;-) No, actually as you say, I don't have many of the earlier sets as yet - though I have full sets of 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959. 8)
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

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

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

A great read as always. In Enid Blyton's editorial letter it's nice to hear about her cat, Sugar, and about children winning prizes (including exciting things like bikes, portable radio sets and cameras) for a competition in the 1957 Enid Blyton Diary, which involved writing essays about their pets. She mentions that the competition in the 1958 Enid Blyton Diary will ask children to write about their favourite possession. Interesting topics that would inspire children - and encourage them to buy the diary or ask for it as a birthday or Christmas present! I like the way Enid has taken notice of youngsters' suggestions too, with the next diary including information on express trains and on running a club - as requested by readers.
John Pickup wrote:I'm not normally very good with puzzles but the Sunbeams one was the easiest I've seen so far.
Even though I'm much older than the intended age-group, I can never resist a puzzle and I always do them!
Rob Houghton wrote:The cover shows an illustration from the first of these stories - One Bonfire Night - which is a good moralistic tale about keeping your pets safe on Bonfire Night and making sure they aren't scared. It has an interesting twist, however, and that is that the majority of the story involves a witch and her cat, real human characters only coming in at the end.
Yes, a lovely story and I very much enjoyed the twist.
Rob Houghton wrote:The next uncollected short story, What A Shock For Jeff! is a really good one in my opinion. Its not exactly that its mysterious or has a twist at the end or anything amazing, but its well written and its fun. I would have loved it as a child. I also had to smile, for it certainly demonstrates how good ENid was at promoting her own books! Take a story about a boy borrowing books and not giving them back, and what books has he borrowed...? Most seem to be books by Enid Blyton, lol! :lol:
I loved stories like that too when I was a child. Wow - fancy borrowing thirty-seven books from schoolfriends and not returning them!
John Pickup wrote:What A Shock For Jeff reminded me of another short story that appeared in another magazine review not so long ago about another child who was paid back for not returning items to their rightful owners.
I wonder whether you're thinking of 'It Had Its Funny Side!', John?:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/maga ... ?magid=894" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We discussed it here:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/foru ... 65#p278226" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Rob Houghton wrote:next we have the third short story - You're A Rogue, Brer Rabbit! - a good Brer Rabbit story...but I do feel many of them have extremely similar plots. I guess that's the fun of them - but we all know that generally Brer Rabbit will end up out-smarting Brer Fox or Brer Wolf or Brer Bear or maybe all three of them together.
I like the Brer Rabbit stories and don't mind them being predictable. They're lively and fun and often make me chuckle.

Thanks as always, Rob and Tony!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

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

Post by John Pickup »

That could have been the story I'm thinking of, Anita, thanks for the link. I'm quite sure the story was an uncollected one that appeared in one of Rob's reviews and that one fits the bill.
Society Member
Tony Summerfield
Posts: 6386
Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 12:20

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

Post by Tony Summerfield »

Thanks as always to Rob for his super review and also to Pete who kindly provided scans when I found a problem with my own copy - a chunk out of the cover and the centre pages missing altogether.
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

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

Post by Rob Houghton »

Many thanks to Pete also - your EB magazine collection is invaluable! 8)
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

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

Post by Rob Houghton »

Another fortnight and another EB Magazine! Only two more to go this year after this one!

Image

The cover shows an illustration from the first uncollected story - The Little Fawn. Its a really unusual story for Enid blyton - about life in another country (presumably America or Canada) and centering on deer hunting - not my favourite subject for an Enid Blyton story. The plot seems very unlikely - which is funny, as it is actually a true story, so Enid tells us at the end. A very unusual story and I love the illustrations - which are again uncredited. Read it by following the link.

In her Letter Enid tells us about her Noddy pantomime - and also about the fact that this year there won't be a Famous Five play, as the cinema film is still doing the rounds. I'm not sure if there ever was another production of the Famous Five play - but Enid promises to bring it back for Christmas 1958.

The Famous Five cinema serial still doesn't appear to be coming to Birmingham...everywhere else - but not Birmingham! :-

After chapter 3 of A Puzzle For the Secret Seven' - we have the next uncollected short story, which is back in familiar Blyton territory - a nature story called What A Fisherman!. It's a nice simple story - but like many others that Enid has written over the years. Again, you can read it by following the link. I like the illustrations - especially the first one - as they have a lively style - again, sadly uncredited.

PUZZLE PAGE

SUNBEAMS PRIZE PUZZLE -

What am I?

My first is in food but not in drink,
Then in red but not in pink,
Again in large but not in big,
In an orange but not a fig,
I start an eight and end a nine
Six letters make this name of mine
A country famous for its wine.


FAMOUS FIVE PRIZE PUZZLE -

Can you find the name of a tree hidden in each sentence below?

a) Those will be echoes in the valley below
b) Do you want your cocoa kept warm?
c) Can you spin every coin like this?


PUZZLE FOR MY BUSY BEES -

Using only the letters in LEMON - can you make the name of another delicious fruit?



Next we have the continuing story of Five Get Into A Fix - chapter 10 - with only one illustration - and not really a very good one at that! Timmy looks rather scrawny!!

Image

It was slightly improved in the book version -

Image


The next uncollected story is a Noddy story - Noddy and the Bonfire - and its a very enjoyable one, I think, though nothing very exciting happens. Its made even better by the illustrations, which again are uncredited. I thought I'd include the opening page here, as I really love the illustration - although I can imagine it wouldn't have stayed black and white for long if I'd had the magazine as a child! It's just crying out to be coloured in!

Image


Hope you enjoy the uncollected stories in this issue - see you next time! :D

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/maga ... ?magid=924
'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)



Society Member
Post Reply