The EAGLE TAKES FLIGHT - And CAPTAIN PUGWASH SETS SAIL...

Copyright relevant owner

EAGLE #1 - a landmark in British publishing history.  However, nowadays, not many people know that not only did the new comic launch the career of DAN DARE, it was also responsible for unveiling another swashbuckling 'hero' to the waiting world - none other than CAPTAIN PUGWASH!  Yes, that's right - JOHN RYAN's master of The BLACK PIG first appeared in the premier issue of MARCUS MORRIS's and FRANK HAMPSON's 1950s masterpiece - the Eagle.

This comic was the top-selling title of its day - and arguably the most famous adventure weekly that Britain ever produced.  Even today, a dedicated fan club exists to commemorate the glory that was Eagle.  And just think - it would probably never have existed if not for horror and crime comics of the '40s giving rise to a desire for more 'wholesome' periodicals for young and impressionable readers.  From every fire a Phoenix rises - although in this case it was a Phoenix in the form of an Eagle.

Anyway, enjoy the front and back covers of the first edition - along with the debut of ol' Captain Pugwash, Britain's best-loved pirate. 

"HERE'S ONE I MADE EARLIER..."

Copyright BBC TV

BLUE PETER, non-British readers of this blog may be surprised to learn, is not a German porn channel, but rather a popular children's television magazine programme which first hit our screens in 1958 and is still running today.  (Making it fifty-four years old come October.)

Surprisingly, it took a whole six years for the first-ever Blue Peter Book (never called an annual until near the end of its run) to appear in shops, which it did in the latter part of 1964.  This first book was published by LUTTERWORTH PRESS, which may explain the uncharacteristic use of advertising in a BBC-associated publication.  (The naming of AIRFIX model kits would surely never have happened on the TV programme.  [See page at foot of post.]  That's why SELLOTAPE was always referred to as "sticky-back plastic" and FAIRY LIQUID bottles described as "washing-up detergent containers".)

The second book in the series was published by the BBC themselves and, sure enough, a feature on model aeroplanes described them only as "plastic kits", with no mention at all of the manufacturer.  The books tended to follow the format of the TV programme (no surprise there) and had a variety of articles, stories and illustrated adventures.  All rather 'twee' actually, but not without a certain undeniable charm.

The main presenter of Blue Peter was CHRISTOPHER TRACE (body-double to CHARLTON HESTON in the 1959 BEN HUR movie), assisted first by LEILA WILLIAMS and then ANITA WEST.  Both are largely forgotten now, obliterated from public consciousness by Chris's third female co-host, VALERIE SINGLETON.  Perhaps if the books had been around when either of Valerie's predecessors were presenting the programme, they would be better remembered today, rather than just as curious footnotes in the programme's history.

When JOHN NOAKES joined the show in 1966, things really started to move, as he soon became a daredevil action-man prepared to tackle practically anything.  JAMES BOND could've taken some tips from John Noakes, believe me.  When Christopher Trace departed the line-up after nine years, ex-Dr. WHO assistant, PETER PURVES, took his place and the dream-team was complete.  To those who lived through this particular period, nobody has ever come close to emulating the magic that Val  John and Peter (and Lesley) created between them.

Here, then, is a brief glimpse at the first-ever Blue Peter Book, to whet your appetite and give you a look back at more innocent time in kids' publishing.  We shall never see its like again - more's the pity.