Children's Hour and Beyond! Happy 65th Birthday Sooty.

Sooty Keeps Shop Published in 1954, is now sold

It is hard to believe that Sooty is 65 years-old today. I vividly remember watching the Sooty show on one of the early black-and-white television sets. Sometime towards the end of 1952 my dad had a win on the football pools. A small win by today’s standards, it was still enough to buy a second-hand car and the television. Back then we were living in a small village in Buckinghamshire where the arrival of a TV was something of an event. With the Queen’s Coronation scheduled for transmission in June 1953, we suddenly found ourselves at the centre of village life! My recollection of The Coronation is hazy, but I do remember the smell of egg sandwiches. Of bunting draped around the house and garden, and a host of unknown people sprawled on every available chair and over every inch of floor space vying for a view of the TV screen.

Mum laid on a ‘spread’ of spam and boiled egg sandwiches together with a plate of ‘fancies’ with jelly and pink blancmange for the children. I seem to recall dad buying a crate of beer, although his favourite tipple was always a Whisky Mac (whisky and ginger wine).

The Queens Coronation TV Picture 1953 via 

Coronation Glitter Book

The Coronation held my attention for only a brief moment. I much preferred Sooty, Andy Pandy and Muffin the Mule.

I wonder how many of you remember the names of these early stars of children’s television;

Left to right - Bill and Ben, Andy Pandy and Muffin the Mule.

It's easy to take “TV tie-ins” for granted in 2013, but they were something of a novelty in the 1950s. Get ready for a wonderful trip down memory lane; Muffin the mule, Prudence Kitten, Charlie Parkin, Colonel Crock and many others lurk within the pages of these gloriously nostalgic books.

My Annette Mills Gift Book published in 1954. First story Muffin and the field fairy. Four other stories about Muffin the Mule, two about Colonel Crock and three each about Charlie Parkin and Prudence Kitten. TV Comic Annual from 1954. features Muffin the Mule, Prudence Kitten and Colonel Crock with added stories and picture strips about Tusker the elephant, Hank and Larry the Lamb among others. TV Comic Annual 1957 (far right of picture). For me, this wonderful annual sums up the 1950s! First story Muffin and the shampooing of old curly by Neville Main. Other stories include Prudence Kitten's pantomime, Larry and Dennis the helpful heroes by S. G. Hulme-Beaman, Mr. Pastry's racing car and Rag-Tag and Bobtail by Louise Cochrane. Also two stories by Enid Blyton Noddy and Father Christmas and A shock for Little Bom. 

Rag, Tag and Bobtail find the sea very scarce picture strip book published in 1954. Bobtail, the rabbit, is very fond of digging. One day, he begins to dig a new sort of hole, one that goes straight down! When Rag, the hedgehog, and Tag, the mouse ask him to play, he replies "No, I'm digging a special hole..." Larry the Lions fun & games book published in 1964. Popular children’s entertainer Terry Hall created Lenny the Lion – whose catchphrase was “Aw don’t embawass me” - in 1954. Lenny made his television début on the variety show Dress Rehearsal, which also featured Eric Sykes. Terry and Lenny then fronted The Lenny the Lion Show, Lenny’s Den and Pops and Lenny, appearing with The Beatles in 1963.They also starred in the United States on the Ed Sullivan Show. Terry died in 2007, at the age of 80. Larry the Lamb has a picnic published by Purnell in 1972. Featuring Larry the Lamb, Danny the Dog and other inhabitants of Toytown.

Champion the Wonder Horse with Rebel, Ricky and Uncle Sandy published in 1958. Roy Rogers Comic Album 1949 with stories and colour picture strips. Fist story Roy Rogers king of the cowboys and the bighorn lode. Other stories include Nester's welcome and Roy rides the danger trail. Walt Disney's Davy Crockett published in 1950.

Sooty Keeps Shop published, 1954.  A Twirly book with a revolving wheel inside, showing 'moving pictures' on the TV on the front cover! Television's Teddy Bear Magician with illustrations by Tony Hart. Bleep and Booster Space Secret illustrated by Tim.  One story - Bleep and Booster's space secret, plus five pages of puzzles and games, including an underground journey, Flicka-movie and save Spinky! Bleep and Booster as seen on the BBC Blue Peter programme. The Basil Brush Cook Book  Published by Kaye and Ward in 1975. Basil Brush cooks up a storm with the help of Kit Broughton and Babette Cole. Lots of recipes, including chocolate crispies, coconut snowballs, fruit crumbly, hurry-up pudding, banger rockets, birthday buns and pic-pacs in the park.

Camberwick Green Annual published in 1975. Stories,  picture strips and games, including Farmer Bell's runaway sheep, Packet's picnic, Soldier-boys to the rescue, Dr. Mopp's party, and tug-of-war at the fete. More Barnaby Stories published in 1974. Written and illustrated by Georgina Hargreaves. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century published in 1981. Contains - the space slavers, Buck Rogers a short history, a race in space game and the missing element.

Pingwings A Flying Bird by Oliver Postage with illustrations by Babette Cole. This copy signed by Babette Cole. Published in 1978. Pingwings are birds so Pingwings can fly! What does it matter if they are made of wool and stuffed with stuffing? All Paul Pingwing needs is a few feathers, a launching-pad, and he is up taking tea with the doves in their elegant house on top of a pole. The Fraggles cooperate a Jim Henson Muppet book first edition published in 1989. Clangers - The Tablecloth published in 1993. The Froglets love their new home but how can they keep warm on such a chilly blue moon? Tiny and Small have some ideas.

Thanks for your visit; I hope you enjoyed this trip down TV's memory lane!

All the featured books are now sold, thank you for your interest.

Update July 2016: March House books closed on my retirement in 2015, but I do still blog here at March of Time Books and always appreciate your visit.