Web Page 3038 27th January 2023 First Picture: Publicity Picture

Second Picture: With Marilyn Munroe

Third Picture: The Vaughan family

Forth Picture: With wife Stella

Frankie Vaughan Frankie Vaughan CBE DL was born Frank Fruim Abelson on 3rd February 1928 and died on 17th September 1999. He recorded more than 80 easy listening and traditional pop singles in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after his signature song "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl". Two of his singles topped the UK Singles Chart – "The Garden of Eden" (1957) and "Tower of Strength" (1961). He starred in several films, including a role opposite Marilyn Monroe in Let's Make Love (1960). He was (1960) was born on Devon Street in the Islington district of Liverpool and was one of four children of Isaac and Leah Abelson. He came from a family of Russian Jewish descent, and derived his stage surname from his grandmother; as he was her first-born grandson, she called him "Frank my 'number one' grandson", and her Russian accent made "one" sound like "Vaughan". In his early life, he was a member of the Lancaster Lads' Club, a member group of the National Association of Boys' Clubs; having started out at the club intending to become a boxer[ he was a major contributor to them during his career, dedicating his monetary compensation from one song each year to them. He was an evacuee during World War II[. He attended the Lancaster College of Art on a scholarship and was a vocalist in their dance band. After a stint in the Royal Army Medical Corps (where he spent most of his time boxing) he returned to art school, this time at the Leeds College of Art. An early appearance was in the Leeds students rag revue “It’s Rag Time” which opened on June 20, 1949 at the Empire Theatre in Leeds when he was described as the show’s main vocalist. He was still known as Frank Abelson at that time. When he won a prize in a design contest, he left for London, where he won second prize on a radio talent show. He auditioned for the agent Billy Marsh who quickly booked him in for a week at the Kingston Empire in May 1950 with Jimmy Wheeler. His debut went well with press comment stating "Frankie Vaughan gives a promising performance when singing some new and old songs in a crooning style. He receives a warm reception." This led to further bookings on the variety circuit and he appeared with the veteran male impersonator Hetty King on several occasions. Her guidance helped change his style for the rest of his career. He became known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat, bow tie, tails, and cane. He made his first television appearance on October 13, 1951 in a variety show from the Theatre Royal, Leeds starring Gracie Fields. He was introduced by Donald Peers and sang "Lucky Me". He made his first records in 1950 for HMV but they were not popular. In August 1952 he joined the dance band of Nat Temple for a year but the popularity of further recordings he made in 1953 encouraged him to return to the variety stage. He switched to the Philips label and in 1955, he recorded what was to become his trademark song, "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl". He recorded a large number of songs that were covers of United States hit songs, including Perry Como's "Kewpie Doll", Jimmie Rodgers' "Kisses Sweeter than Wine", Boyd Bennett's "Seventeen", Jim Lowe's "The Green Door", and (with the Kaye Sisters), the Fleetwoods' "Come Softly to Me". In 1956, his cover of "The Green Door" reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart. The same year he was voted 'Showbusiness Personality of the Year'. In early 1957, his version of "The Garden of Eden", reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1957 he was voted the eighth most popular star at the British box office. Managed at this time by former journalist and theatrical agent Paul Cave, he stayed in the United States for a time to make a film with Marilyn Monroe, Let's Make Love (1960), and was an actor in several other films, but his recordings were never chart hits in the US,] with the exception of "Judy", which reached No.100 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1958. In 1961, he was on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre, , London. That December, he hit No. 1 in the UK again, with "Tower of Strength”. The rise of beat music eclipsed his chart career before he returned to the Top 10 in 1967 with "There Must Be a Way". Chart success eluded him after this although he did have two more Top 40 singles; "Nevertheless" and "So Tired". In the late 1960s, he involved himself with a youth project in Easterhouse, Glasgow. He was appalled by the level of violence amongst young people. He held meetings with the gang leaders and appealed for them to surrender their weapons. In 1985, he starred in a stage version of 42nd Street at Drury Lane opposite his old friend Shani Wallis who appeared in their first film together, Ramsbottom Rides Again. After a year, he nearly died of peritonitis and had to leave the cast. He was married to Stella Shock (1924–2022) from 1951 until his death; the couple had three children, a daughter Susan (b.1963) and two sons, singer and David Sye (b.1961) and actor-singer Andrew Abelson (b.1968). In 1994, he was one of a few to be honoured by a second appearance on This Is Your Life, having been a subject of the show previously in April 1970] Despite frequent bouts of ill-health, he continued performing until shortly before his death from heart failure in 1999. He was awarded an OBE in 1965, a CBE in 1996, and as a long-time resident of High Wycombe had been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire since 1993. He was an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University. He also received the Variety Club of Great Britain Award for "Showbusiness Personality of the Year" in 1957. He died from heart failure at his home in High Wycombe aged 71. His wife donated archival materials, including scores and sheet music he had collected throughout his career to Liverpool John Moores University in 2000. Stay in Touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com

Web Page 3036 20th January 2023 First Picture: Jelly Bunny

Second Picture: Nestle Tinned Milk

Third Picture: Felix the Cat

Forth Picture: Indoor Fireworks

Parties The other day Pam and I were talking about the birthday party food produced by our parents when we were kids. First of all we both remembered jelly bunnies. I remember my mother struggling with a bowl of warm water to free the jelly bunny from the aluminium mould. The same went for the large pink Blancmange which accompanied the jelly. The jelly bunnies were usually surrounded by chopped green jelly to represent grass. On the table there were always a plate with a collection of white and pink Sugar mice all with string tails. My grandmother, who lived with us, would always make individual Butterfly cakes with a filling made of butter cream and she would also make a jam filled Victoria jam sponge The selection of sandwiches in those days was very different from those see that we see around today. Luncheon Meat, Spam, Nutella, Shipham’s Bloater Paste, Heinz Sandwich Spread, cheese and tomato, also Chicken Paste, jam sandwiches and there nearly always was a plate of plain white bread and butter. Do you remember the Sweet Cornets, filled with marsh mellow and with hundreds and thousands sprinkled all over the top bought and from the local bakery. Cream filled meringues and eclairs were also very popular, plus packets of Dolly Mixtures and not forgetting the obligatory Birthday Cake and candles. Our parties always featured bowls of canned peaches or pears served with tinned Nestles cream or maybe Ideal Milk. Drinks featured, lemonade, cherryade, ginger beer, dandelion and burdock and ice cream, soda and orange and lemon squash plus Tizer. These party occasions called for us to wear our best clothes and party dresses with smart shoes and white socks. Then came the party entertainment, we must have all played pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey and musical statues. Plus the group games such as The Farmer wants a Wife and Ring a Ring of Roses; then, of course. there were the team games such as passing a balloon between the knees or chins along a line of children, One of our near neighbours had three children and the father, know to us as Uncle Ray, had an ancient 8mm cine projector and a selection of Felix the Cat silent films. Such films as Felix goes on Walking. Felix predated Mickey Mouse by several years but died out when talking films flooded the market. Uncle Ray would come in after work and set up the projector and stretch a sheet across the wall as a screen and off we would go. This always marked the end of the party and then everyone went home and in those days party or doggie bags were unheard of. On very rare occasions the party would end with indoor fireworks. Do you remember the appalling smell they gave out. Then after the birthday party, the following day, came the obligatory chore of writing thank you notes to all the relations who had sent you a birthday present!!!!! Stay in Touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com

Web Page 3034 14th January 2023 First Picture: Desperate Dan

Second Picture: Cow Pie

Third Picture: The Dandy

Forth Picture: Desperate Dan statue

Desperate Dan Desperate Dan is a wild west character in the now-defunct Scottish comic magazine The Dandy, and became its mascot. He made his appearance in the first issue which was dated 4th December 1937. He is apparently the world's strongest man, able to lift a cow with one hand. The pillow of his (reinforced) bed is filled with building rubble and his beard is so tough he shaves with a blowtorch. The character was created by Dudley D. Watkins, originally as an outlaw or ‘desperado’ (hence his name), but evolved into a more sympathetic type, using his strength to help the underdog. After Dudley Watkins’ death in 1969, the cartoons were drawn by many other artists, principally Ken H. Harrison. When the Dandy became digital-only in 2012, the Desperate Dan strips were drawn by David Parkins. There is a statue of Dan in Dundee, Scotland, where his publishers, D. C. Thomson & Co. are based. Although The Dandy Annuals featured new strips from other artists from then on, the comic continued reprinting Watkins strips until 1983 (though the then Korky the Cat artist Charles Grigg drew new strips for annuals and summer specials), when it was decided to start running new strips. These were initially drawn by Peter Davidson, but Ken H. Harrison soon took over as regular artist. The following year Dan was promoted to the front cover of The Dandy, replacing Korky who had been there since issue 1. Starting from issue 2985, dated 6th February 1999, Cuddles and Dimples replaced Dan on the front cover. This didn't last long, however, as after a readers' poll in 2000, Dan returned to the cover. Although Ken Harrison was the main artist from 1983 to 2007, other artists have also occasionally filled in for Harrison. When The Dandy was redesigned and renamed Dandy Xtreme, the writers used reprints of the old comic strips, until Jamie Smart took over drawing and writing the Desperate Dan comic strips in April 2008 Desperate Dan's final appearance left his fate ambiguous after being caught in an oil well explosion. Desperate Dan's favourite food is cow pie with the horns sticking out, although the term "cow pie" has a different meaning in the American West. Much like Popeye with his spinach, Desperate Dan draws his immense power from eating these pies. Desperate Dan was voted the UK's second favourite superhero after Batman in 2011. Initially Dan was a desperado on the wrong side of the law, hence the name Desperate Dan. Later on, however, he switched sides and become a friendlier character, helping the underdog, although sometimes his great strength caused more harm than good. With the first revamp of The Dandy (from issue 3282, 16 October 2004) Dan, was redesigned slightly. His eyes and chin became much bigger and exaggerated. Dan's personality was changed to that of a bumbling fool, a change to which many fans objected. He was originally going to be left out of the revamped issues, but focus group tests objected to his absence[ A number of spin-off strips have appeared in The Dandy over the years, including Desperate Dawg in the 1970s and 80s, Danny and Katey in the late 1980s and Aunt Aggie in the 2000s (before the 2004 relaunch).[2] A statue of him (and his dog Dawg) can be found in the High Street of Dundee, Scotland – The Dandy is published by Dundee-based D. C. Thomson & Co. The Desperate Dan statue (erected as part of the Dundee Public Art Programme) is the most photographed of 120 pieces of public art in the city. After the print Dandy ended with its 75th anniversary issue. The Dandy relaunched as a digital comic. Stay in Touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com

Web Page 3032 12th January 2023 The Tufty Club First Picture: Tufty and Family

Second Picture: Tufty Club badge

Third Picture: Road Safety Game

Forth Picture: Tufty Club membership book

The Tufty Club. Were you a member? Tufty Fluffytail, a childlike red squirrel character was created in 1953 by Elsie Mills at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. It was hoped that Tufty would help to communicate safety messages to children across the United Kingdom for many years. In 1961, his influence was cemented through the formation of the Tufty Club This was a nationwide network of local road safety groups for children. At its peak, there were 24,500 registered Tufty Clubs, with membership passing two million children in 1972. Although focusing on road safety education, Tufty and his Furryfolk friends – including Policeman Badger, Willy Weasel, Harry Hare, Minnie Mole and Mrs Owl – also made forays into other areas of child safety, including home and water safety. TV spots (which were voiced by Bernard Cribbins), books, comics, board games, handkerchiefs, jigsaw puzzles, stickers, colouring books, Christmas cards, soft toys, ceramic figures, puppets, toothbrushes, knitting patterns, nightwear and song sheets were among the items that helped to maintain Tufty’s profile. Tufty’s image was changed to keep up with the times in 1979 (when Princess Michael of Kent became the president of the Tufty Club) and again in 1993, before new methods of helping children to learn about road safety came to the fore. In 2007, Tufty once again rose to national prominence when he made a guest appearance in the cult BBC series Life on Mars. The club relied heavily on catch phrases and saying one of the best remembered is :- Stay in Touch HAPPY NEW YEAR Peter gsseditor@gmail.com