1978 No.40 and 1981 No.28...

Anyone who's been to the checklist lately will have noticed the covers going awry, this is because Photobucket was undergoing maintenance, they have now finished and everything seems ok.  Here are this weeks issues.  We are back in 1978 with No.40 and a another new painter John Geary, who was another of Arnaldo's stand ins, I supposed the guy must have had to holiday sometime!  Not that John's paintings weren't amazing too!!...also, we have No.28 from 1981 with another favourite cover, a brilliant Clash of the Titans one, both are complete...

30th September 1978 - No.40

Cover: John Travolta and Olivia Newton John by John Geary.

Strips: The Benny Hill Page (Bill Titcombe), The Six Million Dollar Man (Martin Asbury),

Enid Blyton's Famous Five (Mike Noble), Meet the Smurfs (Peyo), Logan's Run (Arthur Ranson),

Starcruiser (David Jeffris), The Bionic Woman (John Bolton)

and Doctor on the Go (Bill Titcombe).

4th July 1981 - No.28

Cover:  Sir Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin and Judi Bowker by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury),

Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Smuggler (John M. Burns)

and CHiPs (Jim Baikie) Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).

On the Ball Scrapbook - Pt.3...

Here is the third part.  A couple of things to note, 74 - No.33 had the poster torn out, if anyone can help let me know.  Also, 74 - No.35 is a two page feature with no poster, this happened from time to time too.  Enjoy...

The On the Ball Scrapbook - Part 3

Posters:

Peter Shilton

Bristol Rovers

Colin Todd

1973 No.52 and 1981 No.27...

We have amazing news from Dan...and the news is...that he is able to supply the remaining issues of 1973, so this year will soon be complete too!! A huge debt of thanks is owed to him, I am so grateful as the 1973 issues are amongst the most expensive issues to buy...and another of Dan's issues is here now.  It is No.52 from 1973 and also here is No.27 from 1981 which is from my collection, both are complete...

22nd December 1973 - No.52

Cover: Mick Robertson and Marie Osmond by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson),

The Tomorrow People (John M. Burns), Follyfoot (Mike Noble),

Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson) and Doctor in Charge! (Tom Kerr).

27th June 1981 - No.27

Cover:  Roger Moore by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury),

Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Smuggler (John M. Burns)

and CHiPs (Jim Baikie) Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).

The Whole Story...Timeslip Parts 11 and 12...

It dawned on me earlier that I didn't do a mid-month update, I can only blame the fact that I like a lot of people was so shell-shocked after hearing about David Bowie, I lost track of stuff for a few days after.  I am only just adjusting to it. Yes, Bowie was that big a deal to a lot people.

Anyway, here it is, a little late, enjoy the next two episodes of Timeslip...See you tomorrow for a proper update...

Timeslip - Story 11 - The Oberoids

Story: Angus P. Allan

Art: Unknown

Timeslip - Story 12 - The Flying Dutchman

Story: Angus P. Allan

Art: Unknown

On the Ball Scrapbook Pt.2...

Here is the second batch, 1974 No.28 had no poster, they didn't always, if poster is ever not there, that's the reason, or else it is pulled out of my issue, if that's the case I will tell you and obviously if you can help with missing posters....on to the features...

On the Ball Scrapbook - Part 2

Posters:

Billy Bremner

Middlesbrough 

Johnny Rep

David Nish

1973 No.15 and 1981 No.13...

My job has been easy again this week, another issue courtesy of Dan, this time it's No.15 from 1973 and also as promised there is the second from Duncan which is No.13 from 1981, both issues are complete...

7th April 1973 - No.15

Cover: Rod Stewart by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson),

The Adventures of David Cassidy (Alan Parry), The Fenn Street Gang (Tom Kerr?),

Doctor in Charge! (Tom Kerr), Elephant Boy (Unknown), Follyfoot (Mike Noble),

Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson) and Pathfinders (Unknown).

21st March 1981 - No.13

Cover:  ABBA by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury),

Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Charlie's Angels (Jim Baikie)

and Sapphire and Steel (Arthur Ranson) Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).

Introducing the 'On the Ball Scrapbook'...

I delayed posting this yesterday for obvious reasons.  I think everybody must have been pretty shell-shocked, but onward...

When general sports feature World of Sport, wasn't quite hitting the mark, Look-in realised that it was football that sports fans were really looking for.  They started the feature Young Footballer's Club, which hit a reasonable level of success, but it wasn't until they paired the football theme with the amazing artwork of Sheridon Davies in 1974, that Look-in had a feature that would go down in the annals of comic history.

Mastheaded by the mighty Brian Moore, who for anyone's money was the greatest football expert of the time, if not ever, On the Ball studied individual footballers, teams, managers and gave advice and tips to aspiring young players, it was a must read for anyone even remotely into football, and even came with it's own pin-up every week.

Here we start week by week building up a collection of artwork and photos unrivalled in all but a couple of magazines of the time....I give you the On the Ball Scrapbook.....

On the Ball Scrapbook - Pt.1

Posters:

Franz Beckenbaur

Dino Zoff

Kasimierz Deynar

Paulo Cesar

Sandro Mazzola

David Bowie 1947 -2016...

Such a sad weekend...RIP.

Apologies yet again!...

Kevin has noticed again that I mis-labelled another issue, the cover of 1981 No.12 is now linked to the right issue....Sorry again!

1973 No.13 and 1981 No.12...

Having digested yesterday's sad news, It was Look-in's 45th anniversary yesterday and so, many happy returns to our favourite magazine, it's hard to believe so much time has passed, but I hope that putting these magazines in the public domain, will keep them around for a long time to come.  On to this weeks update...

Next two have both been sent to me, No.13 of 1973 is from Dan and No.12 from 1981 is one of two I found on the drive that I'd been sent by Duncan, This one has no strip on pages 28/29, there was meant to be a Metal Mickey strip starting but due to copyright issues, it never happened. eventually this space was filled by the 2-page Smurf strip.  Issue 13 for 1983, also from Duncan, will be here next update.

As always thanks to Dan and Duncan.

Both issues are complete...

24th March 1973 - No.13

Cover: Slade by Arthur Ranson.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson),

The Adventures of David Cassidy (Alan Parry), The Fenn Street Gang (Tom Kerr?),

Doctor in Charge! (Tom Kerr), Elephant Boy (Unknown), Follyfoot (Mike Noble),

Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson) and Pathfinders (Unknown).

14th March 1981 - No.12

Cover:  Craig McFarlane, Howard Taylor and Paul Erange by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury),

Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Charlie's Angels (Jim Baikie)

and Sapphire and Steel (Arthur Ranson).

Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart 1941 - 2016...

It is with great sadness that I heard of the death of Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart earlier tonight, and with greater sadness that in all the obit's and news I've read tonight, not one mention was made of Look-in, he was with the magazine for nearly 11 years, so it was a big part of his life.  He started as a DJ of course and was introduced to Look-in readers in the first issue, with a feature about a day in his life, pretty soon he was given his own feature - Stewpot's Choice which was about interesting news and items that were about at the time, this set the tone for the bigger Stewpot's Look-out a news page telling readers about new albums, books, news about favourite TV and sports stars, finally becoming Stewpot's Newsdesk for the remainder of his tenure, becoming more of a readers page, where they could send in requests and interesting items. Stewpot finally said goodbye to Look-in on 11th April 1981, and now it's time for us to say goodbye to him in reality. It's fitting that he should die on what was Look-in's 45th anniversary, and we say a big thank you to him for being part of our story.

Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart RIP.

The Competition Pt.3...No.1...

In the 80's Look-in started to present a more pop/TV star slant in their content, this was to try and push against the growing popularity of Smash Hits and other pop mags.  Another pop mag which came to prominence as the real opposition to Smash its was No.1 or as it later became Number One.  Published by the IPC stable, it was pretty much a carbon copy of Smash Hits, similar sections just with different titles, it was also able to publish a chart being a weekly publication (SH was only fortnightly).  I was a SH devotee, but bought No.1 until around 85, I didn't stop reading SH until 89.

There is a great site that has a No.1 section, with scans of some of the issues:

http://www.shanemarais.net/

It also has a lot of other 80s ephemera, and is a great way to while away an hour.  I also have the first issue of No.1 which I have sent Shane.  You can have it too as part of the 'The Competition' section of the blog...

No.1 Magazine - May 7th 1983 

Look-in One Pagers Set 23...

Before we set off on our On The Ball collection, here are a few One Pagers courtesy of Dan....

Look-in One Pagers - Set 23

Nicholas Young

Bobby Crush

Norman Wisdom

Mick Robertson

Johnny Nash

Gilbert O'Sullivan

The Handley Family

Error...

Thanks to Kevin for letting me know that I had linked the image for 73No27 to the issue 78No27, I have now sorted this, and you can get the proper issue now.

1973 No.27 and 1981 No.24...

The first update of the new year and Dan has sent me another 1973 issue, this time it's No.27.  Also here is No.24 from 1981, from my collection, which has new strip Smuggler and also the Smurfs have been promoted to a two page strip which should please fans of the little blue folk.  Both are complete....

Look out tomorrow for a few more One Pagers, and we will get into the On the Ball stuff the following Monday.

30th June 1973 - No.27

Cover: Mick Robertson, Susan Stranks and Doug Rae by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson),

The Adventures of David Cassidy (Alan Parry), Doctor in Charge! (Tom Kerr),

Follyfoot (Mike Noble) and Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson).

6th June 1981 - No.24

Cover: Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury),

Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Smuggler (John M. Burns),

CHiPs (Jim Baikie) and Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).