80 pages. Hardcover. Full color, tone & B&W.
Atlas Publishing Company Ltd.
Painted cover (uncredited).
Contents:
2 Endpaper a: (uncredited).
4 Cast Photograph B&W photograph of Michael Aspel, Peter Glaze, Rod McLennan, Christine Holmes & Jillian Comber by UNKNOWN (uncredited). / Indicia
5 Title Page / Contents
6 Fifteen Years of Crackerjack text feature (uncredited).
8 Peter's "New" Old Car w: (uncredited). a: (uncredited).
15 Crackerjack Games To Cause a Laugh photo feature (uncredited).
16 Boys Will Be Boys photo feature (uncredited).
17 Rod Saves the Day w: (uncredited). Photographs (uncredited).
25 Pegs to Hang Circuses On text feature (uncredited).
33 I Say, I Say, I Say jokes.
36 Crackerjack Games When Two is Company photo feature (uncredited).
38 Crack-A-Maze !*?
40 The Funniest Men in the World The Story of Slapstick Comedy Films by Richard Evans.
47 Crackerjack Games To Beat the Clock photo feature (uncredited).
48 Harmony All the Way photo feature (uncredited).
50 A World Wide Wandering board game. a: (uncredited).
52 The Crackerjack Tars in Pegleg's Revenge! text story (uncredited).
60 Crackerjack Games Relay Race Games photo feature (uncredited).
62 Go Men Go photo feature.
64 Christmas text feature (uncredited).
66 Moon Shot board game. a: (uncredited).
68 Girl Talk photo feature.
69 Rod Buys a Yacht w: (uncredited). a: (uncredited).
76 Crackerjack Games For Boys and Tomboys photo feature (uncredited).
78 Endpaper a: (uncredited).
As I've never, to my knowledge, seen an episode of Crackerjack there isn't much commentary I can offer to the title's television roots, yet there are many pieces within this annual which don't require the reader to have knowledge of the series. A feature on the silent era of film, which is accompanied by some great photographs from the films, is one such example, although its link to what appeared in the series is unknown. The feature on the history of clowns is given rather too brief a page count to do anything spectacular, but it makes a decent stab at outlining important information.
This is a remarkably educational title in many regards.
Crackerjack isn't just about educating children. It is also an amazing snapshot of a moment in pop cultural history, with numerous photographs of musical acts of the era, and some great features to keep restless children busy on Christmas morning (when, presumably, they would receive this). I'm lost as to a few of the singers highlighted, but there are enough familiar faces included to make sense of the pieces. It is slightly unfortunate that, included among such highlights, the comic strips are rather half-hearted. The artwork really isn't to my taste, and the writing is noticeably different to other parts of the annual.
To make up for this, the board games and maze are wonderful. Nothing revolutionary, but much better than I had anticipated from a television tie-in. I want to really love Crackerack, because it is doing something different with its contents, but the rougher edges to production mean I can merely muster strong affection.
Crackerjack Annual
1971
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated - please keep language all-ages friendly and stay on topic.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.