SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Just been reading an article about The Dandy - it's in danger of closing! It will be a great shame if it it does. Well that's my opinion, others may disagree.

I wonder if Desperate Dan is still eating cow pies. The Dandy and Beano were great fun when I was a kid but I suspect comics have increasingly less appeal nowadays to youngsters with their laptops and tablet computers.

You would think that a Dandy "app" would appeal to parents wanting to give their children something to read on their iPads though. Perhaps kids grow up too fast nowadays and it's difficult to aim hmour at them that seems "naughty". I wonder what children today make of "Just William", for example.

Leodian wrote: I wonder if Desperate Dan is still eating cow pies. The Dandy and Beano were great fun when I was a kid but I suspect comics have increasingly less appeal nowadays to youngsters with their laptops and tablet computers. Totally agree Leodian. It appears DD is indeed still enjoying his cow pies. It was first published in 1937 and its best sale was in April 1950, 2,035,310, down to 7489 in the second half of 2011. The Beano doesn't seem to be in any danger. I must admit seeing the price rather knocked me back - £1.50. I hope this doesn't read like a business report, although I have lifted the info. from a web report!

My manager at work used to write for The Dandy when in his native Dundee. He said there wasn't much money in it though.

I seem to remember talk of this comic being scrapped in the 90's. On the final week of what I believed to be the final week of publication I bought a copy ...I was wrong.Did I dream it?

I remember press coverage of a fire at the Branston Pickle factory. Caused panic buying I've still got 3 boxes to get thru.And I then read that the Port Ellen Distillery on Islay was being mothballed, and could get rare Again fool + money etc, forgetting they'd several million gallons in the wood.Sorry I digress, the Dandy (in Leeds - Ed that's ok then).As a kid, I was more of a Victor reader.Alf Tupper and his Fish N Chips     

Brill, Jogon My weekly was Whizzer and Chips. Course, I became too old for that and then had Princess Tina. Teenage years just had to be Jackie (of course!!).

Caron wrote: I seem to remember talk of this comic being scrapped in the 90's. On the final week of what I believed to be the final week of publication I bought a copy ...I was wrong.Did I dream it? Almost certain you didn't dream it. I think it was saved at the last minute by people buying it for their kids.Jogon: I remember when Salad Cream was supposed to be on its way out -- I was taken in at the time but now I'm fairly sure it was a publicity stunt as there ought to have been enough demand in the UK to justify a production line in at least one factory.

BarflyYeah, remember that too. Salad Cream. Marginally better than Heinz Sandwich Spread.It's funny but as a 1960 kid, Sunday Tea involved an Aunt or other relative coming round.Tinned John West Salmon was involved. And sliced left-over beef from Dinner (which I now know to have been 'Lunch'). And Horseradish with beetroot from the Jewish shop at Moortown Corner.Salad meant- Lettuce= big wet leaves- Tomatoes = dropped in boiled water so their skins came off; cut into big chunks, wet- Spring Onions = not like todays pencil size, no, these were about an inch thick and so strong they made you weep-Salad Cream; lots.Bread- Brown, a plate of it buttered and cut diagonalDrinks- Tea wi' milk and two sugars (whether you liked sugar or not)To FollowFruit Jelly, with tinned mixed fruit in it.Carnation Cream.