Roger Harris
Presents
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W.E. JOHNS IN “MEN ONLY” A GUIDE TO THE ARTICLES OF W. E.
JOHNS IN “MEN ONLY” (SCROLL DOWN
TO SEE ALL THE ORIGINAL COVERS) |
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MEN ONLY was first
published in December 1935 by C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. It was a monthly “pocket-sized” publication,
each issue having pages just under 5 inches wide by just over 7 inches high
(120 cms by 180 cms). The paper cover overlapped the pages by 4
millimetres, top and bottom, and up to one centimetre at the side, making
issues difficult to store vertically.
Initially costing one shilling an issue (12 pence in old money), from
the January 1941 issue the cover price rose to one shilling and 3d (15 old
pence). It was announced in that issue
of the magazine that this was in order to continue (no doubt due to wartime
paper shortages). W.E. Johns first contributed an article to
the November 1936 issue, which was the 12th issue published. His last contribution (that I can find) is in
the 65th issue, April 1941.
Of course, the magazine was ‘risqué’and
contained the occasional tasteful picture of a naked lady. It is quite amusing reading one of W. E. Johns witty articles and then seeing a
picture of a naked woman on the very next page.
Whatever would Biggles say??
Well, he would have loved it, because in the original version of the
Biggles story “The Bottle Party” published in the April 1933 issue of ‘Popular
Flying’ Biggles is looking through “a well-thumbed copy of La Vie Parisienne” but you
wouldn’t know that if you have only ever read the Biggles books because even in
the very first edition of ‘Biggles of the Camel Squadron’ this reference had
been changed (on page 63) to “a well-thumbed paper”! This is another reminder that the Biggles
stories were original written for adults, of course. ‘La Vie Parisienne’ was a mildly risqué publication that
General Pershing personally warned American servicemen against purchasing,
which immediately boosted its popularity!
(At the bottom of this page is a picture of an issue
from 1918). In 1971, Paul Raymond
bought “MEN ONLY” and turned it into a well-known top-shelf adult
magazine. It is interesting to note how
Johns’ credit varies between “Captain” W. E. Johns and just W. E. Johns for
different articles. By April 1941, Johns
stopped contributing articles. Maybe his
success as a children’s author made him think it was no longer
appropriate. Maybe ‘Men Only’ decided
they didn’t want to print his articles. I imagine the real reason was that he
was concentrating on his successful Biggles books as three were published in
August 1941 alone!
(Biggles Defies the Swastika, Biggles Sees
it Through and Spitfire Parade – Biggles at War).
CLICK ON ANY COVER TO
ENLARGE IT OR ARTICLE TITLE TO FIND OUT MORE
Issue 12 – NOVEMBER 1936 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 16 – MARCH 1937 featuring by W. E. Johns |
Issue 17 – APRIL 1937 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 19 – JUNE 1937 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 21 – AUGUST 1937 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 23 – OCTOBER 1937 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 25 – DECEMBER 1937 featuring by W. E. Johns |
Issue 27 – FEBRUARY 1938 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 35 – OCTOBER 1938 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 51 – FEBRUARY 1940 featuring by W. E. Johns |
Issue 52 – MARCH 1940 featuring By Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 54 – MAY 1940 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 57 – AUGUST 1940 featuring by W. E. Johns and by W. E. J. |
Issue 62 – JANUARY 1941 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 64 – MARCH 1941 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
Issue 65 – APRIL 1941 featuring by Captain W. E. Johns |
ALL PICTURES OF COVERS OF
“MEN ONLY” ARE FROM MY OWN PERSONAL W.E. JOHNS COLLECTION
The copyright in all of W.E.
Johns work is owned by the estate of W.E. Johns as represented by W. E. Johns
(Publications) Limited.
This private limited company
have appointed literary agent Pat White of Rogers Coleridge White to represent the interests of the estate.
Their web site is here:
This is a non
profit making fan based web site purely for the information of fellow
fans - no infringement of copyright is intended.
The
intention of this web site is to encourage people to read the works of William Earl
Johns, one of the great
authors of the 20th Century.
An issue of ‘La Vie Parisienne’ from
1918
Don’t forget to visit Biggles.Com and W. E. Johns.Com
for
information about W. E. Johns books
This webpage was launched on 1st June 2013 – to
commemorate the 45th anniversary of the death of W. E. Johns on 21st June 1968