DCT Writer - Maureen Hartley

[Tammyfan]

Looks like we will have to update the entries at Girls Comics from Yesterday with all these new start and end dates.

[peace355]

That's great, thanks Phoenix.

I'll start updating site tammyfan.

[peace355]

Maureen Hartley's post is now on site:

http://girlscomicsofyesterday.com/2016/ ... ls-comics/

Very interesting insight into writing for DCT.

2 stories I forgot to check for dates were A Ticket for Timmy and Wedding for a Week, so if anyone has accurate dates for those I'll update them.

The other story titles, if no one recognises them Maureen has said working story titles often changed when printed, so that may be why. She didn't recognise the plot of Penny's Partner as being Partner for Penny.

I also asked about the first story she wrote she can't remember much about it but it would have been printed in Mandy 1968/69 -

"It was something to do with a witch. Possibly it was called “The Witch’s Brat”. I can remember the heroine ‘telling the bees’ in one episode but that’s about all I can remember about it."

I know Judy story called the Witch's Brats from 1977, possibly a reprint but may be a different story as she is not sure of the name!

[Phoenix]

"It was something to do with a witch. Possibly it was called “The Witch’s Brat”. I can remember the heroine ‘telling the bees’ in one episode but that’s about all I can remember about it."

A Ticket For Timmy ran in Mandy 114 (Mar. 22 1969) - 128 (Jun. 28 1969).

The Reluctant Witch ran in Mandy 139 (Sep. 13 1969) - 153 (Dec. 20 1969). Wanda King is the last in a long line of witches - but only gains the power on the death of her mother. This is the only witch serial in 1968/69 as far as I can see. However, unless the telling the bees incident is in issue 147, the only issue I don't have for this serial, there are no bees anywhere.

There is also a story called The Great Big World Of Minnie Hopper that might be relevant. An African witch-doctor puts a spell on 14-year-old Minnie which reduces her to 9'' tall.

[Phoenix]

I've just read The Witch's Brats in Judy 915 (Jul. 23 1977) - 926 (Oct. 8 1977). It's an interesting story albeit without any bees, but then again there are no witches either. Volunteers required for a bee hunt. Anybody spotting a swarm will be in line for a Brucie bonus.

[Tammyfan]

Funny how girls' comics went for a lot of serials where girls didn't want to be witches.

[Phoenix]

Funny how girls' comics went for a lot of serials where girls didn't want to be witches.

I suspect that witches were getting a pretty bad press at that time. Presumably they are more respectable these days.

[Tammyfan]

The reference "telling the bees" reminds me of a Tammy complete story "Telling the Bees". No connection to the story being sought here; different writer.

[comixminx]

Excellent stuff Lorr! Great to see this post - isn't it cool the way we are starting to learn more and more about how things worked behind the scenes.

[philcom55]

Absolutely wonderful! I hope Maureen stays in touch and can be persuaded to answer questions in the future - particularly about the editorial regime at DCT. The ban on cliffhangers is fascinating, and something I'm amazed not to have noticed before now; it's left me wanting to take a fresh look at the stories in Mandy and compare them with Bunty, Diana, School Friend, Tammy, Misty, Princess Tina, etc. Was this guideline particular to the editor of that title, or did it apply across the board to all Thomson's girls' comics? I'll have to check to be certain but I'm pretty sure that cliffhangers were a staple element in Fleetway/IPC serials. The idea that men could write for girls' comics but that women weren't capable of writing for boys' comics sounds pretty antediluvian (not to say appallingly sexist) - but in the long run boys' comics were probably the worse for it. At least Fleetway don't seem to have suffered from the same prejudice as for years Joan ('Barry Ford') Whitford was one of their most popular writers for boys.

[Phoenix]

Wedding Of The Week ends in Mandy 436 (May 24 1975). No episode in 428 (Mar. 29 1975) in order to make room for two new serials, which were Blind Belinda and The Secret Of The Smiling Doll. The rerun of Wedding Of The Week starts in Mandy 951 (Apr. 6 1985).

[philcom55]

Incidentally, I love the fact that 'The Comp' was created by a genuine Headmaster! I wonder if any of his pupils ever found out about his extracurricular activities?

[peace355]

@comixminx - It is very cool we are learning more about these people! Liked your post about Candido Ruiz Pueyo too.

She said she really enjoyed writing up the piece, so I think she would be happy to answer some follow up questions.

As for the cliffhangers, I do think it must have been a preference by the Mandy editor, although I do think "Valda" had some cliffhangers but in general stories seemed more episodic from what I can think of. Judy on the other hand I can name several stories that had definite cliffhanger endings like "The Frightening Fours" or "Ballet in the Blitz"

Thanks for the story dates Phoenix!

[johnfreeman96]

Maureen Hartley's post is now on site:

http://girlscomicsofyesterday.com/2016/ ... ls-comics/

Very interesting insight into writing for DCT.

What a terrific item - a fascinating read. I remember applying for the girls comics scripting guidelines in response to a similar ad to the one Maureen mentions, in The Guardian in the 1980s, but without her success.

I've given the piece a plug on DTT http://downthetubes.net/?p=31752

What is Maureen doing today? Also, I assume she continued work in other fields besides comics given the dreadful page rates? Any information?

Your site is brilliant.