The ragdolls on the cover of this June 1944 issue are promoting nationwide toy making contributions for the 734 Polish refugee children about to arrive at the Pahiatua camp that would be their temporary home for up to four and a half years.\u00a0 The associated article provides details for readers to write in and buy a toy pattern at a cost of one penny, the pattern choices being:\u00a0 duck, owl, rabbit, elephant or a Humpty Dumpty.\u00a0 The article provides an insight into soft toys of the day, describing considerations such as: the type of cloth to use (animal skin not recommended); type of stuffing (options given are wood-wool, scoured-wool, rags, flock or sawdust); procuring fencing or fruit-case wire to provide stiffening; and cutting cardboard ovals for the soles of the feet.\u00a0 The last section describes how to make a paper mache doll, including finishing it with enamel paint so that \u201cit will be washable and everlasting\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n v.11:no.262 (1944: June 30)<\/p>\n 1957: The Aunt Daisy Story<\/strong><\/p>\n A serial biography beginning in August 1957 marked twenty one years of Aunt Daisy, regular Listener columnist and \u201cFirst Lady of Radio\u201d.\u00a0 The Aunt Daisy Story<\/em> instalments had titles such as:\u00a0 A Victorian Childhood, New Plymouth Ho!, <\/em>and The Fairly Gay Nineties<\/em>.\u00a0 The first issue containing the series (1957:Aug.2) included a pull-out photograph of Aunt Daisy (unfortunately this insert is missing from Hocken\u2019s copy).<\/p>\n Advertisers jumped on the bandwagon, hastening to associate their varied products with Aunt Daisy\u2019s trustworthy image.<\/p>\n v.37:no938 (1957:Aug.2), v.37:no.941 (1957:Aug.23) & v.37:no.942 (1957:Aug.30)<\/p>\n 1960: Twiss Family Puppetshow<\/strong><\/p>\n The page below shows the format of the single page per issue dedicated to television that was typical of the early 1960s. The Monday to Sunday listings take up very little space, as television was broadcast only two hours per evening on a single channel.<\/p>\n The television page always included a story on current programmes or personalities.\u00a0 The article below describes Puppet Playhouse,<\/em> a local programme featuring 23 year old puppeteer Greer Twiss (better known now for his career as a sculptor).\u00a0 Puppet Playhouse<\/em> was a family affair:\u00a0 Greer made the marionettes, his mother the costumes and his father the props and set.<\/p>\n Channel 2 has just acquired a new announcer called Mr Throgmorton.\u00a0 Viewers will excuse his somewhat wooden features when they see him, because Mr T. is a puppet who introduces the new Wednesday feature, Puppet Playhouse.<\/em><\/p>\n 1961: Television \u2013 It\u2019s wonderful!<\/strong><\/p>\n In contrast to the relatively low key one-page inclusion of programme listings when television made its New Zealand debut in Auckland less than a year previously, this issue excitedly announces its arrival to Wellington and Christchurch, claiming that \u201cabout half New Zealand\u2019s population will soon be able to watch television\u201d<\/p>\n v.44:no.1132 (1961:May19)<\/p>\n The article provides advice concerning the placement and size of the television set \u2013 quite the contrast to the popular super-sized television screens of today!<\/p>\n The best size of screen occupies 12 to 15 degrees of the viewer\u2019s field of vision and does not require him to move his eyes or turn his head to see different parts of the picture\u2026 A viewer should seat himself at a distance from the set equal to five times the screen\u2019s height.<\/em><\/p>\n 1973: Happen Inn People<\/strong><\/p>\n This January 1973 cover shows the move to full colour and the larger magazine format that persisted until 1989.<\/p>\n Happen Inn<\/em> was a Saturday evening pop music show hosted by Peter Sinclair.<\/p>\n v.72:no.1733 (1973:Jan29)<\/p>\n Turning the cover reveals a two-page spread of monochrome photographs by Robin Morrison documenting the exploits of the \u201cHappen Inn People\u201d during their summer break.<\/p>\n ******<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Hocken\u2019s holdings of the Listener\u2019s first three years are extremely sparse (only one fragile issue from late 1939), and we also have many gaps in later years. We will gratefully receive donations of early issues \u2013 please contact the Periodicals team (serials.hocken@otago.ac.nz) for details of collection gaps.<\/p>\n References:<\/p>\n ‘First issue of NZ Listener published’, URL: http:\/\/www.nzhistory.net.nz\/first-issue-of-the-em-new-zealand-listener-em-published<\/a>, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 30-Jun-2014<\/p>\n http:\/\/nzetc.victoria.ac.nz\/tm\/scholarly\/tei-PolFirs-t1-g1-g1-t5.html<\/a><\/p>\n![\"IMAGE](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/files\/2014\/10\/IMAGE-1-S14-444j-Toymaking-for-the-Polish-children.-Listener-v.11no.262-1944June30.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>v.43:no.1101 (1960:Oct7)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Pages 2&3 v.72:no.1733 (1973:Jan29)<\/p>\n