Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Early learning - 2

I have belatedly remembered another valued companion of my early learning experiences - Mickey Mouse! Mickey was 'born' the year after me, in 1928, (created as we all know by Walt Disney), and so we grew up together. The Mickey Mouse comic came out in 1936 and ran for 920 issues until 1955. It was, so my researches tell me, the first comic to be printed in full colour photogravure. It cost 2d or 2 pence which is .80p, ie less than 1p today.

My mother began buying the comic for me from the very first issue, and I can remember how, on returning from the shops, she would throw it through the open window to me, so that I wouldn't have to wait those extra few moments while she walked round the corner of the house to the door!

I have been lucky enough to find a picture of the cover of that first issue, and so that you can assess its value as an instrument of learning, I have transcribed here the words in the speech 'bubble' underneath Mickey and Minnie in the cetral star:

“FANCY, MINNIE, A TABLE WITHOUT LEGS”
“WHAT KIND OF TABLE CAN THAT BE, MICKEY?”
“THE ‘TOOSA’ TABLE, MINNIE –
YOU KNOW, TWO TOOSA FOUR, THREE TOOSA SIX –"


3 comments:

KAZ said...

I love Mickey Mouse - he's iconic. I used to collect Mickeys. So did Bill Oddie who had his kitchen all in Mickey colours with Mickeys all over for decoration.
Great to find that cover.
I'n't t'internet great?

annie said...

My grandson joins us in our love for Mickey. He is nearly 6 and watches the "educational" Mickey who teaches counting etc. on Disney Playhouse. My favorite oldie Mickey is the one about Pluto and the kitten. Pluto is jealous and tries to get rid of it but when it falls into the well he saves it. The angel and devil (one on each shoulder)fighting for the life/death of the kitten still tickle me after all these years. You Tube has it. But I am poor at leaving links. Also, the links don't seem to last very long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBy9X9UF9w

Hope it works. Called "LEND A PAW"
annie

annie said...

PS I posted this in the wrong place but since I have, I need to correct the link. You need the You Tube video that says 1941 Lend A PAW. The link I gave you is not complete

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcGvmE8hA-4&feature=related

annie