John Bull (magazine)

John Bull magazine was a weekly periodical established in Bolt Court, London, by Theodore Hook in 1820. [http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/9424/page17.html]

It was a popular periodical that continued in production through 1824 [http://www.erudit.org/revue/ron/1998/v/n10/005803ar.html] and at least until 1828. [http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/arrest-and-discov.cfm] .

A magazine of that name was reportedly being published in 1899 [http://www.arthurchappell.clara.net/cults.defined.htm] and 1903. [http://wantitnow.ebay.co.uk/John-Bull-magazine-1903_W0QQadidZ200085399061]

Horatio Bottomley [http://www.collectorcafe.com/article_archive.asp?article=260&id=1267] , a sometime MP for the Liberal [http://www.theargus.co.uk/yourargus/nostalgia/pastpresent/display.var.1111740.0.alfristons_rogues_stars_and_favourites.php] , became the publisher of the magazine on May 12 1906. It continued production during the First World War [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWusaG.htm] . It was the subject of a libel case in 1919 concerning a biographical film about David Lloyd George. [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/275387]

In 1920, the company was merged into Odham's Press [http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/cibs/pdf/27-02.pdf] . In 1923, the magazine was said to be 'ultra patriotic'. [http://www.compulsiononline.com/crowley.htm] Around that time, the editor was Geoffrey Williamson [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&targetRule=10&xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F04%2F24%2Fdb2401.xml] .

The magazine was in print in 1931, [http://www.njedge.net/~knapp/stories.htm] 1939 and 1944. [http://www.booksandcollectibles.com.au/dump/EMPIRE_BOOKS/books-0005.html]

The magazine was published by Odhams Press from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. Similar in style to the iconic American magazine The Saturday Evening Post, the John Bull covers encapsulated post-war Britain and employed some of Britain's finest illustrators. They also included short stories by major British authors such as Agatha Christie, Nicholas Monsarrat, N.J. Crisp, Gerald Kersh, J.B. Priestly and C.S. Forrester. The copyright is now held by The Advertising Archives. During its run it incorporated other magazines such as The Illustrated, Passing Show, News Review and Everybody's Weekly. At one point, its picture editor was Elkan Allan [http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article1124539.ece] ; John Sandilands also worked for it. [http://www.johnsandilands.info/js__obit.htm]

The magazine may have closed in 1962. A court case between "Today, The New John Bull", a magazine published by Norman Kark Publications Ltd. and Odhams Press Ltd. unfolded between 1960 and 1962. [http://www.robic.com/publications/Pdf/108-LC.pdf]

External links

* [http://www.advertisingarchives.co.uk/gallery_johnbull.php John Bull gallery] at The Advertising Archives