WHOOPEE! POSTERS AND PULL-OUTS IN 1977

In 1977 IPC were again generous with their WHOOPEE! pull-outs – as many as 15 issues had something special in them.

The first two numbers (1st and 8th January) had a pull out calendar. 

This is how the calendar was advertised in the last issue of 1976: 

Ken Reid made it up to the readers for being unavailable to draw the previous year’s calendar, and contributed this impressive 2-part poster, with an evil-looking Sun and a spooky planet for each month. 

Assembly instructions were included with the second part of the calendar:

WHOOPEE! issue cover dated 12th February, 1977 had the Mini-Sampler of Whoopee!'s Companion Comic Whizzer and Chips. The 8-page mini booklet was all black and white and featured Shiner, Odd-Ball, Fuss Pot, Joker, Sid’s Snake, Hover Boots, Sweet Tooth and Tiny Tycoon. Here’s the front cover of the issue, followed by two sample pages of the booklet:

The issue of 11th June 1977 featured the Silver Jubilee Parade poster. 

The poster was advertised in the previous week’s edition:

… and showed a cheery crowd of WHOOPEE!’s stars marching along the street, waving their Union Jacks, etc. to the joy of the kids feasting at the tables on the sidewalk.  See how many strip characters you can spot :) A beautiful piece by Robert Nixon and one of my favourite WHOOPEE! posters (click to enlarge):

In the four issues from 25th June till 16th July, 1977 readers were offered an opportunity to give Bumpkin Billionaires a run for their money by playing the Bumpkin Billionaires' LOOSE YER LOT game.

Each of the first three issues had one part of the game printed in colour on the centre pages, and a page of white and blue cards:

The rest of the cards were printed on the centre pages of the fourth issue that also included instructions how to assemble and play the board game:

 

The next issue (23rd July, 1977) had this advert:

Thus, having taken a short break of just one week after the 'Loose Yer Lot' game, WHOOPEE! came up with a series of 4 pull-outs included in the issues cover-dated from 30th July till 20th August, 1977. They were quiz booklets on the four different subjects of TV, Pop, Sports and Animals. The front, back and centre pages of the 8-page booklets were in colour, while the rest were in b/w. 

Answers to all 4 quiz books were printed in the issue of 20th August, 1977 which had the last booklet. 

In the autumn of 1977 WHOOPEE! offered cut-out masks in the three consecutive issues of 8th, 15th and 22nd October. Here’s the advert of the first one:

All the three masks, drawn and signed by Brian Walker, were printed on the centre pages of the comic and appeared on front covers next to WHOOPEE! logo. 

By the way, WHOOPEE! issue cover-dated 22nd October 1977 was the last one with Bumpkin Billionaires as the cover stars – they were ousted by Sweeny starting from next week. 

Characters are © Rebellion Publishing Ltd 

And while you’re here, I would like to remind you that my promotion for the POWER PACK OF KEN REID is still on. Get your copies of the books and BONUS FREE PRINTS on eBay or from my online shop HERE!