the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Edward L. Wheeler : Deadwood Dick

'In the lower part of the newsagent's windows were the journals that catered for me. By would be reformers they were lumped together as "penny dreadfuls". One was "Deadwood Dick" -a cowboy who was always bumping off people in Deadman's Gulch or Gallow's Ravine, The reformers told me that my mind would become brutalised by reading Penny Dreadfuls... Besides "Deadwood Dick" in the shop window there was "Bronco Bill", with stories of a similar type. And there was "Jack Wright".'

Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Stamper      Print: Serial / periodical

Edward L. Wheeler : Deadwood Dick

'Also on pink newsprint were "Sketchy Bits" and "Photo Bits". Most of the "bits" in these journals had huge nude thighs and huge, almost nude, bosoms, with the absolute minimum of clothing... These two "Bits" journals - that I sometimes bought for a halfpenny each at the second-hand periodical stall in the market -catered to some extent to masochists. There were pages of letters supposed to be written by readers to the editor -though it would not surprise me if they had all been written by the same journalist -that I did not quite understand as a boy. I read everything I came across, from the Bible to "Deadwood Dick", so I read these letters also.'

Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Stamper      Print: Serial / periodical

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