ACTIVE CLUB – ACTIVE JIM CLUB

ACTIVE CLUB – ACTIVE JIM CLUB

This club organized by Bell Features and appearing in Active Comics was an early initiative of the company to reach out to its readers. Its name began as “Active Club”, but was changed to “Active Jim Club” in issue 4 after “Active Jim” had first appeared in issue 3.

It was basically a couple of newsletters, one being “Active Jim’s Monthly Comment” which usually contained a coded message, and the other “Club News & Views. On the rare occasions when an author was identified he was Adrian Dingle.

The club became an important bridge when Cy Bell decided that his company would sponsor a hockey team which was called the “Panthers”. Club members and Active Comics readers were kept informed of the “Panthers’” activities through the club’s newsletters and a cartoon story about the “Panthers” in Active Comics. An inventive way to create a link between community activities and the periodical.

A reference in an “Active Jim” episode and in an “Active Jim” newsletter combine to suggest that Active Comics were appearing in Britain. An ”Active Jim” episode in Active Comics 7, refers to letters coming from Britain. This appears to be authentic as a note at the bottom of the panel states “Addresses on request”. In the final newsletter, Active Comics 25 “Active Jim” tells members:

“Hello Gang!! I’ve been receiving quite a few letters from club members in England. They are all asking for pen pals, here in Canada!! So how about dropping them a line!!’

This is followed by 7 partial letters from youngsters with English addresses joining the club and asking to have pen pals. The club ended before any follow-up occurred nor is there any indication Bell had extended its distribution to that country. The best guess is that individuals were taking their comics with them on trips to Britain then leaving them with friends who then used the “Active Jim Club” application form.

MEDIUM:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                            Published by Commercial Signs of Canada. Colour cover. Black & white content.

Content club message:

Active Comics, 2, Mar. 1942: “Join Now The Active Club”. Author unidentified: 32.                                                           “How To Join The Active Club”, Author unidentified: 33.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                            Published by Bell Features & Publishing Co. Colour cover. Black & white content.

Content club message:

Active Comics… no date: “…”. Author unidentified unless stated: …
3: “Club News and Views” & “100 New Members Is Your Name Here?”: Inside front cover.                                                                        “This Month’s Message to Members: Greetings Boys & Girls – Member’s Secret Message Use Code Wheel”: 50.

4: “Club News & Views” & “New Members Is Your Name Here?”: Inside front cover.                                                                                    “Active Jim’s Monthly Message: hello again members – Member’s Secret Message Use Code Wheel”: 29.

5: “Club News & Views” & “New Members Is Your Name Here?”: 11.                                                                                                          “Active Jim’s Monthly Message – Member’s Secret Message Use Code Wheel”: 17.

6: “Club News and Views by Active Jim” & “ 68 New Members As Your Name Here?”: 9.

7: “Club News and Views by Active Jim”: 11.                                                                                                                                                “Active Jim’s Monthly Message – Member’s Secret Message Use Code Wheel”: 25.                                                                              “Don’t Delay Another Second! Become A Member of Active Club”: 31.

8: “Club News and Views by Active Jim – Member’s Secret Message Use Code Wheel”: 18.                                                                      “Don’t Delay Another Second! Become A Member of Active Club”: 51.

9: “Active Jim’s Monthly Message – Member’s Secret Message Use Code Wheel”: 18.                                                                              “Club News And Views”: 32-33.

10: “Active Jim’s Monthly Message – Code Message”. Adrian Dingle: 19.                                                                                                      “Club News and Views.” & “More Active News”. Adrian Dingle: 44-45.

11: “Active Jim’s Monthly Message – Code Message”. Adrian Dingle: 26                                                                                                        “Club News and Views”: 39.                                                                                                                                                                      “More Active News”. Writ. & Illus., Darion: 40

12: “Club News and Views”: 24.                                                                                                                                                                      “Club News and Views by Active Jim”: 25.                                                                                                                                                “Club News and Views: These Fellow Members Want To Hear From You”: 39.                                                                                        “Active Jim’s Monthly Message – Here’s A Code Message To Members”. Adrian Dingle: :40.

13: “Active Jim’s Message – Code Message”: 16.                                                                                                                                            “Club News and Views by Active Jim”: 34.                                                                                                                                                “Club News and Views: More News”: 35.

14: “Active Jim’s Message – Here’s A Code Message To Members”. Adrian Dingle: 16.                                                                                “Club News and Views by Active Jim”: 40.                                                                                                                                                “Club News and Views: Drop Them A Line”: 41.

15: “Active Jim’s Message – Code Message”. Adrian Dingle: 21.                                                                                                                    “Club News and Views – More New Members”: 42.                                                                                                                                  “Club News and Views By Active Jim – Give These New Members A Warm Welcome -Write Them ”: 42.

16: “Active Jim’s Club News and Views – Make These New Members Your Pen Pals”:16.                                                                            “Active Jim’s Message – Here’s A Code Message To Members”. Adrian Dingle: 34.                                                                                “More News & Views by Active Jim – Drop These A Line Today”: 41.

17: “Active Jim’s Message – Here’s A Code Message To Members”. Adrian Dingle: 22.                                                                                “Active Jim’s Club News and Views”: 23.

18: “Active Club News & Views by Active Jim”: 9.

19: “Active Jim’s Club News and Views – Make These New Members Your Pen Pals”: 6.                                                                            “A Super Dooper Announcement To All Boys & Girls Interested In Hockey Especially Members of the Active Club – Panthers”: 23

20: “Active Club Panthers – team member’s names and portraits”: 36-37                                                                                                      “Reporting Panthers Games By Active Jim”: 38-39.                                                                                                                                  “Members Of The Active Club!”: 40.                                                                                                                                                          “Active Jim’s Club News and Views”: 41.

21: “Active Jim’s Message – Here’s A Code Message To Members”. Adrian Dingle: 8.                                                                                  “Reporting Panther’s Games By Active Jim”. Adrian Dingle 20-21, 44-47.

22: “Active Jim’s Club News and Views – Make These New Members Your Pen Pals”: 17.

23: No club message.

24: No club message.

25: “Active Jim’s Club News”: 27. Last message from Active Jim Club.

SOURCE:

Article newspaper:

Globe and Mail [Toronto] 23 Oct.1982: “Whatever Happened to …?” Peter Harris: Fanfare 7.

GALLERY:

ACTIVE CLUB, Active Comics 2, Mar    Text Description automatically generated with medium confidence       Active Comics, 2, Mar. 1942: 32-33

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON P\PANTHERS, Active, 20, 38.jpgActive Comics, 20:38.

 

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