Adelaide Punch

Adelaide Punch (1878–1884) was a short-lived humorous and satirical magazine published in Adelaide, South Australia. Like Melbourne Punch, it was modelled on Punch of London.

History

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Adelaide Punch had its origin in The Rattlesnake or Adelaide Punch, a fortnightly magazine first published by Haddrick and East on Thursday 24 January 1878. It failed after a few issues, leaving the printers Scrymgour and Sons holding a debt of around £100.

Rather than writing it off, they decided to persevere with its production, and momentarily interested D. W. Melville, at one time with the Register, to act as managing editor, but he found it interfered with his lucrative auctioneering business, so they settled on J. C. F. Johnson, of the Register (later M.P. for Onkaparinga). His team included D. M. "Dan" Magill (ca.1845 – 3 April 1916), also ex-Register; William John Kennedy (1848–1894), headmaster of Mount Gambier and Hindmarsh schools, as cartoonist (also associated with Quiz magazine); and C. R. Wilton, then a promising cadet.

The magazine was a considerable success, and went weekly in September 1878.[1] Johnson purchased a half-share from Scrymgour in December that year and assumed the role of managing editor,[2] and in 1879 became sole proprietor, bringing his brother A. Campbell Johnson in as partner.[3]

In mid-1880 they advertised for another cartoonist (by this time the proprietors were Johnson and Scarfe); in July Adelaide Punch grew in size, and the type and layout were changed to more closely resemble the London Punch; South Australian newspapers greeted the new format with approval.[4]

Around October 1881 Johnson hired Godfrey Egremont (died 1923), once the Register's theatre critic, prolific author and embezzler,[5] as editor then in April 1882 sold out to E. H. Derrington,[6] who appointed Henry O'Donnell as editor and engaged Herbert James Woodhouse (1858–1937) as cartoonist.[7] O'Donnell and Woodhouse became owners in early 1884;[8] quality suffered, the wit was gone and by October 1884 the magazine was in trouble; it was purchased by Charles A. Murphy, owner with Charles F. Stansbury, of an erstwhile competitor, the Lantern, and publication ceased.[9]

The publication was Quarto size, ran to 8 pages, and sold for sixpence.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Advertising". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 7 September 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Presentation to Mr. J. C. F. Johnson". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 2 December 1878. p. 5. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Advertising". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 18 November 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Adelaide Punch". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 3 July 1880. p. 5. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  5. ^ "The Arrest of Godfrey Egremont". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 26 April 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. ^ Edwin Henry Derrington (1830–1899), later MP for Victoria, was owner of the Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser and the Port Adelaide News
  7. ^ "Obituary". The Argus. Melbourne. 12 June 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 5 January 2015 – via National Library of Australia. This reference names H. J. Woodhouse's brother W. J. Woodhouse as Adelaide Punch cartoonist 1878–1884.
  8. ^ "Change of Ownership". The Northern Argus. Clare, SA: National Library of Australia. 29 January 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  9. ^ "From the Metropolis". The Narracoorte Herald. SA: National Library of Australia. 31 October 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  10. ^ Lurline Stuart (1979), Nineteenth century Australian periodicals: an annotated bibliography, Sydney, Hale & Iremonger, p.17. ISBN 0908094531
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