When ‘the Press’ Went ‘gay’ Once A Week (Press, 9 July 1982)

The article by Rosemary Britten recounts the nostalgic history of "The Gay Gazette," a children's journal published by "The Press" in Christchurch New Zealand during the 1930s. The publication began on 6 July 1935, following the staff of the children's pages from "The Sun" newspaper, initially bearing the name "Shipmates and Sunbeams" before evolving into "The Gay Gazette" by October of that year. Alongside "The Press Junior," which had started a year earlier, both supplements served the youth of Canterbury well, with each offering unique content tailored for different age groups. "The Press Junior" aimed at older children with serious journalism, summarising world news and featuring contributions from well-known writers and experts across various fields. Prominent figures like L. W. McCaskill and John Pascoe provided nature stories and mountaineering articles, while fiction from notable authors such as Monte Holcroft and Frances Cresswell entertained young readers. The initiative encouraged young talent by paying for contributions, giving many aspiring writers their first experience of seeing their work in print. In contrast, "The Gay Gazette" focused on lighter content including puzzles, colouring competitions, and reader submissions like verses and stories. Children earned points and badges for their contributions, and the supplement promoted social engagement through charitable initiatives, particularly the Christmas Mission, to aid less fortunate families. Lady Gay, or Esther Glen, was the dynamic editor behind "The Gay Gazette." Known for her contributions to children's literature and journalism, she championed the creativity and altruism of children, engaged them in civic activities like electing a "Mayor," and fostered connections with penfriends worldwide. Glen's influence extended to social causes, including supporting the Cholmondeley Children's Home. However, the onset of World War II brought significant challenges, including paper shortages, which ultimately led to a reduction in the number of pages for both publications. Esther Glen passed away on 9 February 1940, leaving a profound impact on her readers. Following her death, "The Gay Gazette" was managed by other staff members but struggled to maintain its previous quality and engagement due to wartime restrictions. The last issue was published on 29 March 1941, marking the end of an era. Despite its closure, the legacy and appeal of both "The Gay Gazette" and "The Press Junior" endures, as evidenced by contemporary children finding joy in reading past volumes.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand