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| Muffin the mule |
Muffin the mule
Muffin
the Mule is a very well- remembered character from early black and
white TV days of the 1950s. The show's signature tune, 'We want
Muffin- J Muffin the Mule' is a catchy jingle that is still fair from
forgotten by many adults who fondly remember the TV Muffin sessions
presented by / singer Annette Mills.
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| Muffin the mule |
Jan
Bussell and Ann Hogarth, professional puppeteers, had then decided
that their performances needed a new act. Jan, after a great deal of
thought, sketched a kicking mule and a clown on the back of an
envelope and gave it to the 'Punch and Judy' man to turn into a
puppet.
With
children forming the audience at their shows around the country, they
were well aware how they enjoyed a touch of violence in their
entertainment. What could provide better action for them than seeing
a stubborn mule kicking a clown around the stage?
Well,
the scenario probably went down well with the children, but in the
course of time it began to prove somewhat boring for the presenters.
The act was dropped and the clown was incorporated into other acts,
with the donkey being put on one side to become almost forgotten for
several years.
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| Muffin the mule |
However,
Ann and Jan were to eventually have an important visitor to their
home. This was Annette Mills who had been well known for her TV
appearances as a singer on the BBCs popular 'Children's Hour' series.
From 1946 Annette had been appearing fairly regularly in this
kiddies' programme when television resumed transmission after the
war.
Her
mission in calling to see Ann and Jan was to ask them if they would
consider making puppets that could be used to illustrate the songs
she wrote and sang. The meeting turned out well, except that the
result was that the roles would reverse, with Annette Mills writing
the songs to illustrate the activities of the Hogarth's Puppets!
During
her visit Annette Mills had been shown a selection of figures that
were not being used at the time. She immediately chose the discarded
mule puppet as an ideal character for the job straight away and named
him 'Muffin'! She also took a fancy to the clown and gave him the
name 'Crumpet'. Work started at once and Ann Hogarth composed the
necessary twelve minute script whilst Annette wrote the songs-
including the 'We want Muffin' signature tune.
Quick
work, really, because the show was scheduled to be transmitted the
Sunday following!
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| Muffin the mule |
The
'Muffin the Mule' programme, as we now know, was destined to become a
very popular children's show and the inevitable production of
'Muffin' memorabilia began to appear. One of the most important
items, now especially collectable, is the 1950s cast-metal 'Muffin
the Mule' puppet produced as a toy by Lesney, the creator of
'Matchbox Toys' and 'Models of Yesteryear'.
This
Anglicised German company of'Moko', originally founded by Moses
Kohnstam (hence the 'Moko' derivation) in Bavaria in the late 19th
century, and later becoming London based, had the die-cast toy made
for them by the new Lesney company.
Lesney
became internationally known for their die-cast toys known as
'Matchbox Miniatures' and 'Models of Yesteryear'.
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| Muffin the mule |
It
was 'Moko' that was responsible for the idea of 'Matchbox Miniatures'
having their cartons designed matchbox-style! in the early days these
familiar 'matchboxes' were marked 'Moko-Lesney'.
The
'Moko' was removed after the Lesney family took over the Moko
company. Collectors for this particular 'Muffin' model have,
unfortunately, to compete with Lesney collectors who also like to
acquire examples of 'Moko' products!
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| Muffin the mule |
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