Pam’s Poll: Jinty & Penny 27 September 1980

On 27 September 1980, Jinty & Penny ran what is perhaps the most innovative poll in girls’ comics history – Pam’s Poll. This poll took the form of Pam’s school project. Pam’s questions were designed to gauge and adjust the balance of stories, the biggest favourites from the past, and what stories would make popular reprints. It was the second competition Jinty ran asking readers their views on what stories they would like.

The poll resulted in the reprints of Land of No Tears and Angela’s Angels (the latter because readers wanted a nursing story) in 1981. Pam’s Poll must also have been instrumental in the repeat of The Human Zoo during the Tammy & Jinty merger. The letters page revealed that many respondents had wanted Stefa’s Heart of Stone (1976) to return as well. Eventually Stefa was reprinted, but in Princess (series 2) and concluded in the Tammy & Princess merger. It is also possible that Pam’s Poll prompted the reprint of The Forbidden Garden in Tammy in 1984, a reprint that was sadly cut off by Tammy’s cancellation.

The stories Pam profiles in her project are:

• I’ll Make up for Mary (artist Guy Peeters, writer Alison Christie)
• Fran’ll Fix It! (artist Jim Baikie)
• The Jinx from St Jonah’s (artist Mario Capaldi)
• When Statues Walk (artist Phil Gascoine)
• Combing Her Golden Hair (artist Phil Townsend)
• The Human Zoo (artist Guy Peeters)

And here is the cover from the Pam’s Poll issue:

(Cover artist: Bob Harvey)

• Pam of Pond Hill (artist Bob Harvey)
• Girl the World Forgot (artist Veronica Weir)
• Tears of a Clown (artist Phil Gascoine)
• Tansy of Jubilee Street (artist Ken Houghton)
• Pennies for Her Thoughts – Gypsy Rose story (artist Douglas Perry)
• Gaye’s Gloomy Ghost (artist Hugh Thornton-Jones)
• Child of the Rain (artist Phil Townsend)