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"Teen Now" Magazine Interview

“Teen Now” magazine (1972)

1. Michael’s a secret hugger — would love a girl as cuddly as a Teddy bear.

...5. All of the Jacksons are very competitive about everything in the secrecy of their home. Each wants to be the “best” at everything. But if you win and it turns out you're best. watch out, because...

6. All of the Jacksons are the biggest teases in the world. and the “best” always gets the biggest tease of all, just in case anyone should get a swelled head.

7. There are no J5 records in the Jackson house! They keep giving them away!

8. Michael's secret love? A girl who's going to grow up to be just like Diana Ross. “a very foxy lady.”

...ll. Michael's become a secret foreign-food addict and. though he only admits it to people he trusts — wouldn't mind learning to cook. He's also turned on to girls who can try new things to eat. and can read a cookbook like it was a novel.

...13. Jermaine and Michael secretly drive Jackie crazy — especially when they fool around at recording sessions—which they sometimes do!

14. Michael’s a giggler — even when there’s nothing to giggle about. It just takes him by fits, and nothing can shut him up unless it's a trip to his room, requested by Mom, until he can control himself.

...22. Michael will be happy to meet you at any public place where he ha pens to be. If you don‘t notice him, he'll just up and talk to you. if you look approachable. So if you're at the movies — he loves Disney flicks — or at the soda shoppe or a hotel lobby where he may be staying, just keep smiling and you may meet him!

23. One thing Michael really hates — the fact that his brothers call him “Big Nose."

24. But he's getting back at them by driving them nuts with his new, secret interest in wayout clothes! He's not only always asking them to look at his new threads — he's always making them drive him down to his favorite clothing shop.

...27. Michael's a vocabulary freak — loves learning big words in private — whacking everyone he knows with them in public.

32. The places the J5 hang out, when they‘re not on tour, is right around their home, sweet home, and they don't like going very far away from there.

...35. What Michael likes least about himself? He‘s secretly afraid that he‘s lazy. When there‘s no schedule set up, he lazes around — just thinking about all the things he'd like to be doing!

...44. What do the boys secretly wish for more than anything else? They want to be the Jackson 6 — permanently—with Randy as a constant part of the act.

45. What's their common ambition? They love being teen idols, but they also want to be taken serious as a heavy soul group by people in the business — like Aretha Franklin.

46. What's a secret the J5 don‘t know about themselves? Aretha Franklin loves 'em, thinks they're a heavy soul group.

49. Michael's super favorite wish--to find some girl among his fans. that he can tell all his secrets to.

“How the Jackson 5 Get Their Kicks” article

We all know how active the Jackson 5 are on stage--well, off-stage it's the same story. They're an energetic bunch of fellas who really believe in living life to the full and it's certainly no exaggeration to say that there's never a dull moment in the Jackson household!

You've only got to take a look at their house to realize that all the boys are mad keen on sport--in fact it's not so much a house, more like a mini sports' center! There's a large heated swimming pool, equipped with diving boards and water chute, a basketball half-court, where all the boys play together at least once a day, a badminton court, and an archery range--one thing's for sure, the boys will never have to worry about keepin' fit!

Alongside the pool the J5 have built themselves a playroom which is fitted out with pool tables and pinball machines--another favorite J5 hobby! Also in the playhouse is the boys' own personal 'den'. It's here that the boys go when they want to watch T.V., play records, read, or just 'be alone'--which, believe us, isn't very often, 'cos the J5 are a family who love to do things together.

Of course, the Jackson 5 have all got their own personal interests. Michael has got a mad passion for art and he often takes off somewhere, just so he can sit and sketch. He also likes doing jigsaw puzzles--the harder the better! He says it's good to do something that takes a lot of concentration. Naturally music is very important to him and just recently he's got very involved in songwriting. He also loves playing the drums--says it helps get rid of his nervous energy!

“A Turn-on Evening with The Jackson 5” article

...Another evening activity dear to the hearts of The Jackson Five takes place in the kitchen. And this time, Jermaine is the master of ceremonies. After he received an “A” in his cooking class at school, his brothers want to make certain he put his culinary talents to good use. And since his best dishes just happen to be enchiladas and tacos, both Jackson favorites. he never gets a moment's peace.

“My brothers are crazy about Mexican food", Jermaine says with a sigh. “and watching TV really stimulates their appetite. I‘m always in the kitchen whipping up a treat. But I'm not complaining—-yet, that is. They still love Mother‘s cooking more than mine."

As soon as The Jacksons have cleaned their plates, Michael’s usually up and away from the table in a frantic dash. Where‘s he off to in such a hurry?

He soon returns with his hands filled with drawing paper and crayons. None of his brothers ever mind sitting still while Michael draws a quick sketch or a few portraits of them.

“I love to draw," Michael says. “And when I‘m not sketching someone in my family, 1 create a few of my own cartoon characters."

It’s no secret in the Jackson household that mischievous Michael can‘t let a single evening slip by without playing some practical jokes on his unsuspecting brothers. Since he‘s known for his determination, he'll go to any lengths to bring one off. He'll even wait until his brothers are sound asleep so he can hide their shoes or pull some other playful prank.

"Knowing Michael's wild sense of humor”, Marlon says. "I wouldn’t be surprised if he let his pet mice loose on an evening when things were a bit too quiet."

Chris Cadman, author, “Michael Jackson the Maestro” (“A Turn-on Evening with The Jackson 5” article summary/quotes)

What did the Jackson 5 do on a rare night off? This article gave the fans a few clues. Jackie liked to arrange a night out at the disco, while Marlon loved to practise his card tricks. The guys had taken to calling him Merlin as they couldn’t quite work out how he did his tricks.

Jermaine who had gained an A in his cooking class was normally chef for the night especially as his brother’s loved Mexican food.

Michael was described as always being up and away from the table after eating so as he could get his paper and crayons to do sketches of his brothers.

“I love to draw. And when I’m not sketching someone in my family, I create a few of my own cartoon characters.”