An Interesting Find by ERB Researcher
John Martin

  This article had alternating paragraphs about two upcoming fictional novels,  The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Since the author apparently didn't have advance reading copies, the writing is somewhat speculative in spots as to the ultimate content of the stories. There appears to be an error with inclusion of the date 2015, where the writer seems to have meant 1915.

TALE OF THE TAPE
SHERLOCK HOLMES 
VS.
TARZAN OF THE APES

  Wipe from your mind the impending pugilistic championship bout between the American bruisers Jack Johnson and Jess Willard, for the best heavyweight haymakers being thrown currently are those by fictional heroes Sherlock Holmes and Tarzan of the Apes. Bradford E. Wheeler sets up a fracas which promises to be one for the pages.

  The Son of Tarzan is rumoured to be Mr. Edgar Rice Burroughs's follow-up to 1914's The Beasts of Tarzan, which was serialized within an American pulp. The New York-based All-Story Weekly is negotiating for rights. Critics who have found Mr. Burroughs's recent work to be derivative retain hope for the author's return to form.

POLK CITY, Fla. (AP) — The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus says the "Greatest Show on Earth" will go on without elephants.
Animal rights groups took credit for generating the public concern that forced the company to announce its pachyderm retirement plan on Thursday. But Ringling Bros.' owners described it as the bittersweet result of years of internal family discussions. "It was a decision 145 years in the making," said Juliette Feld, referring to P.T. Barnum's introduction of animals to his "traveling menagerie" in 1870. Elephants have symbolized this circus since Barnum brought an Asian elephant named Jumbo to America in 1882.

Kenneth Feld — whose father bought the circus in 1967 and who now runs Feld Enterprises Inc. with his three daughters — insisted that animal rights activists weren't responsible. "We're not reacting to our critics; we're creating the greatest resource for the preservation of the Asian elephant," Kenneth Feld told The Associated Press as he broke the news that the last 13 performing elephants will retire by 2018, joining 29 other pachyderms at the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida. But Feld acknowledged that because so many cities and counties have passed "anti-circus" and "anti-elephant" ordinances, it's difficult to organize tours of three traveling circuses to 115 cities each year. Fighting legislation in each jurisdiction is expensive, he said. "All of the resources used to fight these things can be put toward the elephants," Feld said.

Los Angeles prohibited the use of bull-hooks by elephant trainers and handlers last April. Oakland, California, did likewise in December, banning the devices used to keep elephants in control. Last month, the city of Asheville, North Carolina nixed wild or exotic animals from performing in the municipally-owned, 7,600-seat U.S. Cellular Center. "There's been somewhat of a mood shift among our consumers," said Alana Feld, the company's executive vice president. "A lot of people aren't comfortable with us touring with our elephants."

Ingrid E. Newkirk, the president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says her group made that happen. "For 35 years PETA has protested Ringling Bros.' cruelty to elephants," she wrote in a statement. "We know extreme abuse to these majestic animals occurs every single day, so if Ringling is really telling the truth about ending this horror, it will be a day to pop the champagne corks, and rejoice. ... If the decision is serious, then the circus needs to do it NOW."

Carol Bradley, the author of the book "Last Chain on Billie: How One Extraordinary Elephant Escaped the Big Top," which is about a non-Ringling circus elephant, said she believes the Feld family "realized it was a losing PR battle." "This is an enormous, earth-moving decision," she said. "When I heard the news, my jaw hit the floor. I never thought they'd change their minds about this." Bradley wondered if the Feld family's decision had anything to do with the fallout over "Blackfish," a documentary exploring why the orca Tilikum killed SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010. The documentary argues that killer whales in captivity become more aggressive to humans and each other. Since it aired, several entertainers pulled out of performances at SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. parks, and Southwest Airlines ended its marketing partnership.

Ringling also has been targeted by activists who say forcing animals to perform is cruel and unnecessary. In 2014, Feld Entertainment won $25.2 million in settlements from groups including the Humane Society of the United States, ending a 14-year legal battle over allegations that circus employees mistreated elephants. The initial lawsuit was filed by a former Ringling barn helper who accepted at least $190,000 from animal-rights groups. The judge called him "essentially a paid plaintiff" who lacked credibility and standing to sue, and rejected the abuse claims. Kenneth Feld testified about the elephants' importance to the show during that 2009 trial. "The symbol of the 'Greatest Show on Earth' is the elephant, and that's what we've been known for throughout the world for more than a hundred years," he said. Asked by a lawyer whether the show would be the same without elephants, Feld replied, "No, it wouldn't." Asked again this week, Feld said, "Things have changed."

Pat Cuviello, a San Mateo, California-based animal activist who has protested and videotaped Ringling's animals since 1988, said he was ecstatic to hear the news. "I hope at some point they get rid of all the animals in all the circuses," he said.

For now, animals remain part of this circus: Tigers, dogs and goats are still performing, and a Mongolian troupe of camel stunt riders joined its Circus Xtreme show this year. But audiences can expect more motorsports, daredevils and feats of human physical capabilities to be showcased in the future. In 2008, Feld acquired motor sports properties including monster truck shows, motocross and the International Hot Rod Association, which promotes drag races and other events. In 2010, it created a theatrical motorcycle stunt show called Nuclear Cowboyz. Roughly 30 million people attend Feld's 5,000 live entertainment shows every year.

Ringling's popular Canada-based competitor, Cirque du Soleil, features human acts and doesn't use wild animals.But elephants are still being used by smaller circuses in the U.S., and in places like Russia, France and Thailand.

With a total of 43 elephants, Feld owns the largest herd in North America, and spends about $65,000 yearly to care for each one. New structures will be needed to house the retiring elephants at the rural center, which is close enough to Orlando to attract tourists eventually if that's what Feld decides to offer. Kenneth Feld said initially the center will be open only to scientists and others studying the Asian elephant, but he "hopes it expands to something the public will be able to see."

At least Marilyn got to ride one while she could...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CQgRiftnbI
 
 

Two Tarzan Titles Inscribed by Edgar Rice Burroughs to Maureen O'Sullivan; and with Her Autograph Note Jungle Tales of Tarzan. Grosset & Dunlap 1919 reprint. Inscribed by Burroughs on the free front endpaper: 
"To / Maureen Farrow / with all good wishes / Edgar Rice Burroughs / Tarzana / January 31 1938".
Signed in ink above Burroughs inscription: "Pat Farrow" with a flourish. 
The Beasts of Tarzan. Grosset & Dunlap 1916 reprint. Inscribed by Burroughs on the free front endpaper: 
"To / Maureen Farrow / with best wishes / Edgar Rice Burroughs / Tarzana / California". 
Plus:
Maureen O'Sullivan [Cushing]. Autograph note on her monogramed notecard. 
Believed to be to her son Patrick Farrow and his wife Susan Farrow, in which she says in part:
"Next week I do a TV E.R. narrating Edgar Rice Burroughs! (you have all the books he gave me)."
Maureen O'Sullivan Farrow (1911-1998) was an Irish actress 
who went on to play Jane in a total of six feature Tarzan films between 1932 and 1942. 
Her first husband was award-winning director John Farrow.

Signed at the bottom of the second page by Burroughs, Joseph E. Bray, Vice President for A. C. McClurg and Company, and two witnesses -- with Burroughs' ink stamp above his signature. This contract has the most unusual aspect in that there is no mention of payment up-front to Burroughs.

Burroughs was to receive a royalty of 20% on all sales of the first edition - not a sliding scale as usually done (based on a catalogue price of $2.00 per copy). Burroughs was also responsible for text corrections after the printed proof was made, beyond an initial $25 of printer's fees paid by the publisher. 

Burroughs reserved all movie and serial rights to this book, as well as foreign translations. Burroughs was to also receive twelve copies of this book upon publication, and a 40% discount on all copies thereafter. This contract awards exclusive publication right to A. C. McClurg during the copyright period and renewals.

Collection of Correspondence. * Typed Letter Signed. Tarzana, March 5, 1935. On Burroughs' stationery. Addressed "Mr. Stanton Bernstein". Burroughs sends this signed letter for Mr. Bernstein's collection.
* Two Signed Checks. Los Angeles, Jan. 1, 1935 and Dec 8, 1937. On Citizen's National Bank check paper.
* Typed Note Signed. Tarzana, December 30, 1933. On Burroughs' stationery. In original typed envelope on Burroughs' stationery. Addressed "Bullock's Los Angeles". Burroughs arranges for delivery of goods to Hulbert Burroughs and for his (Edgar Rice's) account to be charged.
* Carbon Copy of a Typed Letter Signed. Tarzana, October 19, 1935. On copy of Burroughs' stationery.
* Letter signed in carbon copy - not actually in Burroughs' hand. Addressed "Dear Professor Munson". In this letter, Burroughs agrees that his books (he mentions Tarzan of the Apes and the Mars, Venus and Earth's Core stories) may not be "literary," but he states that Tarzan of the Apes is a "corking good yarn." He goes on to state that he wrote these books to entertain, and based on how many copies of his books sell, he has been a success. An interesting insight into Burroughs' objectives and methodology.