Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7013  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
JUNE II Edition
by Robert Allen Lupton
With ERBzine References by Bill Hillman
TRAVEL PLANS
June 1: On this day in 1931, the Rex Maxon daily Tarzan comic strip, “Tarzan at the Earth’s Core,” began. R. H. Palmer scripted the 96 day story. “Travel Plans” is today’s 100 word Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.
Jason Gridley met with Tarzan and didn’t comment on the apeman’s ugly over the shoulder leopard skin toga. “The earth is hollow. I’ve been there. New races and strange creatures abound. It’s a prehistoric paradise.”
“Why tell me?”
“I must return. I need a dirigible. I don’t have the money.”
“Are there gold or jewels?”
“There’s no return on investment.”
“I’m not a banker or tycoon. I’ve ample funds. My price is simple. Take me with you.”
“We may not return.”
“Every sunrise is a gift.
“The Pellucidarian sun never sets.”
Tarzan shrugged. “I’m not afraid to work long days.”
GOD BE WITH US
June 2: On this day in 1928, Argosy All-Story Weekly published part three of Apache Devil. The story didn’t make the Paul Stahr cover, that honor went to “Too Much Punishment” by John Wilstach, however Edgar Rice Burroughs’ name does appear on the cover. Part Five of the “The Hard-Boiled Tenderfoot” by J. U Giesy is in this issue. Giesy is best known, at least to me, for the Dog Star Pack trilogy, “Palos of the Dog Star Pack,” “The Mouthpiece of Zitu,” and “Jason, Son of Jason.” The drabble today is “God Be With Us.”
Shoz-Dijiji, the Black Bear and young war chief, sat with Gian-nah-tah, friend of boyhood days, and watched the warriors dance.
“Why do you not dance to honor Usen,” asked Gian-nah-tah?
“Usen is a fickle god. He has forsaken us. He doesn’t listen to our prayers. He let Juh of the pindah-lickoyee steal my beloved and slay her.”
“Shox-Dijiji, the pindah-lickoyee have more men and better guns.”
“That shouldn't matter.”
“It does. Gods aren’t fickle or foolish. When two opposing tribes pray to him, Usen blesses the side with the best weapons and most warriors. Gods always side with a winner.”
NOT TOO SERIOUSLY
June 3: On this day 96 years ago, The Oakland Tribune Magazine published an article by Seth T. Bailey about Edgar Rice Burroughs The title of the article was “Dignity Complex, Author’s Foe. The entire article is available on ERBzine at http://www.erbzine.com/mag12/1265.html . I take one of the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ quotes from the article to heart. "I have had plenty of rejection slips," Burroughs said, "but if I couldn't fool one editor I could another." I find it encouraging, I get five or six rejections for every acceptance, but hey, I only have to sell a story once. I didn’t write today’s drabble, it is taken directly from the article published in the Oakland Tribune. The title is “Not Too Seriously.”
"I doubt if I average two books a month," he replied. "Over ninety per cent of what I read is non-fiction. I get my fictional recreation in writing it. I like to read the kind of stuff that I don't write, mainly technical subjects."
"Do not take your work seriously if you are writing fiction," is Burroughs' advice to aspiring young authors. "If you do it cramps your style and gives everybody a pain."
Compare Edgar Rice Burroughs with the Airedale pup and you have him in a nutshell… But once you've made the grade you'll say he's a thoroughbred.
SAYING DOESNT MAKE IT SO
June 4: On this day in 2006, Minneapolis’ Hardcover Theater’s presentation of A Princess of Mars closed. Here’s the blurb. "The play begins when Civil War veteran John Carter is mysteriously transported to the red planet, where tribes of Martians live in a state of perpetual warfare. His Earth-acclimated muscles make him the greatest warrior of them all; but martial honor means nothing to him, because he has fallen in love with a beautiful Martian princess. Does she love him in return? He must fight his way across the planet to find out.
This production – written and directed by producing artistic director Steve Schroer, with music by Nathaniel Churchill– will be staged with more raw theatricality than any previous Hardcover show. Masks and puppet heads will help to present Martians and the weird native wildlife. Costumes and other design elements will draw upon Earth cultures from Africa to China to ancient Egypt. And our hero will leap a hundred feet! (Theatrically, not literally.)
A Princess of Mars is a good old-fashioned pulpy adventure story – fun even for people who aren’t big fans of science fiction. Although the show contains scenes of stylized violence, we consider it suitable for anyone who isn't frightened by actors talking like scary monsters.
This production is not authorized by the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs, nor is it related in any way to any movie project or comic book.
(Note: ERB is listed as the writer even though the previous disclaimer is used.”)
Jami Rasmussen played John Carter and Amber Swenson played Dejah Thoris."
See http://www.erbzine.com/swag/reviews.html for more information.
The drabble today is “Saying Doesn’t Make It So.” This is a landmark drabble, Number 365. One drabble a day for a year.
“So Steve, you want to base a play on Princess of Mars.”
“You bet, Nathan. The story’s almost a hundred years old. It deserves to be performed.”
“Isn’t it copyrighted or trademarked. Doesn’t Disney own film rights? I don’t know about Burroughs’ estate, but Disney sues everybody?”
“We’re doing a play. We’ll say it’s not based on Edgar Rice Burroughs. That should be enough.”
I’m not sure. My dad always said, “How many legs does a donkey have if you call its tail a leg?”
“Five.”
“No, Steve. It’s four. Calling its tail a leg doesn’t make it into one.”
NICE KITTENS
June 5: On this day in 2018, the first Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble by Robert Allen Lupton appeared on ERBzine and the Hal Foster and George Carlin Tarzan Sunday strip” Lenida the Lion Tamer” concluded in 1932 with an episode entitled, “The Miracle Woman of the Jungle.”
The Lenida the Lion Tamer strip is available in Volume One of “Tarzan in Color” and Volume one of “Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan – Comics in Color 1931-1932 by Hal Foster.” but it is available here in ERBzine at: www.erbzine.com/mag55/5532.html The attached illustration is the last panel from the story. “Nice Kittens” is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.
Tarzan was amazed by Lenida’s lions. They obeyed without question or hesitation. He asked, “Why do they obey you? I’d think they’d kill you the first chance they get.”
Lenida replied, “I raised them from tiny cubs. They love me and will do anything I wish. They’d kill anyone who tried to harm me.”
“All mothers try to raise their children well, but most children don’t obey once they're grown.”
“Indeed, they don’t. A reason why lions are better than ungrateful people. You live in the jungle. You should raise your own lion.”
“Something to consider. Perhaps, someday I will.”
THE IMMORTAL JANE
June 6: On this day in 1939, Look Magazine reported that MGM planned to kill Jane (Maureen O’Sullivan) in the next Tarzan film. "Tarzan in Exile" was the working title for what eventually became "Tarzan Finds a Son!." The working title could have been "Tarzan Loses A Wife," since the original plan was for Jane to die at the end, leaving Tarzan with Boy as his jungle companion. In that original, Jane was to exit by way of a spear wound. A scene was filmed with Tarzan and Boy at her grave, which was to be adjacent to the grave of Boy's real mother, who died in an airplane crash. But once word got out about what the film-makers intended to do, the fans were outraged, as well as ERB, who threatened to sue, even though he had tried once to kill Jane himself 20 years earlier in "Tarzan the Untamed."
The death at the end of "Tarzan Finds a Son," would leave Tarzan and Boy as "Father and Son of the Jungle" in future film, but both Maureen O'Sullivan and MGM found a way to keep her above ground to make a few more Tarzan movies. A blonde with a beach ball made the Look cover along with a blurb about a new revealing biography of some German named Adolf Hitler. “The Immortal Jane” is today’s drabble.
Burroughs tossed the Look Magazine on the table and laughed. “Those morons at MGM think they can kill Jane in the next movie. I suppose I should send a cable and threaten to sue.”
“But dear, they don’t have to listen to you. You’ve no approval rights concerning the movies.”
“I know, but fans are going to raise holy hell, I should join them.”
“You don’t seem too worried.”
“No, I’m amused. I tried to kill her twenty years ago. She’s like Sherlock Holmes. He couldn’t be killed and Jane can’t either, but I have to complain to save face.”
CHOCOLATE FOR EVERYBODY
June 7: On this day in 1956, Perce Dempsey Tabler died in San Francisco. He played Tarzan in "The Son of Tarzan", at age 41. The Nashville,Tennessee born athlete had four seasons of light opera, had produced films, starred in several of Thomas H. Ince's Triangle productions, co-starred with William S. Hart in "Captive God", and had helped found Paramount Studios. He was well past his physical prime, balding and wore a not-very-convincing ill-fitting, shabby wig for the part of Tarzan. He broke several ribs wrestling with Eugene Burr who played the villain and reportedly saved a small unnamed boy from a lion on the set. His career did not rekindle (he only made one more film), as he had hoped, so he went into advertising in San Francisco and made a fortune. The drabble today is “Chocolate for Everybody.”
T. Dempsey Tabler signed the advertising contract.
“My firm is honored to represent a company as important
to San Francisco as Ghirardelli Chocolate.”
“Thank you, we’re taking our chocolate nationwide. We
believe you’re up to the task.”
“Your product speaks for itself. This will be easy.”
“You didn’t price your fees for easy.”
“I said easy, not cheap.”
“What was the hardest?”
“I had to convince people that a bald 41 year old man
who was terrified of animals was Tarzan.”
“Who was that?”
“Me.”
“Did it work?”
“I convinced the director. That’s all that counted.”
MOVING ON
June 8: On this day in 1929 Edgar Rice Burroughs contacted A. C. McClurg editor, Joseph E. Bray about buying back the rights to his books. Relations with McClurg were at a low point. Bray had rejected Fighting Man of Mars. Burroughs was upset about low print runs and about his royalty rates. The conversation about buying back the rights may have been the last straw. ERB soon left McClurg for Metropolitan. Talk about killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. The relationship in 1929 was a far cry from when ERB dedicated, “The Outlaw of Torn” to Joseph Bray. “Moving On” is today’s drabble.“Joseph, Burroughs here. Did you change your mind about “Fighting Man of Mars/”
“No, Ed. Can’t use that one.”
“What about higher print runs. Everything sells out. I deserve higher royalties and larger print runs.”
“Everything you want costs money. If I go out of business, you’ll get nothing.”
“You need money. Sell me the rights to my books back.”
“You know I can’t do that. You keep writing them and we’ll keep publishing them.”
“Apparently not. I’ll quit sending them to you. Then what will you publish?”
“I see 50 manuscripts a week.”
“Sorry you feel that way, Joe.”
DANCE WITH THE MADMAN
June 9: On this day in 1964, Canaveral Press published “Tarzan and the Madman.” This Tarzan novel was written in 1940, but saw magazine publication. After Burroughs’ death it was published in hardback by Canaveral Press on June 9, 1964. The first paperback printing was by Ballantine, February, 1965. Canaveral reprinted hardback in 1975. The cover and eight interior illustrations are by Reed Crandall. The second photo on this post is my ERB First Day postal cover for the book. “Dance with the Madman is today’s drabble.”Sandra Pickerell said, “Tarzan saved me from the cannibals and you tried to shoot him.”
Pellham Dutton answered, “Tarzan’s a madman, Sandra. He lives in the jungle and thinks he’s a god. He captures women to become his goddess spouse. None met his standard, until you. He fed the others to the cannibals.”
“The man who saved me isn’t like that.”
“Can’t take the chance. My orders are to shoot on sight.”
“I expect there may be a real Tarzan and a false one.”
“God can sort them out.”
“Pick well, the Tarzan I know will do all the sorting.”
CIRCLE OF LIFE
June 10: On this day in 1915, Edgar Rice Burroughs submitted his novelization of his movie synopsis, “Ben, King of Beasts,” to both All-Story and New Story. It was rejected by both editors, Davis at All-Story and and Sessions at New Story. The story originally was published by the New York World Newspaper in November, 1915. The drabble today is “Circle of Life.”“Davis, Burroughs here. You rejected my novel, “Ben, King of Beasts.”
“Yeah, I did. People can’t identify with a lion. If you want to write animal stories, write something like Black Beauty. People like horses. Lions are scary.”
“Sessions, the editor at New Story, didn’t like it either.”
“Seriously, Ed. People loved “White Fang” and “Call of the Wild.” They love Tarzan. Dogs are heroes, not lions.”
“Times will change. I’ll put the story aside. When the circle of life moves, I’ll resubmit it.”
“Sure, but Ben’s not a lion’s name. Maybe, Simba?”
“Now, you’re just making fun of me.”
DON'T CHANGE A THING
Today is June 11 and on this day in 1912, Edgar Rice Burroughs took the hardest step a writer takes – he submitted his novel, “Tarzan of the Apes,” to All-Story Magazine. Even though All-Story previously purchased “Under The Moons Of Mars,” a new submittal is nerve wracking and frightening. All- Story accepted the novel. If they hadn’t the world would be a different place. Kreegah! “Don’t Change A Thing” is today’s drabble.“Mr. Davis, I like the new story by the Burroughs fellow.”
“So did I. I think our readers will enjoy it more his Martian Princess story.”
“We got good comments on that one.”
“Mr. Davis, I can’t say I care for the Tarzan name and I think he should be an American.”
“Are you insane? You want an old western style name like Gorilla Gary, Nairobi Nick, or African Andy. This isn’t an OK Corral gunfight.”“Something more conventional, perhaps a biblical name like Noah.”
“Noah of the Apes sounds stupid. Leave the book alone and send Burroughs a contract.”
STAY IN YOUR LANE
June 12 and on this day in 1931, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed the crime / mystery short story, “Calling All Cars.” He wanted this contemporary story to be his admission ticket to the “Slick” magazines, like the New Yorker and Saturday Evening Post. These “upscale” magazines universally rejected the story and it went unpublished until 2000, when Pat Adkins and John Guidry included it in “Forgotten Tales of Love and Murder.” “Stay In Your Lane” is today’s drabble.“Damn it, Emma. This is the fifth rejection letter for “Calling All Cars.”
“Argosy and Blue Book turned it down?”
‘No, I didn’t send it to them. I sent it to Redbook, The New Yorker, and the Post. They pay better, but all of them sent me a form rejection letter.”
“If you don’t want to send it to Argosy, send it to one of the crime magazines.”
“Those pay even less than Argosy. I guess everyone expects me to only write the same kind of stories.”
“Well, I think the real crime is that no one bought your story.”
DON'T CALL HIM BOY
June 13 and on this day in 1914, All-Story Cavalier Weekly published the fifth and final installment of “The Beasts of Tarzan." The cover illustration is for “The Double Dealer” by Varick Vanardy. The issue included stories by Harold Titus and Rex Stout. Vanardy was a pseudonym for Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey (not much of an improvement.) Dey wrote over a thousand “Nick Carter” novelettes (forty million words), all written longhand. Mr. Dey shot himself in his room in the Hotel Broztell in New York City, during the night of April 25, 1922. The body was found by Charles E. MacLean, the managing editor for Street & Smith. Today’s drabble is “Don’t Call Him Boy.”Tarzan promised the crew of the Kincaid that they wouldn’t be punished for helping evil Rokoff. They agreed to hip search for his kidnapped son, but the ship exploded. Paulvitch had placed a bomb on board. Tarzan and the crew made it safely to shore.
A crewman asked, “Sorry about your son. Without the ship, I don’t know how to find Boy.”
“His name isn’t Boy. His name is Jack.”
“Then why you tell us you wanted help to search for Boy.”
“I said a boy, not Boy.”
“Don’t be angry. Boy is a good name. It’s better than Jack.”
DON'T DRINK THE WATER
June 14: On this day in 1924, A. C. McClurg published the first edition of “The Land That Time Forgot” with cover art and four interiors by J. Allen St. John. The novel combines “The Land That Time Forgot,” “The People That Time Forgot,” and “Out of Time’s Abyss” and is over 100,000 words long. The print run was 10,000 copies. The two illustrations are the J. Allen St. John first edition cover and the cover of a 1972 Dutch edition of “Out of Time’s Abyss." “Don’t Drink The Water” is today’s 100 word Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.Tom Billings flew his hydroplane to the lost continent of Caprona to find Bowen Tyler. He found a beautiful native woman named Ajor and after fighting dinosaurs, cavemen, and saber-toothed tigers, they were eventually rescued by Tyler.
Tyler said, “Thanks for coming, but I’m fine. This is my wife, Lys La Rue. A German submarine captured us both, but we now have the means to return to civilization.”
Billings put his arm around Ajor. “I love this woman and I’m staying with her. Any advice?”
“Don’t drink the water in the bathing pools. It’s filled with pollywogs. Tastes alive. Nasty.”
MARY LUCAS PFLEUGER
June 15: On this day in 1930, Edgar Rice Burroughs began the western story, “That Damn Dude.” He changed the title to “The Brass Heart.” It was published by Thrilling Magazine as “The Terrible Tenderfoot” and by ERB Inc. as “The Deputy Sheriff of Comanche County.” Collier's rejected the story. The story was also rejected by the Saturday Evening Post, Liberty, Ladies Home Journal, Blue Book, Argosy (twice), and College Humor. Five years later he re-submitted the manuscript to Liberty under the title "The Brass Heart" using the pseudonym John Mann. Liberty rejected it again. The story eventually saw print in Thrilling Adventures in 1940. The photograph is of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Florence, Mary Lucas Pfleuger (in the flowered dress), and her husband Wayne – September 7, 1940. Deputy Sheriff was dedicated to Mary Pflueger. “Mary Lucas Pflueger” is today’s drabble.“Dad, I don’t understand why “The Brass Heart” hasn’t sold. It’s a perfectly good western.”
“I think so.”
“I have one question, “Who is Mary Lucas Pfleuger?” You dedicated the book to her.”
“She and her husband regularly play bridge with me. He’s a big deal with the sugar growers association.”
“Anything else?”
“She bids and plays like a madwoman. I overbid her to seven no trump doubled and redoubled at a three cents each a point. I told her if she made it, I’d dedicate a book to her. She did. We earned a $100 each on that hand.”
I NEED EVERYTHING
June 16: On this day in 1999, Disney’s cartoon Tarzan was released in the United States. The film had opened at the El Capitan Theatre on June 12, 1999. The El Capitan Theatre is a fully restored movie palace at 6838 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. The Song, “You’ll be in my Heart,’ by Phil Collins won a Golden Globe and an Oscar. The soundtrack won a Grammy. The film was universally praised, performed well at the box office, and spawned a number of sequels, “Tarzan and Jane,” “Tarzan II,” “The Legend of Tarzan” for television, a Broadway show, five video games so far, and Disney theme park attractions, “Tarzan’s Treehouse" and "Tarzan Rocks.” Don’t forget children’s clothing lines, countless books, toys, action figures, collector’s pins, two series of Tarzan Happy Meal toys, and some slot machines. "I Need Everything" is today’s drabble.“John,” said Pat. ‘This is my Disney Tarzan room.”
“It’s a closet. Are your clothes under the bed?”
“No, my paperback variants and fanzines are under the bed.”
“Then what are all these clothes.”
“Children’s shirts, shorts, underwear, jackets, stockings. I’ve even got sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and five different sleeping bags. Hats over here and Tarzan shoes are on the rack.”“Pat, you have ten or twelve of everything.”
“No, different size, different item. I built a display cabinet for the toys.”
“I’m crazy, but this is a little overboard.”
“Someone has to have everything and it should be me.”
NOT FOR MONEY
June 17: On this day in 1916, All-Story Weekly published part one of “Return of the Mucker.” The cover is dedicated to the Burroughs’ story with a great P. J. Monahan illustration and a nice blurb. Among the other writers with stories on the issue are Frank Condon (best known for his screenplays), J. U. Giesy, and Vance Palmer. Edward Vivian Vance Palmer (no relation to the I Love Lucy star from Albuquerque) was born in Australia and wrote several short stories and novels. The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for fiction is named the Vance Palmer Prize. The drabble today is “Not For Money.”Things went badly when Billy Byrne returned to Chicago. He planned to turn himself into the police, pay his debt to society, and go straight.
His mother had died. Billy was arrested and a kangaroo court used perjured testimony to sentence him to life. Barbara, the woman he loved planned to marry another.
Distraught, he escaped and joined Bridge, a hobo. He checked Bridge’s newspaper. “Yea, that’s me. $500 reward. Whadaya gonna do about it?”
“Nothing. I’m not a judge, a cop, or a man what sells other men for money. Others among us, are. I suggest we relocate quickly.”
REWRITING HISTORY
June 18: On this day in 1960, a Star Weekly Magazine article by Martin Abramson appeared entitled “Tarzan Says Good-By to Jane.” To quote the article, Every red-blooded movie fan knows that Tarzan movies always open with a view of the handsome, mono-syllabic ape man with his pretty English mate, Jane puttering about their idyllic treetop home. In this newest opus, the king of the jungle is in his accustomed perch, but there is no Jane to be found up there in the high branches or even down in the low brush. She hasn't been killed, or treacherously abducted, and she hasn't gone off to see a divorce lawyer. The fact is that after 35 Tarzan pictures and a diverse collection of 20 Janes, the civilized help meet in Tarzan's uncivilized jungle life has been abruptly excised from the script.
"We decided to get rid of Jane so we could give Tarzan more freedom of action," says Sy Weintraub, the dynamic and fast-talking young producer who recently bought out the rights to the Tarzan movies from Sol Lesser Productions. "In this picture we let him get around more and meet different girls (played by Betta St. John and Alexandra Stewart). Without Jane around, we'll be able to bring a little more variety to the Tarzan pictures." “Rewriting History” is today’s drabble.“Danton, did you read this article. The Sy Weintraub guy is going to take Jane out of the Tarzan movies. It will be like he killed her.”
“That might work. Grandpa tried to kill her off years ago and the editors wouldn’t let him. When Maureen O’Sullivan tried to renegotiate her contract, the producers told her they’d kill Jane.”
“It didn’t work?"
“No, the fans went crazy.”
“The article says they won’t kill her. She’ll simply cease to exist.”
“Weintraub bought the rights and that makes him the winner. History is rewritten to suit the victorious. This is no different.”
BREAKING NEW GROUND
June 19: On this day in 1937, the Tarzan daily strip adaption of “Tarzan’s Quest” by William Juhre and Don Garden concluded. The adaption began on December 14, 1936 and followed directly on the heels of the first edition of the book released on September 1, 1936 – Edgar Rice Burroughs 64th birthday. The panel included in this post is the last panel of the daily strip, which was surprisingly true to the novel. Don Garden continued to write the strip until November of 1943, but William Juhre was replaced by Rex Maxon before the end of 1937. “Breaking New Ground” is today’s drabble.“Well, Don, “Tarzan’s Quest” finished today and “Tarzan the Magnificent” starts tomorrow. What are we going to do next?”
“I’m not sure, Bill. Argosy published “Magnificent” as “Tarzan and the Magic Men,” but Burroughs said the hardback will be called“Tarzan the Magnificent” and we should use that title.”“Still doesn’t tell me what’s next.”
“Burroughs won’t finish another novel ready before this strips over. I guess I’ll have to write a new story.”
“Can you do that?”
“Our editor thinks so. He gave me a six year contract extension.”
“How about me?”
“No clue. I’m a writer, not an agent.”
LEGAL COUNSEL
June 20: On this day in 1953, Tarzan and the She-Devil was released. The film starred Lex Barker as Tarzan, Joyce MacKenzie as Jane, Raymond Burr as the evil Vargo, and Monique van Vooren as Lyra, the She-Devil. The photos of Raymond Burr and Monique van Vooren are from the film. "Legal Counsel" is today’s drabble.The poachers captured Tarzan and Jane. Lyra said, “You should have stayed away. Now we have to kill you. After that, we’ll kill every elephant in Africa for the ivory.”
Her right hand man, Vargo, played by Raymond Burr, said, “That’s right. You get to die and we get to be rich.”
Jane glared. “This may be Africa, but murder is against the law. Elephant poaching is illegal.”
Vargo laughed, “Who died and made you the jungle police. What are you going to do, sue us?”
Jane pouted. “If it’s necessary.”
Vargo sneered, “Go ahead. I know a good lawyer.”
DEAR DANTON
June 21 and Danton Burroughs was born on this day in 1945. The next day Edgar Rice Burroughs penned a letter to his new grandson. The powerful message is as important today as it was the day Burroughs wrote it. I have included the body of the letter for today’s drabble. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote it, I didn’t. “Dear Danton” is 151 words long, but who am I to edit the master’s work.Just two years ago today your brother arrived when our world did not look too bright. But you come in on the crest of a victorious wave that is carrying us and our allies to successful ending of World War II much sooner than we had expected.
If your generation shows more intelligence than past generations, perhaps there will be no more wars. But that is almost too much to expect. However, there is a chance. You have been born into the greatest nation the world has ever known. Keep it great. Keep it strong. If you do, no country will dare to go to war if we say no.
Put this letter away and read it June 21st 1965. You will be of age then. See then if the politicians have kept your country great and strong. If they haven't, do something about it. If I'm around I'll remind you.
CAREFUL WHAT YU WISH FOR
June 22: On this day in 1945, the first page of the Rex Maxon Tarzan daily strip, “The Sad Gorilla” appeared. It ran for 56 days and featured Kungu, the sad gorilla, and Tina, a circus acrobat, along with Tarzan. "Careful What Yu Wish For" is today's drabble.Tina, a circus acrobat, and Tarzan swung through the jungle.
Tarzan said, “You’re good at this.”
“Yes, it was my job. I trained from childhood. I must find Kungu, a circus gorilla. He escaped into the jungle.”
“I saw him. He didn’t seem happy.”
“He’s been alone a long time.”
They found Kunga and his new mate, Kila. They took them to an airplane to rejoin the circus.
Kila said, “This plane is small. I hate the cage. These men smell funny. You stay away from that Tina person.”
Tarzan said, “We’ll if he wasn’t sad before, he will be.”
LANGUAGE BARRIER
June 23: On this day in 1950, according to IMBD, Tarzan and the Slave Girl was released in the United States. Wikipedia says the film was released on March 15, 1950. Based on the release dates in other countries, (June 21, 1950 in Mexico, for example.) I believe the June 23, 2019 date is correct. Lex Barker is Tarzan, Vanessa Brown is Jane, and Denise Darcel plays Lola, the slave girl of the title and a nurse. Darcel appeared in the films, “Battleground,” “Westward the Women,” and “Vera Cruz.” Her inability to speak intelligible English seriously hampered her carrier. After her last film, “Seven Women From Hell,” she became a striptease artist. The photo is a publicity still from the Tarzan film, but photos from her ecdysiast career are available online. The title of today’s drabble is “Language Barrier.”Lee Sholem yelled, “Cut. Denise, for the love of God, I can’t understand a word you say. Speak slowly and distinctly.”
“Oui, but what es dis steenk.”
“It mean’s people need to understand you.”
“Oui, parlez vous anglish.”
“Try it again.”
“Deese woomans es seek.”
“No, these women are sick.”
“What I saids. Deese woomans es seek.”
“Sick, not seek.”
“Oui, seeek.”
“The hell with it. Just stand there and look worried. Lex, you take the line and finish with, “Lola, can you help them.”
Denise asked, “How much I answer him.”“Don’t say a word. Just nod your head.”
MY KIND OF TOWN
June 24: On this day in 1916, All-Story Weekly published part two of "The Return of the Mucker." The cover illustrates part one of “The Fugitive Sleuth” by Hulbert Footner, called the most unusual detective story ever written. Rex T. Stout has a short story in this issue. Footner, a Canadian, is mostly forgotten, but was extremely prolific. He wrote Broadway plays and nearly an hundred mysteries and adventure stories. Several are available through the Guttenberg Project. “My Kind of Town” is today’s drabble.Byrne wandered into one of his favorite haunts. “Whiskey, double shot.”
Farris, the owner of the bar and brothel, put his hand over Billy’s glass. “Ain’t seen you here in a while. I don’t want no trouble.”
“Me neither. I’m goin’ straight these days. Just want a drink.”
“Trouble’s looking for you. You’re still wanted for murder.”
“I’m turning myself in tomorrow.”
“That’s a bad play, Billy. The cops will beat you down and pin every unsolved killing on you.”
“No more than I deserve.”
“Do yourself a favor. Hit the road.”
“I Can’t. Chicago is my kind of town.”
HIE THEE TO A HOTEL
June 25: On this day in 1940, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a letter to his friend, Bert Weston, about how unhappy his wife, Florence, was with Burroughs’ cost saving measures and the presence of rats and scorpions at their home in Hawaii.
Polynesian rats (sometimes called the Pacific rat) first arrived with Polynesians perhaps 900 years ago. The Roof rat, Norway rat, and house mouse arrived after Western contact in the late 1700’s. Planters imported mongooses to deal with the rat population and ended up with two invasive species instead of one. Burroughs rented the ramshackle home on Oahu to save money. Rent was $125.00 a month. Royalties were tight during the war. Today’s drabble is “Hie Thee to a Hotel.”Florence complained, “There were rats on the patio.”
“Rats have no natural Hawaiian predators. I’ll buy a cat.”
“No, Ed. You’re too cheap to buy a cat. Hawaii isn’t the paradise you promised. I hate bugs, rats, and mice.”
“But, the beach view is awesome.”
“To hell with the view. I can’t watch a sunrise with little beasties nibbling on my toes. This morning I shook two scorpions out of my shoes.”
“Florence, I warned you about that. Wear sandals and it won’t be a problem.”
“If I move into a hotel on Waikiki, it won’t be a problem either.”
THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL
June 26: On this day in 1912, Edgar Rice Burroughs received payment for “Tarzan of the Apes.” The $700 dollar check from Munsey Corporation would have a value of $18,500 in today's funds. Heins gives the word count as 98,000, but other sources put the novel at slightly over 85,000 words in length. His payment less than a penny a word. It’s a good thing he managed to sell the book a few more times. “The Check is in The Mail” is today’s drabble.“Emma, I got the $700 Tarzan check from the All-Story people. I’m going to the bank.”
“That will help. We need groceries. I’ll make a list. When will you finish your next story?”
“I talked to some other writers. I believe I can sell the same story several times. I’ll send a copy to the folks at A. C. McClurg. They publish books.”
“That’s nice.”
“Another publisher, A. L. Burt, reuses the printing plates and republishes the book. If it works, I’ll get paid three times.”
‘Doesn’t sound legal. Will they arrest you?”
“Only if we don’t pay our bills.”
POWER OF A NAME
June 27: On this day in 1934, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Ashton Dearholt, founded the film production company “Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises” with Hollywood offices at 8476 Sunset Boulevard, and New York offices at 1270 6th Avenue. With Dearholt (Vice-President in Charge of Production), George W. Stout (President), and Ben Cohen (Vice-President) owning sixty percent of the stock and Burroughs the remaining forty percent, the corporation was in business.
The first production of the new company was in 1934 and was entitled "The New Adventures of Tarzan". It starred Herman Brix (he later changed his name to Bruce Bennett), was filmed almost entirely in Guatemala, and was released in 1935 as a 12 chapter serial and as a ten-reel feature version. It should be noted that Herman Brix was never paid for his work on this film.
Dearholt’s character in that serial was a mercenary antagonistic explorer sent to steal the valuable Green Goddess. During its production in Guatemala, Dearholt married the leading actress, Ula Holt and Burroughs broke up with his first wife to marry Dearholt's ex-wife, Florence Gilbert. The film was edited and re-released as “Tarzan and the Green Goddess.”
“Power of a Name” is today’s drabble.“So, Dearholt, Green Goddess sounds silly. I’m not big on alliterative names. I used Billy Byrne and probably a few more, but I’d never use something like Green Goddess.”
“That’s why I’m in charge of the scripts. Kids will love Green Goddess. It’s fun to say. Green Goddess. Green Goddess. The name is exotic topping for a magic idol.”
“Like salad dressing. No one eats green sauce, gravy, or dressing. Yuck.”
“Trust me.”
“If I wanted a character named like this, I’d write about a flying fairy tale creature and call him the “Green Goblin.”
“Now Ed, that’s just silly.”
JUNE 28, 1912
June 28: On this day in 1912, Edgar Rice Burroughs sent a letter to Thomas Metcalf acknowledging receipt of payment for “Under The Moons of Mars,” purchased rights, his pen name, and the poor quality of paper used for the final draft of “Under the Moons of Mars.” This was one letter in a series that went back in forth between the two from the original submission of the novel until its publication in All-Story. The entire series of letters is available at www.erbzine.com/mag28/2832.html. The drabble today is 191 words long and was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Let’s call it “June 28, 1912.”Your check and letter came together on this morning's mail and I thank you for both. The endorsement on the reverse of the check covered all rights, though I assume that it was as before but an error, as I only sold you the serial rights.
In the matter of the pen name, why not run this story as by Norman Bean (Edgar Rice Burroughs) and then, should I write another one run that as by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Norman Bean), thereafter dropping the pen name entirely!
This may not accord with your policy, but I think you will agree that you owe me a concession in the matter of names, for you sure did smear up the original.
It seems to me that it would be unwise to attempt to revive Normal Bean now.
You need not have cautioned me against thin paper. I have cussed it all the way back to the Wisconsin paper mill that made it. I finally had the girls single space because the thought of doubling the number of those infernal sheets appalled me. I shall stick to 81/2 x 11 16# double spaced hereafter!
NINETY PERCENT
June 29: On this day in 1940, John Carter and the Giant of Mars by John Coleman Burroughs was submitted to Amazing Stories (a Ziff-Davis publication.) The story was first published as “John Carter of Mars” as a Better Little Book. John Coleman expanded the text and submitted the story using the penname Edgar Rice Burroughs. Ziff Davis bought the story and published it in the January 1941 issue of Amazing Stories with a J. Allen St. John cover and two St. John interior illustrations. The issue also contained the story, Mystery Moon by Edmond Hamilton, the husband of Leigh Brackett. “Ninety Percent” is today’s drabble.“Ray Palmer, editor of Amazing Stories, read John Carter and the Giant of Mars. His editorial assistant asked, “Well?”
“It doesn’t seem right. The Barsoomian creatures don’t have the right number of legs. It reads like it was written for a ten year old.”
“It was, Mr. Palmer. It started as a Better Big Little Book. Will you reject it?”
“I asked Burroughs for the story. I commissioned the art from St. John. We’ll publish it. It’s better than ninety percent of the crap we buy.”
“Maybe that ninety percent thing should be some kind of law.”
“Don’t be cynical.”
CLEAR SOLUTION
June 30: On this day in 2019 Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. announced the publication of the Inspector Muldoon online comic strip. The strip is written my Charles Santino. Karl Comendador does the art, color, and lettering. The original seven short murder mystery puzzles written between 1932 and 1940, were published in “Forgotten Tales of Love and Murder.” The book included one unfinished mystery puzzle, “The Dupuyster Case.” Edgar Rice Burroughs was Watson to Muldoon’s Holmes. Muldoon is probably the least known Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character to appear in more than one story. His exploits were published mostly in Rob Wagner’s Script Weekly. All of the stories are available at ERBzine.com. Today’s drabble is “Clear Solution.”“Tough case, Burroughs,” said Muldoon. “The diamonds are missing, but the suspects are still here. We’ve searched them all.”
“The jewels must be here.”
“Obviously.”
“Inspector, any ideas,” asked Burroughs. He filled a water glass from the pitcher on the table. He took a drink and spit it on the countertop.“Muldoon, there’s something in the water.”
Muldoon ran his hands through the splattered water and said, “I know where the diamonds are.”
*** You solve the case, where are the diamonds?
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*Diamonds are invisible in water. The thief hid them in the water pitcher.
ERBzine References
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