Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7155  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
MAY II Edition :: Days 1 - 15
See Days 16 - 31 at ERBzine 7155a
by Robert Allen Lupton
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
ZEPPELIN TO THE EARTH'S CORE
May 1: On this day in 1944, Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated published the first edition of “Land of Terror,” the seventh book in the Pellucidar series. The dust wrapper was by John Coleman Burroughs. The 319 page book had a print run of 3500 copies. The book wasn’t previously published in any magazines. It was reprinted by Canaveral Press in 1963. Ace published paperback editions with two different Frazetta covers, and Ballantine/ Del Rey published a paperback with a David Mattingly cover in 1990.
Today’s drabble is 100 words taken from the blurb inside of the first edition dust wrapper. Call it “Zeppelin to the Earth’s Core.”
ZEPPELIN TO THE EARTH'S CORE
Scientists smiled at the belief this Earth is a hollow sphere inside, a land where savage cave men live, unknowing civilized world five hundred miles beneath their feet -- that there is an entrance to this land through the poles. But Jason Gridley believed – and he it was who fitted out and financed the expedition of the 0-220 to visit Pellucidar
EASY AS FALLING OFF A HORSE
May 2: On this day in 1922, Doug Wildey was born in Yonkers, N.Y. In the mid-1960s, Wildey collaborated with writer Gaylord DuBois on Gold Key Comics' licensed series "Tarzan" when that long-running comic, which had been featuring stories drawn by Russ Manning. Wildey's work began with issue 179 (September 1968) and appeared through issue 187 (September 1969.)
Wildey drew several Atlas Comics (forerunner of Marvel), the best known of which is “Outlaw Kid.” He later worked for Harvey Comics and DC Comics. Later, he took over Leslie Charteris’ “The Saint,” both the daily and Sunday comic strip.
He is best known for creating the Hanna-Barbera prime time cartoon show, “Johnny Quest.” Wildey did not design the comic relief dog, Bandit, for the series. He also worked on “Jana of the Jungle,” “Mr. T.,” and “Return to Planet of the Apes,” among others.
“Easy as Falling Off a Horse” is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs, Gaylord Dubois, and Doug Wildey inspired drabble.
EASY AS FALLING OFF A HORSE
“Sure, but I’m unsure about drawing jungle animals. I’ve been drawing cowboys love stories, and weird monsters. Lately I’ve been working on Dr. Kildare.”
“Three months until the first pages are due. I’ll send
the outline.”
“Gaylord, I haven’t drawn a lion or a zebra in several
years.”
“You’ll be fine. A lion is a big kitty without a litter
box and a zebra is a horse of a different color.
MORE FIRE
May 3: On this date a disastrous fire broke out in a warehouse at Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated. I wrote a previous “On this Day” article and drabble about the fire, but it was such a significant event, that I wanted to revisit it once more. Many collectors have first editions of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, including “Llana of Gathol,” “Tarzan and the Foreign Legion,” and “Escape on Venus” that have the following sticker inside the book:
“THIS Book is one of the few survivors of a near disastrous fire that occurred in our storeroom on Saturday, May 3, 1958. The Fire started as a result of the spontaneous combustion of old Tarzan motion pictures printed on nitrate film. Although this book shows some fire damage, we are told it has considerable value among collectors. We sincerely hope it will add to the worth of your own personal collection. EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS INC.”
“Llana of Gathol” had a print run of 9,225 copies, “Tarzan
and the Foreign Legion” a print run of 22,700, and “Escape on Venus” a
print run of 20,000. I wonder how many copies of those books survived the
fire. I don’t know if anyone really knows. Several other ERB Inc. first
were destroyed or damaged by the fire.
“More Fire” is today’s 100
word Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble and it is a conversation that
never took place.
MORE FIRE
The fire inspector said, “I expect Mr. Burroughs would be sad to see this.”
Danton replied, “I don’t know. He advised young writers to put more excitement, more fire, into their books. I expect this turnabout would amuse him. He’d say some like, ‘Put fire in your books, don’t put your books in the fire.’”
WHO'S ON THE MENU
May the fourth be with you, it’s May 4: On this day 1967, the John Celardo written and drawn Tarzan daily comic story, “Creatures of the Mist” began. The story ran for 45 days. Tarzan saves a young native boy named Akumba from Sheeta, the panther. They search for Tarzan’s friends, who were last seen motoring their boat into an area covered with a prevailing mist or fog. The mist is inhabited by monsters, of course, and in this case, dinosaurs.
I chose the panel I included with this post because it reminded me of a Tarzan pose in a Burne Hogarth drawing. I have to admit that I liked the Hogarth drawing better.
“Who’s on the Menu” is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.
WHO'S ON THE MENU
Tarzan said, “Be quiet. Your voice attracts unwanted attention. There’re always animals in Africa, even in the marshes and swamps.”
“Like snakes or crocodiles. Perhaps lions or panthers, or even a pack of hyenas.”
Before Tarzan could answer, a brontosaurus and a tyrannosaurus appeared battling nearby. Tarzan shook his head. “Dinosaurs. Why is it always dinosaurs? Why can’t it be something we can eat instead of something trying to eat us. I weary of fighting dinosaurs.
GORILLA ON SET
May 5: Since I moved to New Mexico we’ve celebrated Cinco de Mayo with parades and parties. On this day in 1940, actor Lance James Henriksen who voiced Kerchak the gorilla in the 1999 Walt Disney Feature Animation film “Tarzan,” was born in Manhattan. Lance was the son of a son of a sailor. His father was a sailor and boxer known as “Icewater” Henriksen.
Among his numerous roles, Henriksen played the android Bishop in Cameron's films Aliens (1986), and as Bishop's unnamed designer in Alien 3 (1992). He also played Charles Bishop Weyland, the man upon whom Bishop was based, in Alien vs. Predator (2004). He played the vampire leader Jesse Hooker in Kathryn Bigelow's cult film Near Dark.
Gorilla on Set is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.
GORILLA ON SET
“Don’t worry about it, Lance. We changed that. Disney
doesn’t want dead gorillas.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Kerchak resents the young Tarzan at first, but learns
to love and admire his adult son.”
“Kerchak was a mangani, not a gorilla.”
“Changed that, too. People like gorillas.”
“Now I’m really confused. What’s my motivation?”
“You’re a gorilla and Disney pays well. Any more issues.”
“No, you want me to growl for happy?”
TYPE CAST
May 6: On this day in 1991, character actor, Wilfrid Hyde White, who usually played the definitive elderly Englishman, sometimes a friendly or even comical old chap, and other times one who seemed like a nice guy, but concealed the skullduggery he was up to.
He is credited with roles in two Tarzan movies. His first was as "Doodles" Fletcher, one of the passengers on the airplane which crashed at the beginning of "Tarzan and the Lost Safari." His second role was voice-only. He was one of the gentlemen at the men's club discussing the story of Tarzan of the Apes before Bo Derek and Miles O’Keeffe took to the screen as Jane and Tarzan in 1981's "Tarzan the Ape Man." Among his other roles, Hyde White played the character Dr. Goodfellow in the TV series, "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century."
He is best known for his role as Colonel Pickering in the 1964 film version of the musical My Fair Lady.
“Type Cast” is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.
TYPE CAST
“Really,” said Wilfrid. I’ve lived in America for years now. You should hear my cowboy and Brooklyn accents.”
“You’ve done hundreds of films. People expect you to
be a bumbling upper crust Brit.”
“Why would they think that?”
“Well, it’s true. You’re a tax exile from the UK,
among other things.”
“Yes, well, art follows life, I suppose. I’ll keep
calm and carry on.”
“Thank you. Stiff upper lip, old chap.”
“Not a bit funny, you dirty rat.”
JUST WALK AWAY
May 7: On this day in 1927, Argosy All-Story Weekly published part four of the “The War Chief.” The cover illustration by Edgar Franklin Wittmack illustrated the first part of six parts of “Harlequinade” by Elizabeth York Miller.
The lady was quite prolific and had hundreds of stories published from the early 1900s until the 1940s. He work appeared in Argosy, The Sketch, Every Week, Encore, Love Story Magazine, The Golden West, and several other pulps. “The Blue Aura” is her best known work. ‘The Blue Aura” is available online at: http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Miller%2C+Elizabeth+York
In spite of her prolific writing career, very little is known about her. A web search reveals copies of her books for sale, but nothing about the lady. I’m always a little surprised and a little sad when I find a writer who was contemporary with Edgar Rice Burroughs, and their work and even their name has largely been forgotten. It’s sad for the writer, but it gives me a greater understanding of how timeless Burroughs’ works are. He’s still loved and appreciated while 90% or more (my opinion) of the other writers appearing in the same magazines have vanished from the collective memory. Is it Sturgeon’s law at work?
Sturgeon’s law is generally quoted as “Ninety percent of everything is crap.” The first written reference to the adage that I can find, appeared in the September 1977 issue of Venture Magazine. The magazine quotes Theodore Sturgeon’s Law as “… ninety-percent of everything is crud. Perhaps a distinction without a difference.
The Magazine version of “The War Chief” is longer than the book editions. Burroughs was concerned that editors deleted a lot of his carefully researched details about Apache life and customs from the various editions of the book.
Perhaps the most complete edition of the book available was published by Fiction House Press (www.FictionHousePress.com). The book is available from them and is advertised as “The Original Magazine Version.”
Today’s drabble, “Just Walk Away” is based on the last few paragraphs of the novel. The spelling in the drabble is a clue, not a mistake.
JUST WALK AWAY
I’m sorry, dear, but it was important that Shoz-Dijiji walk away at the end. His honor demanded that he return to his people.”
“It broke my heart when Wichita Billings said, “Shoz-Dijiji, come back, Shoz-Dijiji. No screenwriter could have written a better ending. She cried for him to stay and he rode off into the sunset.”
“There’s no shane is crying. I’ve no doubt than some screenwriter or another will steal my ending and put it to good use without giving me credit.
KINOSTAR aka CINEMA STAR
May 8: On this day in 1919, Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr. was born in Rye, N.Y. Known as Lex, he was chosen as Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan replacement and played the character in five films. His prominent family in New York society, disowned him when he decided to become an actor.
Ten months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lex Barker left his fledgling acting career and enlisted in the United States Army. He rose to the rank of major during the war. He was wounded in action (in the head and leg) fighting in Sicily. He was awarded the Purple Heart twice.
It’s ironic that after fighting against Germany, that in the 1960s, he was of the most popular actors in Germany. He even recorded two German love songs sung in the style of western ballads. He made several films in Germany and Italy during the 1960s.
It’s a shame that Barker, who starred in 73 films, foreign and domestic, was never given a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Maybe we could do something about that.
Today’s drabble is “Kinostar,” or “Cinema Star” in English.
KINOSTAR aka CINEMA STAR
“No need to translate, I can understand a little German.
I filmed two Dr. Mabuse films in Berlin last year.”
“I know, the German audiences loved you. Is making
German movies your first experience in Europe?”
“No, I spent time here about twenty years ago. Things
have sure changed.”
“What’s the biggest difference?”
“The biggest difference is people aren’t trying to
shoot at me on sight. Now, they ask me for an autograph.”
FOREVER IS A VERY LONG TIME
May 9: On this day, Sir James M. Barrie, was born in 1860. Barrie wrote "Peter Pan" and several other books. He was successful and was well off, but he never achieved the level of financial success that Edgar Rice Burroughs did. Why is that? There was one huge difference.
The J.M. Barrie family did not retain any subsidiary rights to anything connected to Peter Pan. Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, and Peter Pan lunch boxes, toys, and clothing would have made them millions! Then there’s that whole thing with the peanut butter. An article on the Ventura Boulevard website, explains the business foresight of Edgar Rice Burroughs which resulted in lasting financial success.
The article doesn't tell all of the story, though. Before his death, Barrie gave the all rights to the Peter Pan works to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, which continues to benefit from them.
Barrie’s inclusion in an article about Edgar Rice Burroughs is appropriate for two reasons. First, J. M. Barrie's “The Admirable Crichton,” was represented in ERB's personal library. Barrie's wife, Mary Ansell, was also an author and wrote "Dogs and Men" which has numerous ties with Peter Pan. This book was also on Burroughs’ bookshelves.
The second reason is the immortality theme. The search for immortality appeared in several ERB novels. Tarzan and Carson Napier took a drug or potion that granted them long lives. John Carter was ageless. There are several other examples in other Burroughs’ works. Read my article, “Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Quest for Immortality” at https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6776.html.
Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up, is another example of the literary search for immortality.
Today’s drabble, “Forever is a Very Long Time” was inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs and J. M. Barrie.
FOREVER IS A VERY LONG TIME
“I couldn’t find a place to land my flying pirate ship.”
John Carter laughed, “I had the same problem. I circled
the block a dozen times before I parked my flyer.”
Napier said, “I’m from Venus, little boy, where’re
you from?”
“Neverland.”
“Where’s Neverland?”
Pan flew to Carson. The flying child cleaned his nails
with a dagger. “Don’t call me little boy. As for Neverland, Take the Second
star to the right and straight on 'til morning.”
SHOWTIME
May 10: And this is the 700th daily entry in this series. On this day in 1965, the guy from Hollywood, Scott Tracy Griffin, was born in Starkville, Mississippi. Griffin has contributed numerous articles about Edgar Rice Burroughs to a number of print and online publications, appeared is several television and documentary interviews (Tarzan: Silver Screen King of the Jungle,” “Investigating Tarzan”, and Tarzan: The Story Behind the Legend,” to name three.) and he served two stints as the editor of the “Edgar Rice Burroughs Amateur Press Association.”
Scott also served as the Director of Special Projects at Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.
His two coffee table books, “Tarzan: The Centennial Edition,” and “Tarzan on Film” are beautiful labors of love. Both books are still available and links to purchase them are listed below.
Here are links to both books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Film-Scott-Tracy-Griffin/dp/0857685686/
https://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Centennial-Celebration-Stores-Movies/dp/1781161690
Happy Birthday, Mr. Griffin.
Today’s drabble is “Showtime,” and it’s a hundred word excerpt from the blurb on the back of dust wrapper for “Tarzan on Film”
SHOWTIME
In this volume, writer and historian Scott Tracy Griffin traces the series’ development, from the motion-picture industry’s early silent and serials, through the high point of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer era featuring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan, to modern worldwide hits like “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan” and Disney’s animated “Tarzan.”
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
May 11: On this day in 1915, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing “The Son of Tarzan.” The novel began serialization later that year in All-Story Weekly and was published by A. C. McClurg on March 10, 1917. McClurg published three more editions or states – the true first edition is missing the dedication to Hulbert Burroughs. A. L. Burt published numerous reprint editions. Grosset and Dunlap published more editions. The first paper back was published by Ace Books with a Frazetta cover in 1963 and Ballantine/Del Rey published several more.
A Big Little Book edition was published in 1939 and the Rex Maxon daily comic strips were collected and published by LOHAE Press in 2008. The most recent publication of the book was the December 2019, Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized edition with a Joe Jusko cover. That edition is available from ERB Inc. right now.
“The Son of Tarzan” inspired a comic book series, “Korak, Son of Tarzan.” One Hollywood film was based on the book and Bollywood made a few – in some of them, the son of Tarzan became a female in the film.
“Copyright Infringement” is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
“Don’t call me boy. Tarzan’s my father, but I smell
like a dung heap. I’m leaving civilization to live in the jungle.”
“Bad idea. Monkeys live in trees, lions on the savannah,
and crocodiles in the rivers. Man belongs in cities. Nevertheless, Tantor
will protect you.”
“Promise.”
“Promise. I meant what I said and I said what I meant
and an elephant’s faithful, 100%.”
“I think you stole that line.”
“So Seuss me.”
PUT MY NAME ON THE COVER
May 12: On this day in 1923, Argosy All-Story Weekly published part two of “The Moon Maid.” Moon Maid didn’t make the cover, that honor went to “Red Clay,” by Evelyn Campbell. The cover reveals that Red Clay is the acronym for Romance Ecstasy, Denial, Cruelty, Love, Attainment, and Yearning. Sounds like a daily dose of “Days of our Lives.”
The issue includes the conclusion of Max Brand’s “The Darkness at Windon Manor” This isn’t a western, it’s a mystery - a tale of mistaken identity, a femme fatale, and a haul of stolen jewels.
As for our cover credited writer, Evelyn Murray Campbell, was a novelist, screenwriter, and actress. She wrote over a hundred stories for the pulps over a thirty plus year career spanning from the 1910s through the beginning of WW2, and was even published in “McCall’s” and “Good Housekeeping.” In addition to romance, she was a successful western writer under the name, E. Murray Campbell. “The Vanishing Rider, “Tall Grass,” “The Last Outlaw,” and “Goodbye Cowboy,” are but four of the titles.
She sold about twenty scripts to Hollywood including, “The Western Limited,” “Hurricane,” “Nobody’s Bride,” and “Other Men’s Daughters.” She appeared on screen in 1921’s Ziegfield’s Follies,” and in 1922’s “Make it Snappy.” Not bad for a little girl from Kansas and she didn’t even need a tornado to help her on her way.
Today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs’ inspired drabble is “Put My Name om the Cover.”
PUT MY NAME ON THE COVER
“She doesn’t want men to know she’s a lady. Women aren’t expected to write westerns. C. L. Moore is a woman writing fantasy, but Frank Baum writes girls stories as Edith Van Dyne.”
“But, Max Brand is Freddie Faust and A. A. Fair is Stan Gardner. How come you never use another name for different stories?”
“I’ve used Normal Bean and I’ve submitted stories as John Tyler McCullough. Unlike some writers, I want folks to know it’s me.”
KINDNESS COST NOTHING
May 13: And as Pogo used to say, “This month Friday the 13th is on a Wednesday.” On this day in 1977, actress and director, Samantha Jane Morton was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. In 2012, she played the Sola, the female Thark who assisted John Carter in the in Disney film, "John Carter."
This list is by no means complete, but her films include, Woody Allen’s “Sweet and Lowdown,” Spielberg’s “Minority Report,” ‘The Libertine” with Johnny Depp, “The Messenger,” and Harry Potter’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” She is currently appearing on US television as the evil Alpha in “The Walking Dead.”
Samantha has won several awards including a British Academy Television Award, a British Independent Film Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for more than 50 other awards including two Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a British Academy Film Award.
“Kindness Cost Nothing” is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble. Apologies to the traditional Caribbean song, “Shame and Scandal in the Family.”
KINDNESS COST NOTHING
Carter said, “You’re kind to me. Why is that?”
“Kindness costs me nothing. Unlike the others, I believe kindness is strength and cruelty is weakness. Kindness and cruelty revisit the giver”
“Your back is scared. You’ve been beaten?”
“I was raised an orphan with no one to protect me.”
“You said ‘raised as.’ So you’re not an orphan?”
“I’ve never told anyone.”
“You look like the warrior, Tars Tarkas. Is he your father?”
“Yes, the warrior is my father, but my warrior doesn’t know.”
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
May 14: On this day in 1917, the first ERB story to be filmed was released. It wasn’t ‘Tarzan of the Apes” that graced the silver screen on May 14, 1917. It was "The Lad and the Lion," filmed by Selig Polyscope Co. The five-reel black and white silent movie was directed by Alfred E. Green. Green directed over a hundred films, including directing Betty Davis in an Oscar winning role in “Dangerous.”
The cast starred Will Machin as the lad, “William Bankington,” and Vivian Reed as “Nakula.” Vivian Reed was married to the director. Reed appeared as Princess Gloria in “The Patchwork Girl of Oz.” Her face is the face in the Oz logo on films made by “The Oz Manufacturing Company.” No copies of the film are known to survive but ERB's book, The Lad and the Lion is very much alive.
The Edgar Rice Burroughs’ inspired 100 word drabble today is, "Sleeping Arrangements."
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
“Yes, life for royals in Europe is revolting. That is, the people are always revolting. Better a sheepherder in the desert, than a severed head on a pike.”
“Some nights, you toss and turn. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you preferred sleeping with that smelly lion you lived with on that boat.”
“I was safe with the lion.”
“It’s more than that.”
“Okay. The lion didn’t snore and he slept on his side
of the bed.”
FAST DANCE
May 15: On this day in 1945, “Tarzan and the Mermaids” was released. The release date and the date of the Premier are different. The movie premiered in Los Angeles on April 27, 1948, but the release date in the United States for the 68 minute RKO Pictures film was May 15, 1948.
Brenda Joyce appeared as Jane in Weissmuller’s last appearance as Tarzan and for the first time since 1939, Johnny Sheffield (Boy) did not appear in a Tarzan film. Two crew members were killed during the production of the first Tarzan movie filmed outside the United States since Herman Brix’s New Adventures of Tarzan. Filming was near Acapulco, Mexico.
One crew member was crushed by a motorboat and Angel Garcia, a stunt diver who doubled for Tarzan's high dive, was killed, He survived the cliff dive but was swept by the surf into the rocks of the cliffs.
Linda Christian, born as Blanca Rosa Welter, appeared as Mara, a local woman ordered by an evil priest to marry against her will. Linda was the first “Bond” girl. She appeared in a 1954 television adaptation of the James Bond novel, “Casino Royale” for the anthology series, “Climax.”
The entire "Bond" episode is available to watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=RAsolWlnXYI
For trivia and more information on the film visit the ERBzine page: https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0628.html.
“Fast Dance” is today’s Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble.
FAST DANCE
Weissmuller said, “Cut? Why cut? I was perfect.”
“You were, but the camera angle was bad. It showed too much belly.”
“You calling me fat?”
“No. The camera adds twenty pounds anyway and with a bad camera angle, well …”
A female costar who played the maiden in peril, came on set, and Johnny smiled. “Who might you be?”
‘Name’s Christian, Linda Christian.”
During the next scene, she and Johnny danced a mad mambo and they spun and bounced around until, dizzy and disoriented, she collapsed. “I should have said, “Not shaken and not stirred.”
See Days 16-31 at ERBzine 7155a
APRIL II ILLUSTRATIONS COLLAGE
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