Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7161  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
NOVEMBER II Edition :: Days 1 - 15
See Days 16 - 30 at ERBzine 7161a
by Robert Allen Lupton
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
YELL FOR YOUR SUPPER
November 1: On this day in 2007, The European Union ruled that the “Tarzan Yell” does not have protected legal status. This isn’t the case in America.
From their website comes the following information: “Legal firm, Fross Zelnick, has crafted unique and innovative strategies to protect clients' most valuable intellectual property assets, including the legendary TARZAN yell. When the Estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs entered into a U.S. licensing agreement for a TARZAN action figure toy, Fross Zelnick urged its client to seek trademark registration not only for the name TARZAN but also for the well-known TARZAN yell.
As most trademark practitioners know, it is extremely difficult to secure a trademark registration for sounds, particularly in relation to toys. Sound trademarks are more commonly registered for services. By working closely with the client, the firm was able to gather the necessary evidence of "fame and acquired distinctiveness" to persuade officials at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the TARZAN yell was sufficiently distinctive to merit its own registration.
The registration was granted, under Registration No. 2,210,506, and is often cited as a significant example of U.S. protection of unconventional marks.
I’m not a lawyer, I just watch actors pretend to be lawyers on television, but as I understand it, in America, you can go outside and scream the victory cry of the bull ape to your hearts content without legal consequence – as long as you don’t get paid for it. In Europe, put your safari hat down on a street corner for tips and yell your head off. No worries.
Details about the Tarzan Yell are located at:
https://www.erbzine.com/mag14/1482.html
https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1929.html
You can hear all the best-know Tarzan yells on those ERBzine sites.
Today’s drabble, ‘Yell For Your Supper,” features Burroughs aficionados, John and Pat.
YELL FOR YOUR SUPPER
One screamed and hugged her boyfriend, who laughed and tossed a five dollar bill into the hat. In an hour, John made almost two hundred dollars.
Pat said, “John, the Tarzan yell is copyrighted. You
can’t use it to make money.”
“You’re the yell police?”
“No, I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Let’s make it a duet. We’ll double the take.”
“Okay, try not to scream like a little girl.”
WHAT COPYRIGHT
November 2: On this day in 1990, American science fiction editor, publisher, and writer, Donald A. Wollheim died. As the editor of Ace Books, Wollheim was directly responsible for the paperback resurgence of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the magnificent covers by Roy Krenkel and Frank Frazetta.
Wollheim also published the “Lord of the Rings” in paperback without permission from Tolkein. He also wrote several novels, himself, under his own name and others, including David Grinnell and Martin Pearson.
He published the first novel of Ursula K. Le Guin, “Rocannon World” as half of an Ace Double along with “The Kar-Chee Reign” by Avram Davidson.
Ace Books, under his guidance, was THE science fiction book publisher for an entire generation.
When A. A. Wyn, at Ace passed away, Ace Books was taken over by a bank, the new owners were slow to pay advances and royalties, budgets were cut and bills went unpaid. In 1971, Wollheim left Ace and founded DAW Books. Most of the writers whom he had developed at Ace went with him to DAW: Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton, Philip K. Dick, John Brunner, A. Bertram Chandler, Kenneth Bulmer, Gordon R. Dickson, A. E. van Vogt, and Jack Vance.
In later years, when his distributor, New American Library, threatened to withhold Thomas Burnett Swann's Biblical fantasy “How Are the Mighty Fallen” (1974) because of its homosexual theme. Wollheim vigorously objected and the book was published.
This is not intended to be a biography of Wollheim, but rather a brief tribute. Search for him on the internet, there are thousands of sites with more information including our ERBzine Tribute in our EVENTS section:
Today’s drabble is “What Copyright,” and it was inspired by Donald Wollheim’s determination to publish the books he wanted to publish.
WHAT COPYRIGHT
Elsie asked. “How much money did Tolkien want?”
“Doesn’t matter. I checked. His American hardcover
publisher never copyrighted Tolkien’s books in America. I can publish them
without cost or consent.”
“Won’t he sue Ace?”
PROPOSAL
November 3: On this day in 1888, actress Evelyn Greely was born as Evelyn Huber in Austria. Some sources say her birthday was August 3, 1888 and her place of birth as Lexington, Kentucky.
Greeley began her acting career on the stage, touring with the "Poli Players" stock company of Sylvester Z. Poli. She began working in film in 1914, for the Chicago-based Essanay Studios, doing bit parts. It more than a year that she obtained her first credit line, in the Quality Pictures production of “The Second in Command.”
Greeley's career peaked in the years 1917–19, when she was under contract to the World Film Corporation, where she starred in numerous films. Her contract with World Film ended in 1920. While at World Film Corporation she starred in “The Oakdale Affair” directed by Oscar Apfel. https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0765a.html
Greeley, who had been billed in the newspapers as the "most proposed-to woman in America,” married for the first time, to John Smiley, in October 1922 and retired from films.
“Proposal” is the drabble for today and it’s inspired by Evelyn Greeley, the star of the lost film, “The Oakdale Affair."
PROPOSAL
“John, so many men have asked me to marry. As for my birthplace, that’s not the kind of question a gentleman asks.”
“Never said I was a gentleman. Just a businessman. Is your birthplace a question that a lady answers?”
‘No, I’ll keep that private, like my age and weight. But as to your marriage proposal, I almost said no from force of habit. It’s the kind of question a lady answers, and to you, my answer is yes.”
BEST YELL
November 4: On this day in 1944, voice actress Linda Gary, who portrayed Jane on television’s “Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle” animated series was born as Linda Gary Dewoskin in Los Angeles, California. ERBzine Note: Danton Burroughs -- of ERB, Inc. and grandson of ERB -- performed the yell for this Filmation animated Tarzan series. https://www.erbzine.com/mag27/2799.html
She voiced characters for several Hanna-Barbara
series, including Scooby Doo, The Smurfs, Top Cat, and others. She voiced
characters on Scruffy, “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Magic Flute” for
“The ABC Weekend Special series.
She hit her stride with Disney, doing
voice over appearances on “Darkwing Duck,’ “Duck Tales,” “TaleSpin,” and
“The Little Mermaid.” She voiced several characters on “Transformers” and
Aunt May on the first season of the 1994-1998 animated “Spider-Man.” She
voiced several characters on “He-Man’ and She-Ra,” and the “Land Before
Time” movie franchise. Her voice was featured on numerous other animated
features.
She died of brain cancer on October
5, 1995. Archival recordings of her voice work continue in use today.
“Best Yell” is the drabble
for today and it was inspired by Linda Gary and the victory cry of the
bull ape, created by Edger Rice Burroughs.
BEST YELL
“I like voicing women who stand up for themselves.”
“And the worse thing?”
“I didn’t get to do the Tarzan yell. I do a kickass yell. Robert Ridgely voiced Tarzan. I could out yell him with a sore throat. I think they used an old recording of Weissmuller, but I’m not sure.”
“Really?”
“I read that lots of movie and television Tarzans
faked it and dubbed in Johnny’s voice.
“You think that your yell was better?”
“I learned from Carol Burnett. Of course it was.”
NEW VENTURE
November 5: On this day in 1969, screenwriter, producer, director and actor, Lloyd Corrigan, died in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California. This multitalented comedic actor appeared in literally hundreds of films and a half dozen television episodes. He played Shiek Abdul El Khim in “Tarzan’s Desert Mystery.”
He directed a Fu Manchu film, “Daughter of the Dragon.” He wrote three of them. His short film, “La Cucaracha” won an Academy Award in 1935.
“New Venture” is the drabble for today and it’s entirely fictional, but based on the multitalented actor, Lloyd Corrigan, who appeared in “Tarzan’s Desert Mystery.”
NEW VENTURE
Jack Warner asked, “Will you at least write new scripts?”
“Screenwriting requires too much time. I have to do
rewrites on the fly. Too much commitment. No, I’m starting a new venture
and I won’t have the time. I’ll grow tobacco in the San Fernando Valley.”
“Interesting. Will you make both cigarettes and smokeless
chewing tobacco?”
“Only cigarettes. As Confucius said, “Many men smoke,
but Fu Manchu.”
GOODNIGHT MOON
November 6: On this day in 1933, Edgar Rice Burroughs began writing “Swords of Mars,” the eighth Barsoomian novel. He finished the book in mid-December, less than 45 days after beginning it. A year after he began the book, part one of six was published in Blue Book Magazine in November 1934. Usually a new novel serialization got the cover nod at Blue Book in the thirties, but that wasn’t the case here.
“Swords of Mars” was featured on two covers out six, issues two and three. Edgar Rice Burroughs’ name appears on the cover of the other issues.
The cover of the first installment, November 1933, was drawn by Henry Soulen and appears to illustrate the story, “A Flag of Distress” by Captain Dingle (Aylward Edward Dingle, who spent 22 years at sea, was shipwrecked five times, including a real treasure hunt on board the “Black Pearl, which was wrecked near Saint Paul Island. The adventurers survived, found gold from an 1870s wreck and were rescued. He commanded several vessels during his career.
The drabble for today, Goodnight Moon ,is based on the novel “Swords of Mars,” by Edgar Rice Burroughs with a thank you to Margaret Wise Brown. It has nothing to do with Captain Dingle.
GOODNIGHT MOON
Carter fought and searched, but he never found Dejah Thoris. After returning to Zodanga, Carter was told that Dejah was still on the moon, but she was a captive in the next room.
She escaped. Carter killed the lying assassins. Dejah admired Thuria speeding high above. “Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight dead assassins everywhere. Goodnight moon.
CRIME OF PASSION
November 7: On this day in 1914, All-Story Cavalier Weekly published part three of four parts of “The Mucker.” Burroughs received no mention on the cover. The cover illustration and blurb were for “As Old As She Looks,” written by Fred Jackson, along with the quote, “The age of woman is the only age unknown to man.” I recognize three of the other writers with stories in the issue. Part 6 of 6 of E. Phillips Oppenheim’s “The Curious Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss and “Sophronia’s Spunk” by Harold Titus were included. Frank Condon, a silent pictures screen writer with seventeen films to his credit, contributed the short story, “Under Thin Veneer.”
The drabble for today is “Crime of Passion” and it’s based on Billy Byrne’s efforts to become a gentleman while he and Barbara were stranded on an island, falling in love, and hiding from natives and samurai warriors.
CRIME OF PASSION
Barbara was appalled. “I was learning to love you,
but you’re just a brute.”
Later, Billy waded into a river to battle a samurai
warrior. The samurai was winning, but Barbara charged into the stream and
stabbed the warrior. She cradled Billy’s bleeding head. “Billy, I love
you.”
Billy whispered, “It’s alright for you to kill?”
“Killing in the name of love is not murder.”
“I wish that you’d have been a judge in Chicago.”
ERUPT ENDING
November 8: On this day in 1970, the last installment of the Russ Manning Tarzan Sunday Comic strip story, “Tarzan and the Slavers,” was published. The story began on June 7, 1970. The entire story is available online in both English and French versions at https://www.erbzine.com/mag21/2124.html and in the book, “Tarzan: The Complete Russ Manning Newspaper Strips Volume 2 (1969-1971), published by the Library of American Comics in 2013.
The drabble for today is “Erupt Ending” and it’s based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Sunday comic, “Tarzan and the Slavers,” by the magnificent Russ Manning.
ERUPT ENDING
Tarzan freed the people and fled into the hills. The Tuareg cornered them in a cave. Tarzan prepared to fight to the death, but a volcano erupted and rained fire and lava from the sky.
Tarzan’s wards were safe, but the Tuareg were decimated.
An old man asked, “Will the slavers leave us alone
now?”
Tarzan smiled. “Yes, a volcanic eruption is one way
God says he doesn’t like your behavior.”
BARSOOMIAN RHAPSODY
November 9: On this day in 1934, scientist and author, Carl Sagan, was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn New York. Today is “Carl Sagan Day.” During his career, Sagan was an assistant professor of Astronomy at Harvard, Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell, and served as a consultant to the NASA for the Mariner, Viking and Pioneer missions. He was president of the American Astronomical Society and the Planetary Society. He received a Pulitzer Prize in 1978 for “The Dragons of Eden: Speculations of the Evolution of Human Intelligence.”
He authored nine books, including the novel, “Contact.”
He was a lifelong fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs and said, “I can remember spending many an hour in my boyhood, arms resolutely outstretched in an empty field, imploring what I believed to be Mars to transport me there."
Today’s drabble, “Barsoomian Rhapsody,” was written by Carl Sagan. https://www.erbzine.com/mag13/1384.html
BARSOOMIAN RHAPSODY
TIGER
November 10: On this day in 1940, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing, “Tiger Girl,” part three of “Savage Pellucidar.” “Tiger Girl” was first published by “Amazing” in April 1942. The first two installments of “Savage Pellucidar”, “The Return to Pellucidar” and “Men of the Bronze Age,” were published by “Amazing” in February 1942 and March 1942 respectively. All three stories were reprinted in ‘Amazing Stories Quarterly” in the fall of 1942.
The concluding part of “Savage Pellucidar,” titled ‘Savage Pellucidar,” was written in 1944, but not published until November 1963.
I’ve posted the Amazing Stories cover for April 1942 before, so I won’t include it with this post. It’s an illustration for “Adam Link Saves The World” by Eando Binder, the pen name for two brothers, Earl Andrew Binder and Otto Binder. They used their first initials to come up with the first name “E and O.” The illustration with this post is a fascinating piece of art by Frank Frazetta.
The drabble for today is “Tiger,” and it’s based on “Tiger Girl,” by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and William Cosmo Monkhouse, the author of the limerick that begins, “There once was a lady from Niger.”
TIGER
Bovar caught Dian, only to be killed and eaten by the
tigers. She rode the tigers to safety.
When she reached home safely, she recited,
She’s happiest when I’m astride her
I don’t mean to be snide
But bad Bovar’s inside.
See the smile on the face of my tiger.”
TAXES
November 11: On this day in 1962, the “Cincinnati Enquirer” published an article by Ralph H. Cosham titled, “Tarzan Started Swinging 50 years Ago; Built an Empire, Continues Jungle Feats.” The article is available to read in its entirety at
https://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7036.html
Here’s an excerpt from the article for today’s 100 word drabble, “Taxes.”
TAXES
"Two more sales, “Gods of Mars” and “Return of Tarzan”- the latter for $1000 convinced Burroughs that writing was his destiny.
From these beginnings grew an industry which reached its peak in the years immediately before World War II when it was said of Tarzan that he paid enough in taxes to cover the salaries of most of the U. S.. Senators.”
TO STAY OR GO
November 12: On this day in 1963, Canaveral Press reprinted “Back to the Stone Age,” with a cover by Sam Sigaloff, based on the John Coleman Burroughs cover to the first edition – published by ERB Inc. on September 15, 1937. Very little is known about the artist, Sam Sigaloff. Basically, I couldn’t find anything. I found a gallery owner and artist named Sigoloff – who died in 1977 – but that’s not him.
The Canaveral edition was 318 pages in length – just like the first edition. It contained 7 interior black and white plates of John Coleman Burroughs illustrations.
The novel features the adventures of Wilhelm von Horst, a Yankee, who was thought dead and abandoned in Pellucidar at the end of “Tarzan at the Earth’s Core.” Von Horst survives and falls in love with the beautiful La-ja and is faced with the choice of staying where he is or returning to the outer world.
“To Stay or Go,” is the drabble for today and it’s based on “Back to the Stone Age.
TO STAY OR GO
“Things were fine. Well, except for bears, sabertooth tigers, trodons, mammoth men, and the Forest of Death. Even that girl, La-ja wanted to kill me when we met.”
‘I’m glad we decide to come back to the Earth’s Core. We’ll mount an expedition to the surface soon. Come with us.”
Wilhelm looked at the beautiful La-ja and remembered suits, ties, and the social customs of Massachusetts. The woman smiled. Willem said, “Back to Boston? Not on your life.”
BROWN-EYED HANDSOME MAN
November 13: On this day in 1923, actress Linda Christian was born as Blanca Rosa Welter in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Her father was Dutch and her mother was of Spanish, German, and French descent. They lived all over the world, and Linda learned to speak fluent French, German, Dutch, Spanish, English, Italian, and a bit of Arabic and Russian.
She played Mara in the last Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan film, “Tarzan and the Mermaids.” She was a native woman who fled her village to avoid a forced marriage to a con man pretending to be the god, Balu. Tarzan and Jane help her.
She had a torrid affair with Errol Flynn, and was the first “Bond” girl, portraying Valerie Mathis opposite Barry Nelson in the 1954 television adaption of “Casino Royale. She was married to Tyrone Power for seven years. The two were offered leading roles in “From Here to Eternity,” but Power rejected the offer and Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed were cast as Private ‘Prew’ Prewitt and Alma Burke, respectively.
The drabble for today, “Brown-eyed Handsome Man,” was inspired as always, by the writings of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and by the actress, Linda Christian.
BROWN-EYED HANDSOME MAN
“Yes, I did. He was too damn jealous.”
“Of other men?”
“No, he was accustomed to being the prettiest person
in the house. He kept using my makeup and hairbrush.”
“You seeing anyone now.”
“Tyrone Power.”
“Damn girl, he’s prettier than Errol.”
“Yes, he is. We’ll get married next year.”
“Nothing more dangerous than a man who knows he’s
handsome.”
“We’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t start reciting,
“Mirror, Mirror on the wall
November 14: On this day in 1919, Edgar Rice Burroughs was paid $20,000 cash plus royalties for the movie rights to “The Son of Tarzan.” The National Film Corporation film had a budget of $106,000. “The Son of Tarzan” was the first Tarzan story to be serialized in film. Directing duties were divided between Arthur Flaven and Harry Reiver.
Burroughs visited the National studios almost daily during the filming. He was quoted in the “Exhibitor’s Trade Review on August 21, 1920, “Both director Harry H. Revier and Roy Somervile, who adapted my book for the screen, have my absolute confidence. Mr. Revier has grasped my point of view very well, and I’m sure that he will handle the story in keeping with the general idea of the printed book. I am particularly gratified to find in this director a man who doesn’t think he knows it all, and is willing to take suggestions from the author of the work he is placing before the public.”
For extensive details about the film, go to https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0589.html
The drabble for today is “A Serial Serving,” and is inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
A SERIAL SERVING
Flaven responded, “Serials are frequently titled for females in dire straits – “What Happened to Mary,” “The Adventures of Kathryn,” “Perils of Pauline,” “Exploits of Elaine,” “Hazards of Helen,” and ‘A Woman in Grey.”
“No, she was wondering whether the cereal will contain added sugar, be oat or wheat based, and whether it will be made by Post or Kellogg’s.”
“Neither. Tell her it’s unsweetened. It’ll be jungle fare, served straight up, in fifteen episodes.”
A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE
November 15: On this day in 1925, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed “The Mastermind of Mars.” He used two working titles while writing the novel, “A Weird Adventure on Mars” and “Vad Varo of Barsoom.” The story was rejected by Argosy, Popular Magazine, and Elks Magazine. Editors found the story about brain transference shocking and bizarre. Burroughs was offended by the tone of Argosy’s rejection.
The story found a home with ‘Amazing Stories.” It was published as the “Amazing Stories Annual Volume One” on July 15, 1927, the only ‘annual’ Amazing ever published. Hugo Gernsback paid Burroughs $1250.00 for the novel.
Robert B. Zeuschner lists 25 American editions of the novel in “Edgar Rice Burroughs The Bibliography.”
Several issue covers and detailed information about the novel are available online at:
“A Mind is A Terrible Thing to Waste” is today’s drabble, inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I’d give a tip of the hat to the movie, “Bull Durham,” for the last line, but I’ve long believed that they stole the line from me. I used it in a terrible poem published in a not to be named local newspaper. I wrote it six years before the movie was filmed.
A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE
Varo commented, “Agreed. Where I come from there’s
a novel about an animated scarecrow who functions without a brain.”
“Indeed, It’s almost the same where I come from. I’ve
observed that many people get along without using their brain, if they
have one, at all.”
“Yes, life’s a blessing for those not cursed with self-awareness.”
See Days 16-30 at ERBzine 7161a
NOVEMBER II ILLUSTRATIONS COLLAGE
Click for full-size promo collage
