Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7386a  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
AUGUST IIIa Edition :: Days 16-31
See Days 1 - 15 at ERBzine 7386
by Robert Allen Lupton
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
CAUGHT BY A HAIR
August 16: On this day in 1932, the Police Inspector Muldoon Mystery, “Who Murdered Mr. Thomas” was published in Rob Wagner’s Script Magazine. Hair color plays a major part in the story, of far less than 1000 words. The short murder mystery and its solution are available to read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0047.html
It’s important that fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs not confuse Inspector Muldoon with Officer Muldoon. Completely different people.
Burroughs’s introduction to the mystery read as follows:
You have a right to boast of the high order of intelligence of your readers.
Let's see how high it is.
The enclosed murder mystery may be solved logically from the clues given in the story.
There is no "catch" to it.
Ask your readers to time themselves and then tell you how long it took them
to reach the correct solution logically. Also ask them not to lie.”
CAUGHT BY A HAIR
Officer Muldoon, no relation, replied, “What does hair color have to do with it?"
“The killer’s hair is on the dead man’s coat.”
“I see. The others are in the study. I’ll take you there.”
Muldoon pointed immediately to Perry, one of the guests. “Muldoon, arrest him immediately. Take him to the station.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, he’s the hair apparent! What are you waiting for?”
“Don’t harry me. My partner took the car. I’ll radio him. ‘Car 54, where are you?’”
PUBLIC PRAISE
August 17: On this day in 2012, the United States Post office issued a Forever Stamp honoring author Edgar Rice Burroughs. This Forever stamp shows Tarzan, Burroughs' most famous literary creation, clinging to a tree by a vine with his left hand and wielding a weapon in his right. Burroughs appears in profile in the background. Hulbert Burroughs, the author's son, took the 1934 photograph that served as the basis for the stamp portrait of Burroughs. The depiction of Tarzan is an interpretation of the character by artist Sterling Hundley of Chesterfield, VA, under the direction of art director Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA.
Extensive details about the stamp are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag36/3611.html
When the stamps were released, I purchase 100 blank first day covers and designed and printed my own first day covers for every Edgar Rice Burroughs first edition. I also made FDC covers for several other ERB related books, actor biographies, bibliographies, and biographies of Edgar Rice Burroughs. I’ve included one of my one of a kind FDC (first day covers) with this post. Each First Day Cover is stored inside the Mylar cover enclosing the replica dust jacket, which covers the Mylar cover that protects the original DJ – when there is an original DJ. Nothing OCD about that!
The drabble for today is 100 words taken from the press release about the stamp from the United States Post Office. Let’s call it “Public Praise.”
PUBLIC PRAISE
Burroughs served with the U.S. Cavalry, dredged for gold, worked as a door-to-door salesman and a railroad policeman, and other varied jobs until he published his first story, “Under the Moons of Mars”
"This stamp issuance coincides with the 100th anniversary of the publication of “Under the Moons of Mars,” and “Tarzan of the Apes.”
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
August 18: On this day in 1908, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the poem, "Poverty,” a situation he must have been quite familiar with at the time because he pawned his wife’s jewelry that day. Things got a lot better in a few years.
The poem and several others by ERB are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0003.html
Here’s the entire poem:
Thou Drab of Sin and Vice and Misery;
Thou spur to Fortune.
From thy shrunk womb a Lincoln springs.
Engulfest thou a thousand who might have Lincolns been.
Seducer, thou, of Health and Happiness and Love;
Murdress of countless children, wan and pinched.
Honor in thee? Forefend us God!
Who lies with thee reeks of thy filth,
The butt of Ridicule the jest of Fate,
Loathing and loathed to a dishonored grave.
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
My mother, my sister, and I were starving until a revolutionary soldier gave us a sack of potatoes. I joined the People’s Party that day.”
“So you became a revolutionary and went to prison for
a sack of potatoes.”
“Yes, but my mother and little sister survived. Hunger
is a strong motivating factor. Ending starvation is a need that a man can’t
deny, but an empty belly is a poor political advisor!”
RESCUE ME
August 19: On this day in 1944, the Rex Maxon written and illustrated story arc, “The Ape in Danger,” concluded. He began both scripting and illustrating duties on November 29, 1943 and continued until November 30, 1947. The story, “The Ape in Danger,” was preceded by “The End of the Sorcerer” and followed by “The Ivory Hunter.” Unlike in the early Tarzan dailies illustrated by Maxon, where the illustration was above a prose section at the bottom of each panel, the prose telling the story and including any quotations, Maxon was now using the familiar word and thought balloons common in other daily comics.
The 100 word drabble for today is “Rescue Me,” and it’s inspired by the comic story line and a song that a few of you might recognize. My apologies to Fontella Bass, the original singer of the song (usually credited solely to Aretha Franklin, and the other two songwriters, Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith.)
RESCUE ME
Oh, catch me in your arms
Rescue me.
I’m falling into deadly harm
‘Coz I’m slipping and I’m going to fall
I need you to catch me like a football.
Come on and rescue me
Come on Tarzan and rescue me
Come on Tarzan and rescue me
‘Coz I need you to save my hide
Can’t you see I’m terrified
Come on Tarzan and rescue me
Come on and save me soon
I’m dizzy, frightened, ready to swoon
Cause I need you, please help me
Can’t you see can’t save myself
Catch me, Tarzan
Save me, Tarzan
Save me, Tarzan
Come on, Tarzan, and rescue me.
MEANNESS IS INCURABLE
August 20: On this day in 1950, an era was coming to an end as the third last Tarzan Sunday comic drawn by Burne Hogarth was published. Hogarth took over the Sunday Comic from Hal Foster (Prince Valiant) on May 9, 1937, and except for a brief hiatus in 1945 – 1947 when Ruben Moreira was the Tarzan artist until 1950. All of Hogarth’s Sunday pages have been collected twice. This one first in “Tarzan in Color Volume 18” published by Flying Buttress, available only on the used book market and normally priced at about $200.00. Titan Books, Volume 5 “Tarzan and the Adventurers” also contains the story. The book is in print and available from online retailers, including Amazon, for around $36.00 including shipping.
In the story arc, ‘Tarzan and the Wild Game Hunter,” the zoo curator of the Winchester Zoo and a big game hunter seek Tarzan’s help to capture a rhino and a gorilla. Tarzan agrees to help with the rhino, but refuses to allow the safari to capture a gorilla, saying, “The apes are my people.”
During the search, a deranged gorilla appears and causes havoc. After his capture, Tarzan agrees that this gorilla is a danger to his own kind and allows the zoo to take him into captivity for the jungle’s safety.
This Sunday Hogarth page is reproduced here. Numerous Hogarth Sunday Pages may be viewed at:
www.erbzine.com/mag73/7300.html ~ www.erbzine.com/mag69/6900.html ~ www.ERBzine.com/mag72/7200.html ~ www.ERBzine.com/mag72/7200a.html
The drabble for today, “Meanness is Incurable,” was inspired by the story,
MEANNESS IS INCURABLE
“He is not normal. His rages are uncontrolled.”
“Will you take him away and set him free?”
“No, he’s a danger to himself and others. He would
fight the males and kill the females and babies. Take him with you. Treat
him with kindness, but keep him away from others.”
“Tarzan, are you saying that he’s crazy?”
“No, I’m saying that he’s mean. Crazy I can deal with,
but meanness is a problem beyond my ability.”
BMI
August 21: On this day in 1944, Thomas Penfield of the Whitman Publishing Company hired John Coleman Burroughs to illustrate the cover of the Better Little Books version of “Tarzan and the Ant Men.” Better Little Book # 1444 was published in 1945 and contained 171 interior illustrations from the 1932 Rex Maxon daily Tarzan comic strip.
A copy of the letter and several examples of John Coleman Burroughs work are available at:
https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1982.html
The drabble for today, “BMI” was inspired by the Whitman letter, the size of the Ant Men, and a wandering mind that sometimes connects totally unrelated information to no one’s benefit including my own. Enjoy.
BMI
“Need any advice?”
“No, I read the book. Whitman wants a 1 to 2 scale for the cover illustration.”
“That won’t work. The size difference between the Ant Men and Tarzan is 6 to 1.”
“Not the Ant Men, Dad, the proportions concern the cover’s height-to width ratio. Twice as tall as wide.”
“No, if a six foot man was three feet wide, he’d look like Fatty Arbuckle, not Tarzan.”
“No one will look like Fatty Antbuckle.”
“Nobody likes a smart ass!”
I LOVE THIS STUFF
August 22: On this day in 1920, Edgar Rice Burroughs fan and author, Ray Douglas Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois. As a child he loved the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, especially the John Carter books and Magill's Survey of American Literature published by Salem Press in 2006, reports that by age 12 he’d written his own sequel. (Oh, to find a copy) He was also a bit of an artist and drew his own Sunday Tarzan Pages. (Again, to find one of those!)
After a rejection notice from the pulp, Weird Tales Bradbury submitted "Homecoming" to Mademoiselle, which was spotted by a young editorial assistant named Truman Capote, who picked the Bradbury manuscript from the slush pile, and sheparded it to publication. Homecoming won a place in the O. Henry Award Stories of 1947.
Bradbury remained a lifelong fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs. The 100 word drabble for today is “I Love This Stuff,” and it was written by Mr. Bradbury. Happy birthday, Ray Bradbury, and thanks for the hours of entertainment. I cherish them like golden apples from the sun.
Read more about Bradbury and his fascination with Edgar Rice Burroughs: https://www.erbzine.com/mag37/3734.html#erb
I LOVE THIS STUFF
"There’s no doubt in my mind that without the early influence of ERB I’d never have “arrived” on Mars, myself. . . . My first great love in book-reading, was Burroughs. I lived on Mars a good many fine years with John Carter. I won’t forget those years."
JILL HARDY SPEAKS
August 23: On this day in 1929, actress Vera Miles was born as Vera Ralston in in Boise City, Oklahoma. The dust bowl was just beginning and Boise was ground zero. Her family moved to Pratt, Kansas.
She appeared in countless films and television episodes. I don't have room to mention them all. I’ll only mention three things about her in this brief article. First she is the only female leading actress to actually marry her Tarzan in real life. She played Jill Hardy opposite Gordon Scott in “Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle,” and married Scott shortly after filming was concluded. She was one of the few actors/actresses to attend Johnny Weissmuller’s funeral, and finally, she is the mother-in-law of Gabe Essoe, author of “Tarzan of the Movies.” Happy Birthday, Vera Miles! Love your work!
Read all about “Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle” at https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1953.html
The drabble, “Jill Hardy Speaks,” is a fictional interview. It contains the names of 14 of Vera Miles’s films. Find them all.
JILL HARDY SPEAKS
“Loved it. Didn’t I marry Tarzan? Seriously, the film wasn’t for men only. Scott’s muscles were so big that women swooned and said, ‘the spirit is willing, …”
“People say Stott was a gentle giant.”
“Yes, he wasn’t psycho. Not a touch of larceny in
his soul. A castaway cowboy, and occasionally he’d say, follow me boys
and was off into the night to the wild country.”
“You were married only briefly?”
“Not that he was the wrong man. It takes all kinds
and we’d realized we’d be happier living separate lives.”
NOT THE MARRYING KIND
August 24: On this day in 1938, the Honolulu Star Bulletin published the article “Creator Regrets, But Tarzan’s Got a Wife.” ERB had arrived in Hawaii on the good ship, Lurline, with his wife – his second wife. Burroughs and was interviewed for the article. He pointed out that his hero, Tarzan, was married. “I married Tarzan off in my second book.”
An interesting comment considering that “Tarzan” would be banned from certain libraries in future years because Tarzan and Jane weren’t married. Additionally, in a few years ERB would become a war correspondent and he would write several columns for the “Honolulu Star Bulletin.”
The article goes on to say that ERB had recently turned down an offer of $10,000 for the original handwritten manuscript of “Tarzan of the Apes.”
https://www.erbzine.com/mag11/1127.html
NOT THE MARRYING KIND
“That was a quarter century ago and I didn’t know then that I would still have a use for an unmarried Tarzan 25 years later. Every now and then, there’s a reason to bring Jane into the pictures, but most of the time, we have to keep her out of it.”
DEFEND THE CHILDREN
August 25: On this day in 2013 actress Julia Ann (Julie) Harris passed away in West Chatham, Massachusetts. Harris, a five time Tony award winner, also won a Grammy award and three Emmy Awards. She played Charity Jones, a missionary in four episodes of the Ron Ely Tarzan television series, including the episodes, (Read the reviews in ERBzine) “The Perils of Charity Jones Part One" and "Part Two."
In 1948 she appeared on stage as one of the witches in Macbeth. Her last television appearance was as the voice of Susan B. Anthony in “Not for Ourselves Alone,” a documentary. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice Over Performance. Always classy.
A complete list of the Ron Ely television Tarzan episodes is available at https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7420.html
The drabble for today, “Defend the Children,” was inspired by Julie Harris’s appearances on television’s Tarzan.
DEFEND THE CHILDREN
“Those bandits have threatened the children. Trust God, but keep your powder dry.
“Charity is your namesake. I expected ‘love thy enemies’ and forgiveness from you. You don’t seem the bullets and Bible kind of woman.
“Charity begins at home, but justice lives next door. God helps those who help themselves.”
“You’re going to fight.”
“It’s better to give than receive. I’m going to give
the first bandit I see a bullet. Napoleon said, ‘God’s on the side with
the best artillery.’ Today that will be me.”
AIN'T GOT THAT SWING
August 26: On this day in 1976, actress Niki Scalera, who played Jane on Broadway in Disney’s stage production of Tarzan was born in New Milford, Connecticut. Her first performance as Jane was October 6, 2006. Her Broadway credits include Penny in “Hairspray” and Neil Simon’s “Jake’s Women. On television she has had roles in “All My Children” and “Another World”. She was a member of the original cast of “We Will Rock You,” the Queen musical in Las Vegas. Here's hoping i'll get a chance to see her perform live someday.
The drabble today is “Ain’t Got That Swing,” a non-existent interview about appearing on stage in “Tarzan” the Disney musical. Credit for the last line of the drabble goes to Billy Cotton for the lyrics to his song, “Hang on the Bell, Nellie,’ originally recorded by Billy Cotton and his Band and later covered by the Chad Mitchell Trio The song was based on the poem “Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight” written by Rose Harwick Thorpe in 1867, but that’s probably too much information.
AIN'T GOT THAT SWING
“I was originally the understudy. I played Jane three nights in October 2006.”
“How did that compare to “Hairspray?”
“I learned more from playing Jane than I did from playing Penny in “Hairspray.”
“How’s that.”
“I already knew how to do my hair and makeup. On stage for Tarzan, I was a little afraid about swinging on ropes. After a couple of hours up in the fly tower I wasn’t.”
“So you were fine by showtime?
“I remembered my childhood. While I was up there,
I learned it’s still fun to swing!”
August 27: On this day in 1905, actor Frederick O’Neal was born in Brooksville, Mississippi. He played King Bulam in “Tarzan’s Peril” and a tribal spokesman in the Ron Ely Tarzan episode “The Voice of the Elephant,” which was first broadcast on September 27, 1967. His role as the tribal spokesman reflects on his behavior in real life. He spoke for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. O’Neal helped organize Harlem’s Negro Theatre in 1940. He cofounded the British Negro Theatre. In 1958, he was named to the Actors’ Equity Association council, and became president in 1964. He became president of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America in 1970.
O’Neal was known for his work as a revolutionary trade unionist and was NAACP’s 1979 Man of the Year.
In the episode, Jai’s elephant is accused of murder and goes on trial according to the rules of the tribe.
The drabble for today is based on the episode “The Voice of the Elephant.” A nod to Cliff Edwards who wrote the words to the song from Dumbo.
THE VOICE OF THE ELEPHANT
The spokesman said, “I’ve never defended an elephant, but I will.”
The chief said, “Who speaks for the elephant?”
The spokesman replied, “I do. The elephant didn’t crush this man.”
The chief said, “The man has been crushed.”
“The man wasn’t crushed, but splattered. He fell from a great height. Couldn’t be the elephant. I’ve seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band, and a needle that could wink its eye. I’ve seen almost everything, but I’ve never seen an elephant fly.”
“Neither have I. Charges dismissed.”
SASHAY YOUR PARTNER
August 28: On this date four Tarzans and three Janes had their photograph taken: Jock Mahoney, Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe, James H. Pierce, Eve Brent, Joyce MacKenzie, and Louise Lorraine. The group assembled for the Tarzan Reunion at the North American Science Fiction Convention in Los Angeles to honor the 100th birthday of Edgar Rice Burroughs.
The young lady between Mahoney and Weissmuller was identified at the time only as “Sasha,” the new Jane. Well, Sasha never played Jane, not on screen anyway.
She is Sasha Montenegro, a Mexican actress who was married to Jose Lopez Portillo, President of Mexico from 1976 to 1982. Sasha become an actress in the 1970s and made several “Lucha Libre” (wrestling films). She had roles in many Mexican sexicomdias films, in which she wore little or no clothing and had roles on four telenovelas. Sasha did appear in over fifty films, but alas, the closest she came to playing Jane, was in the photographs taken in 1975.
ERBzine has a slightly different color photograph of the octet at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag62/6262.htmland Bill Hillman asks the question, “Who is Sasha?”
The drabble for today, “Sashay Your Partner,” is based on Sasha Montenegro's unexplained appearance in those photographs.
SASHAY YOUR PARTNER
“Sasha something. Don’t remember her. How old was she when Jocko was Tarzan, ten?”
“Nope, maybe she came with Eve.”
“Not with me and not with Joyce or Lorraine either. We’ve been together all day.”
Lorraine observed, “Maybe she just sashayed into our photograph.”
Joyce said, ‘And she can sashay right back where she came from!”
Buster grumbled, “Enough of this talk. I need to work out. Do they have a gym here?”
Weissmuller laughed. “He’s standing next to you. We’ve got at least three Janes, too!”
TAKE MY WIFE, PLEASE
August 29: On this day in 1939, Edgar Rice Burroughs penned a letter to producer, Sam Zimbalist, praising his efforts in the production of “Tarzan Finds a Son.” Burroughs was especially grateful that Jane hadn’t been killed in the movie. Cyril Hume, the screenwriter, and others had planned to kill Jane. Burroughs objected, but his contract gave the production company the right to do so if they chose.
In the original script, Jane was seriously wounded by a native spear and she died from the wound but following a barrage of protests from fans and ERB the studio changed its mind.
Maureen O’Sullivan wanted out of the Tarzan series, but a nice raise convinced her to stay on. The working title was “Tarzan in Exile,” because Tarzan went into seclusion after Jane’s death, but after the rewrite keeping Jane alive, the title was changed. Even though public outcry kept Tarzan’s mate alive for a while longer, eventually Jane would not appear in a number of Tarzan films. She wasn’t killed, she just disappeared from the storylines. Gone with the stroke of a pen.
Details about the film, “Tarzan Finds a Son,” are at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0620.html
The drabble today, “Take My Wife, Please,” with apologizes to comedian Henny Youngman, is based on the uproar that the plans to kill Jane of the moves created.
TAKE MY WIFE, PLEASE
“Killing her is a bad idea. Everyone likes Jane. Men like her skimpy outfits and women like her wholesomeness.”
“The public aren’t screenwriters. We’ll tell them what
to like.”
“You sound like Louis the 16th before they beheaded
him. Tarzan’s creator, Ed Burroughs, told me he’d tried to kill Jane in
the 20s. His readers went nuts. No readers, no new cars!”
“I’ve half a mind to kill her anyway.”
“With half a mind, you could be king of Hollywood.
Even half a mind is rare thing around here.”
BY ANY OTHER NAME
August 30: On this day in 1914, actress Julie Bishop was born in Denver, Colorado. Her name at birth was Jacqueline Brown. She appeared in over 80 films and also used the stage names Diane Duval and Jacqueline Wells. She played Mary Brooks, the female lead, opposite Buster Crabbe in the serial, “Tarzan the Fearless.”
During her career she appeared in “Captain Blood,” “The Black Cat,” “Alice in Wonderland,” several westerns, and “Sands of Iwo Jima.” Laraine Day, an actress who was in “Tarzan Finds a Son,” was also in “Sands of Iwo Jima.”
The drabble for today is “By Any Other Name,” and it was inspired by Julie / Jacqueline / Diane’s tendency to change her name regularly, both personally and professionally. She was married three times.
BY ANY OTHER NAME
‘Professionally or personally. Personally I’ve been Jacqueline Brown, Jacqueline Brooks, and Jacqueline Shoop. Currently, I’m Julie Bishop professionally.”
“Why Julie Bishop?”
I chose Julie Bishop because it matched the monograms
on my luggage, JB for Jackie Booth.”
“Well, Jacqueline Bergin will match the monograms.”
“That was twenty-five years ago. Old names, old husbands,
and old memories.”
“Promise once we’re married, you won’t change your
name.”
“Hopefully, but never say never.”
“’Never say never’ would made a good movie title.”
‘You be the doctor. Let the screenwriters write.”
August 31: On this day in 1986, musical theatre actress Rachel Ann Villalobos Go-Spies (Rachel Ann Go) was born in Manilla, Philippines.
She starred as Jane in the Manilla production of “Tarzan, the Musical,” which opened at the Meralco Theater on June 14, 2013. Dan Domenech played Tarzan.
Rachel has recorded seven albums which reached gold and double platinum status. Her song, “First Burn,” made her first Filipino artist to reach #1 on a US music chart.
On stage she’s played Eliza Hamilton in “Hamilton,” Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” Gigi Van Tranh in “Miss Saigon,’ and Fantine in “Les Miserables.”
Details about Tarzan the Musical and it’s worldwide produtions are available at www.erbzine.com. A good place to start is https://www.erbzine.com/stage/
The drabble for today is “Jane’s My Kind of Girl” and it is from an interview with Rachel published on http://www.musicalplayphilippines.com/
JANE'S MY KIND OF GIRL
See
Days 1 - 15 at ERBzine 7386
AUGUST IIIa ILLUSTRATIONS COLLAGE
Click for full-size promo collage
