Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7467a  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
FEBRUARY IV Edition :: Days 16 - 28
See Days 1 - 15 at ERBzine 7467a
by Robert Allen Lupton
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
HAPPY OR ANGRY
February 16: On this day in 1975, Canadian voice actress Rebecca Shoichet, was born in Sydenham, Ontario, Canada. Rebecca voiced ‘Jane’ in Netflix’s ‘Tarzan and Jane,’ produced by Arad Animation, 41 Entertainment, and Arc Productions. ‘Tarzan and Jane,’ predominately targeted a young, very young, audience and lasted for two seasons.
Rebecca has long been a force in animation voice acting. IMBD lists over 100 credits including ‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes,” ‘Astonishing X-Men,” “Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch,” “The New Adventures of Peter Pan,” “My Little Pony,” and “Super Dinosaur.” She has extensive credits in dubbing Japanese anime features into English.”
The drabble for todays was inspired by the characters she’s voiced. Call it, “Happy or Angry.”
HAPPY OR ANGRY
“That won’t be a problem. I can do anger.”
“Really, in most of your work, you’ve played someone
who just radiates sweetness and light. My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake,
Maya the Bee, and Little Battlers aren’t exactly a journey to the dark
side. I need more than happiness from Jane, she’s complex. I need to hear
anger, resolve, and even disgust.”
“You misunderstand, the way things are most of time, it takes more acting to do happy than it does to do angry.”
FLYING FORTRESS
February 17: On this day in 1942, the world’s oldest war correspondent, Edgar Rice Burroughs was treated to a ride in a B-17 Flying Fortress. His account of the flight was published in the Honolulu Star Bulletin on February 27, 2022 and may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag2/0213.html
At this time, there are 46 surviving B-17’s, of which ten are still airworthy.
The drabble for today, “Flying Fortress,” was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Here’s 100 words from the above referenced article.
FLYING FORTRESS
I assume that the crew of the ship in which I flew was representative of the men in the air force. They were young, keen, and intelligent.
DRINK WITH A TURKEY
February 18: According to his journal entry on this day in 1943, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote about the V. O. (Visiting Officers) Club he visited while the U. S. S. Shaw and other ships were moored at a location where the work was under way to build a destroyer base.
One of the ships was the “U. S. S. Turkey,” and ERB embarked on an evening of comradeship and whisky in “The Turkey Club” with some of its officers.
Burroughs doesn’t identify the location in his journal, security issues, I suspect, but he bemoans the lack of good alcohol available in the club and expressed some concern that he wouldn't survive the war. He closed that day’s entry with a visit from some Navy doctors, complaining that one of them had two heads. Evidently, the alcohol was better than expected.
The photo is of the U. S. S. Turkey.
Read this entry and several more at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag68/6847.html
The drabble for today, “Drink With A Turkey,” was written by ERB, and the 100 words are from his journal entry for February 18, 1943.
DRINK WITH A TURKEY
He took me to an officer's quarters on the second floor. There were several officers getting high and many bottles of Scotch and Bourbon.
After a time, I returned to the Shaw to type my newest story while it was fresh in my mind and I was still alive. The chances are that I shall not outlive the war with Japan.
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
February 19: On this day in 1927, A. C. McClurg published “The Outlaw of Torn.” Outlaw was ERB’s second book, written after “Under the Moons of Mars” and before “Tarzan of the Apes.” It was rejected at that time, but eventually sold to New Story Magazine for publication in 1914.
The first edition had a dust jacket by J. Allen St. John, but no interior illustrations. The entire print run sold out in thirty-seven days! It was reprinted several times by Grosset & Dunlap prior to 1940. Burroughs considered the book to be one of his finest.
For extensive information about the novel and its publishing history, visit: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0754.html
The drabble today is “Love is In The Air," and it was inspired by a written exchange between ERB and editor Joseph Bray at McClurg.
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
“That’s good and bad. If you’d printed more than 5000 copies, we’d have made more money.”
“I called so you could tell me ‘I told you so.’”
“I’ll write that in an autographed copy to you.”
“So when I see another manuscript?”
“I’ll send “Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle” to you if you promise to increase the print run.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Joseph, there are other publishers. I can talk to Metropolitan.”
“They only publish love stories.”
“I only write love stories.”
LOOK BEFORE YOU SPEAK
February 20: On this day in 1983, the Tarzan Sunday comic featured the first installment of the Mike Grell illustrated story arc, “Tarzan and the Crocodile.” The story ran for two Sundays and ended on February 20, 1983. This was Grell’s last Tarzan Sunday page after drawing the strip for about 1 ½ years. The page was preceded by a Thomas Yeates one shot ‘The Lion” and followed with the first Gray Morrow strip, “The Most Dangerous Prey.”
All of Mike’s Tarzan pages are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag29/2968.html
Mike, a prolific comic book writer and artist, is best known for “Warlord,” “Jon Sable Freelance,” and “Starslayer.”
Here’s the link to Mike’s website: http://mikegrell.com/
The drabble for today is “Look Before You Speak,’ and it was inspired by Tarzan’s many fights with crocodiles.
LOOK BEFORE YOU SPEAK
The crocodile woke and swam rapidly toward the monkey. Nkima screamed and splashed for shore, but stepped into a deep hole. He fought to the surface and sputtered for help while the crocodile closed on him.
Tarzan dove from shore and attacked the crocodile.
He killed the hungry reptile.
Nkima danced safely from a high branch.
Tarzan said, “Silly Nkima. Never insult a crocodile
while you’re swimming with him.”
THE TRAIN KEEPS ROLLING
February 21: On this day in 1925, Argosy All-Story Weekly published the first installment of “The Moon Men,” the sequel to “The Moon Maid.” “The Moon Men” was published in four installments. The story was the second part of the trilogy that became the novel “The Moon Maid,” the other two parts being “The Moon Maid” and “The Red Hawk.”
The cover illustration was by Stockton Mulford. I didn’t recognize any of the other writers with stories in the issue, but thought two of the titles were of interest: “Charlie Chong Scoops the World” by James Perley Hughes and “Elijohkn, the Temple Girl” by Sonia Ruthele Novak. Both writers were prolific during the 1920s and 1930s, but are long since largely forgotten.
In “The Moon Men,” the men from the moon, with the help of the human trader Orthis, have invaded and subjugated the entire planet. Julian IX, one of the incarnations of Julian, who remembers his previous incarnations and his future ones, resists the invaders.
Publishing details, reviews, and illustrations about the story are abundant at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0767.html
“The Train Keeps Rolling” is the drabble for today is and it was inspired by the invasion of the moon men. The savage Va-gas, centaur like creatures, seek humans for food, but the Kalkars, thinly veiled communists, seek domination, control, and power. As for Orthis, the traitor, well, Orthis is a pig with a Napoleon Complex. A tip of the hat to "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.
THE TRAIN KEEPS ROLLING
“The Kalkars want to control the universe. Earth's
the first domino to fall.”
“And the centaurs?”
“Food. They say, ‘All men are created equal, but some
taste more equal than others.’”
“You betrayed the entire planet. Why?”
“I’m in charge of the world. I wanted power and respect.
My people have another saying. “Some men would gladly the board the train
to hell if he was to be the engineer.”
“What?”
Orthis mimed blowing a train’s steam whistle. “All-aboard.
Choo-choo!”
FAMILY CHRISTMAS
February 22: On this date in different years, Enid Markey, the first film Jane, and Reed Crandall, premier illustrator were born, but I’ve done articles and drabbles about both on this day in previous years, so today’s post is about a letter that Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote on this day 67 years ago to Thelma Terry, a young woman whom he’d met in Hawaii during the WW2. He and Thelma correspondent irregularly after the war ended.
The entire letter and more of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s correspondence may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag10/1027.html...
The drabble for today is “Family Christmas,” and is my custom when these posts are about ERB’s correspondence or his newspaper articles is 100 words taken from the letter he wrote to Miss Terry.
FAMILY CHRISTMAS
CALL ME SIR
February 23: On this day in 1866, Sir Algernon Methuen, the man who founded Methuen and Company, the company that published Edgar Rice Burroughs’s books in the United Kingdom was born in London, England. Algernon Methuen Marshall Stedman was graduated from Oxford, and became a teacher. He wrote textbooks under the name W. S. Methuen, and is best known for his works on French, Greek, and Latin.
In June 1889, he began to publish his own books as Methuen & Company, eventually changing the name of the company to Methuen Publishing Limited and his own name to Algernon Methuen. In 1916 he was created the baronet, of Haslemere in Surrey. The baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1924.
Besides publishing Edgar Rice Burroughs, his company also published Robert Louis Stevenson, Oscar Wilde. A.A. Milne, Kenneth Grahame, D. H. Lawrence, T. S. Eliot, and the “Barrack-Room Ballads” by Rudyard Kipling.
The drabble for today, “Call Me Sir,” was inspired by the life of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s British publisher, Sir Algernon Methuen.
CALL ME SIR
“I’m still a commoner, but I’m allowed to use the title,
“Sir.”
“How does one become a baronet?”
“One spends a great deal of time and money convincing
the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, that one has the
right to some title. Now I’ll spend more money putting “Sir” on my
letterhead and calling cards.”
“Seems a lot of bother.”
“My wife, Emily, wanted to be addressed as “Lady.”
No price was too expensive.”
THE MIND'S EYE
February 24: On this day in 1921, artist Richard M. Powers was born in Chicago, Illinois. Powers drew more than 800 science fiction paintings including 22 Tarzan covers for Ballantine Books. The Internet Speculative Fiction Database, http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?1811, includes 100s of his covers including “Pebble In the Sky,” “Tomorrow, the Stars,” “Citizen in Space,” “To Your Scattered Bodies Go,” and “The Gods Themselves."
He was elected to the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2008. For a biography of the artist, I suggest https://www.erbzine.com/mag45/4506.html
The drabble for today is, “The Mind’s Eye,” and was inspired by the work of Richard Powers, with a bit of thanks to Howard Carter.
THE MIND'S EYE
“I’d love to. I love those books.”
Betty Ballantine said, “You’ve illustrated so much
science fiction that I’m concerned that your work might become repetitive.”
“Betty, that won’t be a problem. As long as writers
write new stories to inspire me, my work will remain fresh and new.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“When I read a good story, I see things. I see wonderful
things.”
WHATEVER
February 25: On this day in 1935, the daily comic Tarzan comic strip began the story, “Tarzan and the Fire Gods” illustrated by Rex Maxon and written by Don Garden. The story was a significant rewriting of “Tarzan Triumphant.” The United Features Syndicate, which distributed the comic strip believed that American readers would be offended by the novel’s treatment of early Christians as a forgotten race and required Don Garden to rewrite the story to such an extent that it was a new story, and it was given a new title. ERB selected the title “Tarzan and the Fire Gods,” from a list provided by United Features.
Even more interesting is that the Syndicate required the entire Russian subplot to be removed. Burroughs complained, but the UFS business manager replied, “The Reds (Russians) no longer are considered the menace they were when this book was written.” Interesting comment in light of today’s news.
Read the entire 162 day comic strip and commentary about it at: https://erbzine.com/mag37/3784.html
The drabble for today is, “Whatever,” and it was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Here’s 100 words from what he had to say concerning the complete destruction of the story line of “Tarzan Triumphant.”
WHATEVER
We have learned from long experience that anyone can write a better Tarzan story than I.I read the outline. Personally, I think they've spoiled the story; but what's the use? Motion picture producers, newspaper syndicates, and God have a corner on all knowledge. The rest of us don't know nuthin'."
DOUBLE JEALOUS
February 26: On this day in 1948, writer Robin Maxwell was born. She is the author of several historical novels including “The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn,” “The Queen’s Bastard,” “The Wild Irish: Elizabeth I and Pirate O’Malley,” “To the Tower Born: the Lost Princes,” and Mademoiselle Boleyn.”
She is also the writer of “Jane, The Woman Who Loved Tarzan,” published in September 2015.
For more information about Robin and her work, or to order a copy of “Jane, The Woman Who Loved Tarzan,” visit her website at:
http://www.robinmaxwell.com/
ERBzine has a detailed article about Robin and her book, “Jane, the Woman Who Loved Tarzan” at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag37/3706.html
Jane Goodall had this to say about Robin’s book: “Finally an honest portrayal of the only woman of whom I have been really, really jealous. What a wonderful idea to write this book. Now I am jealous all over again.”
The drabble for today is “Double Jealous,” and it’s a quotation from Robin Maxwell, when she heard Jane Goodall’s comments about “Jane, The Woman Who Loved Tarzan.” The quotation was first published in www.entertainmentVine.com on August 31, 2012 in the article “Jane – Interview with Robin Maxwell” written by Jan Ostegard.
DOUBLE JEALOUS
FINE WINE
February 27: On this day in 1991, Florence Gilbert Smith Dearholt Burroughs Chase Tillman, Edgar Rice Burroughs’s second wife died at age 87 in Sylmar, California.
Florence, born as Florence Ella Gleistein in 1904, was a silent film actress, with seventy credits listed on IMDB. She was active from 1919 until 1927. Here first appearance was in the short film, “Home Brew” in 1919 and her last was in the short film, “A Hot Potato” in 1927.
For details about her courtship and marriage to Edgar Rice Burroughs: https://www.erbzine.com/mag8/0890.html
The drabble for today is “Fine Wine,” and it is an excerpt from a magazine advertisement for California wine that appeared during the time Florence and Ed were married. The advertisement says,
FINE WINE
“I find so many of my guests choose wine. Most of our guests are active, busy people,” says Mrs. Edgar Rice Burroughs. “They prefer not to overdo when they relax. So I serve a choice of beverages, and I find more and more people nowadays select wine. Serve Sherry – or a glass of deep-ruby full-flavored Burgundy with the main course."
Next time you have guests at your house, why don’t you try it? As Mrs. Burroughs says, you will be amazed at how many people prefer wine because it is moderate – because good wine and genial, leisurely evening go together.
BATTLE PLAN
February 28: On this day in 1929, Edgar Rice Burroughs began dictating “The Fighting Man of Mars,” using his Ediphone recording device. He finished the story on May 10th.
The 83,000 word novel would be published in Blue Book Magazine in six monthly installments, with Lawrence Herndon cover art for five of the six issues.
The story begins with Hadron of Hastor’s quest to rescue the beautiful Sanoma Tora, who has been kidnapped by Tul Axtor, but Hadron discovers the lovely Tavia, a woman of his race who’s been made a slave by the green men of Mars. He is honor bound save her and he does so, but the two are imprisoned when he returns her to her home city. Meanwhile John Carter has mounted a huge fleet of airships to rescue Hadron, unaware that Tul Axtar has created a weapon that disintegrates metal. Hadron must act before the entire fleet is destroyed. Axtar has also spent 200 years breeding a race of giant warriors – not to be confused with the giant in “John Carter and the Giant of Mars.”
Several illustrations, the book’s publishing history, and the entire novel, are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0735.html
Here are the first and third Blue Book covers. I included the June issue because it has a balloon on it and I couldn’t help myself.
The drabble for today is “Battle Plan,” inspired by the April 1930 pulp cover for “The Fighting Man of Mars.”
BATTLE PLAN
“Stay behind me. I’ll kill him. Might is on my side.”
“Hadron, I think not. He’s twice your size and four
times as ugly.”
“Fortune favors the brave.”
“Yes, fortune favors the brave. But arrogance disguised
as bravery kills the stupid.”
“It’s only arrogance if you can’t do what you say.
Remember, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
“I expect that’s true, but take care that he doesn’t
fall on you.”
