Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7468  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
MARCH IV Edition :: Days 1 - 15
See Days 16 - 31 at ERBzine 7468a
by Robert Allen Lupton
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
LIFE AND LIBERTY
March 1: On this day in 1968, Julie Harris appeared for the third time as Charity Jones in the Ron Ely Tarzan episode, “The Four O’Clock Army Part One.”
In the episode, Tarzan and Charity Jones must find allies to help prevent slave raids, with little or no help until General Basil Bertram (Maurice Evans) agrees to help them.
A summary of the episode and a list of all the episodes is available at www.erbzine.com. This episode is located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7436.html#53.
The drabble for today is “Life and Liberty,” and it was inspired by the conversation by Tarzan, Charity Jones, and the ‘Commissioner,’ who is concerned that he can’t protect all the villages from the slavers, who plan simultaneous attacks on more than one village. Tarzan’s last line in the drabble is taken directly from the film.The commissioner said, “We can’t defend all the villages. Perhaps, the slavers will agree to only enslave those from one village.” LIFE AND LIBERTY
Charity Jones said, “Never. We don’t choose who will be enslaved and who isn’t. One slave is one too many! We fight.”
Tarzan nodded. “If you sacrifice one life, that’s too much. That’s too many. And it’s wrong. And you don’t make deals with human life commissioner. I won’t. Miss Charity, are you and Mr. General going to have a war to the finish with the slavers.”
“Yes, Tarzan. It’s never wrong to fight for what is right. Never!”
I'VE GOT A PLAN FOR YOU
March 2: On this day in 1968, chapter two of the “Tarzan Jad –Ben-Otho,” story arc, written and drawn by Russ Manning, came to an end. Chapter two, “Tarzan and Cadj, High Priest of Opar,” ran from January 1, 1968 through March 2, 1968. “Tarzan, Jad-Ben-Otho” was Manning’s first daily Tarzan story arc and it ran from December 11, 1967 through October 5, 1968.
Excellent story and excellent art. The entire comic run is available to view for free at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2603.html. It has been reprinted in volume one of “Tarzan: The Complete Russ Manning Newspaper Strips, Volume 1 (1967-1969).
Here’s the last strip in Chapter two of the story arc.
The drabble for today, “I’ve Got A Plan For You,” was inspired by the undying and unrequited love that La had for Tarzan.The Beastmen of Opar captured Jane and took her to the high priest, Cadj, for sacrifice on the altar of the flaming god. I'VE GOT A PLAN FOR YOU
Tarzan tracked the kidnappers, but was himself captured in Opar. La, the high priestess, said, “Marry me, Tarzan, and I’ll free your wife. Refuse and I’ll sacrifice you both.”
Tarzan refused and was bound to the altar. He escaped, freed Jane, his wife, and the two of them fled the ancient city of Opar.
La watched them flee. She stomped her foot. “Good-bye for now, Tarzan. One day I’m gonna marry you, whether you like it not.”
STINKIPOO
March 3: On this day in 1985, the first installment out of twelve of the Sunday Tarzan Funny Pages story arc, “The Price of Honor,” appeared. Illustrated by Gray Morrow and written by Don Kraar.
The first Tarzan Sunday Page by Rex Maxon and R. W. Palmer appeared in March 1931 and the last page with new material appeared on January 6, 2002 – by Eric Battle and Alex Simmons. Over 80 years and more than 4100 pages. Artist Gray Morrow illustrated the Sunday pages for 18 of those years, over 20% of the total.
The drabble for today, “Stinkipoo,” was inspired by the aroma coming from Flynn, the poacher, who appeared in the story arc. I trust that it won't offend anyone who's aromatically challenged.STINKIPOO Tarzan saved Flynn, the poacher from a charging rhinoceros. Flynn was ungrateful. “How’d you find me, your jungle lordship? Followed your nose, no doubt.”“Wasn’t hard, Flynn. You haven’t bathed since Queen Elizabeth was crowned. I could track you with a clothespin on my nose.”
“You saying I stink? Unkind words to man too poor to buy a bar of soap.”
“Look around you. The flowers are closing in self-defense, the birds are deliberately flying into trees, and the frogs have given their last croak and croaked. As for me, my nose wants to crawl inside my head and die.”
OUT OF MY HEAD OVER YOU
March 4: On this day in 1914, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed writing the novel, “The Lad and the Lion.” Unlike most of his work, Burroughs had worked on the novel sporadically, having begun the story in February of 1913 and taking over a year to finish it. The story wasn’t published until four years later in 1917 – publication in All-Story Weekly coincided with the release of the film of the same name. No copy of the film is known to exist.
“The Lad and the Lion” waited another 20 years before Burroughs added another 20,000 words to the story and it was published in book form with a magnificent John Coleman Burroughs dust jacket.
Details about the story’s publication, illustrations, film, and an Ebook edition are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0760.html
The drabble for today is “Out of My Head Over You,” and the 100 words were taken from the IMDB summary of the film. I included it herein to show that none of the character names in the novel made their way into the movie. Ah, such is Hollywood.While on vacation, William Bankinton is shipwrecked. His mind a blank, he’s picked up by a derelict ship with only a lion and a stowaway named Broot aboard. Broot commits suicide. Bankinton and the lion are castaway on Africa. One day, when Nakhia, beautiful girl is beset by danger. Bankinton comes to her rescue. They fall in love, but a bandit chief desires Nakhia, and tries to kidnap her. The lion and Bankinton again come to her defense. Bankinton is struck on the head and his memory is restored. He proposes to Nakhia, and the couple set sail to America. OUT OF MY HEAD OVER YOU
HELLO, HANDSOME
March 5: On this day in 1943, Edgar Rice Burroughs, the world’s oldest war correspondent, returned to Honolulu from time at sea aboard a destroyer and found two letters from his daughter, Joan, waiting on him. He promptly wrote her back. His return address on the typewritten letter was 1298 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu.
1298 Kapiolani Boulevard has changed a little bit since WW2. Here's a current picture.
His letter addressed how nice everyone in the armed forces and in Hawaii had treated him.
He also wrote about the excitement of searching for enemy submarines.
The entire letter and several more are at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0441.html#March%205,
The drabble today, “Hello, Handsome,” is 100 words written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and taken from that letter.I was walking along a road when I passed near a couple of women. I smiled and nodded, as I did to most of the natives I passed. The woman nearest me was a horrible looking, tooth-less old hag. As she passed close to me, she pinched my leg and smiled coyly. Who says the old sex appeal isn't working? HELLO, HANDSOME
I’m so damned proud of being an American that I am on the verge of bursting. They’re friendly, they’re intelligent, they’re ingenious, they’re courageous. I know there are morons and heels among us, but they’re outnumbered a thousand to one.
I PAINT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE
March 6: On this day in 1870, pulp illustrator Frank Hoban was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1914, he illustrated Virginia Brooks’s novel “Little Lost Sister,” which was published in Chicago by Gazzolo & Ricksen. In 1916 his illustrations appeared in Red Book Magazine, which was published by the McCall Company. That same company also produced McCall's Magazine, and eventually published the pulp adventure magazine, Blue Book. In 1920 he moved to Chicago, Illinois., By 1926 his story illustrations and cover paintings appeared regularly in the pulp magazine Blue Book, beginning with his July 1926 illustration for the story, “Mountain Mail,” by Reginald Barker. By the end of the next year, Hoban was doing illustrations for covers and as many as three or four internal illustrations for every issue.
During the run of “The Fighting Man of Mars” in Blue Book, he drew seven interior black and white illustrations per installment. He also did interior illustrations for “The Land of Hidden Men.”
The drabble for today was inspired by Hoban’s work ethic and variety of what he drew. It’s called, “I Paint What You Don’t See.”Edward Hoban asked his dad, the artist Frank Hoban about his work. “Dad, you’re drawing as many as a dozen illustrations every month. That’s a lot of work. Who decides what scenes to illustrate?” I PAINT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE
“Sometimes the writer, sometimes the editor picks, but sometimes, I decide.”
“You actually read those stories.”
“Yes, and I want my art to show things that the writer didn’t explain.”
“Sounds hard.”
“That’s why they call it work. The easiest are scientific-romances, like Burroughs’s work. No one’s been to Barsoom, so it looks like whatever I draw. But Paris, people expect Paris to look like Paris.”
NELLIE SUL-TE-WAN
March 7: On this day in 1873, actress Madame Sul-Te-Wan (sultry one), was born as Nellie Crawford in Louisville, Kentucky to former slaves Cleon De Londa and Silas Crawford. She originally billed herself as ‘Creole Nell’. Her first film was director D. W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation.”
Actress Lilian Gish is quoted as saying, “We never did discover the origin of her name. No one was bold enough to ask.”
Wikipedia reports that she appeared in the 1918 “Tarzan of the Apes” as Jane’s maid, Esmerelda. Unlike several of her fellow silent film actresses, she made the transition to talking films and appeared in numerous high profile films over the years including ‘King Kong.’ Her most memorable role was Tibuba in ‘Maid of Salem.’
Her roles were limited during her career, a time of active segregation, but she worked consistency for over 40 years – her last appearance was with Gordon Scott in “Tarzan and the Trapper’s in 1960. IMDB lists 63 credits for her.
She is acknowledged as the first black actress to have a contract with a major studio. A true pioneer.
With this article are two pictures of the actress, taken a few decades apart.
She is referenced in several articles at www.erbzine.com.
The drabble for today is “Nellie Sul-Te-Wan,” and it is taken from a 1959 obituary of the actress. Everything in the obit isn’t correct. She was born as Nellie Crawford and was not the actual grandmother of Dorothy Dandridge. I have not modified any language or terms used in the 1959 obituary.Madame Sul-Te-Wan, 85 year-old movie grandmother of Dorothy Dandridge and a character actress who gained fame as the first Negro woman in films, died and was buried amid the Hollywood setting she loved. Born with her exotic name and color to a Negro cook and Hindu manservant, she ran away from Nashville with a tent show at the age of 10 and bluffed her way to success. NELLIE SUL-TE-WAN
Her screen credits were as long as the history of filmland, from “Birth of a Nation, to the “Buccaneer,” a current film which stars Yul Brynner, Charles Boyer, Inger Stevens and Charlton Heston.
WASTED ON THE YOUNG
March 8: On this day in 1992, episode 18 of the French-Canadian-Mexican television series, “Tarzan, King of the Jungle,” or just “Tarzan” was released. The episode was titled “Tarzan, the Hunted,” and starred Wolf Larson as Tarzan and Lydie Denier as the French Ecologist, Jane.
This episode had a guest star, Ron Ely, who played a man named Gorden Shaw, who in an interesting twist is the hunter come to Africa for the ultimate hunting experience and chooses to hunt Tarzan. The episode was written by Steve Hayes and directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith.
A complete list of the series’ episodes and all Tarzan television episodes is available at https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0014.html
The drabble for today, “Wasted On the Young,” was inspired by the episode’s premise and planned irony of having a Tarzan hunt for himself. Perhaps a bit mean spirited, but I have seen both actors’ Tarzan series and the shows speak for themselves.Tarzan confronted an older version of himself in the jungle, played by Ron Ely. “Old man, why are you hunting me? Do you seek your lost youth? Hoping to recover your strength, power, and vitality?" WASTED ON THE YOUNG
“No.” said the old Tarzan with a smirk. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“Would you kill me out of jealousy?”
“No, jealousy implies you have something I want. I’m smarter than you, better looking than you, and a much better actor. I hunt you so you won’t destroy my legacy.”“Are you saying that I can’t act?”
“No need, you prove that whenever you speak.”
PUBLISHING WAR
March 9: On this day in 2020, the day before the COVID pandemic was officially declared in the United States, Jimmy (Jim) C. Goodwin released his reference book:
EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS: THE DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE ACE AND BALLANTINE / DEL REY PAPERBACK BOOKS.
The book contains a color reproduction of every single Burroughs’ paperback cover by Ace and Ballantine, including illustrations by Frank Frazetta, Neal Adams, Robert K. Abbett, Roy Krenkel, Michael Whelan and Boris Vallejo. It lists hundreds of variants. Opening to a page at random, here’s an example. Page 97 identifies eleven different Ballantine printings of “The Return of Tarzan” with the Neal Adams cover and provides publication dates.
One thing often used to identify different variants of the same book is the advertisements included in the book. Goodwin includes those. Strangely enough, Jim said that book covers may be reproduced without charge, but that the advertisements may not. Ballantine / Del Rey is now owned by Penguin Random House and they insisted that Goodwin pay them for the right to reproduce the advertisements – and not just a token amount. I don’t have Jim’s permission to share the cost, but I was shocked. Penguin Random House not only charged him what I consider an exorbitant amount, but they limited the number of copies that could be printed. You can buy the book from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Lulu. Copies actually are limited.
This is a great resource. I use it every week. More details are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag71/7139.html
The drabble for today, “Publishing War,” is taken from the preface to Jim’s book.The publishing companies, Ace and its spinoffs, Charter and Tempo, and Ballantine/Del Rey were competitors for many years. They competed for the dollar of the Edgar Rice Burroughs readers. These two bibliographies, while in the same book, are quite different. The publishing history of the tow, took divergent paths. So, the bibliographies are different, as you will see. PUBLISHING WAR
Every effort has been made to include all known variations of these books. For the Ace Books, that is Stock number, cost, Colophon, printing address, page count, inserts, ads, height, and thickness. For Ballantine/Del Rey, it’s printing number and country of printing.
TRANSFORMATION
March 10: On this day in 1928, A. C. McClurg published the first edition of “The Mastermind of Mars,” complete with a J. Allen St. John dust jacket, title page illustration and five more interior drawings. The first edition print run was 5,000 copies.
The entire novel, as well as the entire Amazing Stories Annual # 1, where the story was first published, and several illustrations and publishing details are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0427.html
The 6th Barsoomian novel is the first to feature a second Earthman on Mars. Ulysses Paxton, who became known as Vad Varo, battles an evil scientist to restore the woman he loves to her stolen body. Good Stuff.
The drabble for today is “Transformation,” and it was inspired by “The Mastermind of Mars,” and a little credit to Buck Owens and the Big Bopper for their songs, “You Made a Monkey Out of Me!” Same title, different songs.Vad Varo, an Earthman on Mars, fell in love with Valla Dia, and vowed to restore her stolen youthful body. He befriended an ape who contained the mind of a warrior named Hovan-Du. TRANSFORMATION
The man-ape said, “I’ll help you save your love, but you must also restore my brain to my human body.”
Vad Varo said, “I swear it, but how did you became a man-ape.”
“The scientist exchanged our brains. I never expected to become an ape.”
“It happens to men on my planet as well, but usually it’s a woman who makes a monkey out of a man.
STARRING LINDSEY McKEON
March 11: On this day in 1982, Actress Lindsey McKeon was born in Summit, New Jersey. Lindsey played Lindsey Stevens in 2009 film “The Land That Time Forgot,” produced by The Asylum and directed by C. Thomas Howell.
This was the second film version of "The Land that Time Forgot. The first was made in 1975. For details about both films, visit: https://www.erbzine.com/mag21/2117a.html
Lindsey starred in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” and has appeared in “The Guiding Light,” “Boy Meets World,” “It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Third Rock from the Sun,” “NCIC,” “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” and “House,” among others.
When asked about her character, Marah Lewis, on “The Guiding Light,” Lindsey said, “She could definitely make some smarter choices where men are concerned, but couldn’t we all?”
In the late 1990’s she broke up with Scott Ashely Sterling, the son of Donald Sterling, the owner of the Clippers, and Scott shot and killed his boyhood friend ,Philip Scheid. with a shotgun. Sterling was never charged.
The drabble for today is “Starring Lindsey McKeon,” and the 100 words are a fictional construct which contains 14 titles of the television shows and films in which Lindsey appeared. Find them all if you can.I’ve made stupid choices, but what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. Sometimes people are chasing me, women and sometimes men, like a flock of dudes. I feel like I have a guardian angel, or a guiding light that keeps me grounded for life. Maybe it’s me, but somedays, I want to be alone. If I had supernatural powers, I’d vanish without a trace and hide in the land that time forgot. Many times I was saved by the bell, dodged what some odd man out called necessary roughness and ran past one tree hill and home to my house. STARRING LINDSEY McKEON
I HATE MYSELF
March 12: On this day in 1932, Argosy published the first installment of “Tarzan and the City of Gold.” Not only was the City golden coloroed, but on the Paul Stahr cover painting so was Tarzan’s hair. The novel was serialized over six issues and Samuel Cahan contributed one black and white interior illustration for each installment.
The issue contained the short stories, “Winner’s End,” by J. Allan Dunn and “Nemesis” by Murray Leinster.
Tarzan wanders Africa alone, apparently having left Jane, his son, and his faithful Waziri behind and discovers two more lost cities in the jungle. One named Athne, the City of Ivory, and the other Cathne, the City of Gold. Cathne’s Queen Nemone is insane and alternately loves Tarzan and forces him to fight for his life. Tarzan is forced to battle a huge lion, and in a scene reminiscent of the Aesop’s fable, “Androcles and the Lion,” Jad-bal-ja, Tarzan’s lion friend, appears and saves the ape man from certain death.
Publishing details, reviews, and several illustrations are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0725.html
The drabble for today, “I Hate Myself,” was inspired by Nemone’s internal conflict about whether to love Tarzan or to have him killed. Thanks to Joan Jett for her song lyrics and to Sharyn McCrumb for her book, “If I’d Killed Him When I Met Him.”The Queen’s Councilor, Tomos, said, “Queen Nemone, the city requires your attention. Crime is rampant. The food supplies are dwindling and the army needs paid.” I HATE MYSELF
“Don’t bother me. Tarzan spurned my affections again. I hate myself for loving him. I’ll feed him to the lions.”
“As you command, but I beg of you to do it swiftly. Your obsession with ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ endangers everyone. ‘Tis a fine line between love and hate.”I suppose you’re right,” said Queen Nemone. “If I’d killed him when I met him, things would be back to normal by now!.”
THE RIVER CAN'T HEAR YOU
March 13: On this day in 1968, Chapter Three, “Tarzan and the Blonde Waz-Don,” the Tarzan daily comic written and drawn by Russ Manning featured an episode where Tarzan and Jane have been washed over a waterfall and Tarzan fights to survive. Chapter three refers to this story’s position in the overarching story, “Tarzan, Jad –Ben-Otho. As always, the story is well written and Manning’s art beyond reproach.
The Russ Manning daily comics are available for free viewing beginning at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2601.html
The drabble for today is “The River Can’t Hear You,” and it was inspired by the Russ Manning story.Tarzan and Jane floated on a raft down a river contained in a deep canyon with high walls. THE RIVER CAN'T HEAR YOU
Jane said, “Tarzan, I’m glad we escaped, but you must return and save Queen La from the hideous beastmen of Opar.”Tarzan’s reply was lost beneath the roar of an approaching waterfall. Jane screamed loudly. “Make it stop, Tarzan. Make it stop.”
Tarzan grabbed her. “Hold tight, Jane. Nothing else to do. Rivers are stubborn and waterfalls are like sunrise and sunset. Neither obeys king or commoner. They both come and go as they please. We can only go with the flow!”
MODERN MINUTE MEN
March 14: On this day in 1942, an article by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the world’s oldest war correspondent, appeared in the Honolulu Advertiser. The article was released through “The Business Men’s Training Corps Publish Relations Office” and was titled, “BMTC Gets Training In Shooting Pistols. It should be noted that ERB was an officer in the BMTC.
Read the entire article at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag2/0213.html#3
The drabble for today, “Modern Minute Men,” is a 100 word excerpt from ERB’s article.The training of the BMTC is constant, careful, and never-ending. MODERN MINUTE MEN
They are on the streets nights now, guarding you and your homes. Commencing last Saturday night, they have been walking their posts in the cold wind, the rain, and the mud.The members of the BMTC, these men who work on their regular jobs all day and then go out and walk post at night, are the Minute Men of 1942. Perhaps they are super-Minute Men, for instead of flintlock muskets and iron cannon balls, they know they may have to face 1000 pound bombs, machine gun fire, and gas.”
IMMORTAL TARZAN
March 15: On this day in 1975, actor Karlton (Carlton) Kadell died in Chicago, Illinois. Karlton voiced Tarzan in all 39 episodes of the radio production ‘Tarzan and the Diamonds of Asher.” The radio show was broadcast three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, beginning on May 14, 1934 and ending on August 10, 1934. The fifteen minute episodes were directed by Fred Shields and narrated by John McIntire.
Listen to all the episodes and read summaries and articles about the radio drama at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag31/3140.html
Kadell made a few films, but was a radio announcer and actor for over forty years. Mr. Kadell began his career in Chicago in the nineteen?thirties but moved to Hollywood, where he was the announcer for ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy;” “Big Town,” with Edward G. Robinson;” “Mayor of the Town,” with Lionel Barrymore; the Jack Carson and Edgar Bergen shows and “Chesterfield Time,” with the Hal Kemp Orchestra.
The drabble for today is “Immortal Tarzan,” 100 words excerpted from an introduction written by Edgar Rice Burroughs for a 1940 rebroadcast of the radio show.We bring you Tarzan, immortal fictional character of Edgar Rice Burroughs, in a new and exciting serial entitled TARZAN AND THE DIAMOND OF ASHER, adapted from the novel, 'Tarzan And The Forbidden City.' Deep in the heart of Africa rises a mighty cone-shaped mountain, an extinct volcano, where lies The Forbidden City of Asher. One safari is bent on the rescue of the son of its leader... the other, headed by a wily and unscrupulous Oriental, seeks only the Father of Diamonds... And through the intrigue, mystery, and the danger moves the majestic figure of Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle." IMMORTAL TARZAN
