Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7592  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
SEPTEMBER IV Edition :: Days 1 - 15
See Days 16 - 30 at ERBzine 7592a
by Robert Allen Lupton
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
SAY HELLO TO THE KATZANJAMMER KIDS
September 1: Happy Birthday Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875), and a number of his books were released on this day, “I am a Barbarian” 1967, “Tarzan and the Lion Man” 1934, “Tarzan Triumphant” 1932, “Tarzan’s Quest” 1936, and “Tarzan and the City of Gold” 1933. On this day in 1970, The House of Greystoke, the publishing arm of the Burroughs Bibliophiles published John Coleman Burroughs’ collected John Carter Sunday comic pages as “John Carter of Mars.” The oversized paperback volume was 78 pages long.
John Coleman Burroughs’s wife, Jane Ralston Burroughs served as the model for Dejah Thoris and drew a lot of the comic herself, including most of the background artwork
All the pages may be read in full color at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag28/2840.html
The drabble for today, “Say Hello to the Katzanjammer Kids,” was inspired by the John Coleman Burroughs’ John Carter Sunday pages. The phrase “See you in the funny papers” originated in the early 1900s, became a common jocular way to say farewell during the First World War, and was used in the film “It’s A Wonderful Life.”John Carter kissed Dejah Thoris. “My Princess, I love you and I’ll stay with you forever, but you must understand that I’m unwillingly called back to my home planet without warning.” SAY HELLO TO THE KATZANJAMMER KIDS
“My Chieftain, take me with you.”“I can’t do that or I would. I can’t even take my clothing. Know that I’ll always find my way back to you. I hope to learn to control these transitions, but for now, I can’t”
Carter began to dissolve like smoke . Dejah cried, “Where will I find you? Where should I look?”
Carter shrugged. “I’ll see you in the funny papers!”
BREATHE IN
September 2: On 2022 The Washington Post reported that NASA's toaster-sized device that accompanied the Perseverance Rover Mission to Mars is successfully making Oxygen from the Martian carbon dioxide atmosphere.CAN YOU SAY 'ATMOSPHERE PLANT.' In a study released on that week in the journal, Science Advances, MIT announced that the Mars Oxygen IN-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, MOXIE, is successfully making oxygen, although in very small amounts.
The production level is a far cry from the atmosphere plant described by Edgar Rice Burroughs in "A Princess of Mars," but a guy in a thunderstorm flying a kite is a long way from a power grid and a plastic mockup communication device on Star Trek isn’t a flip phone. It has to start somewhere.
At https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0459.html, read the article “Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Prophet” by Bill Hillman.
The drabble for today is “Breathe In,” and it was inspired by the news. A little thanks to the band, “The Police.”John Carter said, “The air here is cleaner than the air on my home planet. Our factories and volcanic eruptions are constant sources of pollution. The air in some large cities is almost poisonous. I fear it will get worse.” BREATHE IN
Dejah Thoris replied, “It was once the same here, but our volcanos are quiet and pollution is forbidden. The only real factory on the planet is our “Atmosphere Plant.”
“Atmosphere Plant?”“Yes, we manufacture breathable atmosphere in a plant that’s almost four miles square.”
“What an amazing story. How much of the air do you make?”
“Every breath you take.”
WORTH THE WALK
September 3: On this day in 1981, President Ronald Reagan wrote a letter to Miss Helen P. Miller in Dixon Illinois. The letter focused on the Dixon Public Library, which Reagan used regularly as child, writing, “I was probably as regular a patron as the library ever had.” He continued, “I can think of no greater torture than being isolated in a guest room or a hotel room without something to read.” Reagan mentioned the long walk to the library that he made twice weekly – generally after dinner. The President went on to comment about Edgar Rice Burroughs.
The entire letter may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag22/2289.html
The drabble today. “Worth the Walk,” is 100 words taken from President Reagan’s letter to Helen P. Miller.“I discovered Edgar Rice Burroughs and read all of the Tarzan books. I am amazed at how few people I meet today know that Burroughs also provided an introduction to science fiction with John Carter of Mars and the other books that he wrote about John Carter and his frequent trips to the strange kingdoms to be found on the planet Mars. Then came all of Zane Grey, Mark Twain, and others. Every once in a while, a kindly librarian would nudge me into things she thought would be helpful -- not only enjoyable, but profitable for me to read.” WORTH THE WALK
EQUAL SHARES
September 4: On this day in 1933, the Tarzan daily comic strip adaption of “Tarzan the Invincible” began. Written by R. W. Palmer and illustrated by Rex Maxon, the adaption ran for 174 daily episodes ending on March 24, 1934. It’s the Soviets’ turn to seek the Jewels of Opar. The book marked the last appearance of La, High Priestess of Opar, in an Edgar Rice Burroughs written novel.
The drabble for today, “Equal Shares,” was inspired by “Tarzan the Invincible,” and the Russians’ search for the riches of Opar.La hugged Tarzan. “My Lord, who’re these treasure seekers? They dress and speak strangely.” EQUAL SHARES
Tarzan said, “They’re communists from Russia.”
“What sort of god is a communist?”
“They claim no gods, but they say all things must be shared equally amongst all people and as such claim the right to take the Jewels of Opar.”“So our treasures belongs to all people?”
“Yes, but the communist leaders, like priests, always keep the biggest share.”
La nodded. “Greed knows no religion and no philosophy.”
“Greed’s a large crocodile with a big appetite. No matter how much he eats, it’s never enough.”
PIRATES IN SPACE
September 5: On this day in 2007, Angelic Pictures, Inc. announced the completion of the treatment and screenplay for the novel “Pirates of Venus. The adaption was registered with the Writer’s Guild of America. Sadly, the option lapsed and the film was never produced. Additionally, the website for Angelic Pictures, Inc. www.angelicpictures.com , lists “Space Samurai” as its last film (2019). Angelic also produced such classics as “Music High,” “Hole in One,” “Fearless,” and “Beach Bar.” If you think those titles sound similar to other more famous films, well, you might be right.
Read the complete article at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag15/1560.html
The drabble for today, “Pirates in Space,” is 100 words excerpted from that press release.Angelic’s Head of Production, Bruce Pobjoy says, “Not only is this screenplay a major milestone of this project, but it’s a fantastic amount of fun. It’s our intention to be loyal to Burroughs’ writing, while at the same time updating, and modernizing the story for today’s sensibilities, and sophisticated movie audiences. PIRATES IN SPACE
“It has been a dream of mine to bring the vivid imagination of Edgar Rice Burroughs to the screen.” Pobjoy stated, “Today we have an incredible screenplay, which combined with new advances in technology and film making, will have the spectacular outer-space worlds of ERB thrilling today’s film consumers.”
WAR TODAY, WAR TOMORROW
September 6: On this day in 1944, the world’s oldest war correspondent, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a letter to his son and artist, John Coleman Burroughs. The return address was 1298 Kapiolani Boulevard in Honolulu.
ERB said he was pleased that John had made a connection with Universal Pictures, but also said that he, ERB, would hate like hell to work for Harry Cohen, the president of Columbia Pictures.
He also complains about how long WW2 is lasting and that he hopes to see his grandsons before they have long white beards. As you can see from the photograph, his wish came true.
Read the entire letter at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag10/1026.html#6%20September
The drabble for today, War Today, War Tomorrow,” is 100 words taken from that letter.I wish I might see Johnny and Danton before they grow long white beards. Maybe when Hitler is licked, there will be house maids looking for jobs again. That should be soon now. WAR TODAY, WAR TOMORROW
Ralph has written me about Mother's ashes, and that he has arranged matter satisfactorily. Thank you both very for looking after this. I suppose it could have waited until my return, but I have been gone so long now that I have more or less abandoned hope of every returning. If Japan is good for a hundred years, as she claims, it will be a long war.
AND A CHERRY ON TOP
September 7: On this day in 2001, “Tarzan and the Fugitives,” episode number five of the Disney animated television series, The Legend of Tarzan” was released. Tarzan and Jane meet Hugo and Hooft, who are deserters of the French Legion led by the nefarious Lt. Col. Staquait, rescuing and taking them in. These smooth-talking, good-natured con-men teach Tarzan a thing or two about gambling and profit, and eat, swim and enjoy the jungle somewhat at Jane's expense (to her annoyance). But when Staquait comes for the deserters (who are "criminals"), Jane turns them in only to realize that their crime was refusal to burn a village full of men, women and children down. Despite feeling betrayed and used, Tarzan and Jane realize that the real criminal is Staquait, and rescue Hugo and Hooft, giving them jobs working for Renard at the trading post.
You can watch the entire episode on YouTube for free at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=mDkLOSGam7w
A complete episode list and a short summary of each are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0014.html
Tarzan was voiced by Michael T. Weiss, Olivia d’Abo was Jane, Jeff Bennet played Professor Porter, Jim Cummings was Tantor and Jim Cummings. April Winchell was Terk. Rene Auberjonois guest starred. Don MacKinnon directed. Script by Liz Freeman and Vanessa Place.
The drabble for today is “And A Cherry on Top” and it was inspired by the script for “Tarzan and the Fugitives.”Jane and Tarzan refused to help Hugo and Hooft, deserters from the French Foreign Legion until they understood the men had deserted rather than burn down a village. Once they understood the reason, they protected the men form Colonel Staquait and found employment for them at Renard’s trading post. AND A CHERRY ON TOP
Jane said, “Renard, these men deserted the French Foreign Legion. I know you’re French. Will that be a problem?”
“Not at all, I’ve been known to desert, myself. I don’t always desert, but when I do, I like ice cream on the side with whipped cream and a cherry on top!”
THE STRONG SURVIVE
September 8: On this day in 1996, the Tarzan Sunday comic story arc, “La’s Plight,” concluded after 13 weeks. The script was by Scott Tracy Griffin and the art was by Gray Morrow. One of the main characters in the story, an unethical anthologist named Dr. Barnett was drawn to look like ERB Historian, Bob Hyde.
Read the entire comic strip at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag48/4810.html
La became ill and the Oparians planned to sacrifice her to the Flaming God, but Tarzan brought a female anthropologist, Dr. Gordon, who had medical training and together they saved the High Priestess. However the unethical Dr. Barnett, who came with them, foolishly killed a number of the Oparians and endangered Tarzan and Dr. Barnett. La was jealous of Dr. Gordon and attacks her. Thinking La to be weak with illness, her subjects revolted, but Tarzan interceded and challenged the Oparian champion to a trial by combat to decide everyone’s fate. He wins, but Dr. Barrett, who killed several Oparians is left to fact Oparian justice.
The drabble for today is “The Strong Survive,” and it was inspired by "La’s Plight."La was slowing recovering from her illness after receiving medicine from a female doctor whom Tarzan brought to Opar to save the High Priestess. La immediately attacked her in jealousy. THE STRONG SURVIVE
Tarzan said, “She isn’t my woman. She’s a doctor. Together we saved you.”
“But what have you done for me lately.”
Led by the High Priest, La’s subjects revolted while the High Priestess was still weakened from her illness. They demanded death to her, the doctor, and Tarzan.Tarzan smiled, “I’ll do what I always do. Keep calm and demand trial by combat!”
WORKING FOR PEANUTS
September 9: On this day in 2014, Denny Miller passed away at age 80 or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Miller, a former basketball player at UCLA, was the first blonde Tarzan, playing the role in 1959’s “Tarzan, the Ape Man,’ a film that relied heavily on footage from the Weissmuller films. Denny was a regular at ERB gatherings, where he was friendly, outgoing, and always a pleasure to be around.
He portrayed Duke Shannon on “Wagon Train,” for three years and starred in the short-lived 1965 sitcom, Mona McCluskey. He also appeared on “Gilligan’s Island” twice, but a special note for the episode, ‘Our Vines Have Tender Apes.” He was Tongo the Ape Man. IMBD lists 103 television and film credits. To mention a few, “Dallas,” “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Magnum PI, “Lonesome Dove,” “MASH,” and pretty much every western series filmed during his career.
Miller’s first film appearance was in “Some Came Running,” which starred Frank Sinatra.
To read more about Denny, visit https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0588225/ and especially, https://www.erbzine.com/denny/tribute/
The drabble for today is “Working for Peanuts,” 100 words taken from an interview with Denny Miller. The entire interview is available at: http://www.bmonster.com/more32.html“I was in their stable. I was cheaper than some of the elephants. And I was athletic. They tested a bunch of us. I won. They said this was an “educated Tarzan” version –a remake of the original Johnny Weissmuller one where he meets Jane, and they run off in the jungle together. On the test, I came out of the jungle and spoke to Jane, Joanna Barnes, – I recited, unexplainable, the 23rd Psalm. 20 times more than what I said in the whole film! “Ungawa!” was popular. It can mean stop, go, turn left, give me a McDonald’s burger.” WORKING FOR PEANUTS
FAN THE FLAMES
September 10: On this day in 1928, movie theaters across America showed the fifth episode of the serial, “Tarzan the Mighty”, titled “Flames of Hate.” No known copy of the serial exists.
Frank Merrill was cast as Tarzan primarily because of his performance in the 1927 Weiss Brothers serial, “Perils of the Jungle. Unlike “Tarzan the Mighty,” a complete copy of Perils exists in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Various clips from the film are available online at several websites. Just search for it.
The unlabeled black and white photo with this post is from “Perils of the Jungle,” and the other is from “Tarzan the Mighty” Chapter Five.
The drabble for today, “Fan the Flames,” was inspired by Chapter Five of “Tarzan the Mighty.” Public praise to those who understand the pun in the next to the last line. Credit to the 1948 Boston Braves.Tarzan, Mary, and Bobby hid inside a native hut after Tarzan defeated Black John in battle. Black John had the hut surrounded and set it on fire. Trapped inside and unable to flee the flames, Tarzan and his companions huddled in fear. FAN THE FLAMES
Black John laughed as the fire flamed higher and motioned to the native warriors who pelted the hut with spears. Mary cried out when a spear cut her arm. “It hurts. Black John is the spawn of the devil!”
Tarzan replied, “Spawn and pain and pray for rain!”
They prayed and a rain squall put out the fire.
SUMATRA
September 11: On this day in 1944, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing “Tarzan and 'The Foreign Legion'” the last Tarzan novel to be published in his lifetime. The story was never published in a magazine and the first edition was published by Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. on August 22, 1947. The original print run was 25,700 copies, but an unknown number were destroyed in the fire on May 3, 1958.
Copies that survived the fire have a sticker that was inserted by ERB Inc. “THIS BOOK is one of the few survivors of a near-disastrous fire that occurred in our store-room 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.”
The first edition dust jacket and five interior illustrations were by John Coleman Burroughs. The book was retitled, “Tarzan of Sumatra” and “Tarzan in the Jungles of Sumatra” and published in the Netherlands.
The drabble, “Sumatra,’ is 100 words taken from the blurb inside the dust jacket of the first edition.“A combination of circumstances and a mishap of war stranded Tarzan in the mountains of Japanese-held Sumatra. Here in the company with American fliers, Dutch guerrillas, a Chinese, a Dutch girl, and the granddaughter of a Borneo headhunter, he found full scope for his marvelous, jungle-trained senses. SUMATRA
“Elephants, rhinoceroses, bears, wild dogs, tigers, orangutans, monkeys, wild cattle, cobras, pythons, and Japs just to enumerate a few. There are native collaborationists and bands of Dutch outlaws. The stage was set for high adventure.
“Viewing the diverse racial origins of the aggregation, their friends, the Dutch guerrillas, dubbed them “The Foreign Legion.”
NAME'S THE SAME
September 12: On this day in 1928, Edgar Rice Burroughs described his new English Sheep dog in a letter to his friend Bert Weston. He named the dog, Tarzan, the same name he’d given his previous dog, an Airedale, whom Burroughs had described as ‘constant friend, companion, and protector of my children.’
In a 1963 interview, Maureen O’Sullivan commented about Edgar Rice Burroughs’s visits to the MGM Tarzan film sets. “He ambled around the movie sets with a huge gentle dog named Tarzan,” she said. “Both beamed like two successful businessmen.”
Read about Edgar Rice Burroughs’s dogs at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7441.html
The drabble for today is “Name’s The Same,” and it is a combination of excerpts taken from the letter to Bert Weston and an Oakland Tribune article from 1939. Burroughs was eventually successful in registered his dog with the American Kennel Association as “Tarzan.”“Did we have the new Tarzan while you were out here? He is a six months Old English Sheep dog, weighs fifty-five pounds and is still going strong. I think he’s one of the brightest dogs I ever saw, but like all puppies, a damn nuisance and eleven times as much a nuisance as though he weighed only five pounds.” NAME'S THE SAME
“I bought a pedigreed sheep dog for my son. The boy wanted to name his pet ‘Tarzan’ and would you know? The breeders’ association wouldn’t let us use that name. They said somebody else already had a sheepdog named ‘Tarzan.’”
CA SERA, SERA
September 13: On this day in 1951, episode thirty-seven of the Commodore radio show, “The Strange Book of Araby” was first broadcast. It was reprised on CBS radio on October 4, 1952.
In the episode, Mara, as slave girl flees her captors, but she passes out in exhaustion. Tarzan, voiced by Lamont Johnson, helps her and promises to help her captive people, the Wamanusi. Sadly his old friend, the Caliph of Karadan and been deposed by the evil Grand Vizier. Grand Viziers are always evil, it’s a job requirement. Tarzan meets the Oracle of Karadan and the STRANGE BOOK OF ARABY and is told the book can reveal the future. The Oracle tells Tarzan of an impending attack, which happens on schedule. The City is burned, but Tarzan and the citizens are victorious, but the STRANGE BOOK OF ARABY is destroyed in the fire.
No roster of the players seems to exist, but from time to time the cast included Jan Arven, Dick Beales, Bob Bruce, Larry Dobkins, Virginia Eller, Eddie Firestone Jr., Frank Gersten, Gloria Grant, Virginia Gregg, Gladys Holland, Charlie Lawton, Raymond Lawrence, Sidney Mason, Eve McVeagh, Shepard (Shep) Menken, Marvin Miller, Roland Morris, Donald Morrison, Jack Moyles, Jay Novello, Dan O'Herlihy, Jill Oppenheim, GeGe Pearson, Victor Rodman, Olan Soule, Theodore (Ted) von Eltz, Walter White III, David Wolfe and Barbara Jean Wong.
The drabble for today, “Ca Sera, Sera,” was inspired by the Strange Book of Araby.Tarzan approached the Oracle of Karadan, who possessed the Strange Book of Araby wherein all things past and present were written. CA SERA, SERA
“Oracle, the city is threatened, when will the attack come?”
“Through the south gate at dawn.”
“If we’re ready, will we win?”
“The strongest and bravest will win. Gather the shopkeepers, the cooks, the seamstresses, the guards, bakers, and the blacksmiths. All must fight for themselves.”“Oracle, does the book that tells the future foretell my victory,”
“I know not what the future holds, but you hold the future. The future you see is the future you get!”
PICTURE'S WORTH A THOSAND WORDS
September 14: On this day in 1955, Santa Fe artist Jamie Chase was born. Jamie illustrated the graphic novel “At The Earth’s Core,” and was a contributor to the Letter Press Illustrated edition of “At the Earth’s Core.” On a personal note, Jamie provided the cover for the hardcover edition of my sword and planet novel, “Dejanna of the Double Star.”
Jamie is an award-winning painter and illustrator who navigated the worlds of fine art galleries and pop-art publication simultaneously. He attended the Academy of Art College and the San Francisco Art Institute. Born in California, he’s lived in New Mexico since 1980.
Jamie has a number of graphic novels available, as well as original art, posters, and prints at: https://www.inks-inc.com/
The drabble for today, “Picture’s Worth A Thousand Words,” is one hundred words excerpted from the website referenced above.“Profoundly influenced by the Silver Age of comics, he enjoyed collecting action/adventure and horror publications, “Turok, Son of Stone,” Creepy Magazine,” and Hal Foster’s “Prince Valiant,” which combined with his study of classic illustrators like N. C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Goya and Tenniel, the painterly work of Jeff Jones and Frank Frazetta, and the graphic style of Alex Toth, Dave McClean, George Pratt and Bill Sienkiewicz are constant influences." PICTURE'S WORTH A THOSAND WORDS
“Jamie loves a good adventure story and cites Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, George R. R. Martin, and contemporary science fiction are among his favorites.
LEAD WITH YOUR CHIN
September 15: On this day in 1937, Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated published the first edition of “Back to the Stone Age.” The first edition had a wrap-around dust jacket and seven interior illustrations by John Coleman Burroughs, was 318 pages long, and the print run was approximately 5000 copies.
The story tells the adventures of Wilhelm von Horst in Pellucidar. Muviro and his Waziri warriors make a brief appearance.
The novel, the fifth Pellucidar novel, was serialized in Argosy Magazine in early 1937 under the title “Seven Worlds to Conquer.” You can see the publishing history, several cover illustrations and even read the entire novel at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0745.html
The drabble for today is “Lead With Your Chin,” and it was inspired by the novel, “Back to the Stone Age.”Wilhelm von Horst survived the dangers of Pellucidar and fell in love with the savage native girl, La-ja. He was reunited with David Innes, a surface man who fought to bring civilization to this subterranean land where men and dinosaurs battled for supremacy. LEAD WITH YOUR CHIN
“Von Horst, thought you were dead. Good news is I can return you to the surface world.”
“No thanks, Jason. Many times I was threatened bullies who promised to ‘knock me back to the stone age.” If I’d have known how much I’d like it here, I’d have stuck out my chin and taken their best shot.”
