Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7597  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
JUNE IV Edition :: Days 1 - 15
See Days 16 - 30 at ERBzine 7597a
by Robert Allen Lupton
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
COMING SOON
June 1: On this day in 1914, A. C. McClurg issued a promotional flyer for a new book that would be released on June 17, 1914. “One of the most original and remarkable stories ever written – TARZAN OF THE APES.” The flyer priced the book at $1.30 net and encouraged the purchaser to buy multiple copies.
The drabble for today, ‘Coming Soon,” is 100 words take from that flyer. To see the entire flyer, visithttps://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0783.html “It concerns a white man of noble birth, who, when a babe, was adopted by a female belonging to a tribe of apes and brought up as her own.COMING SOON
Then come people of his own kind, and the primitive man, half human, half brute, because of his love for a beautiful girl, tries to learn the ways of civilization.
Reminiscent perhaps in spirit of the “Jungle Books” and in human interest of the “Call of the Wild,,” but there the likeness ceases, Tarzan is unique – one of those books that appear only once in a while, fascinating, absorbing, and – DIFFERENT.”
HEAVY MAKEUP
June 2: Happy birthday to Johnny Weissmuller. On this day in 1937, another actress was born, Sally Kellerman who appeared n episode 28 of Roy Ely’s Tarzan television show, “The Circus,” broadcast on March 31, 1967. My biggest problem with the episode is that I always believed Tarzan to be opposed to circuses and anything else that exploits animals, but in this episode, he isn’t. That bothered me.
Sally Clare Kellerman is best known for her role in Robert Altman’s 1970 film, M*A*S*H. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Major Margaret ‘Hotlips’ Houlihan. She appeared in several more films and television series including Star Trek, Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits and Last of the Red Hot Lovers and The Boston Strangler.
For information about all of the Ron Ely Tarzan episodes, go to https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7420.html
The drabble for today is “Heavy Makeup.” It was inspired by Sally Kellerman and my strange sense of humor.Tarzan and Jai visited a circus where they were surprised at how well the animals were treated. Jai was fascinated at some of the tricks the animals could do. Cheeta was enamored by women acrobats, female animal trainers, and dancers. He followed them around, went into their makeup tent, and put on a wig and heavy makeup. HEAVY MAKEUP
Tarzan said, “I’m sorry, but he likes the makeup, especially red lipstick. He thinks it makes his lips look hot.”Ilona laughed. ‘No harm, but hot lips. What a funny name.”
“It’s not that funny.”
“You’re right. I could get used to it.”
FIRE BUG
June 3: On this day in 1941, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a letter from Hawaii to his daughter, Joan. Burroughs was living at 1298 Kapiolani Boulevard in Honolulu. Pearl Harbor was barely 6 months in the future.
To read the entire letter, visit https://www.erbzine.com/mag10/1022.html#June%203
The drabble for today is “Fire Bug” and it’s an excerpt taken directly from that letter.“I did have a little excitement the first Sunday I went to a ball game: the grandstand got on fire almost directly under me. Someone poured a bottle of coca cola on it without noticeable results, but finally a hero came with a bucket of water and put it out. I enjoyed the whole thing immensely, and the following Sunday I set fire to it myself! The only thing I could find with which to extinguish it were a number of peanut shells, which almost immediately caught fire themselves; but I finally got it out before the fire department arrived.” FIRE BUG
THREE DAYS OF THE LION
June 4: On this day in 2018, The Ottawa Citizen, published the article, “Illustrator Ronn Sutton still honing his craft 50 years on.” The article was written by Brian McCullough. The opening paragraph says, “His latest assignment is a web-based comic inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the 1915 serialized novella, “The Man-Eater.” Sutton’s work may be viewed by subscription at https://www.edgarriceburroughs.com/
Sutton is no stranger to comic art. His career spans over 50 years. He illustrated the Claypool Comics’, “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark,” from 1998 through 2006 – almost 50 issues. Ronn illustrated issues of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Cases of Sherlock Holmes, Vampira, Draculina, Fear Agent, The Phantom, Honey West and many others.
You can read the entire article at : https://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7037.html and view more of Mr. Sutton’s work on his website: http://www.ronnsutton.com/
The drabble for today is 100 words excerpted from the article. Call it “Three Days of the Lion.”“The story is a classic old style adventure that opens in the jungle of the Belgian Congo, with murderous connections to a dispute over a family estate inheritance in the United States. The ominous title derives its name from a rather large lion that is shall we say, integral to the plot. THREE DAYS OF THE LION
It takes Sutton about three days to produce the artwork for each weekly script of The Man-Eater. He works everything out first by hand on plain copy paper and then uses a Xerox machine to try various compositions and proportions until he is satisfied with the rough design.”
RUGGED
June 5: 2022 was the fourth anniversary of consecutive ‘on this day’ Edgar Rice Burroughs’ themed posts and drabbles: On this day in 1966, actor Douglas O’Keeffe was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The actor and director portrayed Patrick Nash in six episodes of 2003’s television “Tarzan” that starred Travis Fimmel and Sarah Wayne Callies.
Douglas Stewart O’Keeffe’s last credit listed on IMDB was in 2011. “Human Target,” “The Andromeda Strain,” “Smallville,” “24,” “Mutant X”, “Dark Angel,” and “La Femme Nikita” are among his screen credits.
The drabble for today is “Rugged,” a 100 word story inspired by Douglas O’Keeffe.The interviewer asked, “So how did you feel about playing Patrick Nash on the new Tarzan show?” RUGGED
“Disappointed, I should have been Tarzan. I’m bigger, stronger and better looking than Fimmel.”
“Evidently, Erik Kripke, the primary series creator didn’t think so.”
“Yeah, he said Fimmel was prettier than me. Said he looked like a Viking or a man raised by wolves. He couldn’t swing on a vine if he was glued to it!”“Isn’t Tarzan supposed to look rugged?”
“That’s what I thought! Kripke laughed and said, “Fimmel will look plenty rugged after he face plants into a few trees.”
PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
June 6: On this day in 1914, All-Story Cavalier Weekly published part 5 of 6 of the serialization of “The Beasts of Tarzan.” Burroughs and Tarzan didn’t make the cover. The Fred W. Smalls illustration was for “The Scarlet Samurai,” by Charles MacLean Savage, a sequel to “Prince Imbecile.” Savage was an active pulp writer from 1910 through 1914 turning out about 30 stories and novel during that period – most of them sold to All-Story. There was a Charles MacLean Savage who appeared on Broadway in a half dozen plays in the late 1930s, but I can’t determine if it’s the same person.
The drabble for today, “Pay Attention to the Details,” was inspired by one scene in the novel “The Beasts of Tarzan.”Nicolas Rokoff escaped from prison and kidnapped Jane and her infant son. He telegraphed Tarzan saying he’d given the child to cannibals, but was keeping Jane for himself until he tired of her. Then, he’d sell her into slavery. PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
He hid the boy in England, but took Jane to Africa. He forced her into a tent at gunpoint and beat her. He ripped her clothing and prepared to force himself on her.
She found his pistol and beat him with it. She spit on him before escaping. “Only a fool leaves a pistol where a desperate woman can find it!”
THE WAY OF THE STRONG
June 7: On this day in 1944, Ed had dinner with director Frank Capra at the Roundhouse restaurant in Honolulu. When the world’s oldest war correspondent returned home later that evening he discovered that his director’s chair had been stolen. There is no evidence that Frank Capra was complicit in the theft.
The Oahu Railway operated a restaurant in Honolulu at their ‘roundhouse.’ I can’t confirm that it was the location for that evening’s meal, but I expect that it was.
Capra was a major in the U. S. Army Signal corps and produced the “Why We Fight” film series, which included “Prelude to War,” “The Nazi’s Strike,” “The Battle of Britain,” “War Comes to America,” and “Divide and Conquer.” He produced several other propaganda films during and after WW2, including the 13 minute film “Your Job in Germany,” meant for US troops assigned to occupied Germany after the war.
The drabble for today was inspired by the career of Frank Capra, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ dinner companion. “The Way of the Strong,” includes twelve of Mr. Capra’s film titles, including the one used for the drabble title.ERB asked. “Mr. Capra, why join the Signal Corps.” THE WAY OF THE STRONG
“It happened one night. While discussing the state of the union, a man whose name I’m forbidden to say called.”
“Yes.”
“He said, “We’ll win this war rain or shine. Sometimes we’re riding high and sometimes the younger generation’s American madness leaves us needing a pocket full of miracles to fight the power of the press.”“So you enlisted?”
“Wife said I had a hole in the head, but you can’t take it with you.”
Burroughs nodded, “It’s a wonderful life if you don’t weaken.”
“I like that. I’ll use it?”
KING OF THE SILVER SCREEN
June 8: On this day in 2004, the documentary, “Tarzan Silver Screen King of the Jungle,” was released. The production covered the first six Tarzan films that featured Johnny Weissmuller. Among the people who provided commentary were Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. and Scott Tracy Griffin.
You can watch the 96 minute film at: https://www.bestnetflixmovies.com/.../tarzan-silver...
The film was written and directed by John Rust
Griffin is the author of “Tarzan on Film,” a great book which is available at: https://www.amazon.com/Tarzan.../dp/0857685686/ref=sr_1_1...
The drabble for today is a completely fictional encounter called “King of the Silver Screen,” and it was inspired by the documentary.Johnny Weissmuller said, “Be careful what you say, Maureen, Someday, they’ll make films about making Tarzan films.” KING OF THE SILVER SCREEN
“Johnny, that’s silly. Who’d watch movies about making movies?
Well, a film that’s a story about an Irish lass finding success as a movie star would be big box office, but not a story about making real movies.”“A film about a poor athlete from Romania would be a hit and one about the two of us making Tarzan films would be great.”
“Who’d watch it, our grandchildren?”
“You and I are going to have grandchildren?”
“Slow down, buster. I don't mean together.”
FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE
June 9: On this day in 1930, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing, “Tarzan and the Man Things,” The novel was serialized in Blue Book Magazine as “Tarzan, Guard of the Jungle,” and retitled for the first edition published by Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. as “Tarzan the Invincible.”
Lawrence Herndon illustrated the Blue Book covers for the first 6 installments of the 80,000 word novel.
This time, communists are after the gold of Opar. Evidently the greed for hidden treasure escapes no political ideology.
I was never sure what the ‘man things’ referenced in the working title were. Might be the beast men of Opar, but maybe not.
Details about the novel and its many publications, along with several renditions of cover art, are generously provided at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0722.html
The drabble for today is, “For the Good of the People,” and it was inspired by the novel, “Tarzan the Invincible," with a wink of the eye to George Orwell.“Who are you? Why are you here?” La asked Comrade Zveri. FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE
“I serve my people, the communist people, I seek treasure for everyone’s good.”
“You’d pillage my city and share the spoils equally among your people?”
“Not exactly. Some shares are more equal than others.”
La signaled her beast men. “Kill them all, except the leader. I’ll sacrifice him to the flaming god!”
Zveri snarled. “We communists recognize no gods. I defy you!”
The beast men tied Zveri to the altar.
La raised the knife. “The flaming god knows your ideology exists but to mask your greed.”
She struck quickly.
DRESS CODE
June 10: On this day in 1945, Edgar Rice Burroughs, the world’s oldest war correspondent wrote a letter to his daughter, Joan. His return address was listed as U.S.S. CAHABA - In Port Somewhere. The end of World War Two was barely 2 ½ months in the future, but no one knew that at the time. The battle for Okinawa was underway and would end twelve days later, on June 22, 1945.
Burroughs is careful not to identify the atoll where his ship is anchored, but he does describe the people and the king of the island.
The drabble for today, “Dress Code,” is an excerpt from that letter. A ‘lava lava’ is traditional clothing worn as a skirt by Polynesians and other Oceanic people. The entire letter and several more may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag10/1027.html#10%20June“We were introduced to the king, an infantile paralysis victim who is pushed around in a two wheel cart, and he shook hands with each of us. DRESS CODE
“The married women all wear a sort of lava lava around their hips, all other females wear a type of grass skirt that was entirely new to me. Not being a dress maker, I can't describe it. The men were the first aborigines I had ever seen who wore nothing but a very sketchy G-string.
"The older men were all tattooed. Most of them had designs covering their entire torsos, arms, and legs.”
VESTMENTS
June 11: (Been down for a week with a pinched nerve in my back. Steroids, muscle relaxants, ice, and rest.) On this day in 1977, the Korak story, “Night of the Leopard Men,” appeared in the UK comic book, “Tarzan Weekly. The story ran for two weeks. It was written by Mark Evanier and illustrated by Dan Spiegle.
Read the entire story at https://www.erbzine.com/mag66/6658.html
Korak encountered the Leopard Men, a cult of natives who wore leopard skin and used fear and superstition to control the local tribes. The leader of the cult is pleased to have captured Korak, whom he tortures to find Tarzan’s location in order to avenge the cult’s earlier defeat by the Lord of the Jungle. Korak escapes and destroys the cult.
The drabble for today is “Vestments,” and it was inspired by the story, “Night of the Leopard Men.”Lugor, a friend of Korak’s, helped Korak escape from the Leopard Men. Korak said, “I’m not leaving. I’ll destroy this cult.” VESTMENTS
“Aren’t you afraid of the leader of the cult? He’s all powerful. We pay tribute to him so he will protect us rather than kill us.”
Korak shook his head. “He’s not magical. He’s just a man in leopard clothing.”
“But he speaks to the leopard gods.”
“He’s no different than any priest or witch doctor. Whatever robes or vestments they wear, they’re only men seeking power over others. What need does a real god have of earthy tribute?”
PROUD PAPA
June 12: On this day in 1942, the world’s oldest war correspondent, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a letter from Hawaii to his daughter, Joan. The content of the letter was constrained by censors, as were most letters leaving Hawaii during World War Two. Burroughs even points out that Joan’s letter to him dated June 5th, 1942 had arrvied unopened. An unusual occurrence.
The big news in the letter of June 12, was that Hulbert Burroughs had been commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and that ERB couldn’t be prouder.
The entire letter may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag10/1024.html#June%2012
The drabble for today is “Proud Papa,” and it was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs in his letter dated June 12, 1942.A few outstanding thrills come to each of us during a lifetime. An hour ago I experienced one of my greatest. I ran into Hulbert on the Niumalu Hotel and he was wearing an officer's overseas cap and the gold bars of a 2nd Lieutenant. I damn near cried. PROUD PAPA
I know that it will mean a lot to the rest of you, too; but it means more to me than to anyone else in the world. More even than it means to Hulbert. He’s achieved what nearly all or my life I wanted to achieve, a commission in the army.
THE SCHEDULE IS AN ILLUSION
June 13: On this day in 2005, Rita Coriell passed away in Kansas City, Missouri at age ninety. Marguerite Hooper Coriell was the wife of Vern Coriell, who was a circus performer, and with him and others created the Burroughs Bibliophiles and published “The Burroughs Bulletin.” She and Vern also published reprints of classic comic pages under the imprint, “The House of Greystoke.”
Rita was the secretary/ treasurer of the Burroughs Bibliophiles for twenty years, and for several of those years the roster of membership was kept on a 5 x 8 cards in a metal box. Many members believed that Rita was the unifying force that the Burroughs Bibliophiles in operation for most of those years. From my personal encounters with Rita and her then husband, Vern, that would be my conclusion. She and Vern married in the mid-sixties and divorced in 1979.
The drabble for today, a fictional conversation, is “The Schedule is an Illusion,” and it was inspired by my personal experiences with the Burroughs Bibliophiles in the 1960’s and 1970’s.“Vern, the next issue of the Burroughs Bulletin is almost a year late. I get letters of complaint every day. Are you about ready to go to press?” THE SCHEDULE IS AN ILLUSION
“Rita, I had six board members on my ass already this week. I don’t need you to tell me that I’m behind.”
“The coffers are almost empty. You do understand how this works, right? People pay their dues and they get so many issues. The more time between issues, the less money people send us.”
“I have a solution. We’ll call the next issue a double issue. That’ll get us back on schedule.”
PROUDLY WE HAIL
June 14: On this day in 1918, Captain Edgar Rice Burroughs of the Second Illinois Infantry Reserve Militia gave a speech on Flag Day in Oak Park Illinois.
The entire speech may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag28/2853.html
The drabble for today is “Proudly We Hail,” a 100 word excerpt from that speech. Pretty good advice.We should be proud to openly acknowledge our love of country and of flag, which stands for the best and noblest ideals which we cherish -- it is no better and no worse than these ideals - the flag is what we make it. If as individuals our ideals are unworthy so will our flag become unworthy in the eyes of the other peoples of the world and thus it behooves us to foster in our own bosoms characteristics of honor and integrity, of chivalry and humanity that our beloved flag may reflect only the highest. This is our duty. PROUDLY WE HAIL
JOB REFERENCE
June 15: On this day in 1941, artist Neal Adams was born in New York City. Primarily known as a comic book artist and writer, Adams illustrated several Tarzan covers for Ballantine / Del Rey Publishing.
Adams drew four issues of “The Fly,” for Archie Comics, as well as humorous single page gags for Archie Comics. In 1962 he began drawing the daily comic “Ben Casey.” Later he illustrated stories in Warren Publishing’s horror comics before drawing war comics for DC Comics in 1968. Soon he began drawing superhero comics, including Superman in Action Comics and Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane. His breakout series was “Deadman,” which won many awards. His first Marvel work was X-Men. Adams was one of the first artists to work for Marvel and DC at the same time. His work on Batman and Green Lantern/ Green Arrow was ground breaking. I’m not going to list any more of his comic book work, the list is extensive, as is the list of his awards and honors.
The drabble for today is “Job Reference”, and it’s taken from an interview with Bob McLeod, who is credited as the co-creator of "The New Mutants."“Neal Adams was the single most respected artist in the business. ... Neal looked at one of my samples and asked me what kind of work I was looking for. I said, "Anything that pays." He picked up the phone and called the production manager at Marvel and said, "I've got a guy who has some potential as an artist, but a lot of potential as a letterer." I was immediately hired at Marvel on Neal's recommendation, and they still didn't even want to see my portfolio. If I was good enough for Neal, I was good enough for them.” JOB REFERENCE
