Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7662a  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
MARCH Va Edition :: Days 16-31
by Robert Allen Lupton
See Days 1 - 15 at ERBzine 7662
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
HIDDEN AGENDA
March 16: On this day in 1936, Whitman copyrighted “Tarzan and his Jungle Friends,” a 128 -page heavily abridged version of the last half of the novel, “Tarzan of the Apes,” This Big Little Book was square, three inches by three inches, and it wasn’t for sale. It was only available as a Tarzan ice cream cup giveaway. The interior had sixty-two illustrations by Juanita Bennett. The book was published without a spine and the pages were stapled together.
I couldn’t find much about Juanita C. Bennett beyond the fact that she illustrated several BLBs including seven ‘Tarzan” books. Some of the giveaway books were reprinted from other BLBs. All in all, she drew more about 1000 illustrations for those seven titles. I wish I could find out more about her. I couldn’t even find an obituary. Any additional information on her would be appreciated.
For information about Tarzan Big Little Books, visit: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0044.html
The 100 word drabble for today, “Hidden Agenda,” was inspired by the Big Little Book title, “Tarzan and his Jungle Friends.”Jane crossed her arms and pouted. “Tarzan, don’t get me wrong, I love you, but it hurts my feelings when you spend all night hanging out with your jungle friends.” HIDDEN AGENDA
“I like my jungle friends. They like me.”
“You should stay home. We could have the army officers over or maybe visit Nairobi and eat at a nice restaurant.’“Except for you, I don’t like people.”
“Why?”
“A lion does what he says. Apes keep their word. Even crocodiles don’t say one thing and do another. People aren’t like that. Their words and promises vanish like leaves on the wind.”
A HARD DAY'S DAY
March 17: On this day in 2017, Robert Day, who wrote and directed Tarzan the Magnificent, and Tarzan’s Three Challenges and directed Tarzan and the Valley of Gold and Tarzan and the Great River died on Bainbridge Island, Washington. He directed the fourth episode of the Ron Ely Tarzan series, A Life For A Life. His 93 directorial credits included 1966’s She starring Ursula Andress.
Day started his career in films as a clapper boy and worked his way up to one of the busiest directors in the business. He was married to actress Dorothy Provine for over 40 years – until her death in 2010.
Details on his four Tarzan films and television episode are available at: www.erbzine.com/movies
The 100 word drabble for today, A Hard Day’s Day,” was inspired by Robert Day’s career. A tip of the hat to Buck Owens and Buddy Holly for a couple of the lines in the drabble. Remember, at the end of the day, it’s night.Jock Mahoney and Woody Strode were exhausted. Woody said, “Robert, I can’t speak for Jock, but we’ve tried filming this fight for three days. I’m tired.” A HARD DAY'S DAY
Jock said, “I’m losing weight and looking pale.”
Director Robert Day said, “We’re losing the light, so we’ll call it a day.”
Woody shook his head. “Robert, that wasn’t funny.”
Yes, it was. Day in, day out, it’s always funny. I’m sorry you’re tired. We’ll take this one day at a time. Remember don’t count the days, make the days count.”“I’ll kill him if he doesn’t stop,” moaned Mahoney.
“That’ll be the day!”
OUTSIDE THE BOX
March 18: On this day in 1933, Argosy Weekly published the third installment of “Lost on Venus,” Edgar Rice Burroughs’s second novel about the adventures of Carson Napier. Paul Stahr illustrated Max Brand’s novel, “The Masterman,” for the cover illustration. (Looks like “The Call of the Wild” to me.) One interior illustration by Samuel Cahan accompanied the installments of “Lost on Venus.”
Publishing details about the novel are at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0749.html
The drabble for today, “Outside the Box,’ was inspired by the novel, “Lost on Venus.”Carson Napier was imprisoned in a room with seven doors. Six doors of death and one of freedom. A noose dangled overhead should he choose to hang himself. Hundreds of snakes appeared when he went to sleep. Panicking, he opened one door. A peppermint-striped tiger-like beast attacked, only to be killed by the snakes. OUTSIDE THE BOX
Carson climbed the hanging rope to avoid the snakes and found an eighth door leading him to Duare, the woman he loved. She said, “How did you escape? All seven doors lead to death.”
“The hanging rope led to an eighth door.”
“Well, that’s good noose.”
BEDTIME FOR THE LIEUTENANT
March 19: The anniversary of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s death. On this day in 1921, Argosy All-Story Weekly published the 6th installment of “Tarzan the Terrible.” The book wasn’t terrible, it was one of the best in the series. It was reprinted in numerous editions, was published as a Big Little Book with a cover by John Coleman Burroughs. It was also adapted into a daily comic strip by Rex Maxon, and by Gold Key Comics in 1967.
The cover illustration for the March 19, 1921 edition of Argosy All-Story Weekly was by Modest Stein, who illustrated other covers for novels by Burroughs, but this time his painting illustrated the first episode of “Some Man! By Stephen Kaye.
One of the more interesting situations in the novel is after Jane was captured by the German officer, Lieutenant Obergatz, he became almost completely reliant on her because he knew so little about surviving in the jungle.
Publishing details and illustrations for Tarzan the Terrible are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0494.html
The 100 word drabble for today is “Bedtime for the Lieutenant” and it was inspired by Lieutenant Obergatz’s lack of knowledge about the African jungle.Lieutenant Obergatz trembled at the roars from the nighttime jungle and asked his captive, “What’s making those sounds?” BEDTIME FOR THE LIEUTENANT
Jane shrugged, “Lions, but they’re miles from here. Don’t worry about them. You should about that Boomslang snake at your feet. One bite and you’re dead.”
Obergatz screamed and pounded the snake with a slimy stick.
“Idiot! That stick is from a manchineel tree. Its sap is poison. My husband calls it the most dangerous tree in Africa.”“Damn woman, is everything trying to kill me?”
“Only your ignorance. Untie me and go to sleep and I’ll solve that problem for you.”
PATIENCE
March 20: On this day in 2010, Dr. John Eric Holmes passed away. Holmes was a former US Marine officer and an associate professor of neurology at the USC School of Medicine.
Holmes wrote two excellent novels based on the Pellucidar novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs. The first, “Mahars of Pellucidar” was published by Ace Books in 1976 with a cover by Boris Vallejo. His second novel, “Red Axe of Pellucidar,” was approved by Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. in 2022 and it was accepted, along with ‘Mahars of Pellucidar’ into the official canon of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Christopher West Holmes, Eric’s son, wrote introductions to both books. The novels are available from https://www.edgarriceburroughs.com/
Burroughs Historian, John Martin, has an excellent article at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag57/5797.html
“Red Axe of Pellucidar” includes an excellent bonus novelette by Geary Gravel, “Jason Gridley of Earth: Across the Moons of Mars.”
Both novels are well worth reading. I recommend both.
The drabble for today, “Patience,” is 100 words taken from the introduction in the ERB Inc. approved edition of “Red Axe of Pellucidar,” written by Christopher West Holmes.Despite critical praise, ‘Mahars’ had poor sales and the head of the Burroughs Corporation was no longer the enthusiastic grandson who helped that book get published. I expect the title may have worked against it and that “Red Axe of Pellucidar” would have sold more copies. The book did get privately published in a very limited edition by a fan of Dad’s writing. Leaked copies of the manuscript, with many errors, have been available. I hope you haven’t spent much money of them because their production and art are not worth it. Now at last, we have this lovely edition. PATIENCE
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
March 21: On this day in 1931, artist Al Williamson was born in Bogata, Columbia. His first professional work was penciling Tarzan Sunday pages for Burne Hogarth in 1948. Williamson contributed artwork to EC Comics, mostly to Weird Science and Weird Fantasy. Later he worked on the Flash Gordon comic book and illsutrated stories for Warren Publishing’s “Creepy” and “Eerie.” He illustrated several ‘Star Wars’ comic books and comic strips.
His artwork appeared in issues of “ERB-dom.” Probably his best known piece of ERB artwork is the collaboration with Reed Crandall of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s face surrounded by his creations. The illustration was used for the cover of the University of Nebraska edition for the cover of “Master of Adventure The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs” by Richard A. Lupoff. It was the frontispiece for other editions of the book.
There are several articles about Al Williamson at www.erbzine.com. I recommend starting with https://www.erbzine.com/mag31/3154.html
The drabble for today, “Right Place, Right Time,” and it is an excerpt from an interview with Al Williamson about his first professional work.John Celardo was penciling the Sunday page for Burne Hogarth, but something must have happened and Burne asked me to try. He gave me a page he’d already laid out. I tightened it up. He gave me another page that I tightened up and he inked it. Then I asked if I could lay one out myself, and he said, 'Go ahead, Al.' I laid that page out. He made a couple of suggestions; then I did it on the big Sunday page, He inked it and the other one I had done the same way, and that was it. RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
March 22: On this day in 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs submitted “The Cave Girl” to All-Story Magazine. Serialization began on July 1913.
Is “The Cave Girl” the antithesis of “Tarzan of the Apes” or does it reinforce the theory that breeding overcomes environment? I leave it to the reader to decide. In Tarzan, a child of noble birth is raised as a savage in the jungle, but his breeding predetermines that he will overcome his environment and he becomes Tarzan, lord of the jungle. In “The Cave Girl,” a young man of ‘fine’ breeding who grew up as a child of privilege in Boston and is a coward and a weakling as a young adult, is castaway on a dangerous island, where he grows strong and brave, ultimately becoming the mighty Thandar, the ruler of a savage tribe of primitive humans.
The 100 word drabble for today, “Dress for Success,” was inspired by the theory birth versus environment. https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0755.htmlMrs. Smith-Jones scanned the island shore from the deck of her ship. “Captain, I don’t see my son, Waldo. Let’s seek him elsewhere. I’m upset. Where’s Waldo?” DRESS FOR SUCCESS
“What about that chap waving at us from the beach?”
“Too big, too muscular, too tan, and no shoes and no hat. My Waldo is far to refined. He’d never go outside without his hat.”‘Madam, look carefully.”
She focused her binoculars. “Wait, I do believe it’s him. I’ll tell him to shave and cut his hair immediately.”“He can shave later. Tell your refined son to put on some pants first thing.”
DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH
March 23: On this day in 1927, actress Monique Van Vooren, who played Lyra, the She-Devil in the 1953 film, “Tarzan and the She-Devil,” was born in Brussels, Belgium. She was a championship level skater and a beauty queen in her home country before entering films. Her film career was limited and sporadic. 21 credits are listed on IMBD spanning sixty-two years. She starred in Andy Warhol’s “Flesh for Frankenstein.” She toured the US performing in ‘summer stock’ theatre for several years.
Monique was a polyglot, speaking English, Italian, French, German Spanish, and Dutch. She wrote one book, “Night Sanctuary,” which was published by Signet in 1983.
For details about “Tarzan and the She-Devil,” visit https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1952.html
The 100 word drabble for today, “Don’t Hold Your Breath,” was inspired by her career and her ability to speak several languages.The filming wrapped up on the set of “Tarzan and the She-Devil,” and Monique Van Vooren approached producer, Sol Lessor. “When will the next picture begin filming. I want to avoid having a scheduling conflict.” DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH
“Monique, I haven’t decided. I don’t want to limit your opportunities. Don’t wait on me.”
“Should I have my agent stay in touch?”
“I have his phone number,” said Sol, walking away.
Joyce McKenzie asked, “Are you in the next film.”
“I doubt it. I’ve known many men and speak six languages. ‘Don’t call me, I’ll call you’ sounds the same in all of them.”
FAVORITE SON
March 24: On this day in 1972, the Oak Park, Illinois newspaper, The Oak Park Journal, published the article, “Who Remembers Famous Son, Edgar Rice Burroughs?,’ written by Jean Guarino and Bonnie Gross.
The article begins with the following sentence, ‘Last Tuesday was the 24th anniversary of Edgar Rice Burroughs' death and not one word about it was mentioned in Oak Park.’ It gives a brief history of ERB and compares ERB to Hemingway, also an Oak Park native. It asks the question, ‘what literary merit does Tarzan have compared to the memorable Earnest Hemingway?’ It goes on to point out that Burroughs sold over twenty-five million books in 56 languages, not so for Mr. Hemingway.
The writers continue the comparison by saying, ‘Oak Parkers praise their native son Hemingway and try to ignore Burroughs. There's an irony there, since Ernest left Oak Park as soon as he could and said not-always-nice things about his native village. Burroughs, on the other hand, moved his family to Oak Park at the beginning of his writing career and became actively involved in the affairs of Oak Park.’ https://www.erbzine.com/mag11/1194.html
The 100 word drabble for today is, Favorite Son, and it is 100 words excerpted from that newspaper article. Note that ERB held the rank of Major in the Illinois Militia during WW1.Sept. 28, 1918, Oak Parker newspaper lauded his work in the militia, "Prominent Popular Oak Park Man Honored." He sold his home intending to move to California, but abandoned the idea, and at great expense, rented another home in Oak Park. FAVORITE SON
January 18, 1919 Oak Parker article expressed "our foremost citizen and patriotic friend is going west. Major ERB, wife, and children carry with them our best wishes for their future happy welfare."
March 19, 1975 will be the 25th anniversary of his death. That's a nice, round number -- very appropriate for a celebration. Tribute to Burroughs committee anybody?
UNFIT BEHAVIOR
March 25: On this day, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed the short story with the working title, “Elmer.” The story was revised and the title changed to “The Resurrection of Jimber-Jaw” and published by Argosy Weekly on February 20, 1937. “The Resurrection of Jimber-Jaw” was included in “Tales of Three Planets,” published by Canaveral Press on April 27, 1964. Elmer was included in “Forgotten Tale of Love and Murder” published by Guidry and Adams in 2001.
Elmer was the family nickname for a human skull that ERB’s sons, Hulbert and Jack, kept in the family den.
Electronic versions of both stories are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0779.html. I confess that I haven’t compared the two versions side by side.
The following observation by the man-thawed-from-a-glacier is in both versions. I don’t agree with it. I like American women as they are, varied in demeanor and disposition and I’m proud that women are equal to or better than men. I wouldn’t have it any other way. On a personal level, woe betide the man who’d try to take any of the women I know “home and beat them.” I’m pretty sure that his body would never be found.
Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote today’s drabble, “Unfit Behavior,” to poke fun at the misogynistic behavior and attitude some have toward women. The technique is called “Reductio ad absudum,” aka characterizing an argument, or in this case, an attitude to expose how ridiculous it is. Anyone who doubts that ERB believed in strong powerful women, needs to read “The Cave Girl,” the Pellucidar novels, or even consider how strong Jane became as the Tarzan novels progressed. (Check out the cover of Robin Maxwell’s, ‘Jane, the Woman Who Loved Tarzan.”)UNFIT BEHAVIOR "They are without shame," he said. "They go almost naked before men. In my country their men would drag them home by the hair and beat them. Of what good is a mate in your country?" he asked. "They are no different from men. The men smoke; the women smoke. The men drink; the women drink. The men swear; the women swear. They gamble—they tell dirty stories—they’re out all night and cannot be fit to look after the caves and the children the next day. They might as well be men. No one would want children from them."
AVERSION THERAPY
March 26: On this day in 1932, Argosy Magazine published the third installment of “Tarzan and the City of Gold,” the sixteenth Tarzan novel. The cover illustration by Paul Stahr was for “Devil’s Payment” by Theodore Roscoe, but ERB was mentioned on the cover.
The underlying feeling in the novel is, at first, almost one of futile despondency, but by the final quarter of the book, it rallies to a rousing climax. Much of the book is about the unfulfilled romance between Tarzan and Queen Nemone. She’s a mean and vicious woman, who demands absolute obedience, sort of an Elizabeth Báthory with more soldiers and a pet lion. Tarzan is quite smug about the moral superiority of wild animals and himself over other humans, in spite of the fact that he’s left Jane, his son, the Waziri, and his responsibilities to wander through the jungle. Nevertheless, as the book progresses, Tarzan once more becomes the heroic jungle lord we expect and he risks his life to save Nemone’s captives.
This sullenness could be a reflection of ERB’s personal life; he would separate from Emma about two years after writing this book, or it could be a deliberate ploy to establish a greater comparison between the seemingly lost and bitter Tarzan we see at the first of the book and his return to full hero status toward the end of the book. https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0725.html
The drabble for today, “Aversion Therapy,” is based on the evil queen, Nemone, and her pursuit of Tarzan.Jad-Bal-Ja, Tarzan’s lion friend, saved Tarzan from Queen Nemone’s lion, Belthar. Nemone, who had fruitlessly sought Tarzan’s love, killed herself, and her noble brother, Alextar, was crowned King of Cathne. AVERSION THERAPY
At Nemone’s funeral, Alextar said, “Tarzan, in her own way, she loved you.”
“Truly fascinating woman. So beautiful and so evil. As enchanting as a rainbow and as deadly as an asp.”“She was a mean and spiteful woman. What was the attraction?”
“A man has to love a bad woman at least once, so he can appreciate a good one. Time for me to go home to my wife.”
CARNIVAL TIME
March 27: On this day in 1942, actor, director, and producer, Ashton Dearholt, died in Los Angeles, California. Ashton was Edgar Rice Burroughs’s partner in Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises and he directed the serial, “The New Adventure of Tarzan,” also released as “Tarzan and the Green Goddess.” During the filming in Guatemala, Ashton and Ula Holt, the female lead, fell in love and ultimately married. Ashton and his wife, actress Florence Gilbert, divorced and Florence married Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Ashton made several silent melodramas under the name, Richard Holt. IMBD lists seventy-eight acting credits for Ashton Dearholt. It would appear that “The New Adventures of Tarzan” was his last work, although it has been said that he played a small role in “Gone With the Wind” for which he was paid seventy-five dollars, but I haven’t been able to confirm that he even had an uncredited appearance.
The drabble, “Carnival Time,” for today is based on Holt’s career after "The New Adventures of Tarzan.”Ashton Dearholt pitched Jack Warner. “Jack, I’ve got a great idea. My wife, Ula Holt, will play the queen of a lost race. She lives forever, see. And there’s this Englishman, that’s me, and …” CARNIVAL TIME
“Stop right there, Ashton. First, that sounds a lot like “She” by H. Rider Haggard, and second, I’ve seen the financial report on your Tarzan movie, over schedule, over budget, and a box office flop. You’ll never work in this town again.”
Ashton laughed, “I’ve never worked a single day in Hollywood. This is a carnival. I’m just here for the rides and the refreshments!”
MY WORK, MY DECISION
March 28: On this day in 1928, Joseph Bray of McClurg Publishing notified Edgar Rice Burroughs that the entire first edition printing of “The Outlaw of Torn” had sold out in about a month. This was particularly gratifying to Burroughs because it had been very difficult for him to sell the story at first. All-Story rejected the story, and after a rewrite by ERB offered to buy the ‘plot’ for $100.00 and have his staff to do a complete rewrite. Burroughs refused.
Details about the novel and its publication are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0754.html
Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the drabble for today, “My Work, My Decision.” The 100 words are taken from letters ERB wrote to Thomas Metcalf at All-Story in defense of “The Outlaw of Torn.”I am very sorry that you do not find `The Outlaw of Torn' acceptable in its present form, It's funny too, for everyone who has read it except yourself has thought it by far the most interesting story I have written. I am going to do it over again when I have time — I shall stick to The Outlaw of Torn until it is published — I come of a very long lived family." I think it is the best thing I ever wrote, with the possible exception of “Tarzan of the Apes” and after it, I rank The War Chief.” MY WORK, MY DECISION
SIDE HUSTLE
Marcy 29: On this day in 1940, the “Times and Daily News Leader,” San Mateo, California, published an article by Dale Carnegie (Author of ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’). The article was based on an interview Carnegie conducted with a writer named Edgar Rice Burroughs. Carnegie presents ERB as a Horatio Algiers type success story, perhaps because, well, perhaps because he is.
I love the first sentence in the article, “The other day, in a New York hotel, I interviewed a man who had a job that would not support him, and he told me what he did about it.”
You can read the inspirational article in its entirety at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag17/1789.html
Of course, the 100 word drabble, “Side Hustle,” for today was written by Dale Carnegie, and is excerpted from his article about Edgar Rice Burroughs.He worked hard selling pencil-sharpeners, but it wasn't enough. He decided to start writing on the side. His stories caught on. He’s sold over twenty-four million books. SIDE HUSTLE
He said the turning point in his life came when he determined to hold one job while he tried out another. That idea took him from poverty to the millionaire class. The idea is perfectly sound, and it may be something that you yourself can apply. If you aren’t making enough money, then hold the job you have and work another on the side. It won’t be easy, but it can be done.
MELODRAMA
March 30: On this day in 1923, Edgar Rice Burroughs began writing his first western novel,The Bandit of Hell’ Bend." Working titles for the novel were “The Black Coyote” and “Diana of the Bar-Y.”
The book first saw print in Argosy All-Story Weekly and the September 13, 1924 issue had a cover by Modest Stein.
Details about the novel, an electronic version, and several illustrations are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0771.html
The novel has a wide range of characters, from villains to comic relief. Western humor and poetry appear alongside of mystery, intrigue, murder, kidnapping, stagecoach holdups, and even an Apache raid. One of ERB’s best efforts, in my opinion. Will Diana Henders manage to save her ranch from the swindlers? Will she figure out the Bandit of Hell’s Bend’s identity before it’s too late? Why on earth hasn’t this been a movie???
The 100 word drabble for today is “Melodrama,” inspired by the novel, “The Bandit of Hell’s Bend, Snidely Whiplash, Little Nell, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and countless western films.The Bandit of Hell’s Bend held Diana Henders at gunpoint. He laughed manically and said, “I’ve got you now, my pretty. Give me the deed to your ranch or I’ll kill you and your little dog, too!” MELODRAMA
Diana didn’t flinch. “I don’t have a dog and there’s no point twirling your moustache under your mask.”
The Bandit shrugged, “Fine, give me the deed to your ranch or I’ll tie you to the railroad track!”
“Ain’t no railroad for a hundred miles.”
Ranch hands overpowered the confused bandit and wrapped him in thin sheets of metal.
He moaned, “Curses, foiled again.”
KARNAK THE MAGNIFICENT
March 31: On this day in 1967, episode number twenty-nine of the Ron Ely Tarzan television series was broadcast. “The Ultimatum” featured Jeff Burton, Henry Corden, and Ruth Roman as guest stars. Burton was best known for the 1968 version of ‘Planet Of the Apes, Corden was the voice of Fred Flintstone, and Ruth played the title role in Universal’s 1948 film serial, “Jungle Queen.” She appeared in over 100 different television series, including “Mission Impossible” and “The Outer Limits.”
The 100 word drabble for today, “Karnak the Magnificent,” is based on the episode and of course, the great Johnny Carson, who spelled it, Carnac.Karnak and Madiline Riker threatened a native village and promised to kill everyone unless Tarzan agreed to surrender to them. KARNAK THE MAGNIFICENT
Tarzan shrugged, ‘I don’t know you. Why would you want me as a prisoner? My animal friends can’t pay any ransom.”
Madiline turned to her partner, Karnak. “Read Tarzan the message.”
“Karnak closed his eyes and held an unopened bottle to his head. “Three jungle men and treasure.”
Inside, it read, “Tarzan, Bomba, Jungle Jim, and a fortune in gold.”
Madiline said, “The treasure is at a jungle gym. Take us there.”
“That doesn’t mean what you think it means.”
