Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7997a  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles & Events
September VI Edition :: Days 16-30
by Robert Allen Lupton
Back to Days 1-15 at ERBzine 7997
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
ONLY MY IDEAS ARE GOOD IDEAS
September 16: On this day in 1966, the second episode of the Ron Ely television Tarzan, The Ultimate Weapon, was first broadcast. The episode featured two Tarzans, Ron Ely and Jock Mahoney, although Jock Mahoney played Hoby Wallington, not Tarzan. The episode also featured Alan Cailou, Shelah Wells, and Dennis Cross.
Mahoney, as Wallington is a game warden, who the poacher, Peter Haines tries to murder, but Tarzan saves him. Haines mistakenly believed that Tarzan had killed his father. Tarzan and Haines had a big fight, which Tarzan wins and forces Haines to reconnect with his wife, Kathy. Mahoney tells Tarzan, “You must be the only marriage counselor who lives in a tree.”
Details about the entire series may be found at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7420.html
The 100 word drabble for today is, “Only My Ideas Are Good Ideas,”, inspired by the Tarzan episode. It’s dedicated to everyone who’s level of anger and rage makes them react negatively and abusively to any proposal of change – whether it’s really a change or not.A young game warden said, “I’m going to suggest a new law making it illegal to hunt lions.” ONLY MY IDEAS ARE GOOD IDEAS
The old warden said, “You are an evil idiot. If we stop hunting lions, they’ll destroy the entire ecosystem. Zebras and buffalo will go extinct. Giraffes will perish. Shame on you for proposing such an ill-conceived concept. It could be the end of civilization as we know it.”
Tarzan said, “We don’t need a new law. It’s been illegal to hunt lions for over forty years. The other animals seem to be doing just fine. Tone down your rhetoric, discuss, don’t abuse.”
.
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FALSE PROPHET
September 17: On this day in 1972, the Russ Manning Tarzan Sunday story arc, “Korak and the City of Xuja,” concluded. The story had begun in April 1972 and it ran for twenty-four weeks. Much of the story was about Korak battling lions, but eventually He and some settlers ended up in the city of Xuja, where an idol was worshipped as the god, T’Chakmool. The speaking idol was occupied by a high priest who provided the idol’s voice and ruled the city. Think “The Wizard of Oz” or even Barsoom, “Tur is Tur.”
Read the entire story, the art is amazing, at:
https://www.erbzine.com/mag17/1790.html
The drabble for today is “False Prophet,” inspired by the story arc and those who use fear and name calling to get their way. There’s in old saying, ‘when the facts aren’t on your side, just call your opposition names.’ Unfortunately, it works far too often.Korak confronted the priest who was the voice of the god, T’Chakmool. “You’re just a man, no smarter or more sacred than anyone else.” FALSE PROPHET
“I’m am chosen by the god to speak for him. As such I am infallible. My word is the god’s word.”
Korak replied, “Chosen, how were you chosen? Who chose you?”
T’Chakmool, the great and powerful, appeared in a vision and told me that I was the chosen one.”
“So basically, you chose yourself.”
“Blasphemer. Evil heathen.”
“Name calling?”
“Certainly, if you accuse people who disagree with you bad names, eventually people will believe your accusations.”
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CONFOUND AND CONQUER
September 18: On this day in 2001, Episode # 14, “Tarzan and the Jungle Madness,” of the “The Legend of Tarzan” animated series, was released. More about the series in ERBzine: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0014.html#disney
Tarzan and Jane return home from visiting the Waziri Village via a river boat. When they land they notice that Dumont's trading post is larger and more modern. They also notice that the jungle was eerily quiet with no animal sounds to be heard. When they returned home they find the tree house was in shambles as was the professor's camp and he had disappeared. Terk and Tantor burst into the camp complaining of a ringing in their heads and acting violently. Soon Tarzan and Jane were on the run for their lives as all of the jungle animals had turned against them in a psychotic rage.
The cast was extensive, Tarzan was voiced by Micheal T. Weiss, Jane by Olivia d’Abo, Terk by April Winchell, and Kala by Susanne Blakeslee.
The 100 word drabble for today, “Confound and Conquer,” was inspired by the episode and by those who would seek to bewilder others to serve their own selfish ends.Tarzan calmed Terk and Tantor. “What’s happened. All the animals seem crazy.” CONFOUND AND CONQUER
Tantor, the elephant, trumpeted and Terk answered. “There’s a man in the jungle who knows everything. His name is Scooter Tom Gargoyle. He’s from a magical kingdom called La-La Land. He said men are evil and are exploiting us. All men must die or be banished."“Terk, we’ve been friends since childhood.”
“Yes, but all men are evil or misguided.”
“All men?”
“Well, except for him. He knows what’s best.”
“Beware anyone making such claims.”
“Tarzan, is Mr. Gargoyle dangerous?”
“When you trust what he says, he is.”
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NEW DEAL
September 19: On this day in 1925, Argosy All-Story Weekly published the third installment of The Red Hawk, the story that was the third section of the book, The Moon Maid. Neither the story, nor Burroughs’ name were on the cover. The illustration by frequent Burroughs’ cover artist, Modest Stein, illustrated the story, “The Scarlet Tide, a historical romance by Kenneth Perkins, who had well over a hundred stories published in the pulps. The cover evokes an Alice in Wonderland feeling. Must be the hat. The first installment of “Tom, Dick, and Harry” by Joseph Ivers Lawrence also received a cover mention. Lawrence was also a prolific pulp contributor. My favorite title in the issue is “Emu, The Snake-Like Fish” by Clement Wood.
The Red Hawk takes place many years after the events in “The Moon Men.” The Kalkers, overlords from the moon, and human collaborators now rule the world, and the surviving human resistance live as primitive fugitives. Burroughs channeled his admiration for the Native Americans, and a society living that lifestyle revolt against their tyrannical rulers.
Publishing details and illustrations at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0767.html
The drabble for today is “New Deal,” and it was inspired by “The Red Hawk” and empty promises. A shout out to Chad and Jeremy for their song, “Yesterday’s Gone.”Commander Or-tis, the leader of the collaborating Earthman, met with Julian, the resistance leader. ‘Julian, we don’t need to fight. The planet is big enough for us all. Stand down and I’ll withdraw my army. You and yours may live in peace.” NEW DEAL
Julian met with his people and they agreed to stop fighting.
Or-tis withdrew his army, but he sent a small force and captured Julian and his leadership council. “All of you hang at dawn.”“But you agreed that if we stood down, you’d leave us in peace.”
“That was yesterday and yesterday’s gone. I don’t need you anymore.”
DON'T MESS WITH JANE
September 20: On this 1991, actress Spencer Locke, who played Jane in Constantin’s animated Tarzan film was born in Winter Park, Florida. She was magnificent as K-Mart in “Resident Evil: Extinction” and “Resident Evil: Afterlife.” She had reoccurring roles on “Phil of the Future,” “Cougar Town,” and “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.” He appeared in episodes of “In Plain Sight,” “NCIS,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “CSI: Miami.” Also see: https://www.erbzine.com/mag49/4975a.html
The drabble, Don’t Mess With Jane,” for today is an excerpt from an interview with Spencer, originally published on the website www.kidzworld.com on July 17, 2018Jane is this kickass girl in the jungle with a beautiful man by her side. My Jane is quite the go-getter, I grew up with my father living in the jungle, and also growing up in New York City, she's a city girl with a love for the environment. She's someone who stands strong protecting the environment, when the time comes to fight the bad guys, she's a worthy opponent and it's a sweet love story too. She's not into New York City guys, Tarzan's pure of heart. I love playing that - I want to be more like Jane! DON'T MESS WITH JANE
PLAN B
September 21: On this day in 1925, Actress Shirley Ballard, who appeared in “Tarzan and the Slave Girl,” was born in Los Angeles, California. Shirley was Miss California in 1944 and appeared in the films, Easter Parade and The Desert Hawk, among others. She was in one episode of the “Twilight Zone.” She was the script supervisor for Mad Max.”
Details about the Lex Barker Tarzan film, “Tarzan and the Slave Girl,” are at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1950.html
The fictional drabble for today, “Plan B," was inspired by Shirley’s career.On the set of Mad Max, Joanne Samuel, reviewed her part with the script supervisor, Shirley Ballard. ‘Miss Ballard, you seem familiar. Haven’t I seen you on television.” PLAN B
“Yes, I’ve done several television shows and movies.”
“Why are you working as script supervisor and not an actress?”
“Jonanne, a pretty face gets you in the door, but it won’t keep you there. Outward appearance is only that, an appearance, but smart always has work..”“But, I love the camera.”
“The camera won’t always love you. You have to be smart. Pretty fades, but stupid is forever. Have a back-up plan.”
CALLING PEOPLE NAMES WON'T MAKE FRIENDS
September 22: On this day in 1913, The New York World began the serialization of “The Cave Girl.” There were nine installments and the last installment was published on October 9, 1913. Novels were frequently reprinted in newspapers in the 1910s and 1920s. Newspapers with thousands of subscribers and ones with subscribers in the hundreds, purchased one-time serial rights. https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0755.html
The fictional drabble for today, “Calling People Names Won’t Make Friends,” was inspired by the story, “The Cave Girl,” and by those who believe that name calling and accusations are logical arguments. The drabble is fictional, but the lesson contained therein isn’t. If you disagree with everyone and call them names, you’ll find that no one is on your side.Ralph Waldo Emerson-Smith, an effete young man from Boston, castaway on a Pacific Island and lived with a native woman, Nadera. The cave man, Korth wanted Nadera as a mate. CALLING PEOPLE NAMES WON'T MAKE FRIENDS
Nadera said, “I heard Korth.”
“He wants you. He said I wasn’t fit to live. I shamed him. Called him an illiterate, smelly, lust-driven clown. Verbal abuse is effective.”“Name-calling is not a defense, it’s a foolish escalation. It not only avoids the facts, it makes a disagreement personal.”
“It’s easy to call people stupid.”
“The more people you call names, the more people to vote you off the island.”
SEEN AT THE SCENE
September 23: On this day in 1916, All-Story Weekly published part one of The Girl From Farris’s. C. D. Williams illustrated the cover. There were a total of four installments. The story was published by the Tacoma Tribune as a 26-part serial beginning February 20. 1920. The working title was “The Girl From Harris’s,” but Munsey changed the title for reasons never completely clear.
The publishing history and illustrations are at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0761.html
Burroughs takes aim at the rampant corruption at that time in Chicago government, law enforcement, and the hypocrisy of those who condemned prostitution, but still managed to profit by renting buildings and selling supplies to the purveyors. Pretty brave for the time, almost muck raking – but that story would come later.
During the time the story was written, Chicago was home to many brothels, saloons, dance halls, and the famed Everleigh Club. Prostitution boomed in the Levee District, and it was not until the Chicago Vice Commission submitted a report on the city's vice districts that it was shut down. The female protagonist, June Lathrop, is assumed to be a prostitute and treated appropriately. She eventually rehabilitates her name and becomes a successful business woman.
The drabble for today. "Seen At the Scene,” was inspired by the story, The Girl From Farris’s”June Lathrop, who was using the name, Maggie Lynch, faced the judge. “Young lady, you are charged with prostitution.” SEEN AT THE SCENE
“On what grounds?”
“You were found in the alley behind a house of ill repute.”
“The policeman who arrested me was in the same alley. Is he being charged with prostitution?”“Of course not, but your proximity to Farris’s provides clear evidence that you’re a fallen woman.”
“Fallen? I haven’t fallen anywhere. Proximity means guilty, does it? I suppose that makes everyone who attended the Chicago World’s Fair a Ferris Wheel.”
“Absurd. And that’s Farris with an A, not an E.”
PERCEPTION IS REALITY
September 24: On this day in 1911, Bollywood character actor, Hamid Ali Murad, was born in Rampur, British India. He used the single name, Murad, professionally and he appeared in over 200 Hindi films, usually playing a father, a policeman, or a judge. He appeared in both a Bollywood, Tarzan film, “Tarzan and Hercules,” and “Tarzan Goes To India,” which starred Jock Mahoney. He played the Maharajah in Tarzan Goes To India.
Details about “Tarzan Goes To India": https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1960.html and “Tarzan and Hercules”: https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6738.html
His career lasted almost fifty years and one of his several Hindi language films was the production of “Superman” in 1987.
The drabble for today is “Perception is Reality,” was inspired by Murad and his career.John Guillermin, director of Tarzan Goes To India, said, “Murad, Someone has stolen the jewelry we borrowed. Investigate immediately.” PERCEPTION IS REALITY
“I think you should call the police.”
“Everyone says that you are the police.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not a real policeman, but I’ve played one a hundred times on film.”
“If I believe that you’re a policeman, so does everyone else. Play the part, find the jewelry.”“Alas, if only belief made it so. In spite of my considerable skills, having people believe that I’m a Maharajah, doesn’t make me the ruler.”
“Nonsense, only universal belief makes any man a ruler.”
BOGUS BIOGRAPHY
September 25: On this day in 1946, Edgar Rice Burroughs watched the RKO film, “Tarzan and the Leopard Woman.” His comments about the film are unknown.
The movie starred Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan and Brenda Joyce as Jane. Johnny Sheffield was Boy and Tommy Cook played Kimba. Acquanetta portrayed Lea, the high priestess.
While Acquanetta was nicknamed “The Venezuelan Volcano, she was born as Mildred Davenport in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She claimed to have been born in Ozone, Wyoming to Arapaho parents and named Burnu Acquanetta. Other accounts had her living in Spanish Harlem and posing as a Venezuelan, but in any case, she was unable to provide any documentation for any of her ‘origin’ stories. She also claimed that her great-grandfather was the illegitimate son of the King of England. Doing the math, that means that her great-grandfather would have been born between around 1780 and no later that 1820, which would make her the direct descendent of the mad king, George III.
Information about the “Bogus Biography,” and the film is available in great detail at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0626.html
The fictional drabble for today is, “Bogus Biography," inspired by the alleged lives of Acquanetta and Edgar Rice Burroughs viewing of the film.After watching “Tarzan and the Leopard Woman,” Edgar Rice Burroughs said, “Not bad. Not how I’d have written it, but not bad. I did some research on Acquanetta.” BOGUS BIOGRAPHY
Hulbert said, ‘Really, Dad. What did you learn?”
“She’s a native American, an Arapaho, and descended from King George III. She’s also African American and was raised in Spanish Harlem before she moved to Mexico and then Venezuela. She wasn’t only born in Wyoming, but also in Pennsylvania as Mildred Davenport.’“That’s confusing.”
“It’s like one of my mistaken identity plots, with one difference. I always managed to keep my story straight.”
PROMISES PROMISES
September 26: On this day in 1923, the Tarzana real estate development advertised a new promotion, a ‘jungle barbecue’ to be served by Elmo Lincoln. Elmo backed out claiming false advertising. I have no idea how the barbeque went, but the real estate development project went well, ultimately becoming the city of Tarzana, California.
For a history of Tarzana’s development, go to: https://www.erbzine.com/mag13/1354.html
The fictional drabble for today is, “Promises, Promises,” and it was inspired by the Jungle Barbeque, a promotional project without a guest of honor.The real estate salesman said, “Elmo isn’t going to show up.” PROMISES PROMISES
The sales manager replied, “Scheduling conflict?”
“No, he didn’t want to wear the Tarzan outfit.”
“That wouldn’t be a problem.”
“He’s angry because someone promised him $100.00, paid in advance."
“Who did that?”
“Might have been me. He got angry when I quoted Mark Twain, “Better a broken promise than none at all.”“And?”
He said, “That knife cuts both ways. If I could promise to pay him, but not do it, then he could promise to be here, but not show up.”“Well, damn. I guess that’s fair.”
STAY IN YOUR LANE
September 27: On this day in 1924, Argosy All-Story Weekly published the third installment of The Bandit of Hell’s Bend. The cover was for a swordsman-in-England novel, “The Clovelly,” by Max Brand. Interesting that in this issue, Edgar Rice Burroughs had a western story and Max Brand had a novel about a swordsman.
Max Brand was the l pen name of Frederick Schiller Faust, one of the most prolific writers who ever lived. The creator of characters as diverse as Whistling Dan Barry, Destry and Dr. Kildare, Faust specialized in Westerns, but also contributed to other genres. He wrote more than five hundred stories, but Clovelly is one of his rare cloak and sword swashbucklers.
Publishing details for “The Bandit of Hell’s Bend,” are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0771.html
The FICTIONAL drabble for today, “Stay In Your Lane,” is a conversation between Edgar Rice Burroughs and Frederick Schiller Faust, aka Max Brand.“Frederick, Ed Burroughs here. You wrote a story about a swordsman in England. I wrote “The Outlaw of Torn” years ago. You’re writing on my turf.” STAY IN YOUR LANE
“Doesn’t mean that you own England. You started it. You’ve been writing westerns, haven’t you.”
“Well, you don’t own the old west. How about we declare a truce. You stay out of Africa and leave Mars alone.”
“Fair enough, Ed, but I’ll expect you to leave the medical thrillers to me. Dr. Kildare doesn’t want any competition.”
“Deal. I don’t want to ever know enough about how a hospital works to write about it.”
FOLLOWED BY A MOON SHADOW
September 28: On this day in 2023, Win Scott Eckert submitted “Korak At The Earth’s Core” to ERB Inc. Win also wrote “Tarzan Battle For Pellucidar. Both novels are available from Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. https://edgarriceburroughs.com/.../korak-at-the-earths-core/ .. . More about ERB's Pellucidar in ERBzine's site at: https://www.pellucidar.org/
His other work includes stories and novels based on the works of Philip Jose Farmer and Lester Dent (Doc Savage and The Avenger). Here’s a partial list: “The Monster On Hold,” “Hunt The Avenger,” “The Evil in Pemberly House,” “The Scarlett Jaguar,” and the Honey West novel, “A Girl and her Cat.”
The drabble for today, “Followed by a Moon Shadow,” is one hundred words excerpted from the description of the novel found at: https://www.winscotteckert.com/ . Thanks to Cat Stevens for the drabble title.Korak the Killer, jungle-raised son of Tarzan of the Apes, sets off into the prehistoric world at the Earth’s core to rescue his daughter Suzanne Clayton, missing in the mysterious Land of Awful Shadow. When the airship O-220 is hijacked, Korak and his Mangani friend Akut are stranded. They must fight their way across the perilous lands and seas of Pellucidar. FOLLOWED BY A MOON SHADOW
And what of the enigmatic Dead Moon, the pendant world that hangs eternally above the Land of Awful Shadow. Will the Dead World give up its secrets as Korak and Meriem search for Suzanne—or will it spell their doom?
LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF HEAVEN
September 29: On this day in 1929, Edgar Rice Burroughs' first Blue Book installment of “Tarzan at the Earth’s Core” was on newsstands across America. The novel combined two of his most famous creations, Tarzan and Pellucidar. This mixing of creations wasn’t new to ERB, he combined Tarzan and Jane with Barney Custer’s (The Mad King) sister, Victoria, in “The Eternal Lover.” In “The Mood Maid,” a Barsoomian interplanetary ship plays a significant role. The combining of ERB’s story arcs has become a consistent and entertaining theme in new authorized stories that take place in the “Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe.”
The working title was “Tarzan and Pellucidar.” Publishing details and illustrations galore are at:
https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0721.html
The drabble for today, “Last Night I Dreamed of Heaven,” is 100 words excerpted from what Philip Jose Farmer once wrote about the novel.It was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, but it’s all fiction. The book is, in essence, a story of Tarzan going to Heaven. This world inside our world is wild and free with great jungles and beasts that have become extinct on the outside. It would be Tarzan’s Happy Hunting Ground if it existed, and he would’ve left it only long enough to get Jane and his son, Jack, and perhaps Korak and Meriem and their son, and return to it... Pellucidar, the vast prehistoric world deep beneath our feet, is a dream of a world that Tarzan would call Paradise. LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF HEAVEN
ARMY TRAINING, SIR
September 30: On this day in 1942, The Honolulu Advertiser published Edgar Rice Burroughs’ article, “BMTCers Can Shoot.” BMTCers being the Businessman's Training Corps, a citizens group formed by Edgar Rice Burroughs and others for the defense of Honolulu during the second World War.
The entire article is located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag17/1756.html#bmtcerscanshoot
The 100 word drabble for today. “Army Training, Sir,” is an excerpt from that article and it was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Thanks to the movie, ‘Stripe,.” for the title of the drabble.It hadn’t occurred to me it might be thought that the BMTC would place men on duty with rifles who hadn’t been trained to handle them with safety to themselves and others and to the enemy’s consternation; or that Army authorities would permit it to do so. ARMY TRAINING, SIR
Just as the Army recruits men who’ve no experience with firearms, so does the BMTC. And exactly as the Army trains these men, so does the BMTC. They are taught the nomenclature and care of their rifles. They have hours of sighting and aiming exercises before they go to the range to qualify.
