Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7998

ERB 100-Word Drabbles & Events
October VI Edition :: Days 1-15
by Robert Allen Lupton
 Next Go to Days 16-31 at ERBzine 7998a

With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman

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TO EACH HIS OWN

October 1: On this day in 1975, the "New York Times Quadrangle Press" published Love Stories edited by Martin Levin, including "Tarzan’s First Love" by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The story was the first story in "Jungle Tales of Tarzan" and was published in Blue Book Magazine in September 1916.
Tarzan’s first love was Teeka, a young female Mangani. Tarzan’s friend, Taug, also loves Teeka. Eventually Tarzan figures things out.
Read the story and all the stories from "Jungle Tales of Tarzan" at:
https://www.erbzine.com/craft/t6jt.html
The drabble for today, “To Each His Own,” written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is the conclusion of the short story, “Tarzan’s First Love.”

TO EACH HIS OWN

"Go back to Teeka," said Tarzan. "She’s yours. Tarzan does not want her."
"Tarzan has found another she?" asked Taug.
The ape-boy shrugged.
"For the Gomangani there is another Gomangani," he said; "for Numa, the lion, there is Sabor, the lioness; for Sheeta there is a she of his kind; for Bara, the deer; for Manu, the monkey; for all the beasts and birds of the jungle is there a mate. Only for Tarzan of the Apes is there none. Taug is an ape. Teeka is an ape. Go back to Teeka. Tarzan is a man. He will go alone."

NOT NOW PLEASE

October 2: On this day in 1940, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing “Black Pirates of Barsoom,” the second installment of what would become the novel, “Llana of Gathol.” “ Black Pirates of Barsoom” was first published in “Amazing Stories” in June of 1941 with a cover and two interior illustrations by J. Allen St. John.

Details about Llana of Gathol are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0738.html

John Carter, the warrior, Pan Dan Chee and Cater’s granddaughter, Llana are captured by the Black Pirates. Carter is forced to fight in gladiator type games, but eventually escapes along with Llana and Pan Dan Chee.

The drabble for today, “Not Now, Please,” and it was inspired by the “The Black Pirates of Barsoom.”

NOT NOW PLEASE

During their captivity by the Black Pirates, Pan Dan Chee came to love John Carter’s granddaughter, Llana of Gathol, but had no chance to tell her.

The silent suitor and John Carter escaped and took Llana with them.

The three along with another companion raced across the dead sea bottom and after a long night of perilous travel stopped to rest.

Pan Dan Chee knelt at the feet of the exhausted Llana and said, “My Princess, I lay my heart at your feet.”

She replied, “Your timing is terrible. You may pick it up. I’m tired and wish to sleep.”

PICTURES IN THE MIND

October 3: On this day I 1987, actress Pamela Page, the second woman to voice Jane on Australian radio, died in Bayview, New South Wales, Australia. Pamela was born in Paddington, London, England in 1925.

Primarily a radio and stage actress, she appeared in four television series and one made for TV movie; “Sons and Daughters,” “Catwalk,” “Homicide,” “Consider Your Verdict,” and “The Big Client.”

The drabble for today, “Pictures in the Mind,” was inspired by her appearance as Jane on the Australian radio show, “Tarzan, King of the Apes.” Actor Rod Taylor, who later starred in “The Time Machine,” was one of the men who voiced Tarzan. You can read my article about it, “Tarzan and Jane Down Under,” at https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6749.html

PICTURES IN THE MIND

Pamela Page’s agent said, “Pamela, stage productions here in Australia aren’t paying all that much. Would you consider more television?”

“I hope not. I do wish radio plays were still a big thing because radio gives a million images to a million minds. The listener has to imagine, work and create, just like the writer and the performers.”

“I don’t understand.”
“To the radio listener, the sky is bluer, the jungle more forbidding, the monsters scarier, and the women more beautiful than they are on television. Radio was made for the mind. Television is made for those with no imagination.”

FORETELLING

October 4: On this day in 1905, Fort Grant near Willcox, Arizona was closed. Fort Grant was where the young Edgar Rice Burroughs began and ended his military career with the US Cavalry.

A plaque honoring the service will be dedicated in Willcox on September 19, 2025. For details:

https://ssvhs.weebly.com/edgar-rice-burroughs-150th.html

For details about Fort Grant and Edgar Rice Burroughs service there, visit:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag34/3471.html and https://www.erbzine.com/arizona/

The drabble for today, “Foretelling,” was inspired by Burroughs’ time in the cavalry and a warped sense of humor.

 

FORETELLING

Private Edgar Rice Burroughs was separated from his patrol in the Arizona desert when he came upon a wagon with a broken wheel. The old man and woman struggled, but were too weak to make repairs. The man said, “Help us. We’ve no money, but my wife sees the future.”

 

Burroughs smiled, nodded, and made the repair.

The woman said, “I sense both you and your horse, but give me a moment.”

 

Private Burroughs said, “I'm overdue at Fort Grant. What do you see?”
"Well, a horse is a horse, of course, of course. But you’ll be famous, Mr. Ed.”

 

SIESTA

October 5: On this day in 1929, The first chapter of the serialized version of Tarzan the Tiger, titled Call of the Jungle released. Based on Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar, it starred Frank Merrill, Natalie Kingston, and Al Ferguson. Henry McRae) Henry MacRae) directed. Frank wore more clothes than any other Tarzan and Natalie Kingman was ‘topless’ in a swimming scene.

          The film was released as a serial and a feature film. It was released as a silent and with a partial soundtrack, including jungle sounds, music, and a woeful Tarzan yell.

Extensive information about the film and serial is located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0593.html

The drabble for today, “Siesta,” was inspired by the film / serial.

SIESTA

Albert Werper, a villain who was blackmailing Tarzan into fetching gold and jewels from the lost city of Opar, found Tarzan asleep in the jungle. “Wake up, apeman. You’re supposed to be bringing me gold from Opar.”

 

“I know, but I’m tired. Gold ingots are really heavy. I can only carry one at a time. I needed to rest.”

“I see. A man has to rest now and then. How many gold ingots have you got so far.”

Tarzan rubbed his chin. “Well, when I get the one that I’m fixing to go after and two more, I’ll have three.”

FINEST CUISINE

October 6: the 2301 post in this series and on this day in 1921. Methuen Publishing in the UK, published “The Return of the Mucker,” under the title, “The Man Without A Soul.” The cover illustration was by artist Frank Leist. The story had originally been serialized in All-Story Weekly from June 17th through July 15 in 1916. In the US, it was combined with “The Mucker,” and published by A. C. McClurg on Halloween 1921.

     I consider “The Return of the Mucker” as one of Burroughs’ westerns, along with “The Deputy Sheriff of Commanche County,” “The Bandit of Hell’s Bend,” “The War Chief,” and Apache Devil.” I also consider “The Girl from Hollywood,” a contemporary western – at the time it was written.

ERB also wrote some western short stories, “For the Fool’s Mother,” comes to mind.

In the story, Billy Byrne traveled the southwestern US and Mexico with “Bridge,” the poetry quoting hobo from “The Oakdale Affair.” Bridge is captured by Pancho Villa’s men and Billy has to save him. Barbara Harding, the heroine in “The Mucker,” is there and she’s in danger. She’s being pursued by the bandito, Pesita.

Read all the publishing details and an electronic version of the book at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0757.html

The drabble for today is “Finest Cuisine,” inspired by the story and an old joke that I’ve cleaned up.

FINEST CUISINE

Billy rescued Bridge from the banditos. “I must find Pancho Villa. Have you seen him?”

“Have I? He marched me at gunpoint for two days. We found a dead skunk. He held a gun on me and made me eat half of the rotten carcass. He laughed so hard he fell from his horse and dropped his gun. I picked it up and made him eat the other half. It made him sick. I laughed and laughed. I took his horse and rode away. You ask me if I’ve seen Pancho Villa. We had lunch together just the other day.”

 

MAD WIZARD OF VENUS

October 7: On this day in 1941, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed writing “The Wizard of Venus,” which was probably intended to be the first installment of the fifth novel featuring Carson Napier. Wizard was never sold to a magazine and it wasn’t published until several years after ERB’s death.

The first publication was in “Tales of Three Planets,” published by Canaveral Press on April 27, 1964. The book included “Beyond the Farthest Star,” Resurrection of Jimber-Jaw,” and “Tangor Returns.” An illustrated version of the story was a free souvenir from the 1964 Worldcon, Dale Broadhurst adapted the story and Mike Royer illustrated it. Ace published the story in a combined edition with “Pirate Blood,” and Ballantine published a standalone edition in 1991.

Details about "The Wizard of Venus:" https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0752.html

Burroughs planned a second story to follow “The Wizard of Venus,” but it was never finished.

The drabble for today is 100 words excerpted from “Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Man Who Created Tarzan," written by Irwin Porges and it appeared on pages 1031-1032 of that magnificent book.

MAD WIZARD OF VENUS

Burroughs began a new Carson of Venus story on December 2, 1941, but the bombing of Pearl Harbor csed him to abandon fiction writing for two years. The Venus story, with an opening of a little more than two pages completed, describes Carson and Ero Shan, in their anotar, flying "into the unknown," their destination the city of Sanara, where Carson has left his beloved Duare. The brief section is mainly expository, referring to their adventures with the "Mad Wizard of Venus," his death and the dissolving of his "malign hypnotic powers," with the final freeing of all his subjects.

PLAY NICELY

October 8: On this day in 1933, Johnny Weissmuller and Lupe Velez were married in Las Vegas. Johnny, an Olympic swimming champion and Tarzan of the movies and Lupe Velez, the Mexican Spitfire of film, had a tumultuous relationship to say the least. A little fighting is to be expected in all marriages, but actual combat is considered optional. Lupe didn’t see it that way.

During their marriage stories of their frequent physical fights were regularly reported in the press. As with Cooper, who she had actually stabbed, Vélez reportedly inflicted scratches, bruises and bites on Weissmuller during their fights and "passionate lovemaking". The marriage lasted about five years.

The fictional drabble for today, “Play Nicely,” is a slightly modified version of a conversation that takes place between Lupe Velez’s character, Carmalita Lindsay, and Uncle Mat Lindsey in the film, “Mexican Spitfire at Sea.” Nothing in this post should be interpreted as condoning any form of marital violence.

PLAY NICELY

Gary Cooper stepped back in fear and said, “Hello, Lupe. I must say you look unhappy.”

“I had a bad row with Johnny.”
Cooper said, “This isn’t the first row you’ve had with Johnny?”
“I know. But this time he don’t fight so nice.”
‘What do you mean he doesn’t fight nice?”
Lupe said, “This time he fights for keeps. He don’t want to make up with me.”

“Did Johnny say that?”
“No, he don’t say from nothing, but he looks at me so mean. The doctor wired his jaw shut and I only hit him just the littlest bit.”

BEST LAIN PLANS

October 9: On this day in 1994, the Gray Morrow / Don Kraar Sunday comic story arc, The King of the Circus, concluded. The story had begun on July 24, 1994 and it ran for twelve weeks.

Tarzan tracked the captured Jad-Bal-Ja to a circus and met the animal trainer, Rudy Schiller, who’d always wanted to be Tarzan. Rudy’s partner, Willy Glotz, had incurred heavy gambling debts, and the people to whom he owed the money demanded a share of the circus. Schiller and Tarzan are concerned that selling Jad-Bad-Ja back to Tarzan might not be legal with the owner’s owing so much money. Meanwhile the gamblers planned to kill Tarzan and Jad-Bal-Ja so that they can take over the circus.

Tarzan and the lion thwart the gamblers’ plan and save the circus. Jad-Bal-Ja and Tarzan do one celebratory performance under the big tent before returning to Africa.

Read the entire story at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag48/4802.html

The drabble for today, “Best Lain Plans,” was inspired by the story arc, “The King of the Circus.”

BEST LAIN PLANS

The gangsters planned to take over the circus. They had an IOU from one of the owners, who they’d cheated at gambling. The head gangster said, “We’ll hijack the circus train and burn the animal car. That guy Tarzan sleeps there with his big lion.”

A minion said, “Great plan, boss.”

Two hours later, the only surviving minion reported back. “Things went badly. The lion woke up. Tarzan woke up. They were really angry. The lion killed some of the boys. Tarzan threw the rest of us off the train.

“My fault. No plan survives contact with an angry lion.”

DIAMONDS, STARS, AND PLANETS

October 10: On this day in 1937, Edgar Rice Burroughs began writing “Tarzan and the Forbidden City.” The book was first serialized in Argosy under the title “The Red Star of Tarzan.” The first issue’s cover was by artist Rudolph Belarski and it looks to me like Johnny Weissmuller posed for it.

ERB Inc. published the first edition, “Tarzan and the Forbidden City” on September 15, 1938 with a cover by John Colman Burroughs.

In 1940, Bantam Books published a paperback edition with a slightly different title, “Tarzan and the Forbidden City. The cover artist remains unknown.

The story appeared on radio as “Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher,” and there has been a great deal of speculation about how it was written and when. Burroughs noted in his working notebook that he began work on the title on October 10, 1937, but he made no mention of the radio drama.

Comparing “Red Star of Tarzan” and “Tarzan and the Forbidden City,” makes it clear that Argosy edited the book before publishing it as “Red Star.” Burroughs published the story as he wrote it under the title he’d planned “Tarzan and the Forbidden City.”

Publishing details, illustrations, and articles about the writing of the story may be found at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0729.html

The drabble for today is, “Diamonds, Stars, and Planets” and it was inspired by the many titles and version of the story, and as always, a somewhat warped sense of humor.

DIAMONDS, STARS, AND PLANETS

Tarzan’s friend, d’Arnot, said, “I’m bored. Let’s break camp and go to a bar in town.”

Tarzan replied, “The city is forbidden to outsiders.”

“We’ll sneak in. A lady named Asher runs the bar. She calls the place Asher’s Diamond. Drinks are on me.”

Tarzan agreed and the two slipped into town. While threading their way though alleyways, Tarzan tripped over a water trough. The guards heard him and chased them out of town.”

d’Arnot said, “Clumsy much. You never trip.”

“Couldn’t see. The red star got in my eyes.”

“That was no star.”

“True, but I didn’t plan it”

DO NOT FORSAKE ME, OH MY DARLING

October 11: On this day in 1944, the Rex Maxon written and illustrated Tarzan daily comic strip story arc, “The Savage Woman,” began in American newspapers. The story ran for 58 daily episodes and ended on December 16, 1944.

The entire story arc may be read at https://www.erbzine.com/mag54/5459.html

In the story arc, Tarzan rescues a drowning woman only to be confronted by Tawn, a jealous jungle woman who has leopards. Tawn goes so far as to say, “You like the fair one better than me” and “Where you go, I go.” We never find out what Jane would have to say.

The three survived a dangerous raft journey, an encounter with hippos, and capture by the unsavory crew of pirate and poacher, Captain Karg, After many battles and difficulties the three escaped the Captain, who was killed by Tawn’s leopards. Tawn let Tarzan walk away into the sunset.

The 100 word drabble for today is a short story, “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling,” inspired by the Rex Maxon story arc, “The Savage Woman.” Thanks to the film “High Noon” and Tex Ritter for the drabbles title and one of the lines.

DO NOT FORSAKE ME, OH MY DARLING

Tarzan met and traveled with a woman who lived in the jungle. Tawn, the savage woman, had two leopards. Tawn became jealous when they encountered another woman.

“You like her. You’ll run away with her.”
“I won’t. You said I could stay with you.”

“I did. This is my jungle. You can share my food, my home, and my life. You can have anything you want, but you can never leave.”

“That makes me unhappy. I'll leave whenever I want.”

“No, although you’re grievin’ don’t think of leavin’. We voted. My leopards and I vote you stay. You lose 3-1.”

PROMISES, PROMISES

October 12: Oon this day in Season 2, episode 8, Tarzan and the Broken Promise, the Wolf Larson Tarzan television series, was broadcast. You can watch the entire episode at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICmUIx1XIn0

The series featured Wolf Larson as Tarzan, Lydie Denier as Jane, and Sean Roberge as Roger Taft Jr. Ian Ruskin played Sean Murphy.

Details about all the Tarzan television shows, live action and animated, are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0014.html

Tarzan's old friend Sean Murphy shows up unexpectedly and gets a chilly reception from Tarzan. Murphy had been a father figure to Tarzan in his youth before disappearing one day without a trace. Now Murphy claims he wants to make amends for abandoning Tarzan all those years ago. Eventually, Tarzan relents and welcomes his old friend, only to learn that the real reason Murphy returned was to retrieve a cache of stolen treasure he had buried near Tarzan's home.

The drabble for today, “Promises, Promises," was inspired by the plot and the title. A tip of the hat to Casper Gutman in “The Maltese Falcon.”

 

PROMISES, PROMISES

Tarzan was surprised to see his old friend, Sean Murphy, return to the jungle after several years. Sean said, “I promised myself I’d come back. I’m sorry I left with no explanation so long ago.”

“But why are you here.”

“I promise that I’m here for you and for no other reason.”

Tarzan caught Sean recovering buried mob money. “You promised that you came for friendship, not money.”

“I intended to keep my promise, but then I found the money. A dollar in cash is worth a thousand dollars of promise.”

Tarzan growled, “In your world, but not in mine.”

BELIEVE YOUR EYES

October 13: On this day in 1917, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed writing “The Land That Time Forgot.” The book was written and published as three separate stories in Blue Book Magazine in August, October, and December 1918. The stories were “The Land That Time Forgot,” “The People That Time Forgot,” and “Out of Times Abyss.” A. C. McClurg published the first edition on June 14, 1924. When Ace Books published paperback editions in 1963, Ace used the text from the Blue Book editions and published the novel as three separate books, all with covers by Roy G. Krenkel.

Publishing details, covers, and articles about the novel are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0766.html

The novel is about a lost island where humans, dinosaurs, mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and even winged people exist side by side. They don’t get along.

The drabble for today is, “Believe Your Eyes,” and it was inspired by the novel. The last line is a quotation attributed to Mark Twain.

 

BELIEVE YOUR EYES

The German submarine surfaced near the island of Caprona. Bowen Tyler, Lys, La Rue, some crewmen and the captain, went on deck. Great flying creatures filled the sky and strange massive creatures swam nearby. Bowen said, “Those look like pterodactyls overhead. Flying dinosaurs. I think I see plesiosaurs swimming in the ocean. Also dinosaurs.”

A crewman said, “Stupid. No such thing as dinosaurs.”
“Are you sure,” asked the captain?”
“I’m certain.”
A plesiosaur surfaced and ate him.
Bowen said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

 

ZOOPHOBIA

October 14: On this day in 1965, actress Evelyn Farris, originally cast as Jane for The Return of Tarzan, died. She played the lead in the serial, “Beatrice Fairfax” and Clarice in “The Masqueraders.” The movie version of the serial was retitled “The Revenge of Tarzan.” Evelyn learned that she would be working with actual lions, apes, and elephants. She became too ill to perform and was quickly replaced with Karla Schramm. Evelyn never appeared in another film.

Details about the film and its production are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0588.html

The drabble for today is, “Zoophobia,” inspired by Evelyn Farris’s fear of animals.

ZOOPHOBIA

Evelyn Farris said to the director, “Harry, time for my double to do the scene with the lion.”

“Evelyn, there isn’t a double. You need to do the scene.”
“You expect me to stand next to a real live lion?”
“Yes, I do, and later today there’ll be scenes with elephants.”
“Real elephants?”
“Of course.”
Evelyn said, “Harry, I have to quit. I’m too sick to continue.”
Gene Pollar asked, “What happened to Evelyn.”
Harry replied, “She left. Turns out she’s terrified of animals.”
“Good thing we aren’t filming the Wizard of Oz. Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!"

WAKE AND WRITE

October 15: On this day in 1965, The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure by Richard Lupoff was published by Canaveral Books. It was reprinted twice by Ace Books, once by Bison Books, and an EBook edition has been published by SF Gateway.

Details about the author and reviews of the book: https://www.erbzine.com/mag30/3048.html

The drabble for today is “Wake and Write,” excerpted from a review of the Lupoff book by Jon Barnes.

 

WAKE AND WRITE

Edgar Rice Burroughs used to write a novel almost every other month. He once produced a book in twenty-six days and in 1913, his busiest year, turned out 413,000 words of fiction. He was the author of three astonishing rate, Burroughs was capable of political satire (lampooning Hitler and Mussolini in 1938's Carson of Venus), impressively detailed world-building (The Chessmen of Mars contains a lengthy appendix detailing the rules of "jetan", Martian chess) as well as formal inventiveness, inserting a self-deprecating version of himself into his own stories.”

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