ERBzine 8031a: Drabbles March 16-31 2025

A SKUNK BY ANY OTHER NAME

March 16: On this day in 1931, The Phantom of Santa-Fe, aka The Hawk, a film by Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises was released. Filmed on the Tarzana Ranch, the movie starred Norman Kerry, Nina Quartero, and Frank Mayo. The Hawk" is a strange film. It was released in 1931 and quickly pulled from circulation. Perhaps it's because although the film was in color (a rarity in 1931) or that the story stank. Or, perhaps the company which made it went bankrupt. Or, more likely, both.

A few years later, the film was bought by another company. They then filmed some new material and re-edited the story...and renamed it "The Phantom of Santa Fe."

A band of renegades attack a mission and a Zorro-like hero known as the Hawk must come to the rescue. For details about all the Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises films, https://www.erbzine.com/mag2/0287.html

Watch it for free at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQpFryqVdj8

The fictional drabble for today is, “A Skunk by Any Other Name,” and it was inspired by the film, “The Hawk,” aka “The Phantom of Santa Fe.” I’ve watched the film and those of you who choose to do so should not expect to see “The Seekers” or even a Tom Mix oater.

A SKUNK BY ANY OTHER NAME
Aston Dearholt said, “Ed, I’m pulling “The Hawk.” The reviews are terrible and the box office is worse. People say that we ripped off Zorro for the story.”

“We? You were the one in charge. Almost every story is based on a previous tale. I don’t see the problem.”

“Well, people like Zorro better.”

“I’d have to agree.”

“But you’ve written stories that similar to books written by others.”

“I have, but the term is inspired, not copied.”

“A distinction without a difference.”

“There’s one other thing, Aston. No matter what name you call it, a stinker is a stinker.”

DRESS CODE

March 17: On Saint Patrick’s Day in 1946, Joan Bledig was born. Joan was a former chairperson of the Burroughs Bibliophiles Board of Directors and the driving force of the Chicago Muckers. "J the V" was one of the cocreators of “The Mucker Magazine.” I met Joan in 1975 and she gave me a tour of “Edgar Rice Burroughs’s” Chicago. We corresponded over the years, traded books and fanzines, and met for the second time in 2017.

The first words out of her mouth were. “Well, I see you're still as skinny as a rail , but at least you aren’t wearing a suit and tie.”

Joan’s no longer with us. A moment of silence and appreciation. May the thoat she rides be golden, may her longsword be sharp, and may her long journey across the old sea bottoms of Barsoom be filled with adventure.

The drabble for today, “Dress Code,” was inspired by my first encounter with Joan. In 1975, I was a suit and tie kind of guy, but in 2017 I wear shorts from St. Patrick’s Day through Thanksgiving.
The 8-page Joan Bledig Tribute in ERBzine starts at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag15/1534.html

DRESS CODE
Joan Bledig said, “You’re wearing a suit and mirrored sunglasses on Saturday. You look like a Fed!”

“Is that a bad thing.”

“It is if they burn my car and leave us in an alley with "NARK" carved on our chests.”

“I didn’t bring any other clothes. This is a business trip for me.”

“Well, at least take off the tie and try to behave yourself. Tomorrow you’ll fly home to Tulsa, but I have to live here.”

“Joan, it can’t be that bad.”

“Can you say St. Valentine’s Day Massacre or ‘How did you like the movie, Mr. Dillinger.’”

INVINCIBLE GUARDIAN MAN-THING

March 18, On this day in 1930, ERB began dictating Tarzan and the Man-Things, his working title for Tarzan the Invincible. Burroughs was a man who embraced technology. He was a horse soldier, became enamored of automobiles, and eventually earned a pilot’s license. He wrote his first novel by hand, taught himself to type and wrote several books on a typewriter, and then bought a dictation machine and dictated novels.

The novel was serialized in 1930/1931 by Blue Book Magazine under the title, “Tarzan, Guard of the Jungle. Frank Hoban illustrated six covers of the serialization. ERB Inc. published the first edition of “Tarzan the Invincible,” on November 20, 1931. Studley Burroughs drew the cover illustration.

Publishing details and pictures: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0722.html

The fictional drabble, “Invincible Guardian Man-Thing,” was inspired by the novel's three titles.

INVINCIBLE GUARDIAN MAN-THING

“Studley,” said Edgar Rice Burroughs. “ I love the cover art, but I want the title to be "Tarzan the Invincible.”

“No problem, Uncle Ed. Why not stay with “Tarzan, Guard of the Jungle?”

“Hulbert said that title makes him think of the people carrying red stop signs outside of elementary schools.”

“Wasn’t your original title, "Tarzan and the Man-Things?" I like that.”

“Hulbert again. He said that Man-Things sounds like a comic book character.”

“What’s a comic book?”

“Never mind. They won’t be around for another seven years. Julian told me about them.”

“Julian?”

“Yes, read The Moon Maid.”

TOO MANY COOKS

March 19: Anniversary of the death of Edgar Rice Burroughs. He died on this day in 1950 while reading the Sunday comics. On this day in 1938, “Argosy Weekly” published the first installment of “Tarzan and the Forbidden City” using the title “The Red Star of Tarzan.”

The origin of the novel is a long-standing source of speculation. Some believe that ERB adapted the radio serial credited to Rob Thompson, “Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher.” The first edition of “Tarzan and the Forbidden City” is quite different from “The Red Star of Tarzan,” as published by Argosy. Argosy published the novel with considerable rewriting by someone at the magazine office, under the title of "The Red Star of Tarzan." When ERB published it in book form in 1938, he published it as he had originally written it in 1937 under its original title, “Tarzan and the Forbidden City.”

Burroughs never mentioned the radio drama as a potential source for the novel, but the novel and the radio serial are essentially the same story.

Details about the various incarnations of the story, its publishing history, and amazing artwork are to be found and enjoyed at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0729.html

The drabble for today, Too Many Cooks,” was written by Burroughs historian and reviewer Doc Hermes. His entire review is available at the link mentioned above. In spite of the negative review, referenced above and quoted below, and other derogatory comments about the story, I have to say that I enjoyed the story very much (both versions).

TOO MANY COOKS

The story originated as 1934 radio serial by Rob Thompson, "Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher". Evidently, someone stood behind Edgar Rice Burroughs with a gun to his head and forced him to rework the radio show into a magazine story, The Red Star of Tarzan,” published by ARGOSY WEEKLY," before being further revised into TARZAN AND THE FORBIDDEN CITY. There isn’t much of Burroughs' distinctive style in the writing. There are none of those unexpected moments of great inventiveness that marked his work. There’s a large unwieldy cast, about half of which get killed off without really contributing much.

EVERYBODY'S GOT A PLAN UNTIL THEY DON'T

March 20: On this day in 2023, “The Unauthorized Tarzan, Charlton’s Jungle Tales of Tarzan,” was published by Dark Horse Comics. The book collected the four issues of “Jungle Tales” that Charlton published in 1965. The primary artist was Sam Glanzman and the adaptions were written by Joe Gill. Pat Masulli penciled two of the covers and Dick Giordano penciled one.

Charlton Comics, believing Tarzan to be a public-domain character, produced this short-lived series before the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate made them cease and desist. It's an unauthorized adaptation of Burroughs' Jungle Tales of Tarzan, telling tales of a young Tarzan before he met Jane. In addition to the four comic books, Charlton, Glanzman, and Gill, planned a new newspaper Tarzan strip, a plan that died with ERB Inc.’s cease and desist order.

The hardcover collection which retailed for $29,99 contains a foreword and afterward by Roger Broughton. There’s a third essay, Tales of Forbidden Tarzans,” also by Broughton.

Details about these unauthorized comics: https://www.erbzine.com/comics/gk5char.html

The drabble for today ,”Everybody’s Got A Plan Until They Don’t,” is excerpted from his afterword, "Stripping the Jungle King.” In brief, he tells about the never to be seen Tarzan newspaper strip planned by Charlton. The book contains the few pages of the proposed, but never seen, Tarzan newspaper comic strip.

EVERYBODY'S GOT A PLAN UNTIL THEY DON'T

Charlton’s plan was simple. Adapt the original novels and use text, not word balloons, like the early Tarzan strips. This throwback approach would make the Charlton material stand out. Charlton’s planned Tarzan newspaper strip never happened. When word came out that Charlton did not have the rights to publish Tarzan, the project was quickly abandoned. How many strips were actually produced is unknown. The reason they weren’t turned over to ERB Inc., along with the comic-book art, is simple, they weren’t told the project existed. Nobody knew. Tarzan became a taboo subject at Charlton and it was never mentioned again.

PORTAL PRIMEVAL

March 21: On this day two years ago in 2023, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. published the graphic novel, Jane Porter and City of Fire, written by Mike Wolfer and illustrated by Miriana Puglia. Authur Hesli colored the book and the letter was done by Natalie Jane.

A series of different covers are available.

The drabble for today, “Portal Primeval “, is an excerpt from a review posted at Comical Opinions on April 27, 2023. Read the entire review at:

https://comicalopinions.com/jane-porter-city-of-fire.../

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PORTAL PRIMEVAL
< style="font-weight: bold;">Mike Wolfer takes Jane on a wild ride to transport prehistoric animals to Pellucidar for more suitable natural habitat. Unfortunately, their trip through a portal runs into interference that sends Jane’s airship very far from home.JANE PORTER AND THE CITY OF FIRE is the type of graphic novel you take your time to savor because it’s filled with so many callbacks and references to the greater Burroughs lore. ERB Inc. publications are considered canon, so it’s a special treat to see Mike Wolfer put so much care and attention into making sure the references and callbacks are done right.

CURSES, FOILED AGAIN

March 22; On this day in 1877, Actor Frank Whitson, “The Adventures of Tarzan,” was born in New York, New York. “The adventures of Tarzan” featured Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan and Louise Lorraine as Jane Porter. Frank played Nicolas Rokoff, the villain.

Like “The Adventures of Tarzan,” almost all of Whitson’s 70 film appearance were silent movies, although he did appear in “Show Boat” (1936), and “Call of the Wild” in 1935. He was the Baron de Rivarol in the 1924 production of "Captain Blood.”

“The Adventures of Tarzan” is not to be confused with the 1985 Bollywood film of the same name, not the film serial, The New Adventures of Tarzan, which featured Hermann Brix. Details about the 1921 film serial produced by Numa Pictures and distributed by Great Western at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0590.html

The fictional 100 word drabble for today, “Curses, Foiled Again,” was inspired by actor Frank Whitson role as Nicolas Rokoff, the villain in “The Adventures of Tarzan,” and his other roles as the heavy, the card shark, the rustler, and a scoundrel in most of his films. As the film reaches its end, Rokoff has been captured by Tarzan and is soon to be turned over to the authorities for prosecution.

CURSES, FOILED AGAIN

Director Robert Hill said, “Frank, you play the despicable Nicolas Rokoff, a greedy lothario, in this film. Here’s your motivation…”

“Bob, I read the book and I talked to Ed Burroughs during makeup this morning. He explained my character. I’m Snidely Whiplash without a mustache, I’m Simon Legree without a whip.”

“Good. Mug for the camera. I don’t think you can possibly overact your part.”

“Not a problem. I don’t mind playing the bad guy on film. It’s easier than on stage.”

‘Why?”

“I can’t hear the audience boo and hiss. More importantly, no one throws rotten vegetables at me.”

YOU NEVER KNOW

March 23: Not a lot of things happened in the extended world of Edgar Rice Burroughs on this day throughout the years, but on this day in 1921, ERB attended the film, “Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath” in Hollywood. The film co-stared Charlotte Greenwood, whose home ERB later rented, and Reginald Denny, who had appeared in “The Oakdale Affair.”

Details about “The Oakdale Affair” film may be found at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0765a.html

“Parlor, Bedroom and Bath” starred Buster Keaton. The drabble for today, “You Never Know,” was inspired by the past and future relationships between the actors in “Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath” and Edgar Rice Burroughs.

YOU NEVER KNOW
Emma Burroughs asked, “Ed, why a Buster Keaton film?”

“It’s not because of Keaton. Reginald Denny, who was in “The Oakdale Affair” is in this one. I have loyalty to folks who made my movies. I sense some connection with Charlotte Greenwood.”

“Connection? Is she going to play Jane or maybe even Dejah Thoris?”

“She’s not the type, but someday I’ll need her to be nice to me.”

“So. you’re psychic?”

“No, but this way I can say, “It’s great to meet you, Ms. Greenwood. I loved you in “Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath.”

“So shameless flattery?”

“Well, it never hurts.”

LANGUAGE BARRIER

March 24: On this day in 1928, actress Vanessa Brown, Jane in "Tarzan and the Slave Girl," born with the birth name of Smylla Brind in Vienna, Austria.

Details about the film, Tarzan and the Slave Girl, are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1950.html

Born in Vienna, Austria, to Jewish parents, Brown and her family fled to Paris to escape persecution by the Nazi regime.

The family eventually settled in America, and Brown auditioned for Lillian Hellman for a role in “Watch on the Rhine” Fluent in several languages, the youngster impressed Hellman, and she was signed as understudy to Ann Blyth, eventually doing the role of Babette on Broadway and in the touring production. In high school, she wrote and directed school plays. She graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 1949.

Brown is a prime example of how smart many of the women who portrayed Jane Porter were in real life.

Brown's IQ of 165 led to two years of work as one of the young panelists on the radio series Quiz Kids. She specialized in literature and language. In her adult years, she had an interview program on the Voice of America.

The fictional drabble for today, “Language Barrier,” was inspired by Vanessa’s ability to speak several languages and her role as Jane in the film, “Tarzan and the Slave Girl,” which starred Lex Barker as Tarzan. In a strange juxtaposition of fate, Vanessa and her family fled Germany prior to WW2, but her co-star, Lex Barker, moved to Germany in the 1950s where he became one of the most popular actors in German-speaking cinema.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

Lex Barker said, “Vanessa, it’s like you can talk to the animals."

“Thank you. I don’t speak any animal languages, but I am a polyglot.”

“Really! I had no idea. Exactly how many husbands do you have?”

Vanessa laughed. “One husband is enough. I said polyglot, not polygamist.”

‘Is polyglot similar to a polygon?”

“No one’s missing a parrot. I speak several languages.”

Barker winked and smiled. “We could go to dinner and you can tell me more about that.”

“Thank you, but I’ll pass. Nein, nei, nyet, and niem. and no mean no in every language that I speak.”

PICTURE ON THE COVER

March 25: On this day in 1933, “Argosy Weekly” published the fourth of seven installments of the second novel featuring Carson Napier, “Lost on Venus.”

Publishing details, several illustrations and the complete Ebook are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0749.html

The March 25, 1933 issue of the Frank Munsey magazine, “Argosy Weekly,” featured a cover by occasional ERB illustrator, Paul Stahr. Burroughs name appeared on the cover, the painting illustrated an excellent short story by H. Bedford Jones, “Spanish Blood is Proud Blood.” If you haven’t read any of HBJ’s adventure novels, you are in for a treat.

This issue was an excellent one. It also contained part two of the Max Brand novel, “The Mastermind,” part two of the novelette, “The Fourth Compadre” by J. Allan Dunn, and an fun short story by the almost unknown Charles S. Verral, ‘Dark Shadows,” not to be confused with the long running soap opera.

The fictional drabble for today is, “Picture on the Cover,” inspired by Argosy’s cover policy and the song, “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” written by Shel Silverstein, and recorded by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Nothing like a little doggerel verse to brighten up a Tuesday morning.

PICTURE ON THE COVER

Well, I’m a great story teller, a really fine fellow and people love everything that I write.

I write about Mars and about Tarzan and Jane for about five pennies a word.

I’ve got my own plane and a drive a little insane, but there’s one thrill I’ve never seen.

It’s the thrill that’ll get you when you get your picture on the cover of a pulp magazine.

They put Tarzan on the covers,

John Carter and some others,

But sometimes I think the editors are just mean,

And my face doesn’t grace the cover of a single pulp magazine.

ONCE MORE INTO THE BREECH

March 26: It was a busy day at Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated on this day in 1948. The company published ‘Llana of Gathol,’ the last new work by Edgar Rice Burroughs to be published in his lifetime and reprinted twenty-two other novels on that same day. The first edition print run for Llana of Gathol was 9,225 copies, but an unknown number were destroyed in the fire at ERB Inc.

“Llana of Gathol” had been published in four parts in Amazing Stories from March through October 1941 and each part featured a cover and interior art by J. Allen Saint John.

John Coleman Burroughs illustrated the cover for the first edition along with five interior plates.

An amazing, pun intended, level of detail about the publication history of the novel may be viewed at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0738.html

The drabble for today, ‘Once More Into the Breech,” was written by someone at ERB Inc. in 1948 and it is excerpted from the dust jacket of the first edition of the novel.

ONCE MORE INTO THE BREECH

Once again, the Prince of Helium, the master swordsman of two worlds, brings high adventure on the dying planet he loves so well. Here, as of yore, he crosses swords with some of Mars’ most redoubtable swordsmen.

For honor, for liberty he fought, and for Llana of Gathol, the daughter of Tara of Helium and Gahan, Jed of Gathol. Across the moss-like ochre vegetation of the dead sea bottoms, they fought their way toward Gathol with a warrior of that ancient race which flourished on Barsoom a million years ago when five great oceans rolled where only desolation is today.

THE SPEED OF THE SOUND OF LONELINESS

March 27: On this day in 1942, Ashton Dearholt, director of The New Adventures of Tarzan aka Tarzan and the Green Goddess and ERB’s partner in Burroughs –Tarzan Pictures, died. Aston was an actor, director, writer, and dare we say, a self-promoter.

Details about the film/ serial “The New Adventures of Tarzan” aka “Tarzan and the Green Goddess,” including a link where a person can watch the entire film: https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0584.html

The film didn’t do well at the box office and various versions and titles were created in hopes of more ticket sales. The serial was preparing for release at this time and MGM campaigned to undermine their rival. They threatened that theaters showing the serial would not be allowed to show the third MGM film when it was released. Almost every big theater chose to wait for the MGM film and did not show the New Adventures of Tarzan serial. Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises tried to make its serial more attractive by releasing it in several different formats. The first was as a 75-minute (seven-reel) feature film, the second was as a shorter feature film followed by seven individual serial chapters, and the third option was as a complete twelve-chapter serial. This plan was not successful. New Adventures of Tarzan was the last Tarzan serial ever produced.

Here’s the drabble for today, “Winter Tour,” a 100-word bit of bad poetry inspired by and by the song, “Sabu the Elephant Boy written and performed by John Prine. My apologies to Mr. Prine. There’s no evidence that Herman Brix, Tarzan in the film/ serial was ever sent on tour in the north during the winter, but it was a John Prine kind of morning, so here’s the drabble. Don’t let anyone catch you with an illegal smile this morning or trying to determine the speed of the sound of loneliness.

THE SPEED OF THE SOUND OF LONELINESS

The movie wasn’t doing all that well.

The producer said, well, what the hell

The box office is dying in the winter’s chill

Tarzan must go on tour, we’ve got seats to fill.

Hey look, Ma, here comes the jungle king

He’s almost naked, wearing only a loincloth thing.

His cheeks are red and his feet are too

He’d be happier if he could wear some shoes.

Tarzan was frozen and the tour went bad

The elephants were angry and the chimps were sad.

His hands were numb and he couldn’t climb.

A man can’t swing on an ice-covered vine.

PAIN IS TEMPORARY

March 28: On this day in 2014, the thirty-five minute film by Dewet Du Toit, “Tarzan Never Dies,” was released. The entire film may be watched at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-wowdkIvH0

Here’s the blurb from YouTube:

Official fan film of the real adventures of Lord Greystoke! Tarzan is missing. Agents are investigating. The trail ends at the cradle of mankind in Africa. Evidence suggests that either cannibals or Arab slave traders has brought an end to Tarzan, but the worst that could happen is to end up in the sacrificial chamber of the fabled lost city of Opar and be sacrificed on the altar of the flaming god!

Dewet Du Toit has written, directed and starred as the Lord of the Jungle in a series of ERB Inc. approved short films. In this film Karlien Seegers portrays Queen La and Emily Jansen van Rensburg is Jane. I wondering if Emily should be added to the list of women who have played Jane on film, considering that this film was made with the permission of ERB Inc. Perhaps the same for Du Toit.

Dewet and his brother, Rudolf have made a series of approved Tarzan films. The production quality of this film is excellent, far better than films featuring Steve Hawks. The storyline is faithful to the source material, as is the portrayal of Tarzan. DEWET DU TOIT: SOUTH AFRICA'S TARZAN Bio ~ Photo Gallery ~ Clippings in ERBzine at:
https://www.erbzine.com/mag62/6268.html

The 100-word drabble for today, Pain is Temporary,” is taken from the biography of Du Toit located at:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6422175/bio/

PAIN IS TEMPORARY
Dewet has worked as a production assistant on various USA films and appeared on three Japanese Reality TV shows as Tarzan.

He's acquainted with the president of Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. in California, and has permission for his authorized Tarzan related film projects. He is also assigned as the African Ambassador for a wildlife organization in California called the "A-Team For Wildlife". DeWet established his own multimedia film production company called "Tarzana Interactive" and is also the founder & owner of the Kaiju Film Festival and the Tarzana Comic Con/Film Festival.

His motto is: "Pain is temporary, film is forever!"

SLOW WAR

March 29: On this day in 1928, Edgar Rice Burroughs began writing “Tarzan and the Lost Empire.” The working title was “Tarzan and the Lost Tribe.” The publishing history, several illustrations and a complete Ebook are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0720.html

The novel was serialized by Blue Book in 1928 and 1929 and the first edition was published by Metropolitan Books on September 28, 1929. Doctor von Harben and Erich von Harben appear in the story. The von Harbens will appear in more than one Burroughs novel.

Tarzan and the von Harbens discover the lost remmants of the Roman Empire in the mountains of Africa. One of the Romans is named Cassius Hasta.

The drabble, “Slow War,” for today was inspired by the novel and my friend and ERB historian, Jim Goodwin.

SLOW WAR

Tarzan admired the Roman villas and aqueducts in the settlement, Castra Mare, and asked Cassius Hastra, “There are two identical villages in this valley. You seem to be the same people, but you’re at war with each other.”

Cassius replied, “For hundreds of years. It all started with the snails.”

“Snails?”

The valley is filled with edible snails. We love them fried with just a touch of pepper, but the legion in Castra Sanguinarious only eats them sautéed in Mango juice.”

“You’ve been fighting for hundreds of years over how to cook snails.”

‘Well, none of us like fast feuds.”

HELL'S BEND COYOTE

March 30: On this day in 1923, Edgar Rice Burroughs began writing his first western, “The Bandit of Hell’s Bend.” The novel would have been a great western film, but it was never made into one. There's still time.

Working titles for the novel were “The Black Coyote,” and “Diana of the Bar Y.” Publishing details, several illustrations and a complete Ebook of the novel are free to view at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0771.html

The novel was serialized in Argosy All-Story Weekly from September 13, 1924 through October 18, 1934 and the September 13th cover art by Modest Stein was used for the first edition published by A. C. McClurg on June 4, 1929.

The drabble for today, Hell’s Bend Bandit,” was inspired by the novel and by the 2013 song, Black Bart by Volbeat. My apologies for butchering the lyrics.

HELL'S BEND COYOTE
“A man appeared before the stage

Demanded they halt their pace

Wore a black duster coat

A black cloth covered his face

Pointed his six-shooter pistol and smiled

“Please stop and tarry a while.

“The road has been cold and lonely

The west abounds with folks who don’t care.

I've labored long and hard for my share

Now overcome with greed

I’ll Just take what I need

Throw down the strongbox or die.”

They call him the Hell’s Bend Bandit,

Stagecoach robber and mystery man

Robbing and running to where no one knows

He’ll return when the stage runs again.

I'M A BELIEVER

March 31: On this day in 1923, Pluck Magazine published the first installment of “At the Earth’s Core.” Pluck serialized the novel in eleven installments with the final installment published on June 9th. Pluck advertised it as “New Story by Edgar Rice Burroughs.” Well, it was a new story almost exactly nine years early. The novel was serialized in at least a dozen newspapers in the United States, including New York Evening World, Seattle Times, Philadelphia Public Ledger, and the Detroit Journal.

Publishing details, numerous illustrations and a complete Ebook are available at https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0741.html

The drabble for today, “I’m a Believer,” was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and excerpted from the prologue of the All-Story weekly installment of the novel.

I'M A BELIEVER

IN THE FIRST PLACE PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT I don’t expect you to believe this story. But I believe the story, and so would you, had you heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me. Had you seen, as I did, the fire of truth in those gray eyes; had you felt the ring of sincerity in that quiet voice; had you realized the pathos of it—you would believe. You wouldn’t need the final ocular proof that I had--the weird rhamphorhynchus-like creature he had brought back with him from the inner world.