My ScrapbookCarroll John Daly's Obituary CARROLL JOHN DALY was one of the most pivotal figures in the development of hard-boiled crime fiction and pretty much created the "private eye" as we now understand the term, but even now, all these years later, he still can’t get no respect. But he apparently never got much even … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Carroll John Daly’s Obituary
Tag: The Pulps
The Dean (aka “Dean Wardlow Rock”)
Created by Merle Constiner(1902-79) "Fortunes Devined from the Soles of Your Feet... Learn the Secrets of Love, Hate, Riches."— one of The Dean's many business cards Only in the pulps! One of the more entertaining sleuths of the detective pulps of the forties was DEAN WARDLOW ROCK (better known as "THE DEAN"), a quite likable … Continue reading The Dean (aka “Dean Wardlow Rock”)
“A Penny a Word”
By Anonymous From The American Mercury March 1936 The following rant, by a presumably disgruntled and disillusioned writer, seems somehow still remarkably relevant, almost a century after it was written. Sure, writers — particularly those who never quite reach the heights of literary and popular acclaim to which they believe they are entitled — love … Continue reading “A Penny a Word”
Oke Oakley and Secrets. Inc.
Created by Frederick C. Davis Pseudonyms include Clark Aiken, Garry Grant & Stephen Ransome (1902-77) Just in case anyone thought Joe Gores was the first to relate the adventures of a large, fictional detective agency with his justifiably acclaimed Dan Kearney & Associates series, they ought to check out pulpster Frederick C. Davis' tales of … Continue reading Oke Oakley and Secrets. Inc.
Malachi Manatee
Created by William R. Cox Pseudonyms include William J. O’Sullivan, Joel Reeve, David Crewe, John M. Easterly, William Hartley, Lance Kermit, John Parkhill, Mat Rand, Ray P. Shotwell, Roger G. Spellman, Daniel Winters & Willard d’Arcy (1901-1988) MALACHI MANATEE came back from the war with a brand new plan. Wounded in action fighting the Japanese … Continue reading Malachi Manatee
Seekay
Created by Paul ErnstPseudonyms included Frederick Carr, Ernest Jason Fredericks, Kenneth Robeson, Robert Wallace, Chris Brand, George Alden Edson, George Edson, Emerson Graves, Paul Frederick Stern(1899-1985) "I am going to turn on the light now. Do not be alarmed at my face." Arguably the first of the "defective detectives," Paul Ernst's SEEKAY was a tall, … Continue reading Seekay
Needle Mike (aka Ken McNally)
Created by William E. Barrett (1900-1986) I wonder if Jeff Johnson, creator of P.I/tatoo artist Darby Holland, knows about NEEDLE MIKE, William E. Barrett's crime-solving tattoo artist from the pulps? Posing as a seedy, disreputable alcoholic owner (complete with gold tooth and bum leg) of a grimy tattoo parlor on South Broadway in the equally … Continue reading Needle Mike (aka Ken McNally)
They Also Served: Robert A. Maguire
Illustrator (1921 - 2005) "The Damned Lovely," she of the smoking gun and overturned chair, pretty much sums up ROBERT A. MAGUIRE's ouevre. It's the original ilustration for a 1955 paperback of the same name by Jack Webb (the mystery writer, not the Dragnet guy). Stripped of text and layout, it's about as pure Maguire … Continue reading They Also Served: Robert A. Maguire
The Eyes of Roger Torrey
A Preliminary List There's no doubting that Roger Torrey (1901-46) was one prolific pulpster, pounding out (in between drinks) almost 300 stories for the crime and detective magazine of the thirties and forties (at least fifty in Black Mask alone!). And while he may not have enjoyed the acclaim of Hammett, Chandler or many … Continue reading The Eyes of Roger Torrey
Marty Dolan
Created by Roger Torrey Pseudonyms include Sam Drake, Samuel Drake, John Ryan, R.D. Torrey (1901-46) "Lengel had his finger in a lot of pies, and while a lot of people suspected it, nobody had yet proved he was helping bake them." — Dolan suspects a powerful but dodgy businessman Grab a pencil and add MARTY … Continue reading Marty Dolan