First and Only Weekly Online Fanzine Devoted to the Life & Works of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Since 1996 ~ Over 10,000 Web Pages in Archive
presents
Volume 2181
DANTON BURROUGHS
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ALEX CORNELIUS
I am the attorney for the family of Danton Burroughs. I have the unfortunate job of informing you that Danton Burroughs passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2008. It appears that he had a heart attack. Mr. Burroughs was a very generous man and was very committed to the community of Tarzana, the greater Valley community and the legacy of his family with respect to the same. We are all very saddened by Danton's passing and he will be missed by family, friends and business associates.
BOB HALL
Bad News. Danton passed on this morning. I don't have any details, I talked briefly to his wife this evening. We must connect later or sooner.
LARRY LINGEMAN
Bill -- How are you sir -- I do not know if this will be the first you've heard -- Danton passed away last night and as I spoke with my friend in Los Angeles -- I thought you should know -- the man was a sweetheart and I was to see him at Charlie G's in July. I would love to send you some thoughts for the website.
It's still hard to believe the guy is gone -- it is all cliche' but truly the way many are feeling. I appreciate your getting back to me -- I've enjoyed looking over the web sites -- there is some really great stuff and you have presented it nicely. If you are in town during July-Aug I'd like to have a toast to Dan. take care.
JIM SULLOS
Thanks for paying such high tribute to Dan on the various websites. His passing is a tragedy for his family and the company. It was totally unexpected and we are in a state of shock. And it happened on the very day he was to become Chairman of the Board and I President of ERB, Inc. His legacy will live on and we at the company will remain dedicated to pursuing all the initiatives he and I discussed. At the top of the list was seeing "John Carter of Mars", and hopefully its sequels, become a reality. And there are others too to be pursued.
STACY BURROUGHS
I am so sad I haven't talked to him in ages. My Mom is coming home today from out of town I will call her to tell her as well. Love. . .
MARY BURROUGHS
I arrived home just now and was so saddened and shocked to hear from you about Danton. I had not spoken with him for a while. Stacy and I would really like to know and be part of any memorial service or remembrance. Please keep us in this loop.
NANETTE MARK
This is horrible news. I am deeply shocked and saddened. What especially blows me away was that there had just been a FIRE! Like de-ja-vu of the film fire in the warehouse that destroyed so much.
PETER O'KEEFE
I just heard about danton. I`m so sad I did not get to say goodbye. He was a great man and friend. He will be missed very very much
MIKE RICHARDSON
Danton was a gentle soul whom I genuinely enjoyed, whether discussing business or just making conversation. In either case, the ERB library was always at the heart of our discussion and, since I'm a big fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, this was perfectly fine with me. His knowledge of the material and his dedication to it was always apparent. I spoke with Danton on the afternoon of his passing and he was excited about the future and the projects we were discussing, making his sudden and unexpected death all the more shocking. Those of us who knew him have lost a great friend, and he will be sorely
missed.
JOHN SMALL
The news of Danton's death is a sad blow to those of us who love his grandfather's work and who have come to appreciate both Danton's fierce protection of ERB's legacy and his genuine affection for those of us who have long been fans. Without Danton's guiding hand we might never have gotten to finally see such "lost" ERB works as "Minidoka" and "Marcia Of The Doorstep" see publication at long last ("Marcia" has become a particular favorite of mine since its publication).This news, coming so closely on the heels of the recent fire at ERB Inc., is almost too much to bear. But perhaps we can take some solace in the notion that ERB, who once famously said that if there is an after life he would like to explore the universe, is now sharing sharing those wonders with the grandson who has worked so diligently and lovingly on his behalf. Rest well, Danton.
CHRIS OLSEN
To Linda, Dejah, and Llana: I was shocked to hear that Danton had passed away. My sincere deep condolences to you and the other members of your family.I first met Dan in the 1970s. I was going to school at Cal State Northridge, majoring in drama. I had a class in the history of broadcasting, and decided to do my paper on the Tarzan radio shows. I knew Hulbert Burroughs, and made arrangements with him to do some research at ERB, Inc. I believe Dan had only recently started working there, in the warehouse. While doing my research for the paper I got to know Dan. He was a character, and a really neat person. Always congenial, helpful, and extremely generous.
I recall that when Irwin Porges biography, EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS: THE MAN WHO CREATED TARZAN came out, I took my copy to ERB, Inc. to have Hully sign it for me. We were trying to think of something to make it "unique." Dan suggested that Hully might apply black ink to his derriere, and sit on the flyleaf of the book. We settled for Hully signing the book and affixing his thumb print after his signature. I tried to get Dan to sign it too, but he said, "Ah, you don't want my autograph" I guess he thought he wasn't important enough to sign it. I should have insisted.
On another occasion, I remember Dan was quite excited about a collection of antique bottles he had recently acquired that he still had packed in the trunk of his car. I and another friend were not impressed. We chided Dan, accusing him of collecting anything that was old. I and the other friend decided to present Dan with a gift only he would appreciate. I had an old beat up copy of JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN. We removed all the pages, leaving only the covers, got some old wilted lettuce and some other vegetables, placed the book on top of the bed of lettuce and with great ceremony told Dan we had found a precious antique for his collection, and presented him with the box and the treasure within. Now it was Dan's turn to not be impressed by our most thoughtful gesture.
I kind of lost touch with Dan over the years, only sending a card or a note now and then. I also had become less and less active in ERB fandom. Then, with the advent of the internet, E-Bay, and the on-line fanzine, ERB-Zine, I started collecting again, and became more active. My regret was not keeping up with my friendship with Dan. Of course, my intention was to get back in contact, but I kept putting it off, assuming there was no great hurry, for we had all the time in the world. So much for procrastination.
Again, I am very saddened by your loss. It may sound trite, but Dan will be greatly missed.
DAVID BURTON
Thank you for what you've done and for the things you shall do to bring ERB to us. I had wanted to donate some of my Mars art to Danton at some point, we had briefly discuss this, but at the time I had wanted to keep it all together until I could find a larger publisher (which I'm still doing). I do however want to do what I've been planning for sometime now, which is to do a portrait of Danton. He knew of it and was flattered and I had planned on giving to him. I'm hoping to have it completed around the end of June or mid way through July. I'm working from several photo references as that I want to capture him. He had this gleam in his eyes that was like a little kids at Christmas and I want that to be a part of this.One of the greatest events in my life was meeting him. He was one of the first people to tell me that my style reminded him of St. John (though I never tried to emulate it in any way, it seems to have crept in) and how he thought that my vision of Mars had gotten it right. What I'll never forget one other thing he said about my work, as that it is the greatest compliment of my life. He said he thought that my vision of Mars was the best done by everyone, including Frazetta. I've had that same compliment made to me by others since, but Danton was the first. And to this day, its his words I hear that still bring me up when I'm not feeling like I can't draw, paint, or that anyone wants my art. I have so many warm memories of him for the first meeting and from all of
the calls that we made.I feel very sad about his passing and though I didn't know him well, I feel I lost a good friend. With my Deepest Sympathies. . .
HARRY KNOWLES (Ain't It Cool News)
Danton Burroughs has joined Edgar & John on Barsoom...
I feel of all the obits I've been tasked with writing this one is the toughest. If you're a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs' work - then you probably are familiar with his grandson Danton. I was blessed to have had numerous conversations with Danton regarding the Paramount gestation of the JOHN CARTER OF MARS movie. He had invited me out to Tarzana, California to go through some of Edgar's estate - show me the actual sword that John Carter gave his grandfather as proof of his tale - and I was very much looking forward to doing just that - but I told Danton that I didn't feel I would have earned the right till we got the Greenlight to shoot. Unfortunately, that light never came.It is, perhaps, supremely ironic that Danton died on the weekend of IRON MAN's release. As IRON MAN, to a degree, signaled the end of JOHN CARTER at Paramount. Jon Favreau was incredibly passionate about bringing Danton's dream of seeing Edgar's vision to life. I remember when Danton saw the tests that Kerry Conran put together as a proof of concept to show Paramount... he was so incredibly excited. There were a few filmed moments of John walking and leaping upon the surface of Barsoom... and it was glorious.
The reason this obit is hard, is we let Danton down. Sure Pixar is going to make a brilliant John Carter series, but it is too late now for Danton. Danton has long been the stalwart protector of the Burroughs realm. Making sure that his Grandfather's properties were protected and given the utmost respect that they deserved. I'll cherish sharing a dream of realizing Barsoom with him - just as I love the visions of the great unmade Burroughs epic that I saw with Rodriguez, Conran and Favreau.
However, when Pixar hatches a Tharkian egg and lets John hop upon the Martian plains... I feel that Danton's spirit will be cheering the adventures on... just as he had in life. With his passing, an end of an era for the Burroughs world has passed into the mist. He was a very, very good man.
JAIRO UPARELLA
I am terribly sorry with the sad news about Danton Burroughs. I had never met him but was looking forward to doing so. It is not difficult to understand you and he were very close friends and we all know the great work you had done together. Adrianita and myself want to express our most sincere condolences. We are with you in these sad hours.
HENRY FRANKE
This is really tragic news, from any number of perspectives. I had no luck staying in contact with Danton or his office when I was in Afghanistan. I was going to call him the first week I returned to the US, but always seemed to miss the periods I expected he would be in the office, so I put it off. This evening I was arranging a trip to LA around 15-27 May, with a major hope to meet with Danton about the JCB project. I have no idea what this portends for all of the historical items that have been kept at ERB, Inc or at Danton's homes (and any number of storage areas throughout the area). I am scared about what the future will hold -- and saddened by the loss of irreplaceable history. The shocking news of Danton's passing raises many questions -- I just can't imagine ERB, Inc without a Burroughs family member, and I certainly had not considered Danton, even with his major health problems, succumbing at such an early age. I don't think he did, either. Poor Danton -- the last years were really tough on him, but I never expected this. So many lost chances. As you learn the hard way in war, death is forever.
SEAN EGAN
That's shocking Bill. Thanks for letting me know.
PATRICE BONNEYRAT
I'm very shocked to hear about the passing of Danton. If you please, can you let me know when you have more information.
FRANK & DOREEN WESTWOOD
It is with great saddness that wew have learned of the death of our dear friend and companion Danton, God Rest His Soul. He at least is at rest and with his parents, his grand father, Mike Pierce and all the rest of the family. The people left behind are always the ones who will suffer and grieve over Danton's passing. Linda his wife and Llana and Dejah his two daughters.You Bill will have been very heavily hit by this tragic passing. You spent so much time at ERB Inc. in the warehouse looking over the various artefacts and papers and books and the wealth of Burroughsiana that is there. I only hope that who ever is the guardian will look after it all with care and dignity. Thank you so much for having given so much of it to us through the medium of your web site. I know and feel that you and Danton had a great time sorting this and that and the other as they say. So much and so little time to view it all.
I have been praying for the repose of Danton's soul, for his wife and children. Also for people who knew him well, like George McWhorter and a myriad of Burroughs fans. I will also pray for you both to help you overcome your grief, and ask the Good Lord to bring some measure of soalce to you both in this time of trial and sadness. All our love to you Bill & Sue and May the Good Lord overshadow you and keep you both safe and Healthy. With all our love . . .
RON PRINDLE
My condolences on the passing of your good friend Danton. I was very surprised to hear of it. I suppose it wasn't sudden, as they say, but it sure seems like it. Who will carry the banner for the Burroughs family in the future? Kind of like 9/11 isn't it? Well, God bless you and George and the others. Once again, my condolences.
CAMILLE (CAZ) CAZEDESSUS II (Ed. & Pub. ERB-dom)
How amazed and pleased I was when I first met Danton Burroughs. I immediately recognized a that certain character of class and intelligence, a worthy descendent of ERB, and an immediate friend for a mere fan of his grandfather. Now and then he would "introduce" me as someone who "knows almost more about my grandfather than I do." He will be missed by me in a certain, special and personal way. Not everyone gets to go on a double-date with Danton Burroughs, but I did. He was a good guy.
TRACY GRIFFIN
I am writing a memorial to Danton. The magnitude of the loss is only now settling in.
BRIAN BOHNETT
What a loss. He seemed to be a very decent, down-to-Earth person, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to get to know him at least a little. I had always planned on heading out to Tarzana again (following my research trip back in 2003), but somehow never got the opportunity to do so. While there, Danton was a very gracious and accommodating host, and I was able to not only spend hours going through the Burroughs archives (researching ERB's days spent at the Michigan Military Academy and also Phillips Academy), but spent all of my free time with Danton as well. We hit some of the local flea markets (looking of course for new "treasures" for Danton's ever growing collections), and hung out at Charley G's and other places Danton frequented. I was in town during the "Cinco de Mayo" celebration, so we went out for Mexican food and marguerita's on that particular evening.I kept in touch with Danton through email via his secretary, Cathy Wilbanks, and with an occasional phone call, but it was clear that Danton was having a difficult time with the Parkinson's and probably the medications he was taking. His voice sounded tired, and it was sometimes difficult to carry on a conversation, so we slowly lost contact over the past couple of years.
Danton assisted me on my last book, "Tarzan Big Little Books," by providing scans of gorgeous preliminary artwork which his father, John Coleman Burroughs, had done for some of the 1940s Big Little Books. He showed me a scrapbook which ERB had kept from his days at Phillips Academy, but unfortunately never got around to sending photocopies of the treasure. He also discussed having me work on a photo history book of his grandfather, which unfortunately is another project which never came about.
Danton was a very giving person at times, and enjoyed sharing the history of his family with others. But he also felt that many of the "fans" had betrayed the trust he had put in them. I was honored that Danton trusted me enough to help out on such things. The last time I saw him in person, he made the comment, "I wish you lived closer."
I wish I had too.
DAVE HOOVER
What a shock it was when I heard the news about Dan. It had been a few years since I talked to him last, now of course I wish I had taken the time to call on old friend. You get busy with life and all the things that go into trying to raise a family, and it's been a while since I attended one of the Tarzan/ERB gatherings, so it has been a few years since I saw Dan last.When I think of Dan I will always think of him as sort of a big kid, he seemed to enjoy life immensely. I will always remember my first meeting with him. It was in 1977, and I was in California for the first time, 22 years old. I immediately found Tarzana, went to a pay phone, and called ERB Incorporated. They put Dan on the phone, and I introduced myself, and I'm sure he thought, "Well here's another dedicated fan." So he gave me a time when I could stop by.
Armed with my Tarzan drawings I walked through the doorway into "ERB Land." My original intention was to try to join the Tarzan art studio started by Russ Manning. I found out at that visit that they had recently ended the studio, but oh well, I was in Tarzan Mecca. Dan was very patient with me. I saw ERB's desk and all the book shelves, the paintings on the walls, letting it all sink in.
The surprise of the visit came as I was looking at ERB's desk. A back door opened, and in walked several people in business suits, one of whom was James Pierce. I was going to have to end my visit because they were having some sort of specail meeting. As I stood there sort of dumbstruck Dan grabbed a pamphlet they had handed out to me and had Mr. Pierce sign it for me. I was to much shy to ever ask such a thing.
So I left that day with stars in my eyes. The next time I saw Dan was at Filmation about a month later. I think I surprised him because there I was working on the Tarzan cartoon, and I don't think he really expected me to actually make a go of it as an artist. I guess I was just determined, but it was really a surprise to me too. Dan was there to pick up a supply of Tarzan frizzbees. They would pass them out to studio visitors, and Danton seemed to have the run of the studio, mainly because the Tarzan cartoon was a big success for the studio. Dan told us he liked taking a supply of frizzbees up to the top of the local hills and just letting them fly. They were the best flying frizzbees I had ever seen, they seemed to just go forever. And that's what I mean about being a big kid. I think all of us Tarzan/ERB fans are just big kids at heart.
I saw Dan many times over the years before I left California for good in 1987. In fact whenever Dan would have a visitor from almost anywhere in the world he would call me up to say that so and so was in town and he thought I would like to meet them. So I met many ERB fans because of Dan. Then there was the time when he set up a meeting with Gordon Scott. I could go on and on.
If you could pass my condolences to Dan's friends and associates I would appreciate it. We've lost the biggest ERB fan there ever was, and I will miss him.
KEITH RICKS
Danton, you were a very kind person you will be missed.
RUSSELL EDSINGER
Please extend to the Burroughs family my heartfelt condolences on Danton's passing. It is a great loss to the family and to the countless fans of ERB's legacies. Danton was always kind to me when I contacted him a few times. And I was saddened upon hearing the news. You are in my prayers . . .
ANDY MANGELS
Strangely, I was in Tarzana last week, and met Danton for the first time on Tuesday, the day before his unfortunate passing. I was out to lunch at IHOP with Lou Scheimer (founder of Filmation), doing more interviews for his upcoming biography, LOU SCHEIMER: CREATING THE FILMATION GENERATION (out Fall from TwoMorrows). Danton came over and said Hi to Lou, then was introduced to me. He had an extremely firm handshake. We discussed the book, and he invited us to come over to the house to go through the files to see what we could find on Filmation's Tarzan for use in the book. I mentioned that I'd only be there for another day-and-a-half, but if not this trip, perhaps another. We chatted about him doing the Tarzan yell on the series.He also talked for a bit about how excited he was with the work Pixar was doing on John Carter. He had just returned from their offices a day or two earlier and had seen early materials, and was quite enthusiastic. He also discussed with Lou his health, which seemed to be doing much better; the Parkinson's medications were working well. I couldn't even see a hint of him being anything but a guy in great shape and health!
After about five minutes of chatting, he ambled off to pursue his day. I remarked to Lou how nice he had been and how healthy he seemed. We discussed whether or not we could make time to see him while I was still in town. Regrettably, we did not.
We actually heard the sirens on Wednesday night (Danton lives just down the hill from the Scheimers) but didn't know they were from the Burroughs place. Lou found out yesterday when speaking with a firefighter. He's a bit sad, as he had known Danton for 30-40 years...
My condolences to the Burroughs family and fans.
JIM VAN HISE
This is all so terrible. I just saw Danton last month and he was hail and hearty and very happy. I spoke to him the Saturday before he died and we were planning to get together about ten days later to discuss his plans for ERB, Inc.
DR. NICK NEWTON-FISHER
So sorry to hear about Danton. My condolences to all his family and friends.
BOB O'MALLEY
It was always my great pleasure to see and chat with Danton at conventions, the ERB, Inc. office or at his home through the years. My condolences to his family and to us all on the loss of such a fine man. I will miss him.
JOAN BLEDIG
I first met Danton in 1974. He was most gracious and hospitable to me on my first visit to ERB, Inc. And he remained so to me and all ERB fans throughout the years.
Danton, you will be missed.
CHRIS WRENN
I just heard the news today about my good friend Danton when I returned from a trip to the East Coast. How sad! I was over at his house on Tuesday April 29th and he was in good spirits and talking about all of his upcoming projects. I will sorely miss my frequent visits with Danton and our dinners at Charlie G's with John.
He was truly the "keeper of the (Tarzan) flame"!
KEN MANSON
I never met Danton in person. I was fortunate enough to talk to him once by phone in the summer of 2006 for an article I was doing for Pioneer Press on the Dum-Dum being held in Oak Park that year. I think Jerry Spannraft helped me get in contact with him.
We had hoped Danton could make it to the Dum-Dum, but he had concerns about his health. He mentioned his love of slot machines and I said a slot machine show is held regularly at the Pheasant Run hotel/convention center in St. Charles, hoping that might be one reason for him to come here. He was very cooperative in talking to me. I was awed being in contact with the relative of one of my favorite authors and one who has kept Edgar Rice Burroughs' name alive more than 50 years after the author died.
I was fortunate that my article and a followup using material not used in the Pioneer Press article was printed in ERBzine. It is odd that ERBzine reprinted the second article just weeks before Danton died. I am hoping to revise those articles and reprint them in the next issue of the Muckers Magazine.
I was shocked when I read in eRBzine that Danton died and more so that it was not from Parkinson's from which he suffered. That also was the first I heard of a fire in his archives that could have led to his death.
ROBERT BEERBOHM
I met Danton the first time during the 1974 Toronto World SF Convention. He had come into town to check out a reputed mint dust wrapper to A Princess of Mars Camille Cazedessus had for sale. If I remember correctly, Caz wanted three grand for it, a princely sum in those says, when the popular legends held forth there were only 3 DJs to ERB's first hard cover known to exist at the time. I got to see the DJ before the deal went down, it was truly a beaut, and both parties walked away from it very happy. Though I have a set of the McLurg ERB firsts, I have never seen another one since either -It was that weekend when I learned ERB, Inc. was becoming active again. The old hard covers damaged in the fire were dusted off to be sold, most likely when Danton began working in the warehouse, discovering the holes in the family archives.
LAURENCE DUNN
Arriving home late after seeing off a friend who is emigrating to Australia I found my answerphone blinking. It was Frank Westwood calling to give me the sad news. I had been busy all day at work and not had the chance to read my personal email.I met Dan on my first trip to the U.S. back in 1981. I had just witnessed the first space shuttle lift off and it was while I was flying over to California to see him that it landed. Danton was still on a high having marvelled at the way it just glided in for a perfect touchdown. I cannot recall how long I visited him that day but the memory of how open he was to fans of his grandfathers work is still fresh.
Last year I went to the European Premiere of the musical stage show of Tarzan. I went at the invite of Dan who was unable to travel at the time because his medication had had an adverse effect on him. I was given Dan's seat and sat next to Jim Sullos - the now newly elected President of ERB Inc. I called Dan upon my return to give him my overwhelming support for the show. He was delighted and told me to keep in touch. Unfortunately I had not called him since.
I have been fortunate to have met Dan several times over the years. He once asked if I was independently wealthy to be able to afford so many trips across the pond. I have been at the offices of ERB Inc. and welcomed into his home on a number of occasions. They are memories I will always treasure.
Danton remained close to the fans. He appreciated our loyal following and his door was always open. He was so enthusiastic about everything, not just about his grandfather's work but other interests that he had too. Whenever he could, he attended either the ECOF or Dum-Dum conventions. He was at the 1985 gathering in Louisville, Kentucky where, and I shall never forget it, he decided to give the Tarzan yell at the Saturday night banquet at Masterson's restaurant. It took the staff by such surprise that they came running in from every door to find out what was happening.
1999 was a year of triumph for Danton with the release of the Disney animated movie of Tarzan. I was with Mike Conran and Brian Bohnett on the bleachers at the World Premiere. We watched Dan and his family walk down the red carpet and be stopped by every TV news crew that was there. When he saw the three of us there he was so happy that a few of the real fans could be there to share his moment. If things had worked out differently, he would have once again experienced that moment with the release of A Princess of Mars - something he dreamt about for so many years. If the fruits of his labour come in and they finally make the film, sadly Dan will not be there to see it.
What I find to be the really sad part of his passing beyond missing such a fine man and a friend to us all is that he was the last direct family link that the Burroughs Bibliophiles will have had with his grandfather.
Goodbye Dan, it has been an honour and a real pleasure to know you.
GEORGIA PINE
What an untimely and tragic loss to the ERB world. My mother introduced me to the Tarzan books of Edgar Rice Burroughs when I was eight years old. I’ve been a Tarzan fan ever since and a little bit of John Carter too. I was thrilled when I discovered the family tree of ERB sites on the Internet. They all together have provided me and others with a wealth of information. Danton Burroughs brought a special insight about his grandfather and made him live (again) through all of the memorabilia Danton shared with others. The huge legacy that Danton left us still needs to be continued. It is my hope that someone (within the Burroughs family maybe) will take up the fallen torch and fill the enormous gap left by Danton’s untimely death.My condolences to the Burroughs family. May his memory be Eternal.
BRUCE AND KRISTA MEYER
I have been quite busy lately starting up a new business. It has been a number of weeks since I have taken time to check out the web site. Therefore it was quite a shock to pull up the web site this morning and learn of Danton's passing. Losing a best friend is one of life's most introspective times. Krista and I want to send along our heart felt sympathies to you.I am sure Danton's life was made more pleasurable due to your companionship. His grandfather's legacy and imagination have been kept active due to your combined works. I hope that you will be able to continue with the work you do. Best wishes to you.
WARD ORNDOFF
I don't recall exactly when I first spoke to Danton. Sometime in the 70's, I believe. I called ERB, Inc to inquire about the availability of some hardbacks (back at the time the '48 reprints were $30 apiece, it turned out), and Danton himself talked with me. In that very first conversation his consciousness of, and consideration for, us fans was obvious.I didn't meet him in person until 1989, when I went to the gathering in Tarzana. I was overwhelmed by all the treasures we got to see, and by how Danton opened his office and home to us. I had driven my old sports car out from Florida, intending to fly home for work, and fly back a couple off weeks later for a track event at Riverside. The plan was to leave my car at the airport. Bill Ross mentioned this to Danton, who agreed to keep the car at his house for the 2 weeks. This for someone he barely knew. That's the kind of person Danton was. (He didn't drive the car himself, although I told him he was welcome to. I seem to recall Linda did, though.)
I next made it out for the 1996 gathering, which was as much fun as the '89 event. I won't say it was the same, as there were always new things to discover and share. But the sense of friendship and generosity were the same.
That marked the last time I saw Danton in person. We spoke occasionally over the years -- too seldom, it seems. His enthusiasm and efforts for his grandfather's legacy and his regard for us fans were always undiminished. He will be deeply missed.
CHARLES EDWARD POGUE
I didn't know Danton well, but I remember his first phone call to me out of the blue, where he praised my PRINCESS OF MARS script and felt I had caught the spirit of his grandfather's seminal science-fiction work. His continued praise and trumpeting of it over the years after many other scripts by many other hands had been written was always a welcomed ego-boost.
He was always a friendly cheerful presence when I'd meet him at Burroughs events or at book fairs where we frequently ran into each other and occasionally found ourselves pursuing the same rare item.
His openness and accessibility to Burroughs fans and businesses wanting to explore the world of Burroughs has helped to revive the legacy of ERB's work and insured its continued enjoyment by at least another generation or so of devotees.
DICK SPARGUR
Remembrance and Testament of Dick Spargur, “Joog, the Giant of Mars
I must admit that I personally didn’t know Danton Burroughs very well, certainly not as well as did so many others. That said, however, I must state that I still felt I knew him anyway, and rather well too, from the frequent references to and from him I read and heard over the years since I returned to the fold of Burroughs fandom.I first met Danton in 2002 when I attended the Tarzana ECOF he hosted along with the good, hard work of Rob Greer and Tracy Griffin and the other LA area fans. I was so impressed with his accessibility and his allowing us to freely wander about the inner sanctum at the Tarzana Office, a place I’d wanted to see for decades. I can still visualize seeing a number of mint copies of The Oakdale Affair and The Rider on the shelves there and being able to nonchalantly pull one out to look it over. And, seeing a number of J. Allen St. John's original paintings was a boyhood dream come true. It was a joy.
My highlight with Danton, however, came the following year when George McWhorter hosted the Dum-Dum in Louisville. Danton flew in and was met by Bill and Sue-On Hillman. Mary and Stacie Burroughs, whom Ginnie and I had befriended in Tarzana in 2002, were already there in Louisville and we found ourselves teamed up for the weekend right in the midst of the Burroughs family when we were invited to accompany Mary and Stacie and Sue-On for a good bit of the time. That included a great time at a blues restaurant where we sat at one end of a table, the head of which had been reserved for Danton. So, then and there I got to talk with and listen to the Danton Burroughs. The photographs of that event are very special to me just as was the time we spent with our new friends Mary and Stacie.
Danton probably saw fan contact as a form of PR, but I am sure that he also and mainly saw it as a source of easy and close friendship with like-minded people, people who loved his grandfather as much as he and his family did. To that end he was quite open and direct with fans and generous with his knowledge of the inner workings of the company. He obviously trusted and valued us all.I have heard it said that no one is truly dead who is still loved. The outpouring of grief and sympathy and remembrance of Danton Burroughs are a testament to that fact. He may no longer be with us physically but he’s still here anyway and will be just as is Edgar Rice Burroughs himself.
SHAWN DUECK
My dearest condolences to the family and Friends of Mr. Danton Burroughs.Many people fail to appreciate the value of their own heritage until nearly all tangible remnants of it have vanished. Danton Burroughs was not only a good steward of his family’s legacy, he was an active promoter and defender of it, to the benefit of his loved ones and of the millions of Burroughs fans worldwide. And it seems to me that Danton was able to accomplish this without becoming lost in the shadow of his forebears, instead distinguishing himself as an individual to be reckoned with. That is ability both Tarzan and John Carter would admire.
DAN BERSTLER
Goodbye, old buddy. As a fan of your grandfather since the 30's, I'll miss you as much as I miss him.
SANDY SIVACOE QUIGLEY
I am so very sorry to hear of Danny's passing. My twin brother and I went to high school with Danny and my brother, Bob Sivacoe lived in Catalina with Danny in their late teens for awhile and had a great time. Danny and Bob were in the Tri-Chi Fraternity at Pierce College in the middle 60's. That was such a fun time in all of our lives. Bob and I had lunch at Monty's with Danny and have pictures of that day and later went up to his house to see his treasures, so many. That was about a year ago or so and I am so glad we did that. For our 40th birthday Dan brought over a jukebox and we had about 100 friends from the old days of Tarzana (we grew up in Tarzana also) and had a ball. My brother and Dan did the Tarzan yell all the time and were two birds of a feather. We will always treasure our times and memories with and of Danny. He was one of a kind, unique, smart and loved his family history. He looked so much like his dad and grandfather. He loved his mom so much too and Linda and the girls. Love to you Danny . . .
J. G. HUCKENPOHLER
The losses come with ever-increasing frequency as we grow older. Now we have lost the last link with the Master himself, his grandson Danton. He was far too young to go, only 63, but his health had been declining for some time due to the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease. He had just been named Chairman of the Board of ERB Inc. when a disastrous fire in his home destroyed much of his collection, including irreplaceable originals of his father’s artwork, and doubtless contributed to his death.The last time I spoke with Danton by phone was in October, when I called up with a question about the contacts between Editorial Tor of Buenos Aires, publisher of the Argentine Tarzan pastiches, and ERB Inc. His response was “Call me back in 15 minutes.” When I did, he had assembled an impressive sheaf of correspondence between J. C. Torendell of Editorial Tor and Cyril Ralph Rothmund, Secretary of ERB Inc., which Janet of the ERB Inc. staff kindly scanned and sent to me. That was typical of Danton, always ready and willing to help any fan with a question and to do more than the minimum needed to answer the question.
In response to my question about his health, he said that the Parkinson’s had progressed further, as I had suspected based on reports from Bill Hillman and his absence from the 2007 Dum-Dum in Louisville. He had attended the opening of the Broadway Tarzan show, but under heavy medication.
I first met Danton during the 1967 Worldcon in New York. The last time I saw him in person was at the 2003 Dum-Dum in Louisville. He was courteous as usual, and signed one of my first editions.
Rest in peace, Danton. You were a good friend to all of us, and you’ll be missed.
BOB BURROWS
I met Danton a few times and he was ever the gentleman and friend. I was in shock to hear he had passed and being so sudden. May God bless the family and may Tarzan give him the yell of welcome! God speed Danton!
DR. S. BRADLEIGH VINSON
Danton was a dear friend of my father and to me. His passing was way too soon. He is deeply missed.
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