Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7741  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
AUGUST V Edition :: Days 1-15
by Robert Allen Lupton
Go to Days 16-31 at ERBzine 7741a
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
EDITED BEYOND RECOGNITION
August 1, 2023: On this day in 1939, “Fantastic Adventures,” published “The Scientist Revolt.” The story was originally written in August 1922 and titled “Beware.” It was a tale of revolution in the small European country of Assuria and the aftermath.
The story was rejected by Blue Book, Detective Tales, and Weird Tales. The story was finally purchased by Raymond Palmer, editor of Fantastic Adventures for $245.00. Palmer edited the 24,000 word story beyond recognition. He moved the time setting to the year 2190 and changed the story from a mixture from a mystery revolutionary tale to a science fiction story. For some unknown reason, he retitled “Beware” as “The Scientists Revolt.”
Both versions of the story many be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0770.html#beware
The 100 word drabble for today is, “Edited Beyond Recognition,” and it was inspired by the rewriting of “Beware” by Raymond Palmer. A tip of the hat to William Bendix who played Chester A. Riley on the Life of Riley radio show.“Dad,” said John Coleman Burroughs. “The new issue of Fantastic Adventure arrived today. They completely rewrote “Beware,” Now it takes place in the far future. It’s called “The Scientists Revolt.” EDITED BEYOND RECOGNITION
“I didn’t approve that, but the contract said they had final editorial approval. Someone should have told be to beware of that clause.”
“Are you going to complain about it?”
“There’s no point, I’ve already cashed the check. Palmer’s a little heavy handed with the red ink.”“Dad, it doesn’t even read like you wrote it.”
“As Chester A. Riley says on the radio, “What a revolting development this is.”
GOOD AT SOMETHING
August 2: On this day in 1937, The Tarzana Herald, the local newspaper, ran a front page article titled, “Another Red Letter Day for Tarzana.” The article covered the history of Tarzana, honoring Edgar Rice Burroughs. Two subtitles were “Historical Review of Tarzana’s Progress” and New Rural Route and 46% Increase in Postal Business Cause for Jubilee. ERB’s picture appeared directly below the headline. Mrs. Frances Harvey was credited for writing the story.
The Tarzan Herald was priced at five cents per single copy and one dollar for an annual subscription.
Most of the front page is reproduced at: http://www.dantonburroughs.com/pics/tarz13.jpg from https://www.erbzine.com/mag20/2089.html
The drabble for today is “Good At Something,” and it was inspired by the City of Tarzana.Mrs. Frances Harvey said, “Mr. Burroughs, thank you for meeting me. I’m writing an article about the history of Tarzana.” GOOD AT SOMETHING
“My pleasure. In 1919, I bought a 540 acre estate from General Otis. I moved my family here from Chicago.”
“Later you subdivided the ranch and created the town of Tarzana.”
“Yes, I discovered that as a rancher, I made a pretty good writer. The city’s done quite well. I’m very proud.”Why didn’t you name the estate, the Burroughs Ranch, Pellucidar Plantation, or Barsoom Holdings.”
“I considered other names, but Tarzan paid for it, so he got naming rights.”
COVER UP
August 3: On this day in 2021, actress Jean Hale, who was featured in the Ron Ely Tarzan television series episode, “Hotel Hurricane,” died in Santa Monica, California. She was born Carol Jane Hale in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 27, 1938. Her career lasted from 1968 through 1991. She married actor Dabney Coleman in 1961.
Her credits included “My Favorite Martian,” Perry Mason,” “In Like Flint,” “Bonanza,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Sing Along with Mitch,” “Batman,” and “The Wild Wild West.” She headed her own production company beginning in 2000.
The studio promoted Jean as a sex goddess but, much to its consternation, she refused fulfill the requirements of such an image; wearing skimpy costumes; turning down film roles that required semi-nudity; turning down publicity tours in Europe for the sake of her family. Jean even refused a Playboy Magazine spread having her model men's pajama tops, while promoting the "In Like Flint" film. The frustrated heads at Fox released her.
In Tarzan episode #40, “Hotel Hurricane,” Jean Hale does a great job as Lora Dunfee aka Lora Turner. Lora seems to have a close touchy feely relationship to Tarzan, even though he seems pleasantly surprised at her welcome hug.
Details about the episode are at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7431.html#40
The 100 word drabble for today is “Cover Up” and it was inspired by the career of actress Jane Hale.“Ron,” said actress Jean Hale. “I appreciate the role. I confess I was apprehensive about it. I was afraid I’d be running half naked through the jungle.” COVER UP
Ron Ely laughed, “No, it’s in my contract. I’m the only one allowed to run half naked through the jungle.”
“I see, but I refused to do Playboy or cheesecake photos after filming “In Like Flint.” Fox fired me.”
“Their loss."
"Like Mae West said, “When you got the personality, you don’t need the nudity.”
Ron smiled, “Jean, are you making fun of my costume or my acting ability?”
“If the loincloth fits….”
SWINGING IN THE WIND
August 4: On this day in 1913, Joe Knowles, wearing only a jockstrap, abandoned civilization and headed into the woods to prove that a man, like Tarzan, could survive in the wilderness with nothing but his wits. This was years before the same concept was repeated tested on the television series, “Naked and Afraid." If Knowles made himself sound like Tarzan, it was perhaps intentional. One of the most popular stories in Knowles’s day was Tarzan of the Apes, an Edgar Rice Burroughs novella. Published in 1912 in the pulp magazine All-Story.
The Boston Post covered his exploits for eight weeks and he returned home to a hero’s welcome. The post doubled its circulation during the two months. A retrospective was published by Boston Magazine on March 26, 2013- https://www.bostonmagazine.com
When he returned, over 200,000 people were estimated to meet his train. He parlayed his jungle sojourn into a vaudeville career, a book, “Alone in the Wilderness,” and a Hollywood film of the same name.
The drabble for today, “Swinging in the Wind,” is from one of the Boston Post articles.Knowles arrived at his starting point, the head of the Spencer Trail, wearing a suit and necktie. A gaggle of reporters and hunting guides circled him. SWINGING IN THE WIND
Knowles stripped to his jockstrap. Someone handed him a smoke, and Knowles savored a few drags and cried, “See you later, boys!” and set off over a small hill named Bear Mountain. As soon as he lost sight of his public, he lofted the jockstrap into the brush—so that he could enjoy, as he’d later put it in one of his birch-bark dispatches, “the full freedom of the life I was to lead.”
DRINK BEFORE YOU TALK
August 5: On this day in 1942, the world’s oldest war correspondent, Edgar Rice Burroughs, wrote a letter to his daughter, Joan. Burroughs was living in Honolulu at the time. Barely a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor, ERB hadn’t been deployed in his role as a correspondent and was enjoying himself as best he could. He was welcomed by the military, invited to their functions and clubs, and even went along on some military exercises. He wrote, “Can you blame me for rather enjoying it here?”
The entire letter and several more have been faithfully reproduced at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag2/0214.html
The drabble for today is, “Drink Before You Talk,” and it is taken directly from ERB’s letter to his daughter, Joan.I was guest speaker at a dinner given by the Schofield Barracks Quarterbacks Club at the Chun Hoon residence. General Green and I drove over together in his car. The club is composed of officers and enlisted men interested in athletics. It is run much along the lines of civilian service clubs, with a lot of hooey and joshing. Although there were generals, colonels and there was no deference to rank. A sergeant was MC, and he kidded brass hats and non-coms quite impartially. Fortified by numerous highballs, I got through my speech without being thrown out on my ear. DRINK BEFORE YOU TALK
WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING RANSOM
August 6: On this day in 1911. All-Story editor, Thomas Metcalf wrote a letter to Edgar Rice Burroughs replying to a previous letter from ERB. ERB said that he wrote the novel, “Under the Moons of Mars,” for purely mercenary reasons and sentiment was not involved. Burroughs asked Metcalf for advice on how the Barsoom stories should progress.
Metcalf replied that Burroughs should kill Dejah Thoris. Burroughs declined, although later he tried to kill Jane. That didn’t work either. Both ladies were remarkably resilient.
A lot of the correspondence between ERB and Metcalf is available at: http://www.erbzine.com/mag28/2834.html
The 100 word drabble for today is, “We Don’t Need No Stinking Ransom,” and was inspired by the efforts to kill ERB’s two best known leading ladies, Dejah Thoris and Jane Porter.Jane Porter and Dejah Thoris met in a dungeon a long long time ago and far far away. WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING RANSOM
‘How’d you get here?” asked Dejah.
“Someone’s always kidnapping me. It’s good I’m a princess. I spend so much time in captivity, I can’t wash my clothes.“I don’t have that problem. I guess we were both born to be a plot device. I really hate it when they gloat.”
“I hate that too. Yadda Yadda Yadda, I’m so damn smart.”
“No original dialogue since Snidely Whiplash. “Give me the deed to your ranch or I’ll tie you on the railroad track."
POWERS
August 7: On this day in 1918, Actress Jane Adams was born in San Antonio, Texas. At birth, she was named Betty Jane Bierce. Also known as ‘Poni Adams” she appeared on radio, television, and television in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
She played a villager in “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain,” but is best known for her portrayal of Nina in 1945’s ‘House of Dracula” with Lon Chaney and John Carradine. She played Vicki Vale in the second Batman serial, “Batman and Robin,” and Babette DuLoque on “The Adventures of Superman.” ~ https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0629.html
She married her second husband, Thomas K. Turnage on July 14, 1945.Thomas was an Army lieutenant who went on to become a decorated major general. Turnage served in the Korean War and earned the Distinguished Service Medal and Bronze Star. He later served as the last administrator of the Veterans Administration before the VA became a cabinet department during Ronald Reagan's presidential term.
The 100 word drabble for today, “Powers," was inspired by Jane Adams film and television career. There might be a tagline or two from her television work herein.Brenda Joyce sat next to Jane Adams on the set of Tarzan’s Magic Fountain. “Jane, you’ve been doing this since radio. What’s next?” POWERS
“Television. They’ll produce more shows each week than there are movies made each year. Plenty of work for everyone.”
“Sounds good. We’ll all be busy.”
“I’ll have to be faster than a speeding bullet to go between sets, but I have one super power, I never give up.”Brenda replied. “That’s good. Be careful, the writers will steal it.
They use everything from Homer to the Sunday comics.”
“Steal from one source, plagiarism. Steal from many, research.”
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A BUTLER
August 8: On this day in 1988, actor Alan Napier, who appeared in both “Tarzan’s Peril” and “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain” died at age eighty-five in Santa Monica, California. Born Alan William Napier-Clavering in Birmingham, England, he was best known for his portrayal of Alfred Pennyworth on the 1960s Batman television series. IMBD lists 148 credits for Alan including “The Sword in the Stone,” “Marnie,” “My Fair Lady,’ “Mary Poppins,” “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “Lassie Come Home,” and we mustn’t forget, “The Mole People.
Details about Alan at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0621002/
For Tarzan’s Peril, visit https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1951.html
Tarzan’s Magic Fountain is flowing at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0629.html
The drabble for today, “I Always Wanted to be a Butler,” is a quote by Alan Napier, when he was offered the role of Alfred Pennyworth.I had never read comic books before I was hired for the Batman television series. My agent rang up and said, 'I think you are going to play on "Batman,"' I said 'What the hell is a "Batman"?' He said, 'Don't you read the comics?' I said, 'No, never.' He said, 'I think you are going to be Batman's butler.' I said, 'How do I know I want to be Batman's butler?' It was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard of. He said, 'It may be worth over $100,000.' So I said I’d love to be Batman's butler. I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A BUTLER
PRINCESS PARTY
August 9: On this day in 2013, the co-director. Chris Buck, of Frozen gave an interview on MTV. He and his co-director, Jennifer Lee were asked where Anna and Elsa’s parents were heading on their fatal voyage, Chris responded as follows
‘Of course Anna and Elsa’s parents didn’t die.’ Yes, there was a shipwreck, but they were at sea a little bit longer than we think they were because the mother was pregnant, and she gave birth on the boat, to a little boy. They get shipwrecked, and somehow they really washed way far away from the Scandinavian waters, and they end up in the jungle. They end up building a tree house and a leopard kills them, so their baby boy is raised by gorillas. So in my little head, Anna and Elsa’s brother is Tarzan.
This foolishness was debunked in the Article, “We must regrettably debunk the supposed ‘Frozen’–’Tarzan’ connection,” written by Michelle Jaworski for the daily dot internet magazine. Read the entire article here: https://www.dailydot.com/
The drabble for today, “Princess Party,” was inspired by this tommyrot. Even if we allow Disney’s Tarzan and Frozen to be the sources for comparison, there are some serious problems. Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that Buck even brings the Little Mermaid into this family circle. Anyway, Michelle Jaworski wrote today’s drabble and good for her. I can’t believe I spent the time writing a post about this nonsense, but sometimes it’s good to be amused.Tarzan’s parents and Anna and Elsa’s parents look nothing alike, even if you take into account the passage of time when traveling from Arendelle to Africa. PRINCESS PARTY
Clothing from the film places Frozen in the 1840s, while Tarzan begins around the 1880s. If the king and queen were on a ship that whole time, how could they have a photograph of themselves with baby Tarzan?
Logic might put a kibosh on this interconnectivity, but we’ll always be able to look to the merchandise, which puts all of the Disney Princesses together as friends—no matter what their time period or story.
A drabble, a dribble A hundred word scribble
I used to post so soon.
Most days done by nine o’clock
But now it’s way past noon.
A MAN'S GOT TO DO
August 10: On this day in 1959, actor Lafayette S. McGee, who portrayed James Bankington in the silent film, “The Lad and the Lion,” died in Temple City, California. McGee usually used the stage name “Lafe McGee.” The man has 449 film credits listed on IMBD, the highest number I’ve encountered so far. His career spanned 31 years and he averaged 14 films a year. Most of his films were westerns, but he made a number of jungle themed films including, “The Leopard’s Foundling,” “The Jungle Stockade,” “The Lion’s Mate,” “The Jaguar Trap,” “The Baby and the Leopard,” “The Jungle Goddess,” “Queen of the Jungle,” “King of the Kongo,” and “The Jungle Goddess.”
McGee appeared in films with Gary Cooper, Gene Autry, Tim McCoy, and Tom Tyler.
For details about the film, “The Lad and the Lion: https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0450.html
For over four hundred films with Lafe McGee: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571186...
The drabble for today is, “A Man’s Got to Do,” and it was inspired by Lafe McGee’s career in westerns and jungle films.John Wayne said, “Lafe, you’ve more westerns than anything else. Do you like them better?” A MAN'S GOT TO DO
Lafe replied, “John, you’ve done more westerns than anything else. Do you like them better?”
“Westerns sure beat the hell out of playing Genghis Khan.”
“I’ve done several jungle films.”
“Which ones do your prefer?”
“I choose westerns when I have the choice. Animals don’t ever flub their lines, but they do miss their marks. You can’t get hurt with a rubber tomahawk, but when a lion bites you, you know you’ve been bitten.”“A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”
YOU CALL THAT MAGIC
August 11: On this day in 1911, actor Henry Kulky was born in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Named Henry Kulakowich at birth, he became a professional wrestler in 1939 and claimed to have won almost all of his 7,000 matches, mostly in South America, where he was known as ‘Bomber Kulkavich.’
He began acting in the 1950s and appeared as Vredak in “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain.” (https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0629.html)
Best known as CPO Jones on “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” he appeared on “The Life of Riley,” ‘Adventures of Superman,” and “The Lone Ranger.” His 127 acting credits included “Up Periscope,” “Topper,” “Francis in the Navy,” and “The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T.”
The drabble for today, “You Call That Magic,” was inspired by Kulky’s career and his appearance in Tarzan’s “Magic Fountain.”“Hey, Lex,” said Henry Kulky. “What’s the deal with the magic fountain?” YOU CALL THAT MAGIC
“It’s supposed to be the fountain of youth.”
“Get outta here! The fountain of youth’s in Florida. Poncy de Leon hid it there.”
“Henry,” said Lex. “That’s not the way I read it, but anyway, we’re supposed to find a magic fountain.”“Well, it ain’t in Africa. The only real magic fountain is in Rome, The Trevi Fountain. They take more than a million bucks a year out of that fountain annually to feed the poor. That ain’t just three coins in a fountain. That’s damn good magic.”
EVERYBODY LIKES WATER
August 12: On this day in 1916, The Burroughs family was on an extended cross country trip from Chicago to Los Angeles. Burroughs purchased a new Republic Truck for the trip. The trip took over two months. There were no interstates and few highways. Service stations were few and far between. Calling some roads, roads, was an exaggeration. When it rained, many were impassable.
On this day in 1916, the Republic Truck was towed to Hannibal, Missouri. The vacationers took rooms at the Mark Twain Hotel. The rain continued as did repair work on the truck, and the Burroughs family took the opportunity to visit Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain's, boy-hood home in Hannibal. Three days later they were still in town. Their second vehicle, a Packard needed repair. Tarzan, the family dog had "knocked out" the glass from three rear windows. A group of Hannibal's businessmen welcomed the Burroughs family and took them on a tour of Mark Twain's famous cave.
Read about the trip at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag60/6020.html
The 100 drabble for today, “Everybody Likes Water,” was inspired by that incident and by Mark Twain, of course.The mayor said, “Mr. Burroughs, thank you for deciding to visit Hannibal.” EVERYBODY LIKES WATER
“My Republic truck made the decision for me.”
“It’s quite brave to take your family on a trip like this.”
I followed the advice of your native son, Mark Twain. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."“He’s influenced your writing?”
“Yes, Twain said, ‘Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out all the wrong words.’ I hopefully think of my writings the same way he thought of his. ‘High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water, but everybody likes water.’”
MAMA
August 13: On this day in 1961, American actress, Dawnn Jewel Lewis was born in Brooklyn, New York. She portrayed Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor on “A Different World,” for five seasons. She also portrayed Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom, “Hanging With Mr. Cooper.
She co-wrote the theme song to “A Different World” with Bill Cosby and Stu Gardner, toured the US in the Broadway musical, “The Tap Dance Kid,” Dawnn has been featured as a voice actress in several animated series, most notably as Captain Carol Freeman in “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” and “Star Trek: Logs,” Her 157 IMBD listed roles include an episode of Disney’s animated television series, “The Legend of Tarzan,” “Tarzan and the Eagle’s Feather.” She voiced a Waziri maiden engaged to the warrior, Basuli, who must climb a tall mountain and return with a single eagle’s feather to prove himself worthy.
Thankfully, this talented actress is still active. IMBD lists four completed, but unreleased projects featuring Dawnn. She recently appeared on Broadway in the role of Zelma, Tina’s mother, in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.”
The drabble for today, “Mama,” was taken by from comments made by Dawnn in an interview about that Broadway musical, conducted by John Stoles for www.hollywoodsoapbox.com. Read the entire interview at: https://www.hollywoodsoapbox.com/After the show first opened, Ms. Turner said, “I just want to tell you what an amazing job you did emulating my mother. You made me feel like home.” MAMA
I said, “Well, is that a good thing?”
And she laughed, and she knew exactly what I was saying was that hopefully it wasn’t too harmful or triggering. She said, ‘No, no, no, you were spot on.’ So that is the one and only compliment I will ever need to get is the honor of Ms. Turner telling me how successfully I captured her mom and her mannerisms. That meant everything to me.”
VICTORY TOUR
August 14: On this day in 2022, writer Christopher Paul LA Carey finished “Victory Harben: Fires of Halos” and submitted the manuscript to the publisher, ERB INC.
“Victory Harben: Fires of Halos” features the world of Halos from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ legendary unpublished novel fragment, “The Ghostly Script!” The novel concludes the ERB Universe’s Swords of Eternity super-arc, which consists of four novels and short stories.
All four novels are available from www.edgarriceburroughs.com .
The series is wonderfully coordinated and beautifully written, with artwork to match. I strongly recommend the entire series.
The 100 word drabble, “Victory Tour,” for today is taken from the press release for “Victory Harben: Fires of Halos.”A mysterious force catapults inventors, Jason Gridley and Victory Harben, from Pellucidar, separating and flinging them across space and time. They embark on a grand tour of strange, wondrous worlds. Their search for one another leads them to the realms of Amtor, Barsoom, and other worlds even more distant and outlandish. Jason and Victory meet heroes and heroines of unparalleled courage and ability: Carson Napier, Tarzan, John Carter, and more. With the help of their intrepid allies, Jason and Victory will uncover a plot both insidious and unthinkable—one that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the universe! VICTORY TOUR
HUCKLEBERRY
August 15: On this day in 1916, actor George Chester was born in Damascus, Georgia. There isn’t much information about George available, but IMBD lists 23 acting credits for him.
That doesn’t seem like much, but he appeared in some of my favorite films, “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain,” “We’re No Angels,” “The Seven Year Itch,” and “Jungle Queen.” For television, he had roles on “Yancy Derringer,” “The Adventures of Jim Bowie,” “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp,” and “The Untouchables.” Often uncredited, George was one of those actors who like the title of the 1957 Andy Griffith film, was "A Face in the Crowd.” https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0629.html
The drabble for today is, “Huckleberry,” and it was inspired by George’s acting career. Twelve of his film titles are in the 100 word story. A side note, the quote, “I’m your huckleberry,” was said by Jock Mahoney portraying Yancy Derringer on television in 1958, almost a year before Val Klimer was born. The quote is referenced here: https://www.quotes.net/mquote/956432Rod Steiger and George Chester were on the set of George’s last film, “13 West Street.” George said, “I feel disembodied, this film will be the last hurrah for me. I want to live well. I need more money. No down payment, no new car.” HUCKLEBERRY
Steiger replied, “I’m famous, one of the untouchables, but I understand. The gift of love from fans is great, but cash is better. We’re bigger than life, but we’re no angels, more like soldiers of fortune.”
“Yes, Rod, everyone gets the seven year itch and retires sometime. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
