ERBzine 8063: Drabbles July 1-15 2025

SIZE SPEAKS VOLUMES

July 1: On this day in 1935, actor David Prowse, who played the executioner in the 1977 Amicus film, “The People That Time Forgot,” was born in Bristol, UK. That same year, Prowse played Darth Vader in the film that would become known as “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Most folks don’t remember that Prowse was Darth Vader, they only remember that James Earl Jones did the voice. Just an aside, but Prowse could have bench pressed James Earl Jones.

For details about the film, “The People That Time Forgot,” visit https://www.erbzine.com/mag30/3029.html

In addition to Prowse, the film featured Doug McClure, Patrick Wayne, Sarah Douglas, and Dana Gillespie.

Prowse was the British heavyweight weightlifting championship in 1962. He could deadlift almost 800 pounds and was the first man to lift the “Dinnie Stones” since the 1860s.

<>The Dinnie Stones are a pair of Scottish lifting stones located in Potarch, Aberdeenshire. They were made famous by strongman Donald Dinnie, who reportedly carried the stones barehanded across the width of the Potarch Bridge, a distance of 17 feet in 1860. They remain in use as lifting stones and a challenge for 'strong men' around the world. The stones are composed of granite, with iron rings affixed. They have a combined weight of 733 pounds.

The fictional drabble for today is, “Size Speaks Volumes,” and it was inspired by David Prowse.

SIZE SPEAKS VOLUMES
The interviewer said, “David, you made “The People That Time Forgot,” and “Star Wars” in 1977.”

“I got both gigs because of my size. I didn’t speak in either film. James Earl Jones dubbed my voice in Star Wars.”

“Did you know they’d dub your voice?”

“I didn’t, but I guess they didn’t want a Vader with a Bristol accent.”

“What about People That Time Forgot?”

“I didn’t have any lines."

“Did that bother you?”

“David Soul said, “ I was an accidental actor.” I was Cinderella dancing at the ball. Why complain I wasn’t singing lead in the band?”

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

July 2: On this day in 2013, The Library of American Comics released “Tarzan The Complete Russ Manning Newspaper Strips Volume One. This is the date the book was made available on Amazon, I believe. Other sources show the release date as June 18, 2013. Beginning a new four-book series collecting the entire run of the Tarzan newspaper strip by Russ Manning. In 1967, Manning was selected by the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate to take over the strip and bring it back to the original Burroughs vision. With assists by Bill Stout, Mike Royer, and Dave Stevens, Manning created 26 original Sunday storylines and seven daily stories. The action took place from Pal-ul-don to Opar and Pellucidar and beyond. The first volume includes more than 650 daily and Sunday strips from December 1967 through October 1969, reproduced from the Edgar Rice Burroughs file copies.

There's a foreword by Russ Manning's assistant on the strip, William Stout. Henry G. Franke III, former editor of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Amateur Press Association and current editor of Bibliophiles’ BURROUGHS BULLETIN, contributed introductions for each book in the series.

Read a tribute to Russ Manning with links to all the ERBzine reprinted strips at: https://www.erbzine.com/manning/

The drabble, "Art for Art's Sake, for today is excerpted from a revies of the book and of Russ Manning’s Tarzan newspaper strips written by Chris Mautner and originally published in “The Comics Journal” on September 12, 2013.

ART FOR ART'S SAKE
There’s no denying Manning’s capability, not just as an artist but as a storyteller. His crisp, dynamic art excels in the best Alex Raymond/Burne Hogarth tradition. His panels are full of a lean, muscular Tarzan leaping and gallivanting through the jungle and toward the reader. He’s excellent at pacing the strip, especially given the minimal amount of space he was given (usually only three panels a day. Manning’s Tarzan is something of a middle finger to newspaper editors, a sign that not everything in the funnies needed to be drawn on the level of Miss Peach, dwindling space be damned.

FUN AND FRIGHTENING

<>July 3: On this day in 1893, Edgar Rice Burroughs and his future bride, Emma Hulbert, visited the Chicago Worlds Fair, aka The World’s Columbian Exposition and rode the Ferris Wheel. This was the world’s first Ferris Wheel and it was 264 feet tall.After the fair, the Ferris Wheel was dismantled and then rebuilt in Lincoln Park, Chicago, in 1895, and dismantled and rebuilt a third and final time for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. It was ultimately demolished in 1906. In 2007, the wheel's 45 foot, 70-ton axle was reportedly discovered buried near where it was demolished.

Details about the World’s Columbian Exposition may be viewed a: https://www.erbzine.com/mag55/5592.html

The fictional drabble for today, “Fun and Frightening,” was inspired by the young couple’s ride on the world’s first Ferris Wheel.

FUN AND FRIGHTENING
Edgar Rice Burroughs watched the Ferris Wheel for about an hour. “Emma, we have to ride that. It’s the furthest a man can get off the ground unless he’s in a balloon.”

“It’s so high. Is there anything to breathe up there? I’m sure I’ll pass out. Do you think it’s safe?”

“Everyone’s been safe so far. Let’s go.”

At the wheel’s apex, Emma screamed, clutched Ed, and hid her face. She screamed all the way down.”

They dismounted and Ed asked, “How was it?”

“I was terrified. I thought we should die at any second. Let’s do it again.”

GROW UP GIRL

July 4: On this day in 2009, Actress Brenda Joyce, who played Jane in Tarzan and the Huntress, Tarzan’s Magic Fountain, Tarzan and the Mermaids, Tarzan and the Leopard Women, Tarzan and the Amazons, died in Santa Monica, California. The only actress to play Jane in more films was Maureen O’Sullivan.

<> Born as Betty Grafina Leabo and known to her friends as Graftina, Brenda appeared in several “B movies” throughout the 1940s. Other than her role as Jane Porter, her most prominent part was in the 1939 film, “The Rains Came,” with George Brent and Myrna Loy.Brenda left after her fourth Tarzan film and the first with Lex Barker, Tarzan's Magic Fountain (1949), and just walked away -- never to return.

An obituary on the actress is posted at:

https://www.erbzine.com/gw/GridleyWave324.pdf

Following her movie career, Brenda moved to the Washington D.C. area and worked with the Refugee Services for nearly 10 years in which she helped displaced persons find employment and places to live. This line of work eventually led her to relocate to the Carmel, California area and she worked with Catholic Resettlement in Seaside, California (near Monterey). Brenda was one of the many ‘Jane Porters' to provide meaningful service outside of their film careers.

The fictional drabble for today, “Grow Up, Girl,” was inspired by Brenda’s career and her decision to walk away from the entertainment industry. I’d hope to paraphrase the Four Tops’ song, “Walk Away, Renee,” for this post, but I just couldn’t make it work. The songwriter can rest easy.

GROW UP GIRL

Brenda Joyce’s daughter, Beth, said, “Mom, you were a success in Hollywood. You made “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain’ and then you just quit.”

“Dear, I quit twice. The first time was in 1943. They convinced me to come back and play Jane in 1945. I played her five times and that was enough.”

“But why?”

“You kids were in school and I wanted a real life. No one was real, on screen or off. The insincerity and pretense wore me down. I liked Betty Ward better than I liked Brenda Joyce. I wasn’t Peter Pan. It was time to grow up.”

IF I CAN'T BE THE BOSS, I QUIT

July 5: On this day in 1899, Ed and two friends became involved in a fight with hoodlums in Toronto. Ed was taken to the hospital with head injuries. There has been conjecture that the attack was planned by Ed’s rival for Emma, but this has never been proven. Alas, we didn’t have Detective Murdock or Detective Muldoon available to solve the case. If the rival attack allegation is true, it’s an example of people who react with violence when they don’t get their way. Think about Tonya Harding and John Wilkes Booth.

This incident led to him experiencing headaches for years, and he even attributed some periods of amnesia to the blow. He also sustained a scar on his forehead as a result.

Interestingly, there's a theory that this Toronto incident may have been a contributing factor to Burroughs' eventual writing career. Both he and his wife, Emma, reportedly believed this to be the case.

The incident is referenced more than once at www.erbzine.com, specifically at: www.ERBzine.com/mag11/1177.html and www.erbzine.com/bio/years75.html

The fictional drabble for today, “If I Can’t Be The Boss, I Quit,” was inspired by the attack and by those who respond by violence and anger when they don’t get their way. There’s an old saying, “There are men who would gladly go to hell if they could be the conductor on the train headed that way.”

IF I CAN'T BE THE BOSS, I QUIT

Ed’s editor said, “Ed, I’m starting a new company, come with me. I quit today.”

“Why quit?”

“The managers and owners are fighting. The side that I support isn’t winning.”

“In my experience that’s an issue for lawyers, not for employees, and certainly not ex-employees.”

“I should’ve been promoted and be in charge. I’ll teach them. I’ll steal their writers and start my own company.”

“Are you ten years old? That behavior proves they were right not to promote you.”

“No, I’m right and I’m loyal.”

“I’ll stay where I’m am. Your behavior predicts what I can expect from you.”

VISUALIZE

July 6: On this day in 1911, British artist, Roy Carnon, who illustrated Edgar rice Burroughs covers for Four Square Books in the United Kingdom, was born. Much of his work is available under the Barsoom titles at https://www.erbzine.com/craft/

Roy Frederick Carnon attended art school in Chiswick for a short time. He became an illustrator, working mainly for advertising agencies; during the Second World War, Carnon continued to sketch even when he was working as a fireman during the London Blitz; he subsequently joined the RAF ground crew and was dispatched in Africa, India and the Far East.

After he returned to civilian life, Carnon continued to work in advertising, as well as producing book covers. He was responsible for a number of covers for Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels published by Four Square Books in 1961-65 and illustrated "Famous Fighting Aircraft" for the Collins Wonder Colour Books series in 1964.

In 1965, Carnon became one of the members of the team responsible for producing concept drawings, sketches and paintings for 2001: A Space Odyssey. His official designation was 'scientific design specialist and visual concept artist'. For this he was responsible for visualizing space craft, film sets and the iconic 'wheel' space station, that in his rendering is almost indistinguishable from the final product.

The fictional drabble for today is, Visualize,” inspired by Roy Carnon’s artwork.

VISUALIZE

‘Mr. Carnon,” said the art director. “Welcome. Arthur C. Clarke loved your Space Wheel sketch. How did you come up with it?”

“I read his book. It’s no different than my Barsoom books covers for Four Square Books. I read the novels. They told me everything I needed to visualize the end product.”

“I loved those. Why only illustrate fantastical scenes? You could make a fortune painting the rich and famous.

‘It’s easier for me to visualize a space station or a Green Martian than a posh snob that I couldn't stand being around long enough to paint a portrait.”

TARZAN'S SYMBOLIC HOME

July 7: On this day in the history of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ related events, not a lot happened. Over the past few years, I’ve posted about almost all of them, so this post will be about a relatively obscure happening. Twenty-five years ago in 2000, ERBzine published the article, ‘Tarzan’s Symbolic Home,” by David L. Adams. The symbolic home is a cabin, built by Tarzan’s father – although most people visualize a tree house, because of the many films and the Disneyland Tarzan Treehouse. Here’s the link to the article:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0445.html

The 100 word drabble for today, written by David L. Adams, is excerpted from that article and slightly edited to fit the exact 100 word format. My apologies to Mr. Adams if my edits have modified his intent. It’s a great article.

TARZAN'S SYMBOLIC HOME
“Thoreau’s rustic Walden pond cabin is the model ERB used in Tarzan of the Apes.

“We do not usually think of Tarzan’s childhood as one of poverty or deprivation in any way. Of course, he is the Rousseauian child of nature, living among the apes, yet the cabin is a strong, safe haven that stands at the edge of both the physical world and his own mental and psychic one. It is a place that is somehow able to hold the fond memories of childhood for the readers of the Tarzan books as much as it does for Tarzan himself.”

TIME WAISTS FOR NO MAN

July 8: On this day in 2025 and a nine days ago, I let the seventh anniversary of these daily posts slip by, Counting two leap years, that’s 2557 days. On this day in 1889 Actor Eugene Pallette, who appeared in two films based on the stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the authorized “Tarzan of the Apes, and the unauthorized, "The Isle of Content," was born in 1889.

For information about the film, "The Isle of Content" - https://www.erbzine.com/mag23/2380.html

Paulette made over 260 films is a career that spanned the silent and talking film eras. His first credit. He began his career as a slender leading man, but he’s best known for playing the rotund Friar Tuck in “The Adventures of Robin Hood. His last film was “Suspense” in 1944 and his first was :The Fugitive” in 1913. Paulette adapted his talent to fit his size and was a master of both drama and comedy. He worked steadily because of that.

The fictional drabble for today is, “Time Waists For No Man,’ and it was inspired by Eugene Paulette’s ability to change as he needed to. Isn’t that what being an actor is all about? For the record, Errol Flynn died at 50, but Eugene Paulette lived to be 65 years old.

TIME WAISTS FOR NO MAN

Errol Flynn cut quite a dashing figure on the set of Robin Hood. He jokingly addressed Eugene Paulette. “I remember you. When you were skinny, you played quite the leading man. You were handsome as Ralph in “The Isle of Content. Look at you now!”

‘I’d forgotten that film. And yes, I was younger and thinner. My waist is directly proportional to my age and my success. All three have grown.”

“Eugene, I’ll bet that when I’m old, I’ll still be devastatingly handsome.”

“Errol, you burn your candle like a bonfire. It’s bright for a while, but ashes soon enough.”

BUT I'VE BEEN TO OKLAHOMA

July 9: On this day in 1939, the “Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star,” published the Associated Press article, “Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan Creator Was Never In Africa.”

I didn’t find a byline for the article, but the Associated Press shows that is was released for distribution from Tarzana, California. The entire article has been faithfully reproduced at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag17/1788.html#creator

I haven’t physically been to Africa, but Burroughs guided me across the continent, as it was years ago, several times. He’s taken me to Mars, the South Seas, Chicago, Venus, and Beatrice, Nebraska. I’ve enjoyed every trip and as a boy growing up in Oklahoma, the schedule was flexible and I always got home in time for dinner.

The 100-word drabble, “But I’ve Been to Oklahoma.” was inspired by that article. Thanks to writer Hoyt Axton for his song that was recorded by Three Dog Night, which I’ve brutalized for this post. Actually, the drabble for today is 104 words long, but I like the way the poem turned out and I didn’t have time to make it shorter.

BUT I'VE BEEN TO OKLAHOMA

I’ve never been to Africa,
But I kinda like the jungle
The wildlife have sharp teeth there
And they the sure know how to bite you
Know how to stalk you
No need to squawk, you
Too late for talk, you

I’ve never been to Venus
But I’ve been to Oklahoma
They tell me I was born there
But I really don’t remember

I’ve never been to Barsoom
But I kinda like the stories
The women there are gorgeous
There’s no excuse for abuse
They’ve knives ready for use
To cut body parts loose.

I’ve never been to Africa

But I’ve been to Oklahoma

A VINE TOO FAR

July 10: On this day in 1928, newspaper articles announcing planned wedding between Joan Burroughs and James Pierce began appearing in newspapers around the USA. Joan, the daughter of Edger Rice Burroughs, had met and was engaged to marry Tarzan. James Pierce had played the lord of the jungle in the film, “Tarzan and the Golden Lion.” The couple would voice Tarzan and Jane on the radio show, “Tarzan of the Apes,” sponsored by Signal Oil.

The episodes are available and a series synopsis is located at: www.erbzine.com/mag1/0141.html

For more information about the engagement announcement: www.erbzine.com/mag11/1195.html

The 100 word fictional drabble for today, “A Vine Too Far,” was inspired by that announcement.

A VINE TOO FAR
The reporter said, “Congratulations, Miss Burroughs. I understand your father tasked you to find a new film Tarzan and you found Tarzan and a husband. I wish you both a long and happy marriage.”

“Thank you. We plan to be married in August.”

“Will you and Tarzan live in the jungle?”

“No, in Tarzana so that James can continue his film career.”

“I’m surprised. I pictured the two of you swinging through the jungle. May we expect that you’ll be big swingers around town?”

‘No, Dear. James is almost twenty-eight. It he starts swinging off screen, he’ll never see twenty-nine.”

A PRINCELY BOOK

July 11: On this day in 1947, author and airline pilot, Rob Dorsey was born in Athens, Texas. Rob retired from commercial aviation in 2005 to work at writing full time. He had previously spent twenty years as a freelance and staff writer for various aviation magazines including an eight-year stint with Sport Aviation.

Rob Dorsey lives and works in the verdant hills of Kentucky with his wife and dogs. He can be reached through the website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14301422.Rob_Dorsey

and welcomes all comments and questions.

Rob has authored a series of five books that take place on Barsoom, including “A Prince of Mars” and “Tyrant Queen of Mars.” While this series is not part of the approved Edgar Rice Burroughs canon, they are well written and enjoyable. The series is available on Amazon. Here’s the link to his author’s page:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01N81AUUB?ingress=0...

<>There’s an excellent interview of Rob, conducted by Tracy Scott Griffin at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag79/7970.html

The 100-word drabble for today, “A Princely Book,” is an excerpt from the review of “A Prince of Mars” that I posted on Amazon three years ago. I’ve edited it for length to fit the 100-word drabble format.

A PRINCELY BOOK
In spite of my expectations, Dorsey’s “A Prince of Mars” is a good book. I was pre-disposed not to like it. I’ve read several stories based on the Barsoom novels of ERB, most with high anticipation followed by inevitable disappointment. I’ve even written a few that mercifully won’t be published.

I expected no better from Rob and looked to nitpick and complain, but before long I realized I’d stopped that and was reading and enjoying the story. I cared about the characters. Captured by the narrative, I willingly accompanied and cheered for the characters as they battled the Zodangan forces.

ONCE A COWBOY

July 12: On this day in 1930, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing a western, “That Damn Dude,” which would be serialized in Thrilling Adventures as “The Terrible Tenderfoot” and published in book form as The Deputy Sheriff of Comanche County,” complete with a cover by John Coleman Burroughs, a cover that a swear looks like John Wayne modeled for it. The novel was widely rejected when first submitted, being rejected by “Collier’s Weekly,” “Saturday Evening Post,” “Liberty,” “Ladies Home Journal”, “Blue Book,” “Argosy” (twice), “College Humor, Short Stories.” Five years later he unsuccessfully re-submitted the manuscript to “Liberty” under the title "The Brass Heart" using the pseudonym, John Mann.

Details about this novel and its publishing history: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0777.html

The 100-word drabble for today, “Once a Cowboy,” is excerpted from a letter written by Edgar Rice Burroughs to Collier’s Weekly dated June 30, 1930. It has been edited to fit the 100-word drabble format.

ONCE A COWBOY

“I was about to write you relative to a story I am now writing. It’s a modern Western, located on a dude ranch in Arizona. For some time during my youth, I worked as a cow puncher; afterward I soldiered in the 7th United States Cavalry, and later still I ran a store in a cattle country in Idaho. My stories and my name are receiving unusually wide publication through the Tarzan illustrated strips running in 110 newspapers. nor ever since I started to write have my books enjoyed a greater sale, which seems to be increasing rather than diminishing.”

BOSSYPANTS

July 13: On this day in 2002, the first episode of the animated Disney television series, “The Legend of Tarzan,” was broadcast on the ABC network. The series ran for 39 episodes. Tarzan was voiced by Michael T, Weiss, Jane by Olivia d’Abo, and Terk by April Winchell. Details about the series: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0014.html#disney

In the episode, “Tarzan and the Race Against Time,” Terk begins to feel jealous when Tarzan begins spending more time with Jane than with her and Tantor. After Tarzan is bitten by a venomous spider, Jane and the others learn that the only cure is the Mububu flower, found on the top of a waterfall. Terk thinks that Jane is not suited for jungle life, so she makes a bet that Jane cannot make it. But as Tarzan's condition worsens, the two realize that they must put aside their differences if they are to obtain the flower necessary for Professor Porter's antidote.

The 100-word obviously fictional drabble for today is, “Bossypants,” and it was inspired by the episode and the real-life avatar or Major Bouncingbutt, who never understood the difference between leadership and being a bossypants.

BOSSYPANTS

Professor Porter said, “The spider bite will kill Tarzan without the antidote. I need a Mububu flower to cure him.”

Jane said, “Terk and I will find it.”

Terk snarled, “I work alone. If I find it first, Tarzan will like me best.”

“Terk, he’s dying. This isn’t a competition.”

“It is for me.”

The professor said, “Team up. You’re smarter and stronger together than separately.”

“That’s difficult, but I think it makes sense. There is no ‘I’ in teamwork.”

“Teamwork, huh? I’ll try if I’m the leader.”

“Terk, don’t be like that Major Bouncingbutt. Being a bossypants isn’t leadership.”

I SEE NOTHING

July 14: On this day in 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs began writing “The Girl From Farris’s,” one of three tales that he would write that explored or exposed the corruption and crime that was rampant in the Chicago of Burroughs’ youth. The other two were “The Efficiency Expert,” and “The Mucker.”

The story wasn’t anything like ERB’s typical tale and it had an interesting publishing history. All-Story Weekly serialized the tale of “Maggie, a woman accused of prostitution.” In September and October of 1916. The Tacoma Tribune serialized in 1920. After that the story was out of print until the Wilma Company published an edition limited to 250 copies for fans in 1959. The Burroughs Bibliophiles published it under its “House of Greystoke” imprint in 1965 and 1976. ERBville Press, aka Jerry Schneider, published an on-demand version in 2002. The only book version published and conventionally released was a Charter paperback in 1979.

Publishing details, illustrations and a complete EBook:

www.erbzine.com/mag7/0761.html

The 100-word drabble for today, “I See Nothing,” has been edited to fit the 100-word format’ It was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It’s a comment on the difficulty of getting the government to take action. The Reverend Pursen makes the observation in “The Girl From Farris’s.” Considering that ERB wrote it in 1913 and looking at the world today, it seems that things haven’t changed all that much.

I SEE NOTHING

‘If the public doesn’t know the terrible conditions which prevail, how can we expect it to rouse itself and take action?

"No great reform is accomplished except upon the demand of the people. The police -- in fact all city officials -- know of these conditions; but will do nothing until are forced. Only the people who elect them and whose money pays them can force them. We must keep the horrors of the underworld constantly before the voters and tax-payers until they rise and demand the festering sore in the very heart of their magnificent city be cured forever.”

I READ IT IN THOSE PULPS

July 15: On this day in 1905, Maurice Gardner, writer of the Bantan novels and charter member of the Burroughs Bibliophiles was born in Portland, Maine. Maurice was a contributor to several issues of the Burroughs Bulletin.

Maurice was a machinist for a Maine railroad and author of the Bantan series of novels, set on a South Pacific Island, but directly influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose Tarzan books he began reading at an early age; the series began with “Bantan, God-Like Islander” in 1936; and ends with “The New Adventures of Bantan.” I’ve read six of them, and I have to say that they are a tough read."

Gardner’s article, “Why I wrote the Bantam Novels,” may be read int its entirety at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag15/1523.html

This link will take you to reproductions of the original mimeographed Burroughs Bulletins editions published by Vern Coriel. Maurice has several articles in them.

https://www.erbzine.com/mag15/1530.html

Here’s the drabble for today, “I Read It in the Pulps, was written by Maurice Gardner and edited for length to fit the 100 word drabble format.

I READ IT IN THOSE PULPS

“I have been asked by the editor of “Pulp Era” how and why I have written ten BANTAN novels and what affect reading the works of ERB had on my writing. Since the age of 13, when I first read the serial installments of “Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar,” I proceeded to obtain the other similar weeklies, also the old All Story Monthlies that contained the author's works. Meanwhile, I was following his current serialized works as well. What I appreciated mostly about his stories was his vivid imagination, and his manner of telling the stories made them plausible.”