ERBzine 8065: Drabbles Sept 1-15 2025

STORYTIME

September 1: On this day in 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs was born. In honor of that day, a number of other significant things happened on September 1st in the years that followed. A partial list includes, the opening of the stage play, “Tarzan of the Apes” at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1921, the publication of the “Tarzan Triumphant” in 1932, publication of “Tarzan and the City of Gold” in 1933, publication of “Tarzan and the Lion Man’ in 1934, publication of “Tarzan’s Quest in 1936, publication of “I Am A Barbarian’ in 1967, the release of the film “At the Earth’s Core” in 1977, and the publication of George McWhorter’s “Burroughs Dictionary” in 1979.

Countless articles have been written about Edgar Rice Burroughs, his life and his career. A good place to start is: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0052.html

<> The drabble for today, “Storytime,” is excerpted from the article, “How I Wrote the Tarzan Book,” by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first published in the Washington Post and the New York World Sunday Magazine on October 27, 1929. It has been slightly edited to be exactly 100 words long. The stock market crashed on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, only two days later. I trust the events are unrelated.

STORYTIME
“I’ve often been asked how I came to write. The best answer is I needed the money. When I started, I was 35 and had failed in every enterprise I’d ever attempted. I had good reason for thinking I could sell what I wrote. I’d gone thoroughly through some of the all-fiction magazines and if people were paid for writing such rot, I could write stories just as rotten. Although I’d never written a story, I knew absolutely that I could write stories as entertaining and probably a lot more so than any I chanced to read in those magazines.”

WHY'S EVERYONE LAUGHING

September 2: On this day in 1950, actress Symona Boniface, who appeared as Sara in “Tarzan the Fearless,” died in Los Angeles. Symona Ferner Boniface was an American film actress, most frequently seen in bit parts in comedy shorts, mostly at Columbia Pictures, particularly those of The Three Stooges. She appeared in 157 films between 1925 and 1950, including “Rogues of Sherwood Forest,” “Joan of Arc,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Marijuana, and “The Count of Monte Christo.”

Details about “Tarzan the Fearless, which starred Buster Crabbe, may be viewed at your leisure: https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0595.html

Symona’s character in "Tarzan the Fearless," Sara, was Mary’s maid, but who was Mary? There was no Jane in “Tarzan the Fearless, and Mary Brooks, played by Jacqueline Wells, was the female lead.

The total fictional drabble for today, “Why’s Everyone Laughing?, was inspired by Symona Boniface’s long career and her appearance in the “Tarzan the Fearless.”

WHY'S EVERYONE LAUGHING

Jacqueline Wells said, “Symona, you’ve made a lot more films than I have. Any advice?”

“Yes, one thing that I learned was to take my work seriously, but never to take myself too seriously.”

“Okay, anything else.”

“You’re an actress, you’re not the writer or the director. Play the part and keep your mouth shut.”

“I’m not sure I understand that.”

“I did lots of films with the Three Stooges. Those films were funny on purpose. Sadly, some films are funny, unintentionally. When that’s happening, smile inside and keep your opinion to yourself. The critics will tell everyone soon enough.”

BE PREPARED

September 3: On this day in 1923, the second installment of the ERB series, “The Origin and History of the Boy Scouts of America,” was published in the Van Nuys News. The second installment was titled, “The Movement Reaches America.” ERB was an admirer of the Boy Scouts and modeled the “Tarzan Clans” after the program. The scouts were quite successful.

Read all three of Burroughs’ articles about the Boy Scouts at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag17/1795.html

The drabble for today, “Be Prepared,” is excerpted and slightly edited for length from that newspaper article, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs over 100 years ago.

BE PREPARED
A young Englishman took the American to Scout headquarters, where our friend became still more interested, and asked many questions. When he returned to America, he brought a trunk full of Boy Scout literature which he showed his friends, telling them of his experiences, and, of course, his friends being sensible, broad-minded people, they became immensely interested.

The story spread, got into the newspapers, and people asked, "Why can't we have an organization of that type in America to develop our boys, too?" and soon, an organization called "The Boy Scouts of America" was incorporated in the District of Columbia.

LEAVING FORT DINOSAUR

September 4: On this day in 1916, the adventure told by Edgar Rice Burroughs in “Out of Time’s Abyss” began. The exact date is given in the second paragraph of the story.

The entire story can be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/craft/o8ltf.html#3OTA

The drabble for today, “Leaving Fort Dinosaur,” was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs as the opening paragraphs to “Out of Time’s Abyss.” It has been slightly edited for length to make it exactly 100 words, the length of a drabble.

LEAVING FORT DINOSAUR
“This is the tale of Bradley after he left Fort Dinosaur upon the west coast of the great lake in the center of the island.

Upon the fourth day of September, 1916, he set out with four companions, Sinclair, Brady, James, and Tippet.

Through the heavy Caspakian air, beneath the swollen sun, the five men marched northwest from Fort Dinosaur, waist-deep in lush, jungle grasses starred with myriad gorgeous blooms, across open meadow-land and parklike expanses and plunging into dense forests of eucalyptus and acacia and giant arboreous ferns with feathered fronds waving gently a hundred feet above their heads.”

MOM, CAN WE KEEP HIM

September 5, 2025 and over the last few years, I posted articles about most of the events that happened on this day. And following my attempted policy of not duplicating an event, on this day 24 years ago in 2001, Episode number three, “Tarzan and the Lost Cub,” of Disney’s “The Legend of Tarzan” television cartoon series was broadcast.

The series featured Michael T. Weiss as Tarzan, Olivia d’Abo as Jane, and April Winchell as Terk. Two of the guest voices for this episode were Susan Blakeslee as Kala and James Marsden as Mungo. Details about this episode and about all the Tarzan television episodes are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0014.html

While washing her clothes in a river, Jane finds a lost leopard cub, stranded and isolated by itself in the jungle. Jane asks Tarzan about keeping the leopard. Tarzan laughs at the idea and suggests that they also make friends with other menacing animals such as crocodiles. gives in and agrees to give the leopard a chance much like he was given when he was taken in by Kala. Things go from bad to worse and when Tarzan returns, he blames the mess on the leopard cub and says he must go. A disheartened Jane turns to Kala and asks for advice on what she should do. Kala suggests that she should take him back to his own kind just as she would've done with Tarzan if she had found other people.

The drabble for today, “Mom, Can We Keep Him,” was inspired by the storyline of Tarzan and the Lost Cub.”

MOM, CAN WE KEEP HIM
Jane said, “Tarzan, a leopard cub. May I keep him?”

“No, return him to the leopards. They know more about raising leopard cubs than we do.”

“But he’s so cute.”

“He won’t be so cute when he’s grown.”

“I’ll just keep him for a while.”

“The longer we keep him, the harder for him to survive in the jungle.”

“You were raised by apes.”

“I was and I can barely abide civilization.”

“I’ll take good care of him.”

“Jane, how would like to be taken and raised by a pack of wild hyenas?”

“No.”

“Then give him the same courtesy.”

WHAT A WICKED WEB WE WEAVE

September 6: On this day in 1885, Actor Otto Kruger, who appeared as Paul Hendrix in “Tarzan’s Desert Mystery,” was born in Toledo, Ohio. He died on his birthday in 1974 at age 89 in Woodland Hills, California. Otto Kruger was an American actor. Originally a Broadway matinée idol, he established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as in Alfred Hitchcock's Saboteur (1942) and Douglas Sirk's Magnificent Obsession (1954). He appeared in more than 120 film, television and stage roles between 1915 and 1965.

Paul Hendrix, Otto’s character, was killed by a gigantic spider in the film. Details about the film and numerous photographs are available at: www.erbzine.com/mag6/0624.html

The drabble for today, “What a Wicked Web We Weave,” was inspired by the film, “Tarzan’s Desert Mystery,” and by Otto Kruger’s role therein.”

WHAT A WICKED WEB WE WEAVE
Tarzan and Boy ran into a cave. Before the giant spider inside attacked, Paul Hendrix said, “You hide your secret treasure here?”

“No, that’s a different film.”

“Nonsense,” said Hendrix. He shoved Tarzan and rushed blindly into the spider’s mandibles.

“Why did he do that,” asked Boy?

“Greed. Many’s the man who would jump into a volcano if he thought there was a bag of gold inside.”

“What happens now.”

“The spider eats him. Consider this lesson as food for thought. He’s food for the spider.”

“Ugg.”

“Always be wary. Good and evil people taste the same to a spider.”

FIRST STAR ON THE RIGHT

September 7: On this day in 1975, The “Los Angeles Times” published an article by Ray Bradbury, “Burroughs Taught Us Home Is Really Mars.” Research indicates that this article is a reprint of “Tarzan, John Carter, Mr. Burroughs, and the Long Mad Summer of 1930,” the introduction to The Man Who Created Tarzan by Irwin Porges. I haven’t been able to access the Los Angeles Times article for verification.

Nevertheless, the 100-word drabble for today. is "First Star on the Right," excerpted from that newspaper article and/or the introduction to “The Man Who Created Tarzan.” Either/or the message is the same.

FIRST STAR ON THE RIGHT
But then again, Edger Rice Burroughs’ greatest gift was teaching me to look at Mars and ask to be taken home.

I went home to Mars often when I was eleven and twelve and every year since, and the astronauts went with me, as far as the Moon to start, but Mars by the end of the century for sure, Mars by 1999. We have commuted because of Mr. Burroughs. Because of him we have printed the Moon. Because of him and men like him, one day in the next five centuries, we will commute forever, we will go away . . .

I AM WHAT I AM

September 8: On this day in 1965, actress Dorothy Dandridge, who appeared as “Melmendi, Queen of the Ashuba” in “Tarzan’s Peril,” died from of a fat embolism resulting from a recently sustained right foot fracture at age forty-two in West Hollywood. Dorothy had said that she would stay young and beautiful until the day that she died. She was right.

Details about the film, “Tarzan’s Peril,” are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1951.html

Dorothy Jean Dandridge was the first African-American film star to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Carmen Jones” (1954). Dandridge had also performed as a vocalist in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater. During her early career, she performed as a part of the Wonder Children, later the Dandridge Sisters, and appeared in a succession of films, usually in uncredited roles.

In 1959, Dandridge was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for “Porgy and Bess.” She was the subject of the 1999 biographical film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, with Halle Berry portraying her. She had been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The 100-word drabble for today is, “I Am What I Am,” and it is a combination of quotations attributed to the remarkable Dorothy Dandridge.

I AM WHAT I AM

"My mother taught me nothing worthwhile is gained without hardship or determination. I contribute whatever success I’ve had to her. I’ve always tried to present myself as the woman I am, although sometimes my motives have been misconstrued. I’ve always been a rebel. I don’t stand for anything, I just stand for myself. I believe in living today. Not in yesterday, nor in tomorrow. I never want to be anything but me, and I never want to be anything different from what I am. My beauty isn’t just physical. It’s the whole package – my talent, my intelligence, and my heart."

PERFECT POSE

September 9: On this day in 1929, Edgar Rice Burroughs received the first copy of Tarzan and the Lost Empire, which would be released the following week. The 66,000-word novel was the first Edgar Rice Burroughs’ title not to be published by A. C. McClurg, it was published by Metropolitan with a wraparound cover by A. W. Perry, a cover that isn’t one of my favorites. Tarzan’s pose is very similar to an interior painting by Frank Hoben for the Blue Book serialization of the novel. The pose was also used by J. B. Walton for the cover of the British Mark Goulden and W. H. Allen editions of the novel. The relationship between ERB and Metropolitan was short lived before ERB began publishing his own work.

The publishing history, several illustrations and a complete electronic version of the novel are available at: www.erbzine.com/mag7/0720.html

The fictional drabble for today is “Perfect Pose,” inspired by the early arrival of the “Tarzan and the Lost Empire.”

PERFECT POSE

“Dad, the advance copy of “Tarzan and the Lost Empire” came this morning,” said daughter Joan.

“I saw it. They made all the corrections I noted in the galley proof.”

“That’s good. I’m not being critical, but the cover just doesn’t feel right to me.”

“I understand, Joan. Tarzan looks like a painted statue.”

He’s just standing there with perfectly coiffed hair held in place by an “Alice In Wonderland” headband.”

“Perhaps he thinking about what the lion said after he ate an Amazon warrior woman. He was glad he ate her.”

“I hope that you’re ashamed. You should be.”

A DAY FOR BAD CHOICES

September 10: On this day in 1856, actor Thomas Lockyer Jefferson, who portrayed Professor Porter in both Tarzan of the Apes, and The Romance of Tarzan, was born in New York City. He came from a long line of stage actors and reprised the character, Rip Van Winkle, a role his father had played. Thomas, who married his cousin, Daisy Jefferson, appeared in mostly silent films. He appeared in a film with one of my favorite titles, TEN NIGHTS IN A BAR-ROOM.

The 100 word drabble for today, “A Day for Bad Choices, wasn’t inspired by Thomas Lockyer Jefferson, although his characters frequently made bad choices. As the saying goes, “Get up and get going, those bad decisions won’t make themselves.” I think I’ll go back to bed.

A DAY FOR BAD CHOICES

Jane asked, “Major Bouncingbutt, you seem upset.”

‘I am. The Queen telegraphed. She’s relieving me of my position.”

“Why today of all days?”

“Well. I telegraphed the Queen and told her I know she’s conspiring with Parliament against me. I called her terribly bad names.”

“Major, did you think the Queen would thank you for accusing her of plotting against you. Most men don’t just wake up and decide that today is the perfect day to make really bad decisions.”

“Perhaps you and Tarzan might intercede on my behalf.”

“No, we slept in, it’s not our day for stupid choices.”

A MUTUAL LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

September 11: On this day in 1936, The Rockefeller Centre Weekly published the article, Tarzan’s Poppa Never Saw Jungle. I have not been able to find a copy of the article, either printed or electronically. That’s both good and bad. Erb maintained that by never having been to the jungle, or Mars for that matter, his stories were not constrained by anything other than his own imagination. By never having read the article, I would have the same advantage in describing an article that I’ve never read. But I won’t.

The 100-word drabble for today, “A Mutual Lack of Knowledge,’ was inspired by the Rockefeller Centre article, but it was written by noted Edgar Rice Burroughs historian, Alan Hanson for his article, THE CITY OF LIGHTS, which may be read in its entirety at: www.erbzine.com/mag73/7369.html

Thank you, Alan.

A MUTUAL LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
“Neither a well-educated nor a widely-travelled man, ERB utilized keen insight and ingenuity to take readers to fanciful places in his stories during the first half of the 20th century. He never visited Africa, but since neither had most of his readers, he could let his imagination build the locales of his Tarzan stories. Burroughs never visited Europe either, but he knew that his readers would have more knowledge about that continent than they did about darkest Africa. When he used European settings, he had to rein in his imagination somewhat and lean on popular perceptions when using European settings.

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

September 12: On this day in 1993, actor Raymond Burr, who played Vargo in Tarzan and the She-Devil, died in Healdsburg, California. This was Burr’s only visit to Tarzan’s Jungle, but he would appear in “Godzilla, King of the Monsters and Rear Window. He’s best known for his roles as Perry Mason and Ironsides. His radio career was more extensive than his film and television career.

Details about the film. TARZAN AND THE SHE-DEVIL: https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1952.html

The drabble for today is, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” and it’s a combination of quotations attributed to Raymond Burr – slightly edited to fit into the 100-word drabble format.

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

“Never gaining a good reputation isn’t nearly as painful as losing one. Try to live your life the way you wish other people would live theirs. I don’t play actor 24 hours a day. When the job’s done, I go on to be myself.

I believe in happiness and no, I can't define it. Don't ever bargain for happiness, because in one swift moment a door will close, a train will leave, a boat will sail and a person can die. Take it when it's presented to you and never question it--just thank God it didn't pass you by."

IN THE SAME BOAT

September 13: On this day in 1933, Edgar Rice Burroughs was elected mayor of Malibu Beach, California. In 1991 the City of Malibu incorporated and Walt Keller, the recipient of the highest number of votes in the newly created municipality’s first city council election, was named Mayor of Malibu, but he wasn’t the first person to receive the title. That honor goes to Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs, who was named unofficial Mayor of Malibu by his neighbors on La Costa Beach in 1932. According to the Los Angeles Evening Herald, Burroughs purchased a seven-room Mediterranean-style house with 40 feet of ocean frontage in August of 1931 for $25,000. It was one of the earliest houses on La Costa Beach.

The 100-word drabble for today is, “In the Same Boat, and it was inspired by ERB’s unofficial election as the mayor of Malibu in 1933.

IN THE SAME BOAT
Emma Burroughs said, “I’m told that you’re the new mayor.”

“Yes, the unofficial mayor of La Costa Beach. I’m not holding any meetings or making any speeches.”

“Why did our neighbors pick you. Most of them don’t like us. Most don’t like anyone.”

“That’s true, but like has nothing to do with it. We’re in this together. When it storms, we all get wet. When the roads are blocked, we’re all stranded.”

“Ed, what’s your point.”

“A man can dislike everyone who’s in a lifeboat with him, but if it starts taking on water, he’ll help bail all the same.”

CHOOSE WISELY

September 14: On this day in 1950, the Tarzan daily newspaper story arc, “Attack of the Apes’ concluded. Illustration duties for the story were shared between Burne Hogarth and Bob Lubbers. Several, but not all of the pages are in color and the entire story arc may be read in English and in German at:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag48/4859.html

The story could have been ripped from today’s headlines. A group of greedy men exploring for oil are in Tarzan’s jungle. The apes, though drawn in such a way as to look like giant chimpanzees, take issue with the men after the evil doers try to kill Tarzan.

The drabble for today, “Choose Wisely, is inspired by the story arc.

CHOOSE WISELY

Pike, the leader oil exploration team, shot Tarzan. “I think he’s dead. There won’t be anyone to stop us from finding underground oil. We’ll be rich.”

A great ape watched the men ravage the habitat searching for oil. He helped the injured Tarzan. and then the ape killed Pike.

A surviving explorer moaned. “Why did the ape kill him. We only want the oil. The apes don’t care about oil.”

“No,” said Tarzan. “But the apes know that once nature’s bounty is destroyed, it can never be replaced. The ape had to choose between Pike and survival. He chose wisely.”

TO DRUNK TO DRUNK

September 15: On this day in 1904, Actor Tom Conway, who appeared as Medford in “Tarzan’s Secret Treasure” and Fidel in “Tarzan and the She-Devil” was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Tom Conway was a British film, television, and radio actor. He is best remembered for playing suave adventurer, The Falcon, in a series of 1940s films; and his appearances in three horror films produced by Val Lewton, Cat People (1942), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), and The Seventh Victim (1943).

Details about “Tarzan’s Secret Treasure” - https://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0621.html

And “Tarzan and the She-Devil” - https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1952.html

Conway made a great deal of money, but his relationship with alcohol and his penchant for keeping up appearances cost him his career, his marriages, and his relationship with his brother, George Sanders.

The drabble for today, “to Drunk to Drink,” is a fictionalized account of a true incident in the life of Tom Conway. The last line is attributed to Mr. Conway.

TO DRUNK TO DRUNK
The police officer helped Tom Conway from his automobile, which Tom had crashed into a parked car.

“You were weaving all over the road and driving way too fast. Where’s the fire?”

Conway smiled and straightened his clothing. “In your eyes, officer. And yes, I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

I smell alcohol on your breath. Have you been drinking?”

“Does this day have a ‘Y” in it? If it does, then yes, I’ve been drinking.”

“Sir, I’m going to need you take a breathalyzer test.”

“Officer, that won’t be possible. I’m entirely too drunk to take a drunk test.”