ERBzine 8066a: Drabbles Oct 16-31, 2025

I'VE COME FOR THE CHILD

October 16: On this day in 1976, episode # 6, “Tarzan’s Return to the City of Gold,” of the animated Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle television series, was broadcast. The series featured Robert Ridgely as the voice of Tarzan when Tarzan was speaking. Danton Burroughs provided the Tarzan yell.

In many ways, the series is the most faithful of all screen-based adaptations of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan and featured a number of "lost cities" from the original novels. The rotoscoped animation is based upon the work of Burrough's favorite Tarzan artist, Burne Hogarth.

All the episodes and even more information are listed at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0014.html#filmation

Tarzan goes back to the City of Gold to rescue Orando, the younger brother of a traveler from the first episode, who is held captive by the evil Queen Nemone. The episode centers on Tarzan's effort to free the boy, while the queen uses Orando as bait to recapture Tarzan with the help of her soldier, Tomos. Joan Gerber was the voice of Queen Nemone. Ted Cassidy and Linda Gary also voiced characters in the episode.

The drabble for today, “I’ve Come for the Child,” was inspired by the episode.

I'VE COME FOR THE CHILD

Queen Nemone snarled, “Tarzan, you promised you’d never return.”

“I did. The last time I was here, you’d kidnapped Thia, a boy from Athne, the city you war against. Now you’ve taken his brother, Orando.”

“If I hold one of their children as a hostage for their good behavior, they’ll hesitate to attack.”

“No, Queen,” replied Tarzan. “People react badly when you threaten children.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“People may walk away their possessions and their homes, but they’ll almost always fight for their children.”

“I’m not convinced.”

“Queen, I came back, didn’t I? What more proof do you need?”

ANYWHERE HE WANTS

October 17: On this day in 1994, character actor, Actor George Barrows, who appeared in three Tarzan films, “Tarzan and His Mate,” “Tarzan and the She Devil,” Tarzan,” and “Tarzan and the Slave Girl,” died in Oxnard, California. George D. Barrows was an American actor known for playing Ro-Man in the film Robot Monster.[1] He was the son of actor Henry A. Barrows. He often wore a gorilla suit for his film roles. Excluding his gorilla roles, Barrows usually played bit parts in films and was rarely credited for his work.

George played a gorilla in “Tarzan and his Mate,’ a Lionian in “Tarzan and the Slave Girl,” and a guard in “Tarzan and the She-Devil.”

Details about all three of the films that George appeared in may be reviewed at https://www.erbzine.com/movies

The drabble for today, “Anywhere He Wants, was inspired by George’s many movie roles while wearing his gorilla suit.

ANYWHERE HE WANTS
Johnny Weissmuller said, “George, why are you wearing a gorilla suit?”

“If you saw me in a loincloth like you’re wearing, you wouldn’t have to ask.”

“George, doesn’t that outfit put the girls off?”

“Some. Not everyone likes everything. Not everyone likes the same thing, but everyone likes something.”

“That’s little deep for me, George.”

“Some girls like guys like you. Some me like guys like me. Variety is the spice of life.”

“Does that monkey suit help you get dates?”

“It does and it’s very effective when applying for a bank loan. It’s hard to tell a gorilla no.”

IT'S YOUR MONEY

October 18: On this day in 2011, a review of the unauthorized “Jungle Rock Blues”, aka “Tarzan Presley,” by Nigel Cox, in the New Zealand Herald. The book was originally published as “Tarzan Presley,” but Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated objected to the title. Consequently, it was rewritten, retitled, and published as “Jungle Rock Blues.”

While I found the concept interesting, I thought the book was virtually unreadable. A series of reviews are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag56/5647.html

The 100-word drabble for today, It’s Your Money,” is an excerpt from a review written by ERBAPA contributor and Edgar Rice Burroughs historian, John Martin, in a review available at the aforementioned address. Like John, I bought the book when it was more expensive that it is now. John, if my edits for length changed any of your intentions, my apologies.

IT'S YOUR MONEY
I decided not to read the story word-for-word. We’ve a limited lifespan. I’ve other things to do with my time. I scanned pages and got the sense of what was said and slowed down to read whole paragraphs here and there. Sometimes I would be intrigued enough to read a page or two in a row.

If you’re a completist, you may want this book. If you are a glutton for punishment, you may actually want to read it. On the other hand, you could take the money you’d spend on this book and buy something actually written by ERB.

UNDER WATER, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU YELL

October 19: On this day in The Russian film, “Tarzan des Mers,” the name was changed to “The Amphibian Man” at the request of the ERB Inc., released in the US: The film had little to do with Tarzan, other than the appropriation of his name. The original film, based on the 1928 novel, “The Amphibian Man” by Alexander Beliaev. There’s no reason to explain the plot because the film, THE SHAPE OF WATER,” is virtually the same story, start to finish. The Shape of Water was even placed in the 1960s. “The Shape of Water” received 13 nominations at the 90th Academy Awards, the most of any film in the 2018 race. It won in four categories: Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Director, and Best Picture.

The drabble for today is “Under Water, No One Can Hear You Yell.” Like the film, The Shape of Water, plagiarized the Russian film, Tarzan de Mers, I plagiarized my own drabble about this film. It features my old friends from New Orleans, Pat and John.

UNDER WATER, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU YELL

Pat said, “John, Let’s go see that new Moscow made Tarzan Movie.”

“Pat, you know that I don’t speak Russian.”

“That’s not a problem, John. I checked with the Audubon Zoo. Amphibians don’t speak Russian either.”

“That’s not all, Pat. The Russians originally titled the film, “Tarzan de Mers.” That’s just wrong. Buying a ticket encourages bad behavior.”

“Excuse me?”

“Tarzan of the Apes. Not Tarzan of the Sea. Sounds like a tuna fish ad or a pasta order. Apes, not eels, not sharks, and not octopi. Underwater no-one can hear the Tarzan yell. It’d just be blub, blub, blub.”

TAKE THE WIN

October 20: On this day in 1991, the Gray Morrow illustrated and Don Kraar scripted Sunday Tarzan story arc, The Kalahari, began. The story arc ran for fourteen weeks.

In the story, Jane and Meriam, are on a hijacked airplane. The hijackers, led by the mercenary Van Zandt, land the plane in the Kalahari desert. The leader of the hijackers seeks revenge on Tarzan. Tarzan D’Arnot and a troop of baboons come to the rescue.

The entire story may be read at https://www.erbzine.com/mag35/3539.html Thousands of Sunday pages are available at https://www.erbzine.com/mag22/2292.html

The 100-word fictional drabble for today, “Take The Win,” was inspired by the story arc. I’ve always said that it doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as you get what you wanted. That’s a lesson Van Zandt never learned.

TAKE THE WIN
Jane said, “You never should have hijacked this airplane, Van Zandt. My husband, Tarzan, knows I was on this flight. He’ll come for me.”

“I'm counting on it. I hated my brother. Tarzan killed him before I could. Now, I’ll kill Tarzan.”

“That’s possibly the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You should thank my husband, not kill him.”

“No, I have to kill someone.”

“You don’t. Take the win. Let your hatred die with him.”

“Lady Greystoke, I can’t do that.”

“How sad for your mother to lose both sons. It’s silly to die because you got what you wanted.”

MUCK AND MIRE

October 21: On this day in 2006, the first issue of ‘The Mucker’ fanzine was published by the ‘The Muckers,’ the Chicago chapter of the Burroughs Bibliophiles. 15 copies were assembled at the Oct. 21, 2006, meeting in the Pleasant Home used by the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. Joan Bledig contributed the cover, from the McClurg art by J. Allen St. John that also was used by Canaveral; the cover design; and table of contents, which she did for all the early issues.

Read about the issue and see a complete list of the contents at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag30/3097.html

The 44 page issue included articles by Bill Ross, Lawrence Dunn, Jeff Long, Mike Conran, Ken Manson, Jim Hadac, Greg Phillips, and J. G. Huckenpohler. An illustration of a naked princess was inside, an item that became almost traditional.

The fictional drabble for today, “Muck and Mire, was inspired by that publication and by the Chicago Muckers, long may they reign.

MUCK AND MIRE
Joan said, “We gotta do our own fanzine. The National Capital Panthans have had one for ten years. Anything they can do, we can do better.”

“Joan, have you been watching Oliver, the musical again.”

“No, well, maybe. But if they can do it, we can do it. I’ll design and print the covers. The rest of you write an article. Print fifteen copies. We’ll call it THE MUCKER MAGAZINE.”

“How will we sell it? Who pays for shipping? What about copyrights and trademarks?”

“Crawl out of the muck. People get mired down in details, nothing ever gets done.”

ONE TEAM OR THE OTHER

October 22: On this day in 1940, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing “The Living Dead,” which was published in November 1941 in “Fantastic Adventures” and would become the part of the novel, “Escape on Venus.” Ed’s Venus stories featured Carson Napier from Earth and the beautiful Vesuvian, Duare.

Details about the novel, its publishing history and several illustrations have been assembled for your viewing pleasure at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0751.html

The 100-word fictional drabble for today, “One Team or the Other,” was inspired by “The Living Dead.”

ONE TEAM OR THE OTHER

Carson Napier had been captured and imprisoned. Eventually, he and a fellow prisoner were forced into the arena. While the thousands of onlookers cheered, angry bulls were released, and a dozen cannibals entered and rushed the bulls.

Carson’s companion said, “I’m not getting involved. I don’t have anything against the bulls, and I don’t know the cannibals. I’ll just let them fight each other.”

Carson said, “I’m going to join the cannibals. I can talk to them. I can’t talk to cattle.”

“You won’t stay neutral?”

“No, I’ve learned if you don’t pick a side, a side will pick you.”

NO! NO!

October 23: On this day in 1949, the Burne Hogarth and Rob Thompson, Sunday Comic story arc, “Tarzan and the Ononoes, concluded after a run of twenty-five weeks. The Ononoes looked like Kaldanes on steroids, but a little more spherical. They weren’t adverse to just rolling along. I was never sure of the exact pronunciation, but I’m going with OH – NO – NOS. Not unlike some people I’ve know whose response to almost everything is OH NO!.

In TARZAN AND THE GOLDEN LION, the Ononoes were a tribe of fierce cannibals, but these little bowling ball people aren’t them.

There’s a complete list of the Tarzan Sunday pages at https://www.erbzine.com/mag22/2292.html, the Hogarth pages are available online: https://www.erbzine.com/hogarth/

The drabble for today is “No! No!” inspired by the name.

NO! NO!

Tarzan was bowled over by a tribe of creatures who had rolled down a hill. They were spheroidal, with small arms and legs. Tarzan followed them. They were scattered about dazed from colliding with trees and boulders.

Tarzan helped one of them and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Oh, no. I crashed into this big stone. Broke my spear and my nose.”

“You rolled very quickly. Is that how you usually stop?”

“Oh, no. Sometimes I hit a tree, but I always aim for a rock.”

“Perhaps you should walk.”

“Oh, no. Oh, no! I’ll never give up rock and roll!”

LIVE AND LET LIVE

October 24: On this day in 1929, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote “My Diversions,” an essay prepared for Metropolitan Books. It remained unpublished until it was included in the Burroughs Bulletin Issue No. 53, Winter 2003. The complete essay is available to read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag9/0948.html

The drabble for today, “Live and Let Live, is 100 words written by Edgar Rice Burroughs for that article.

LIVE AND LET LIVE

What do I want? I should like to have a comfortable home and a few saddle horses. I would have no telephone and no radio. I should like to have a single gate leading into my grounds and this gate would be fastened with a padlock which could not be picked or broken, and I should have a sign on the gate that would doubtless be both rude and profane, but it would inform the world that I am minding my own business and suggest that it do the same.

OKAY BY ME, IF IT'S OKAY BAYOU

October 25: On this day in 1992, the Gray Morrow illustrated and Don Kraar scripted Sunday Tarzan story arc, “Bayou Fever,” concluded. The story began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, moved to Morgan City, and finished in the swamps. It ran for 14 weeks.

A wealthy architect had commissioned the capture of a rare black leopard from Africa. He planned to have it released in the Louisiana swamps for he and his friends to hunt and kill the animal. Tarzan planned to intervene.

<>You can read the entire story arc at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag35/3542.html

The drabble for today, “Okay By Me, If It’s Okay Bayou,” was inspired by the story.

OKAY BY ME, IF IT'S OKAY BAYOU

Tarzan joined a game warden to prevent illegal hunting of a rare black African leopard in the Louisiana swamps. Tarzan found the hunters and shot an arrow into a beehive.

The angry bees swarmed. The hunting party’s leader dove into the bayou water. An alligator came after him. Tarzan jumped into the water and saved the man.

Handing the hunter over to the game warden, Tarzan said, “He was a big man, but I caught him. Are you ready to take this scoundrel to jail?”

“I am, but I'd hoped you’d let the alligator cut him down to size first.”

FORBIDDEN

October 26: On this day in 1992, Season 2, episode 3, “Tarzan and the Forbidden Jewels,” the Wolf Larson Tarzan television series, aired. A complete list of the episodes, along with a review of each, may be found at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7464.html

It should be noted that the episodes did not always appear in the order they were written and filmed. Hauser, played by James Healy, is back and…wait. He claims he’s a reformed man and none of the regulars, Wolf Larson, Lydie Denier, and Roger Taft Jr. seem to question that he was supposed to serve five years in prison. Is this five years or later? Some sources ---Amazon, for one, claim that this season came out in 1997 (in some countries, namely America, this season didn’t air until then or later and season three in 1998). Did Hauser get out of jail early for good behavior? It would be nice if we were told. If it is 1997 here, everyone is six years older? It would explain why Roger looks older, a bit? The plot involves a lost temple that contains hidden jewels.

The 100-word drabble for today, “Forbidden,” was inspired by the story and by the thought of forbidden items and behavior.

FORBIDDEN

Hauser said, “Tarzan, there’s a lost temple filled with jewels. Take me there.”

“I know the place. The temple is forbidden, as are the jewels.”

“Take me or my men will burn villages. You can’t stop them all.”

“Hauser, you do understand the word, forbidden?”

“I do, but I ask, forbidden by who?

Jane said, “You mean, by whom?”

Tarzan said, “It’s not the whom, it’s the why that matters. An American President said, ‘Forbidden fruit tastes sweeter, but the aftertaste is bitter.”

Hauser laughed, “Who cares. With the jewels, I’m sure I can afford mouthwash and a new toothbrush.”

OH, MY!

<>October 27: On this day in 1979, Animated Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle episode # 35, Tarzan and the Huntress, was broadcast as part of the Tarzan and the Super Seven television series. This is not to be confused with the film of the same name.
In this Filmation episode, a young girl, Fana, a huntress has come to the jungle to hunt Jad=bal-ja, the golden lion. She brought a white tiger. Pasha, to help her. Linda Gary voiced Fana and Robert Ridgely was the voice of Tarzan. You can view the entire episode at: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6n9nqv
The drabble for today, “Oh, My! was inspired by the episode and another girl, who had a lion instead of a tiger.

OH, MY!
Tarzan confronted Fana, a huntress with a tiger. She said, “I’ve come for your golden lion. He will make a magnificent addition to my collection.”

< style="font-weight: bold;">Tarzan drew his father’s knife. “The lion is my friend.”
“My tiger, Pasha will help me.”
“You said, your tiger. People don’t own tigers or lions. Such creatures own themselves.”
“Not in my country. Pasha’s the greatest tiger. Your golden lion is the greatest lion. I have a talking polar bear named Iorek Byrnison. I’ll own the three greatest of each species. What do you say to that?

PROMISES, PROMISES

October 28 and today’s post is the 2,700the post in this series. On this day in 1916, Edgar Rice Burroughs was finally paid by William (Bill) / Parsons for the film option for Tarzan of the Apes. David Watkins, Parson’s agent raised the money. William E. “Smiling Bill” Parsons (seen here in a 1919 promotional photo for “The New Breakfast Food”) was a former insurance salesman-turned comedy actor and producer.

Upon optioning “Tarzan of the

Apes” https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0503.html on June 12, 1916, he immediately encountered difficulties meeting deadlines and paying author Edgar Rice Burroughs’ advance, until he was finally able to raise the money by hiring David Watkins as a sales agent.

Watkins procured the capital from a Wyoming cattlemen’s association. On Oct. 28, 1916, Burroughs received $10,000 in stock and the balance of his $5,000 advance for film rights to his novel.

An article about 'ole' Smiling Bill is available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0503b.html

The 100-word drabble for today is, "Promises, Promises," inspired by Smiling Bill Parsons and his difficulty in fulfilling his financial obligations.

PROMISES, PROMISES
Edgar Rice Burroughs smiled. “Emma, we finally got a check from that Parsons guy for the “Tarzan of the Apes movie rights.”

“Wonderful. I’ll buy a new oven.”

“Best wait a bit. If the check’s as good as his word, the folks at the bank will just look at it and laugh.”

“You don’t seem to be happy with the motion picture industry.”

“I’m not. If they don’t just steal your story, they delay the promised payment as long as possible.”

“How terrible.”

“It is. A man can’t spend a promise. Promises and wishes don’t put food on the table.”

IT'S ONLY WRONG IN THE THIRD PERSON

October 29: On this day in 1941, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed the unpublished article, Fall of Democracy. The Second World War was raging in Europe and the attack on Pearl Harbor was less than six weeks in the future when the article was written. Soon America would be embroiled in the conflict and magazines were inundated with such articles, most of which were rejected. I’ve never seen the article. One can only hope that it’s survived in the archives at Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated and we’ll see on some future July 4th.

The drabble for today, “It’s Only Wrong in the Third Person,” is 100-words long and it reflects my understanding of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s patriotism.

IT'S ONLY WRONG IN THE THIRD PERSON

The war in Europe threatens freedom everywhere. It will ultimately determine whether we live in a democracy or under totalitarian rule. Democracy is delicate balance. It can be toppled by power-hungry men appealing to the worst in us. Divide and conquer. All it takes is the application of freedom and fairness disproportionally. Laws must be applied fairly, especially to those with whom you disagree. Good for the goose, good for the gander. Whenever we limit behavior and rights to those that only agree with our points of view, that very second the Statue of Liberty will tumble into the harbor.

RELEASE THE FROZEN

October 30: On this day in 1940, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed “Escape on Mars,” published as Yellow Men of Mars by ‘Amazing Stories’ in August 1941, complete with a cover and two interior pieces by J. Allen St. John. The story was the third part of the novel, ‘Llana of Gathol.’ Just a quick aside, but at the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 2025 monument dedication in Willcox, Arizona, ERB’s great granddaughter, Llana Jane Burroughs was kind enough to sign m first edition. Pretty cool.

Read all the details about the story, ‘Yellow Men of Mars,’ and the novel, ‘Llana of Gathol,’ at:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0738.html

In the story, John Carter finds thousands of men who are frozen and hanging by their feet outside a city near one of the Martian poles. He suspects they’re food and the city’s residents are cannibals. Turns out they men are warriors who are being held in cold storage unit they’re needed to fight.

The drabble for today is “Release the Frozen,” and it was inspired by the story, “Escape on Mars,” published as “Yellow Men of Mars.” I suppose I should apologize for this one, but I won’t.

RELEASE THE FROZEN

John Carter confronted Hin-Abtol, the ruler of Pankar, a city above the Arctic Circle on Mars. “Are you and your people cannibals? I found thousands of corpses frozen and hanging by their feet outside your gates.

“Of course not. Those men are my warriors, not food. Whenever I need an army, I thaw them and they’ll fight for me rather than be frozen again.”

“That’s pretty cold logic. I freed several of them. Will the frozen banths, the Martian lions, also fight for you?"

“I didn’t think I had frozen any banths?”

“Well, I thought I thawed a puddy cat.”

BAD BAD BILLY BYRNE

October 31: Happy Halloween. On this day in 1913, All-Story Magazine published the second installment of THE MUCKER. On this day in 1921, A. C. McClurg released the first United States edition of THE MUCKER.

The story of the redemption of the bad guy from Chicago, Billy Byrne, included Ed’s portrayal of the rampant corruption in the Chicago of his childhood. Consider, if you will, the story of Billy Byrne in relation to the story of Tarzan. Tarzan is a man who overcomes his environment and maintains the good characteristics of his birthright. Billy, we don’t know his birthright, but we know that he surrenders to the evils of his environment and becomes an active participant in the crime and corruption that surrounds him. When he is placed in a new environment and has the opportunity to behave in a better way, he does so, even though he is confused and embarrassed by his new behavior.

All the publishing details, an electronic version of the novel, and several illustrations are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0757.html

The 100-word drabble for today, “Bad Bad Billy Byrne,” was inspired by THE MUCKER and by songwriter and recording artist, Jim Croce.

BAD BAD BILLY BYRNE
Avoid the south side of Chicago

Just stay away, not your concern

Folks who live down there

Know they’d better beware

Of a mucker named Billy Byrne.

He’s a bad man, the mucker, Billy
The baddest man who’s not from Philly
More corrupt than Tammany Hall
And always ready to start a brawl.

In Farris’s bar ‘bout a month since passed

Leory was drinking wine

From a broken and dirty glass

A girl named Maggie tried to leave

Billy grabbed her by her sleeve

She turned and shoved him off his stool

Showed a knife, said, “Stay down, you fool.”