Pulp Ark 2013 is proud to announce that noted Author, Publisher, Actor and modern Renaissance man in general Allan Gilbreath will be Master of Ceremonies for the the third annual Pulp Convention and Creator’s Conference April 26-28, 2013 in Springdale, Arkansas.
Although he denies being raised by wolves, Allan Gilbreath still enjoys quiet moonlit evenings. He is an accomplished skeptic, cook, gardener, computer geek, martial artist, and avid student of arcane knowledge. Allan is also a nationally recognized and award-winning author, publisher, speaker, and instructor. He has appeared on television, stage, radio, web/podcast, and tours the country in live appearances. He enjoys serving on convention panels and can cover a wide range of topics from the serious to the outrageous. In his adult vampire novels, Galen and Dark Chances, he links sensual fantasy with danger and predation to excellent effect. His exceptional use of plot tension between the various characters sets a wonderful stage for the little details that bring it all to life. Allan’s Jack Lago supernatural mysteries are known for their attention to detail and suspense. His short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and his collection, Allan Gilbreath: A Short Story Collection. “Pulp Fiction,” Tommy Hancock, Founder and Organizer of Pulp Ark said, “began as a medium, a means by which stories were told. It has since grown far beyond that and can be considered a style, a methodology, some would even say a field or something else. Even in its heyday, though, as now, one thing could definitely be said about Pulp. It covered many areas and appealed to all sorts of people. For that reason, Allan Gilbreath is the ideal creator to lead this year’s Convention and Creator’s Conference. Not only does he have multiple skills and talents, Allan is the type who enjoys all aspects of conventions, who walks through multiple genres like most people walk down the street-with ease and comfort. He knows what it takes to make fans and guests alike feel like a show is more than that, that it’s an event. And best of all, the biggest fan at a convention Allan is at is Allan.”
Concerning acting as Master of Ceremonies, Gilbreath said, “The genre known as Pulp Fiction hold a dear place in most people’s hearts. Chances are that a “Pulp” style book was one the first books that you read just for fun and then had to read more. I am very excited to acting as the emcee for Pulp Ark 2013. I can’t wait to entertain and introduce the public to the new and growing world of Pulp Fiction. This convention will offer everyone a chance to come out and meet some of the actors, writers, and other celebrities from the Pulp Fiction world on a personal level. We will be available to sign autographs and answer questions. I hope to see lots of old and new fans at Pulp Ark 2013.”
Pulp Ark 2013 will be held in Springdale, Arkansas April 26-28, 2013 at
the Holiday Inn Springdale Hotel and Convention Center in
Springdale, Arkansas, 1500 South 48th Street,
phone number- 1-479-751-8300. For a peek at the venue, click below!
SPECIAL PRICES UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2013! Any and all who
plan to attend Pulp Ark 2013 and want to get the Discounted Room Rate
MUST reserve a room or rooms by January 1st, 2013 to take advantage
of the Special Pulp Ark rate of $84.00 a night. To reserve your room
New Pulp Author Tom Johnson has posted information on his latest projects on his blog.
From Tom’s Blog: Over the years I’ve written new stories featuring many of the original pulp characters, as well as some in the new pulp tradition. If you are a fan of any of these character, you might be interested in my short story collections from Altus Press www.altuspress.com/ and NTD www.bloodredshadow.com/ These are available also on Amazon, plus I may have a few copies on hand if you would rather get them from me at fadingshadows40@gmail.com
PULP DETECTIVES, available from Altus Press and Amazon, $24.95: Nine all-new stories starring the classic pulp heroes of the 1930s, featuring the following characters, written by pulp scholar Tom Johnson, it’s nearly 350 pages of excitement: The Phantom Detective in “Satan’s Minions” The Black Bat “Murder Under The Big Top” The Lone Eagle in “The Nazi Spider Staffel” The Masked Detective in “The Masked Detective’s Deadly Trail” Secret Agent X in “The Spider’s Web” The Black Bat in “Guns of Vengence” The Phantom Detective (sort of) in “Fangs of Death” Nightwind in “Mystery of Haunted Range”
EXCITING PULP TALES, available from Altus Press and Amazon, 24.95: The exciting sequel to Tom Johnson’s 2010 anthology, PULP DETECTIVES, brings you ten more all-new stories featuring classic pulp heroes: The Angel in “The Devil of A Case” The Green Ghost in “The Case of The Blind Soldier” The Cobra in “Curse of The Viper” The Crimson Mask in “The Mask of Anubis” Gentle Jones in “Nazis Over Washington” The Purple Scar in “The Skull Killer” Funny Face in “The Star of Africa” Mr. Death in “Coffins of Death” The Jungle Queen in “Jungle Terror” Ki-Gor in “The Lost Valley of Ja Far”
PULP ECHOES, available from NTD and Amazon, $15.50: Seven new stories in the pulp tradition, both new and original characters: The Bat in “Blind As A Bat” The Crimson Clown in “The Crimson Clown – Killer” Nibs Holloway battles Dr. Death in “Till Death Do Us Part” The Black Ghost in “Carnival of Death” Captain Anthony Adventure in “Terror In The North Country” The Black Cat in “A Cat Among Dogs” Senora Scorpion in “Senora Scorpion”
Also available now on Kindle are three new books by Tom Johnson.
HUNTER’S MOON, featuring the Moon Man in his best adventure since Frederick C. Davis. With the police closing in on Angel’s hideaway, the danger for the Moon Man may be escalating for Great City’s Robin Hood. To compound matters, tragedy strikes closer to home. This time, he will not be able to provide help to someone close to him. Sergeant Steve Thatcher, seeing the people struggling to survive, dons the mysterious garments of the Robin Hood thief to relieve the filthy rich of their ill-gotten gains to be distributed among the poor by ex boxer Ned Dargan. When they come up against an illegal weapons manufacturer masquerading as a toy company, his fiancé is taken prisoner by criminals and he must not only remove them of their money, but put a stop to their weapons sale overseas. $1.99
IN THE SILENCE OF DEATH, Colonel Jeremiah Custer’s Wild West Show comes across murder in a small Texas town. A mystifying murder mystery ensnares the famous criminologist and sharpshooter, Colonel Jeremiah Custer when his team encounters a young boy accused of mayhem. The lad cannot deny the charges for he can neither hear nor speak. The scientific brain of the greatest man hunter is put to task as he attempts to unravel this new crime! The ex intelligence officer puts his scientific brain to work to prove that the deaf mute boy is not the killer. Follow Colonel Custer and his aides as they unravel this deep mystery, and bring to justice this evil murderer. $1.99
THE DEATH TOWER. Secret Agent X is back in The Death Tower. What could a German agent be after in America? During Secret Agent X’s recovery at the Montgomery Mansion after the battle with Zerna’s drug gang in 1937, Betty Dale falls into a trap while following a suspect and is captured by a German Spy. Her whereabouts are unknown, and indeed, it’s not known if she’s even alive. Although the Agent hasn’t fully recovered from his previous battle with Zerna and the underworld, it’s imperative for him to locate and rescue the girl. For Betty Dale is more precious to him than anything in the world. If she has been harmed, he will exact vengeance on those responsible! $.99
In a short period of time, two 20th anniversary box sets have been released, both using XX in their titles. The wonderful Canadian band Great Big Sea just had their celebratory two-disc set come out and now comes Tarantino XX, a more appropriately named set, commemorating the filmmaker’s two decades in the business.
Quentin Tarantino began like so many of did, obsessed with movies and television and pop culture. His tastes ran along the fringes such as the Hong Kong martial arts fare and the Blaxploitation films of the 1970s. A walking, talking cornucopia of film lore, he was the perfect video store employee, never at a loss for a recommendation regardless of taste. He fortunately turned those interests to filmmaking, bringing his knowledge and passion to screenplays for others and his own works.
If you had to write one line about his work it would be “Always shoot first, ask questions later” as his films are often violent blood fests. For those who appreciate his storytelling skills, you accept and enjoy the bloodshed since it’s all so over the top as to be step over the line between real violence and cartoon violence. Instead, you’re captivated by seeing fresh ideas, original and memorable characters who spout crackling, idiosyncratic dialogue.
He made us sit up and pay attention to his skills with Reservoir Dogs, a blend of mayhem and character that was filled with excellent dialogue and sharply delineated characters. After that, he came out with the brilliant Pulp Fiction and he became an actor’s director, always giving them something unusual and fun to play. As a result, his movies have been stuffed with actors from all corners of Hollywood, having the time of their lives. Why? It’s because his films are tightly structured pieces that pays as much attention to structure as it does to dialogue, making these riveting experiences.
The box set contains all seven films from his director’s chair – Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Parts 1 and 2, Death Proof (Tarantino’s contribution to Grindhouse), Inglorious Basterds, plus True Romance which he wrote but the late Tony Scott directed. All that’s really missing is “The Man from Hollywood” segment of Four Rooms. While all have been previously released on Blu-ray and come complete with their usual extras, the box comes with five hours of new material spread over two discs. The films look and sound as one would expect so there’s nothing to fear about keeping your originals but for Tarantino fans, the extra material is worth having. For anyone with gaps in their collection, the box is well worth having and revisiting before seeing Django Unchained later this month.
Disc one contains the complete unedited version of the Critics’ Corner: The Films of Quentin Tarantino (4:50). Much of this has been sprinkled throughout the extras of many of the solo releases but you can hear some interesting critical thoughts from Scott Foundus, Stephanie Zacharek, Tim Lucas and Andy Klein. They work their way through Tarantino’s films, one by one, and their insights are useful in placing the films in context. It’s not all laudatory as the talking heads express preferences for some films and rejections of others while still appreciating the craft. Many interesting insights are offered up such as the alternate reality World War II tale, Basterds is all about language.
The second disc begins with Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking (2:13), a fabulous career retrospective that traces his career from initial screenplays to first sale. Lawrence Bender, Robert Rodriguez, Pam Grier and Robert Forster show up to tell some funny anecdotes while Stacey Sher compares Tarantino to Roger Corman which is probably high praise to Tarantino even if I find it a little off the mark. Sally Menke, Tarantino’s perennial editor nicely receives her due here. Then there is Jackie Brown Q&A: A Film Independent at LACMA Event (32:15) as columnist Elvis Mitchell talks with Grier, Forster and Tarantino. Pleasant but nothing earthshattering here. We’re rounded out with Django Unchained—Coming Soon (10:43) which is a collection of trailers.
If you’re like me, who loves the musical stings that harken back to other projects or adore seeing character actors given something fresh to do and don’t mind the violence and gore, then you’ll probably appreciate sitting down with this fine set.
During a recent in-house editorial discussion here, the notion was floated that we should be showing naked female breasts on this website, as part of an attempt to increase search engine rankings and site traffic.* To address this lack of undress, we’d like to present you with The Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society, whose slogan is “Making Reading Sexy”. Their raison d’etre:
We’re a group of friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends, and complete strangers, who love good books and sunny days and enjoying both as nearly in the altogether as the law allows. Happily, in New York City, the law allows toplessness by both men and women. So that’s the way we do our al fresco reading. If you’re in New York and the weather’s good, won’t you join us sometime…?
And yes, you can go to their website, which features many photos of them in Bryant Park and other New York City locales fulfilling their organizational mission. (Of course, the site is probably Not Safe For Work.) They’ve been working their way through a recent contribution from Hard Case Crime who generously supplied them with free copies of some of their latest, including [[[Seduction of the Innocent]]] from our good friend Max Allan Collins. We hope he got a good back cover blurb out of it.
They don’t appear to have gotten around to comics and graphic novels yet, but we’re sure we can find something for them by the time the weather in New York gets nice again. And no, despite what you might think, we’re not going to send them a bunch of mini-comics. We just aren’t cynical enough for Cynicalman.
* Yes, this is what goes on in our workplace when we aren’t figuring out how many dimensions Cynosure intersects with. Arguing about whether Thor is stronger than the Hulk is for newbies.
PRESS RELEASE- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND DISTRIBUTION
PULP ARK 2013 DATES AND LOCATION ANNOUNCED!
APRIL 26-28TH, 2013
10/14/12
Pro Se Productions, a leading publisher of Heroic and Action/Adventure Fiction as well as the Founder and organizer of Pulp Ark, a writer’s conference/convention that began in Batesville, AR in 2011 announces today the dates for the third annual event, PULP ARK 2013 as well as a change of venue.
Pulp Ark is a Writer’s Conference/Convention focused on ‘Pulp’ fiction. Although defined narrowly by many, Pulp Ark promotes Pulp Fiction as multi genre multi medium storytelling that typically involves action, adventure, larger than life heroes and villains, and a strong focus on both plot and characterization. “Pulp,” Hancock said, “began as a medium in which many great writers told a lot of wonderful stories and readers could pick ’em up a 100 or more pages at a time for a dime. Although it’s no longer that necessarily, the sensibilities of Pulp storytelling, the style, the methodology, all the stuff fans have remembered and enjoyed for over 80 years about those kinds of tales, all of that is still around and available from all sorts of authors, artists, performers and companies. That is what Pulp Ark is all about.”
“Pulp Ark 2013,” stated Tommy Hancock, Pulp Ark Organizer, “will take place in a new facility and a new town, but remains in Arkansas! Batesville, Arkansas (the site of the first two Pulp Ark conventions) has been nothing but a positive experience for Pulp Ark and the success we’ve had there, particularly in 2012, is one of the myriad reasons we decided to make a move. Pulp Ark 2012 cemented for us the fact that not only would we have faithful vendors and guests willing to return for another go around or two, but that we also had a concept that appealed to fans of all ages and genres and mediums. With that, the decision was either to grow or not. Part of the decision to grow was whether or not to stay in Batesville. Several factors, most notably partnering with an excellent facility that truly will take Pulp Ark to another level, led us to decide that the home of Pulp Ark 2013 would be Springdale, Arkansas.”
Springdale is in Washington County located in Northwest Arkansas. Considered part of the Fayetteville Metropolitan Area, Springdale is one town of several that are considered a piece of one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. With over 500,000 residents in and near Springdale, Pro Se believes that not only will this increase fan attendance and interest in the Writer’s Conference/Convention that blends every genre and medium possible together, but will also attract both the loyal guests and vendors from the first two years of Pulp Ark as well as a whole host of new participants on that side of the table.
“Pulp Ark is a wonderfully unique creature in a lot of ways,” Hancock stated. “We definitely enjoy having that small town, almost family type feel for what we do, but we also have a truly kaleidoscopic reach with all the genres and creators that fall into our umbrella. Prose, comics, audio, cosplay, even music, all of that and more contributes to what Pulp is. Classic, new, and even Pulp yet to come all has a home at our convention and it was time to move Pulp Ark to a place where it…and all its wonderful supporters…could truly spread their wings.”
Pulp Ark 2013 will be held in Springdale, Arkansas April 26-28, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Springdale Hotel and Convention Center in Springdale, Arkansas, 1500 South 48th Street, phone number- 1-479-751-8300. For a peek at the venue, click HERE!
SPECIAL PRICES UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2013! Any and all who plan to attend Pulp Ark 2013 and want to get the Discounted Room Rate MUST reserve a room or rooms by January 1st, 2013 to take advantage of the Special Pulp Ark rate of $84.00 a night. To reserver your room online, please click HERE!
PULP ARK 2013-Springdale, Arkansas! For further information, go to www.prosepulp.com or contact Hancock at 870-834-4022 and/or proseproductions@earthlink.net. Expect more Pulp Ark Announcements VERY SOON!
This has us deliriously happy because Quentin Tarantino is one of the great stylists, who can deliver action, humor, and moments you have never seen before. He has a great ear for music so his soundtracks sing, and his casting is always brilliant. Go ahead and read the following then begin writing to Santa Claus.
SANTA MONICA, CA (September 17, 2012) – Celebrating Quentin Tarantino’s legendary filmmaking, Lionsgate and Miramax are proud to present the Tarantino XX: 8-FilmCollection, arriving on Blu-ray Disc November 20th.
Tarantino XX contains eight films chosen by Tarantino to illustrate the first 20 years of his career, featuring the films that helped define his early success, including Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds. To complete the stunning high definition 10-disc set, the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection also features two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material, highlighted by a critics’ retrospective on Tarantino’s groundbreaking catalog of films and “20 Years of Filmmaking” that contains interviews with critics, stars and other masters of cinema.
Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection showcases one of the most innovative filmmakers of our time and is a must-have for serious film fans, as Tarantino’s highly-anticipated new film, Django Unchained, prepares to hit theaters. Honoring the 20th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs – the cultural milestone that brought Tarantino to the forefront as a cinematic legend – the collection is highlighted by recurring appearances from celebrated actors including Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), and also includes starring performances from iconic actors such as Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown).
Tarantino XX on Blu-ray also features striking, original artwork designed and illustrated by MONDO (www.mondotees.com). Housed in collectible packaging, the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection will be available for the suggested retail price of $119.99.
CONTENTS SUMMARY
BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES – 2 Discs*
Critics Corner: The Films of Quentin Tarantino – In-depth critics’ discussion piece exploring Tarantino’s films that redefined cinema and the impact of one of the most influential writers/directors of our time.
20 Years of Filmmaking – Take a look at Tarantino’s career from the beginning, with interviews from co-workers, critics, stars and master filmmakers alike as well as a tribute to his greatest collaborator, Sally Menke.
RESERVOIR DOGS
Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival (1992) and awarded the International Critics Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (1992), is raw, violent and unforgettable. Four perfect strangers are assembled to pull off the perfect crime, but when a botched robbery reveals a police informant among them, their simple robbery explodes into a bloody ambush.
Blu-ray Special Features*
Pulp Factoids Viewer
Playing It Fast and Loose
Profiling the Reservoir Dogs
TRUE ROMANCE – DIRECTOR’S CUT
Runaway lovers Clarence and Alabama (Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) play a dangerous game with a stolen suitcase containing $5 million worth of cocaine. They head for Los Angeles, where they’ll sell the goods and begin a new life, but both sides of the law have other ideas. This dark comic web of crime, murder and mayhem from writer Quentin Tarantino and director Tony Scott (Top Gun, Spy Game), features an ensemble cast including Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini and Christopher Walken.
Blu-ray Special Features*
Audio commentary by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette
Audio commentary by Tony Scott
Audio commentary by Quentin Tarantino
Scene selective commentaries by Val Kilmer, Dennis Hopper, Brad Pitt and Michael
Rapaport
Deleted/Extended Scenes with Optional Director Commentary
Alternate Ending with Optional Director and Writer Commentary
Original 1993 Mini-feature
Behind-the-Scenes Interactive Feature
Animated Photo Gallery
Theatrical Trailer
PULP FICTION
Pulp Fiction has been hailed by critics and audiences worldwide as a film that redefined cinema. A burger-loving hit man (John Travolta), his philosophical partner (Samuel L. Jackson), a drug-addled gangster’s moll (Uma Thurman) and a washed-up boxer (Bruce Willis) converge in four tales of violence and redemption. The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay (1994) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It has also been listed as one of the best films of all-time by Time and Entertainment Weekly.
Blu-ray Special Features*
Interviews with Cast
Critics’ Retrospective on the Movie’s Place in Film History
Behind-the-Scenes Footage
Pulp Fiction: The Facts
Production Design Feature
Siskel & Ebert At the Movies – The Tarantino Generation
Independent Spirit Awards Footage
Cannes Film Festival Footage
Charlie Rose – Tarantino Interview
Stills Galleries
Trivia Track
Deleted Scenes
JACKIE BROWN
Quentin Tarantino’s acclaimed adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch follows a cash-smuggling flight attendant (Pam Grier) who is busted by an ATF agent (Michael Keaton) and a cop (Michael Bowen). When pressured to help with their investigation, she agrees to do one last run for a ruthless arms dealer (Samuel L. Jackson). Mistrust and suspicions arise when Jackie plays the opposing forces against each other in an effort to walk away with the dough. Robert Forster earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nomination for his role as Max Cherry, a bail bondsman who falls for Jackie and becomes embroiled in the scheme.
Blu-ray Special Features*
Breaking Down Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown: How It Went Down – Retrospective Interviews with Cast and Crew
A Look Back at Jackie Brown – Interview with Quentin Tarantino
Chicks with Guns Video
Siskel & Ebert At the Movies – Jackie Brown Review
Jackie Brown on MTV
Marketing Gallery
Stills Galleries
Trivia Track
Deleted and Alternate Scenes
KILL BILL VOL. 1
In the first volume of this gritty revenge saga, an assassin (Uma Thurman) is shot at the altar by her ruthless employer, Bill (David Carradine), and other members of his Deadly Vipers Assassination Squad. In this epic tale of survival The Bride sets out to bring justice to all those who wronged her, including a reformed suburban mother (Vivica A. Fox) and the Japanese Yakuza crime-lord (Lucy Liu).
Blu-ray Special Features*
The Making of Kill Bill Vol. 1
The 5.6.7.8’s Bonus Musical Performances
Tarantino Trailers
KILL BILL VOL. 2
The murderous Bride (Uma Thurman) mercilessly continues her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill (David Carradine), and his two remaining associates: Bill’s degenerate younger brother (Michael Madsen) and a vicious one-eyed swordswoman (Daryl Hannah).
Blu-ray Special Features*
The Making of Kill Bill Vol. 2
Damoe Deleted Scene
Chingon Musical Performance
DEATH PROOF
Kurt Russell stars as a tough-talking, psychotic serial murderer who transforms his stunt car into an indestructible killing machine, then climbs behind the wheel to stalk and terrorize a group of women on the road. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s picked the wrong babes to mess with.
Blu-ray Special Features*
Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof
Introducing Zoe Bell
Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike
The Uncut Version of Baby, It’s You performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead
A Jewish cinema owner in Nazi-occupied Paris is forced to host a movie premiere for the Third Reich, where a radical group of American soldiers, The Basterds, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), plan to roll out a score-settling scheme. The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2009, Christoph Waltz) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Motion Picture of the Year for Lawrence Bender and Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino.
Blu-ray Special Features*
Extended and Alternate Scenes
Roundtable Discussion with Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and Elvis Mitchell
Airship 27 Productions, a leader in the New Pulp Fiction movement, is thrilled to announce the released of their latest title, JUNGLE TALES Vol.One.
One of the most popular sub-genres of the classic pulp magazines were those with jungle settings. With the success and popularity of Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan stories, editors began clamoring for similar tales featuring jungle heroes. Soon dozens of cheap loin-cloth wearing imitators were popping up everywhere, including a few jungle queens to add spice to the mix.By far the most successful of these Tarzan clones was the blond-haired Ki-Gor, the Jungle Lord whose adventures appeared regularly in the pages of Jungle Stories magazine.
Now Airship 27 Productions offers up this new collection with three brand new adventures of Ki-Gor and his lovely, red-headed mate, Helene, as they travel into the mysterious, uncharted jungles of Africa.Penned by Aaron Smith, Duane Spurlock and Peter Miller, here are a trio of fast paced tales that have the Jungle Lord discovering a hidden village of Vikings, crossing paths with dinosaurs in a lost valley and battling cannibals to save the life of a benevolent jungle princess.This is the pulse-pounding action and thrill-a-minute adventure fans have come to expect from the classic jungle pulps.
“It’s hoped,” said Managing Editor, Ron Fortier, “that each new volume of this title will shine the spotlight on a different classic pulp jungle hero.Maybe even a jungle queen or two.”This premier features a stunning cover by painter Bryan Fowler with magnificent interior illustrations by Kelly Everaert.JUNGLE TALES Vol.Onekicks off another new series pulp fans are sure to appreciate and enjoy.
AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – Pulp Fiction For A New Generation!
The third annual Pulp Factory Awards were announced and distributed at this year’s Windy City Paper & Pulp Show on May 27th.The Pulp Factory is an internet group made up of over one hundred pulp enthusiasts, some professional writers and artists, all devoted pulp fans. There are four categories and cover all new pulp fiction and artwork created in the previous year.
The winners this year were works published in 2011 were.
Best Pulp Novel
“Damballa” by Charles Saunders – Published by Airship 27 Productions
Best Pulp Short Story
“Vengeance Is Mine,” by Ron Fortier – Published in The Avenger –Justice Inc. from Moonstone Books.
Best Pulp Cover
Michael Kalula for “Challenger Storm – Isle of Blood” by Don Gates from Airship 27 Productions.
Best Interior Illustrations
Michael Kaluta for “Challenger Storm –Isle of Blood” by Don Gates from Airship 27 Productions.
This is the first time one creator has won two awards.This year’s nominees and winning tales and art were culled from seventeen publishers of new pulp fiction and art; a welcome sign that this genre continues to grow.
The membership of the Pulp Factory wish to congratulate all nominees and our three winners and to thank the Windy City Promoters Doug Ellis and John Gunnerson for their continued support of these awards.
Soap Operas in the heyday of Radio were very similar to one another. For the most part, their content was predictable, but deeply engrossing. Soap operas played on the apparent human need for intrigue, insider knowledge, gossip, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing that, no matter how tedious or dull or awful your life is, someone out there has it much worse than you do.
But, in 1947, a new soap opera debuted that was far different – far more quiet and gentle and down-to-earth – than its strife-ridden forbears. This show brought listeners more than the ‘tune in tomorrow’ hooks its peers produced. Listeners tuned in day after day for the interesting, fully developed characters, the light-hearted banter between them, and the familiarity of their day-to-day situations. This soap opera, probably more of a light drama in modern terms, is “Claudia.”
“Claudia” told the tale of Claudia and David Naughton, newlyweds, just beginning their married life. Young, enthusiastic, and very much in love, they weren’t suffering from any medical maladies or suspicions of infidelity. Instead, they were simply facing the many challenges of any new marriage – finding an apartment, getting used to each other’s quirks, and learning to live together on a daily basis. Claudia, a bit younger than her years, is often impulsive, sometimes irresponsible, usually perky, and just a bit flighty. As she matures, she becomes a unique mixture of enthusiasm, incompetence and over-confidence — deeply in love with her somewhat older husband David but frequently naive and too likely to trust her insecurities rather than her instincts. Heard today, “Claudia” remains wonderful entertainment, notable for both its lighthearted tone and the believable interplay between its characters. In a feat that is rare where old time radio is concerned, Radio Archives has been able to locate and preserve the entire eighteen-month run of “Claudia” – 390 episodes in all – with no missing shows, allowing you to enjoy the complete series on a day-by-day basis. This collection offers 24 episodes of “Claudia” and marks the midway point of the remaining volumes. Claudia, Volume 7 and the series as a whole are a real treasure for radio enthusiasts to enjoy for many years to come and are available today from Radio Archives! Six hours on Audio CDs for $17.98.
Old Time Radio is responsible for at least the longevity of so many character types that the public have enjoyed for decades and still today. One of those is the brassy Brooklyn dame who while seeming ditzy to some, actually brings a bit of her own wisdom of the world to every predicament she finds herself in, of which there are many. If you haven’t guessed it, I’ve just described one Maisie Revere, often out of work entertainer and just as often consistent entertainment as the heroine of The Adventures of Maisie.
Portrayed by Ann Sothern, MGM starlet and the originator of the Maisie role in a series of high grade B movies for the studio, Maisie came to life on the radio waves in 1949. Although this is actually the second series to feature the character, it’s the only series of which any episodes are known to exist.
From the cracker jack opening of Maisie’s heels clicking, a man asking her “Hiya babe! Say, how ’bout-“ and a slap and Maisie saying, “Does that answer your question, buddy?” the stage is set in each episode for Sothern to play brassy and funny to the hilt. And she does this with a style and a sort of rough grace that adds credence to the character. Maisie sounds and moves within each episode as you would expect a girl from Brooklyn who finds herself in non-Brooklyn type situations constantly to sound and move. And although, by her own account, Maisie may not be the highest limb on the tree intellectually, her view of the world around her and how those she encounters mistakenly see things is simultaneously hilarious, refreshing, and enlightening.
On so many levels, “The Adventures of Maisie” is most definitely a comedy, leaning heavily toward screwball in a few of the episodes on this collection. But something else manifests from the crucible of mixing Sothern’s acting and dead on voice with the skill of the writers and the quirky plots of this show. Whether Maisie is having to work off rent as a hotel clerk and mistakenly rents a room to phony royalty or pretends to be a lady herself and almost nabs her a Lord all her own or rooks a snobby diva out of her stylish clothes by convincing her she’s a near dowager, there is something that comes out of each episode more than guffaws and giggles.
Played with that street rough, yet simplistic delivery Sothern brings to the role, Maisie Revere delivers quite a bit of Brooklyn spun philosophy as she stumbles in and out of trouble. You don’t have to listen hard to hear her ideas on rich people, authority, and even her own place in the crazy world she lives in. This adds a distinct appeal to the show as a whole, making it not only a solid old time radio comedy, but also something with a bit of insightful veritas to it as well.
The Adventures of Maisie, Volume 1 is definitely a comedy worth having in your collection and one that is one step above the ‘lighter fare’ of its audio peers. Available today from Radio Archives, 10 hours of Maisie on Audio CDs for $29.98.
Radio Archives always strives to be the best and continually improve our products. We embarked on a massive project two years ago to update the artwork for the 200 Old Time Radio CD sets available.
This project is now complete and all orders are now shipping with the newest artwork. Take a look at the Covers which we upgraded this week.
Radio Archives wants to share its excitement with YOU! From now until February 29th, 2012, you can add any of the new artwork for Radio Archives sets you already own to your collection for absolutely FREE with your next order! Add to the experience of the programs you already enjoy with these creative pieces of art!
The process to upgrade your Radio Archives covers is simple! First, search the Radio Archives website to find the set you own. Then copy the Product Description. As an example, the Product Description would look like this:
Mystery Is My Hobby – 10 hours [Audio CDs] #RA132
You then paste the Product Descriptions of all the sets you want updated into the comments section of your next order. The artwork will be sent free of charge along with your order!
This offer expires on February 29th and artwork can only be provided for products currently offered on RadioArchives.com. Radio Archives appreciates your business and wants you to have the newest Cover Artwork so that you have the best quality product, both inside and out!
A more unlikely multi-media success than the jade-robed Buddhist monk who fought crime under the nom de guerre of The Green Lama would be hard to imagine.
Conceived in 1939 at the behest of the editors of Munsey Publications to compete with the juggernaut that The Shadow had become in print, on radio and in film, The Green Lama was the creation of writer Kendall Foster Crossen, who was asked to think up a hero who could lure mystery-minded readers away from The Shadow’s loyal legion of followers. Inspired by a Columbia University student named Theos Casimir Barnard, who had journeyed to far-off Tibet to plumb the occult mysteries of Lamaism, Crossen concocted millionaire Jethro Dumont, who did the same.
It was an outlandish concept. While The Shadow possessed the power to cloud men’s minds after his time in the East, The Green Lama relied on other, even weirder, powers—including the ability to become radioactive and electrically shock opponents into submission! He carried a traditional scarf, which he employed to bind and befuddle opponents and possessed a knowledge of vulnerable nerve centers which he put to good use in hand-and-hand combat. Being a practicing Buddhist, it would not do to pack a pair of .45 automatics a la The Shadow!
Writing as Richard Foster, Crossen produced The Case of the Crimson Hand, which was published in the April, 1940 Double Detective under the equally colorful title, The Green Lama. That first installment raised the magazine’s circulation several notches. Amazingly, the Lama was a hit. Thirteen additional stories followed over the next four years, with provocative titles like The Case of the Hollywood Ghost and Babies for Sale. Assistants ranging from ordinary Manhattanites to a professional magician came and went with every adventure, which often involved emerging super-criminals and Fifth Column menaces.
RadioArchives.com has selected The Green Lama to be the first 2012 release in its acclaimed Will Murray Pulp Classics line of audiobooks. His first case and its sequel, Croesus of Murder, are presented in one set, voiced by the talented Michael McConnohie. Thus, the hero of a dozen different incarnations has found a new world to conquer! You’ll never encounter another hero anything like him. Om Mani Padme Hum! The Green Lama knows!Will Murray’s Audio Pulp Classics #5 The Green Lama is available now!
Being both a Doc Savage fan from way back (I bought my first Doc Savage Bantam paperback back in the 1970’s) as well as a fan of Old Time Radio I was more than eager to check out the audiobook PYTHON ISLE. And I was not disappointed. Channeling the spirit of Lester Dent/Kenneth Robeson, Will Murray wonderfully captures the relentless sprint of headlong excitement that I feel is essential to a Doc Savage adventure.
PYTHON ISLE is based on an actual outline written by Lester Dent back in the 1930’s but rejected for reasons that are explained by Will Murray himself in one of two extra interviews where he explains how he found the outline and turned it into a finished novel. It’s an added bonus to an already entertaining package.
Like the best of any Doc Savage adventure, PYTHON ISLE begins with a situation that immediately promises this is going to be a humdinger of a supersaga. A gang of ruthless diamond smugglers catches sight of a plane crash landing into the water near their ship. At first fearing it’s the law, they quickly mount a rescue upon seeing that the plane has been repaired with gold plating. There are only two passengers aboard. A man carrying a bamboo tube sealed at both ends and an astoundingly beautiful woman who speaks no language anybody can understand. Both are dressed in clothes that haven’t been worn since Biblical times. The man has but a single objective in mind: find Doc Savage. And we need no more to get the adventure started.
As always, my opinion of an audiobook depends mainly on the voice I’m listening to. If the voice is boring and puts me to sleep, what difference does it make how terrific the story is? I’m delighted to say the voice of Michael McConnohie is anything but boring. He doesn’t just read the story, he performs it and I’m simply flabbergasted by the diversity and range of his voice. In passages where there are two or three different characters talking it actually sounds as if there are distinct and separate voices talking to each other. In addition, his straight reading of description sounds more like the narration of a genuine old time radio drama than just a reading of the text. It’s wonderful to listen to.
So should you listen to PYTHON ISLE? Absolutely. If you’re a Doc Savage fan there’s no way that you cannot have this in your collection. And if you have a friend you want to turn onto Doc Savage, pulp adventure or audiobooks, this is an excellent way to do so.
NEW Product Line: Pulp eBooks
A growing leader in providing Pulp Fiction in a variety of forms to modern fans, Radio Archives adds one more line to its ever growing number of Pulp Products! Will Murray’s Pulp Classics, already known for fantastic audio book versions of Classic Pulp tales now also features eBooks! Will Murray’s Pulp Classic eBook line will spotlight original Pulp characters in their original tales from the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction! This exciting new line debuts with four stories of Norvell Page’s Master of Men himself – The Spider!
Thanks to the modern technology of digital publishing and eBooks, collectors and fans can experience stories from the original Pulps of the early 20th Century in an easy, affordable fashion. Referred to by some as ‘today’s pulp,’ eBooks are similar to Pulp magazines in the sense that digital eBooks, like their Pulp counterparts were, can be easily and inexpensively produced and sold to customers! Add to that the absolute top quality production that Radio Archives brings to this project and Will Murray’s Pulp Classic eBooks are a must have for every fan from the novice to the hardcore Pulp Collector!
Will Murray’s Pulp Classic eBooks are available now for only $2.99! And not only do you get the eBook for that fantastic price, but you get it in THREE different formats. With the ever evolving technology of today, Radio Archives recognizes that readers may have different devices that read different eBook files and may change devices as well. To this end, each Will Murray Pulp Classic eBook will be delivered to you as a .mobi file, an .epub file, and a PDF, making the eBook readable on The Kindle, iPad, The Nook, and most e-readers, computers, and smart phones!
The four titles kicking off the eBook line feature The Spider, the vengeful vigilante from the past that lives as a Pulp icon today! Each eBook contains the tale as originally written when it appeared as well as an introduction from Will Murray to acquaint readers with the character they’re going to encounter as well as original cover art!
New Spider titles will be released every two weeks, as well as surprises yet to come!
With the addition of The Spider eBooks, The Pulp Book Store is quickly becoming the best place to find everything Spider. From audio books by Radio Archives to exquisite Pulp reprints and replicas from Girasol Collectables and new tales of the Spider from Moonstone Books, The Master of Men is alive and well in The Pulp Book Store!
Stay tuned, Pulp fans, for the best in Pulp eBooks from Will Murray’s Pulp Classics and Radio Archives!
Horror in Gold, a brand new Doc Savage novel written by prolific pulp veteran Will Murray, has been released by Altus Press. Set in 1936 Manhattan, the story opens with an inexplicable wave of human detonations that brings legendary scientist-adventurer Doc Savage into the investigation to confront a strange new type of terrorism.
Murray, who won acclaim for his tenure ghostwriting Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir’s Destroyer action-adventure series and his works of original fiction and pop culture history, knows his subject well.
The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage is a continuation of the well-received novels he wrote for Bantam Books back in the 1990s, which he worked on with Doc Savage’s creator and original writer, the late Lester Dent.
These new posthumous collaborations will be published under the familiar pen name of Kenneth Robeson.
“Horror in Gold is a CSI-style Doc Savage story,” Murray said. “Most of the action takes place in and around Doc’s skyscraper headquarters, which we see in more detail than ever before. With ordinary Gothamites falling victim to the most grisly murder method ever recorded, Doc spends a lot of time in the city morgue and in his super-scientific laboratory assembling the pieces of the puzzle. In between, the action never stops, as Doc and his men race to prevent an escalating tragedy—culminating in an explosive climax around a dormant Alaskan volcano which shouldn’t be rumbling to life, but is!”
The author hasn’t strayed far from Dent for the basis of this new tale.
“This story is based on an unused Doc Savage plot Lester Dent wrote in 1935, but was considered too visceral to be published in the pages of Doc Savage Magazine back then. To live up to its potential, I wrote the most jaw-dropping opening chapter of my 50-novel career. I introduce one of the most vicious super-criminals in pulp history, The Alchemist, and a half-forgotten member of the original Doc Savage cast returns after an absence of almost 80 years,” he said. Buy this NEW 330 page Doc Savage novel in trade paperback today for only $24.95. The cover is a beautiful Doc Savage oil painting by the talented Joe DeVito.
With the addition of 31 new titles from Altus Press, the prolific Pulp reprint publisher’s entire catalogue is now available from the Pulp Book Store.
One of the leaders in Pulp today, Altus Press provides the reading public with top of the line reprints as well as professionally designed collections, comprehensive Pulp academic works, and new material, including The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage written by author Will Murray.
From new adventures of Doc Savage to reprints of classic Pulp characters like the Black Bat and even more obscure creations such as Armless O’Neill and Senorita Scorpion, Altus Press has something to offer every Pulp reader!
Altus Press answers the needs of a growing fan base for Pulp, readers finding something in these classic stories that appeal to modern sensibilities. The company takes its overall mission very seriously-to produce the best quality product possible. And every single title, close to 100 top of the line collections, novels, and other works, from Altus Press is now featured in the Pulp Book Store!
The Knight of Darkness battles evil supercriminals in two action-packed pulp novels by Walter Gibson writing as “Maxwell Grant.” First, in a never-reprinted 1932 epic, The Shadow seeks to unmask The Five Chameleons, master villains whose uncanny ability to blend with their surroundings rivals his own. Then, the Dark Avenger feels the savage sting of The Wasp in his first confrontation with one of his deadliest foes. This double-novel reprints the classic cover paintings by George Rozen and Graves Gladney and the original interior illustrations by Tom Lovell and Earl Mayan, with historical articles by Will Murray. Get it now for $14.95!
The pulp era’s greatest superman returns in two classic pulp thrillers by Lester Dent writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, Doc and Patricia Savage enter an Arctic abyss where dinosaurs and prehistoric humans survive, and race against Japanese agents to uncover the secret of The Time Terror that could change the outcome of the war. Then, a series of crimes committed by “graduates” of the Man of Bronze’s Crime College threaten to destroy Doc’s reputation. What is the sinister secret of The Talking Devil? This special collectors edition showcases both color pulp covers by Emery Clarke, Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of eight Doc Savage novels. Yours for only $14.95!
The double life of Police Commissioner James Gordon is explored in a pair of two-fisted thrillers that inspired classic Batman stories! First, The Whisperer goes undercover to close down a “School for Murder” that prepares teenagers for criminal careers! Then, Wildcat Gordon investigates corruption in the trucking industry in “Murder on the Line.” BONUS: an adventure of Norgil the Magician by The Shadow’s Maxwell Grant! This historic collector’s item showcases both original color pulp covers by Spider artist John Newton Howitt, classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and golden-age great Creig Flessel, and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. Now at Radio Archives for $14.95!
Pulp fiction’s legendary Master of Men returns in two classic novels from the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction, written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of Grant Stockbridge. First, in “Overlord of the Damned” (October 1935), the Boss unleashes horrible death with his demonic acid guns… with a vat of the same deadly corrosive reserved for those who talk too much! With his beloved Nita van Sloan a hostage to a terrible doom, the Spider faces the soul-tearing prospect of planting the Spider seal on his friend Stanley Kirkpatrick, Commissioner of Police! Then, in “Dictator’s Death Merchants!” (July 1940), The jaws of death gape open when El Crocodilo feasts! With uncanny skill, he forestalls even the Spider’s best attempts to trap him. Striking without mercy, this menace from the past rises anew by demolishing a banking institution each night, in a mad scheme to take control of nothing less than all of America’s finances! This volume is available in two editions and features the original artwork from the October 1935 or the July 1940 edition of “The Spider” magazine. Both versions feature reformatted text and original interior illustrations to accompany each story. Available now for $14.95!
On the hunt for quality Pulp Fiction, both classic and new? In search of great prices? Then dig into the Treasure Chest, exclusively featuring products for the Pulp Book Store! Just click on the Treasure Chest on the Pulp Book Store Page and you’ll find fantastic monthly discounts on an everchanging variety of items from our various stores! From everyone from the avid Pulp Fan to the casual reader, the Treasure Chest offers great deals on wonderful products from The Pulp Book Store!
Doc Savage and his crew travel to Canada to visit his only known living relatives: his Uncle Alex Savage and his cousin Patricia.
On the train, Doc receives a message from his uncle telling him to stay away. He leaves the cabin to investigate leaving his crew there. While he is gone, his men are stricken with unexplained unconsciousness. When Doc returns to the cabin he finds them and emblazoned on the wall is a hideous face that is a cross between a man and a wolf. The Brand of the Werewolf!
When they arrive at the Savage ranch they discover that Alex Savage has been murdered after the alleged message had been sent. The ranch is under attack by local thugs and mysterious forces that the local people attribute to the loup-garou a half-man/half-wolf monster. He moves among the inhabitance with impunity using his powers to subdue them and then kill them at will.
Meanwhile Patricia Savage has taken charge of the ranch. She is also guarding a mysterious Ivory cube that belonged to her father which the thugs have been trying to steal from her father and now from her. Pat is a tall striking woman with bronze colored hair like her cousin’s, who is mentally and physically strong enough to fight to defend her property. But as her superstitious ranch hands desert her, she cannot hold out against the enemies ranged against her.
Enter Doc Savage and his crew of adventurers. Now the odds are more even, but can even they defy the power of the Werewolf? With his entire physical and mental prowess, can Doc Savage defeat a supernatural monster?
This was the story that introduced Patricia Savage as a recurring character in the Doc Savage series. It was the most popular story in the original Bantam reprints form the 1960s and remains a fan favorite. This is a classic story from the golden age of the 1930s. And it along with another Doc Savage classic can be yours in Doc Savage Volume 13 for $12.95 from Radio Archives!
Comments From Our Customers!
Joseph (Joe) Cierniak
I have ordered from RadioArchives in the past and have nothing but praise the for merchandise’s quality and great customer service response. Ah, you guys do business just as it was done in my younger days. It was called trust. I’m not against (positive ) change but how many companies out there today would ship an item(s) and trust the purchaser to pay the bill. Not many. Thanks again. Received my order in today’s mail for Volume 2 of Suspense. Wow, what service!
Jim McCuaig:
Great quality, folks – a pleasure to be able to hear these shows like they sounded when they were new.
Tom C. Miller:
Just wanted to thank you for the prompt shipping of my last order. Your record time in attempting to ship same day as ordered is much appreciated..
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The world was a very different place in the immediate years following World War Two. Even though on the surface, the late 1940s and 1950s seemed to be an idyllic time of peace for the United States, there was an undercurrent of worry and paranoia, that whatever success and contentment Americans had at that time might be short-lived. This feeling was of course a prime breeding ground for movies, books, and other forms of entertainment to produce heroes that represented everything that was good, true, and tough about America, men who had fought for their country abroad in the War and were now home to fight to keep all that was America safe. And radio was no different, giving birth to several heroes of this type. Such as Frank Race.
First heard in the spring of 1949, “The Adventures of Frank Race” starred Tom Collins and, later, Paul Dubov as an attorney turned O. S. S. agent turned worldwide investigator. Race had spent most of the war years in Foreign Service and was frequently decorated for valor but, after he was discharged, he found the courtroom atmosphere of a practicing lawyer to be dull, stuffy, and unchallenging. Clearly, adventure was calling him and so, after finding a strong ally and sidekick in Mark Donovan, a rough but enthusiastic New York City cab driver, Race began a new career as a far-flung investigator.
Even though most of Race’s cases dealt more with insurance issues and less with international intrigue and espionage, he still fit the mold of the sort of hero people sought in the late 1940s and 1950s. Being former O.S.S., he had that connection to a time when men stood up for their nation and became heroes and therefore reflected the skills that the public thought their heroes needed even when the war was over to protect them from all who might threaten their standard of living.
The Adventures of Frank Race still rings with a good old-fashioned two fisted pulpy feel. Mysteries wrapped in suspense and adventure, as the title of each show indicates, and with even hints of romance thrown in make this classic show a definite must have for fans of Action and Adventure today! And the final eleven timeless adventures in this third collection can be yours for $17.98 on CD and $11.98 by Digital Download from Radio Archives!
In a world where medical dramas are almost a dime a dozen, it might surprise some that this type of entertainment has a much longer history than ER, St. Elsewhere, or even Marcus Welby, MD. One of the best known figures to ply his medical trade in movies, television, and radio was a young doctor by the name of James Kildare, the central character in The Story Of Dr. Kildare, Volume 1.
This series is quite simply a joy and pleasure to listen to on several levels. Set in Blair Memorial Hospital in New York City, the episodes follow Dr. Kildare played by Lew Ayres as he addresses the needs of his patients at the hospital, often more than just whatever may be physically ailing them. Kildare is not alone in his endeavors and that’s one of the charming aspects of this show, its supporting cast. The phenomenal actor Lionel Barrymore played Dr. Gillespie, Kildare’s crusty, crotchety mentor and a role Barrymore had played in the movies that inspired the radio series. Throw in Virginia Gregg as Nurse “Nosy” Parker and you have a stellar cast supporting the work of Ayres, also continuing his role as Kildare from the films. Gregg and Barrymore keep listeners in stitches as Gillespie and “Nosy” verbally spar with one another, all amidst the medical drama swirling around them.
This show is not carried simply by its cast, however. Each and every story is engaging and captures the attention of its audience. Although I’m no doctor, research indicates that the medical procedures reflected in The Story of Dr. Kildare were based on the cutting edge methods of the period and that seems apparent to an untrained ear. The pacing of each episode is usually dead on as well, building the tension of the particular illness or issue while intermingling character bits and the traditional trademarks of the show, like the Gillespie-Parker bouts or Kildare conferring with Gillespie. Although some might say the episodes are overall melodramatic, I am of the opinion that medical drama at its finest has a bit of melodrama poured over the top of it. The Story of Dr. Kildare is a series of equal parts medical practice, character building, and satisfying dramatic peeks into the lives of the staff and patients at a hospital.
Want to hear the Doctor that paved the way for those you love today? You can by picking up The Story of Dr. Kildare, Volume 1 for $29.98 on CD and $19.98 by Digital Download from Radio Archives!
Very few heroes in the Pulp Pantheon compare to The Spider. Although reminiscent of The Shadow in many ways, this passionate, sometimes psychotic avenger brings his own style, code, and level of action to his tales like few other of his fictional peers can. The level of pure adventure, tension, and absolute fun screams to spring off the page. And now it has.
The Spider stars in the first of Will Murray’s Pulp Classics, an audiobook line from Radio Archives. The Prince of the Red Looters, produced by Roger Rittner and featuring the excellent voice talents of Nick Santa Maria and Robin Riker, showcases all of the reasons The Spider is still one of the most popular, sought after, and discussed Pulp Heroes today.
Although quite literally initially a thought born due to the success of another Pulp hero, The Spider took bold steps in his own directions, thanks largely to the pen and imagination of Norvell Page. The Shadow, first a voice on the radio and then a character in Street and Smith’s magazine, erupted in popularity not soon after the first stories appeared, so much so that it became a magazine that printed twice monthly! Harry Steeger, Publisher of Popular Publications, noticed the attention Street and Smith’s latest creation was getting and promptly determined that Popular could create a similar hero and share in the spotlight and wealth that Street and Smith seemed to have tapped into.
Initially written by RTM Scott and named, according to legend, because Steeger saw an arachnid crossing a tennis court, The Spider really came into his own in the capable hands of crime reporter and Pulp writer Norvell Page. As Page wrote upwards of 100 Spider tales, this dark seeker of Justice did not simply drift away from the character which inspired his creation, he became something apart, something all his own.
His secret identity is millionaire Richard Wentworth, a criminologist. His supporting cast of characters is in many ways as colorful and lively as he is, especially the exquisite Nita Van Sloan, Wentworth’s love interest and The Spider’s partner in many of his adventures. The Spider doggedly pursued those who committed Evil and gave all he had to ending their criminal enterprises and their careers altogether. Permanently.
The bloodthirsty way in which Page portrayed The Spider carrying out his self appointed mission is one of the key factors giving Wentworth’s alter ego his own identity in the Pulp community. If The Spider had truly existed in the real world and been allowed to deal final sentence via his flaming .45s, then the population of New York City would have been wiped out several times over and the city streets would be forever stained red.
Quite a bit has also been made of The Spider’s possible mental stability. Page clearly writes a man that is troubled greatly, not just by the evil around him, but something eating at him from within. Be he paranoid schizophrenic or manic depressive, or any other possible diagnoses, it is clear that The Spider is not simply a bored rich boy fighting crime because he has nothing better to do. He is a force of nature hell bent on insuring that all who are innocent are protected and all who are guilty are afraid for their lives.
The Prince of the Red Looters is an excellent tale to not only spotlight what makes The Spider special, but it was also a great choice for kicking off Will Murray’s Pulp Classics. Through the voices of Santa Maria and Riker, The Spider’s desire to see Justice done and his struggle to hold onto his own sanity as well as Nita’s undying support and love for him shine through in two fantastic audio performances. This audiobook also features the debut of The Spider’s arch enemy, the sword wielding Fly! Before this tale, no villain had been audacious enough to take on The Master of Men one on one. The Fly not only calls out The Spider in this wonderful story, but also lives to return again, a rarity often for villains in the Pulps.
Hero. Madman. One or both, The Spider has left his brand on Pulp forever and Radio Archives now takes this classic character to a whole new level with The Prince of the Red Looters produced by Roger Rittner. Get your six hours of The Spider today for $19.98 on CD and $13.98 via Digital Download! All from Radio Archives!
I love mad scientists. Why? That’s simple. They’re mad. They never ever contemplate that their plans and schemes won’t work no matter how bizarre and off-the-wall they may be. Even in the face of overwhelming common sense they persist in going ahead with whatever it is that strikes their fancy. Whether it be reanimating the dead or creating portals to other universes or genetic manipulation or astral projection. Mad scientists blithely go about their business, solidly convinced that they’re the only one in the whole wide world who knows what they’re doing. I could be a little nuts myself but I find such insane behavior entertaining.
Take Doctor Death for instance as heard in Doctor Death – 12 Must Die, an audiobook from Will Murray’s Pulp Classics. Now you want to talk about mad scientists…they don’t get much madder than Doctor Death. Claiming to be the greatest scientist the world has ever seen (there’s a certain Swiss Baron who might challenge that claim) Doctor Death intends to wipe out all the technological progress man has made and return the world to a pre-industrial period. Even though he’s a scientist of considerable ability, Doctor Death has apparently made a pact with the very forces of Hell itself as he uses zombies and demons as his army. He also displays an amazing range of personal abilities such as telepathy to further his goals.
To combat such an overwhelming enemy is Jimmy Holm, Occult Detective extraordinaire who is appointed the leader of The Secret Twelve. This is an organization made up of scientists, law enforcement officials, industrialists, business magnates, The President of The United States and the head of organized crime in the United States himself, Tony Caminetti. It gives you some idea of how frightening the threat of Doctor Death is when Tony Caminetti gives his word that all organized crime in The U.S. will cease until Doctor Death is captured or destroyed.
From start to finish, Doctor – Twelve Must Die is nothing but solid fun. For me, the main thing about listening to an audiobook is the voice doing the reading. If it’s not an interesting voice full of energy and the ability to convey whatever emotion needed to tell the story, well, I’m just not gonna listen to it.
I’m happy to say that Joey D’Auria is a very interesting and exciting voice to listen to, especially during the sequences where Doctor Death goes off into one of his world conquering speeches which are simply a hoot to listen to. Doctor Death waxes wroth indeed as he outlines what malignant mischief he’s going to unleash next.
I’d never heard of Doctor Death before listening to this audiobook and it’s a great introduction to the character. If you’re a fan of supervillains as the star then you’ll enjoy this one. And it’s available today, five hours of fantastic Pulp goodness for $14.98 on CD and $9.98 as a digital download!
When asked what Pulp Fiction is, regardless if its classic tales from the medium’s greatest era in the early 20th Century or new stories written in the same vein and style by today’s writers, there are a few common traits usually mentioned by enthusiasts and fans. Pulp Fiction is usually described as being fast paced and plot driven. For the most part, this results in action packed short stories, packing all the wow possible into an economy of words. Even most Pulp novels fall into the realm of 60,000 words, definitely short by today’s standards for books. To every rule, even if it’s just more of a guideline, there must always be an exception. For New Pulp, that exception is the work of Wayne Reinagel, the one-man creative powerhouse behind Knightraven Studios.
Publisher, writer, artist, researcher, and formatter, Reinagel took the opportunity to dedicate his time to fulfilling a dream he’d had since childhood. “Being a passionate reader of comic books and novels since I was about knee-high,” said Reinagel, “I have always had a deep-seated desire to write and illustrate my own series of stories. About five years ago I started working on an epic-length ‘Steampulp’ story involving dozens of Victorian era characters of the late 1800’s combined with a group of four heroes of the 1930’s pulp era in a universe known as Infinite Horizons. The main title is Pulp Heroes and the individual novels are subtitled More Than Mortal, Khan Dynasty, and the upcoming Sanctuary Falls. The Hunter Island Adventure is the first of a long series of short stories, and it takes place between Khan Dynasty and More Than Mortal. The next series of novels take place in the 1800’s, and are described as Gothic Horror Steampunk. These are Modern Marvels – Viktoriana and the upcoming Modern Marvels – Gothika.”
The mix of historical and literary characters, as well as Reinagel’s own homages to known Pulp characters, makes his work stand out from most. Although many writers have tinkered with guest starring a literary character or tying their stories into historical events, very few, save possibly those involved in the writing of Wold Newton stories, have endeavored to weave such massive tales around known personages, both fictional and real. Reinagel’s decision to do this again goes back to his youth.
“At a very early age I began reading novels written during the mid-to-late 1800’s, such as Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, Dracula, and so on. During my teen years, I discovered reprints of the pulp era, specifically, Doc Savage and the Shadow. Even after all these years, these are still the stories I prefer to read for recreation.”
Reinagel recognizes that although he feels quite at home in the New Pulp world, some may not consider his books to be traditionally Pulp in the strictest sense. “My stories are a bit unique and often described as ‘epics.’ They are not a light snack, but rather an eight course dinner including a dessert and appetizer, and as such, not intended to be consumed at one sitting. They take the readers around the world and sometimes back through decades of time. The characters are more realistic – living, growing and sometimes even dying. The stories are vastly more complex than your average short pulp story, but I have had nothing but positive feedback from all my readers, so I must be doing something right.
“And,” continued Wayne, “I believe readers enjoy the addition depth added to existing stories and characters. For instance, in Khan Dynasty we explore a deeper storyline involving Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde. I actually wrote more pages regarding these two characters than the original author, Robert Louis Stevenson.”
As far as why people read Pulp and how his work clearly fits into that niche, Reinagel stated, “Pulp is fun, fast-paced, entertaining, and the best bang for the buck. Personally, I enjoy reading action/adventure stories that take me on a wild roller-coaster ride and still leave me wanting more. And that’s what I try to offer in each of my stories. A reader recently emailed me and stated that after he finished Khan Dynasty, which is nearly 600 pages long, he couldn’t wait to start reading the next novel. That’s a high compliment, indeed.”
As previously mentioned, Wayne Reinagel is currently the sole employee and only staff member of Knightraven Studios. This was not so much a part of his initial plan, according to Reinagel, as it was just a circumstance of the moment. “Honestly, I didn’t know any professional writers or artists when I began writing More Than Mortal. And I wanted to explore this opportunity in both writing and illustrating a full-length story. It’s also very gratifying to know that I accomplished so much in my little one-man studio.
There are positives and negatives for Wayne being the only driving force and labor pool for his studio. “The upside is I control every aspect of the story and art. I drive myself very hard, working on improving my craft. And it’s something I really enjoy. The downside? Sometimes progress is very slow, doing everything myself. Occasionally, I feel the need to step back, take a deep breath, and realize everything that I’ve accomplished.”
Regardless of the length of his works or the complexity he applies to plot and character, Wayne Reinagel clearly sees his work as Pulp. And his fans do as well. “One of my readers described my books as, “Lightning in a bottle.” I don’t think I can come up with a better description than that.”
Find out just how epic Wayne Reinagel’s work is by checking out the Knightraven Studios page in the Pulp Book Store!
Check out the new graphics in the Pulp Book Store! Each publisher has its own unique identity and the Pulp Book Store displays that with eye catching distinct artwork, tailor made for each storefront!
Pulp fiction’s legendary Master of Men returns in two classic novels from the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction, written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of Grant Stockbridge. First, in “Overlord of the Damned” (October 1935), the Boss unleashes horrible death with his demonic acid guns… with a vat of the same deadly corrosive reserved for those who talk too much! With his beloved Nita van Sloan a hostage to a terrible doom, the Spider faces the soul-tearing prospect of planting the Spider seal on his friend Stanley Kirkpatrick, Commissioner of Police! Then, in “Dictator’s Death Merchants!” (July 1940), The jaws of death gape open when El Crocodilo feasts! With uncanny skill, he forestalls even the Spider’s best attempts to trap him. Striking without mercy, this menace from the past rises anew by demolishing a banking institution each night, in a mad scheme to take control of nothing less than all of America’s finances! This volume is available in two editions and features the original artwork from the October 1935 or the July 1940 edition of “The Spider” magazine. Both versions feature reformatted text and original interior illustrations to accompany each story. Available now for $14.95!
The Pulp Era’s strangest mystery man returns in two more epic adventures by Paul Ernst writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, can Justice, Inc. prevent secrets of an ancient civilization buried for centuries in The River of Ice from destroying the modern world? Then, scientists in Paris, Berlin and Montreal exhale fire as they die, setting The Avenger on the trail of The Flame Breathers and a deadly secret that threatens to plunge the world into a fiery infernal! BONUS: a thrilling adventure of Police Commissioner James Gordon, a.k.a. The Whisperer! This classic pulp reprint showcases H. W. Scott’s classic pulp covers, all the original interior illustrations by Paul Orban, and historical commentary by Will Murray. This fantastic reprint is only $14.95 in the Pulp Book Store!
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! The Master of Darkness, agent Clyde Burke and Secret Service agent Vic Marquette investigate deadly plots in two thrilling pulp novels by Walter Gibson as “Maxwell Grant.” First, The Shadow’s investigation of The Embassy Murders unearths a sinister plot that threatens world peace. Then, the kidnapping of Clyde Burke leads The Shadow and his agents on a winding murder trail through New Jersey’s Hills of Death. BONUS: a two-fisted adventure of Police Commissioner James Gordon, a.k.a. The Whisperer! This instant collectors’ item features both classic cover paintings by George Rozen, the original interior pulp illustrations by Tom Lovell and Edd Cartier and historical commentary by popular culture historians Anthony Tollin and Will Murray. And it can be yours for $14.95!
Doc Savage and his beautiful cousin Patricia battle threats to national security in pulp classics by Evelyn Coulson and Lester Dent writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, while testing an experimental plane for the Army, Renny disappears after his airship is engulfed by The Yellow Cloud. Then, what has transformed Monk, Ham and Johnny into cowardly Men of Fear? The incredible secret could end the war, unless Nazi agents seize it first. This special collectors edition showcases the original color pulp covers by Emery Clarke, Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray, author of eight Doc Savage novels. Available now for $14.95!
Follow the adventures of Mary Backstayge, Handsome Harry Backstayge, the idol of a million other women, their next door neighbor Calvin Hoogavin, stage door man, Pop Beloved and Broadway producer Greg Marlowe, who is secretly in love with Mary, as they leave Skunkhaven, Long Island to board a train for Seattle where they will open at a theater atop the Space Needle. Fielding Backstayge, Harry’s long-lost blacksheep brother, does his worst to disrupt the play, while the play’s backer, Wealthy Jacobus Pike, keeps a worried eye on things. A mysterious ululating Train Buff mysteriously appears, followed by many sprained ankles. Webley Webster, Artie Schermerhorn, The McBeeBee Twins, Chester Hasbrouck Frisbee, Ralph Flinger, Mr. I-Know-Where-They-Are, Dr. Elmer Stapley, The Word Wizard and the incomprehensible Dean Archer Armstead show up from time to time. Plus The Gathering Dusk. All in Volume 5 of Bob & Ray: The Soap Operas for $29.95 in the Pulp Book Store!
Already the best place to find Classic and New Pulp tales and Pulp related products from the best companies in the business, The Pulp Book Store goes itself one better! The Treasure Chest, the place to find great deals, now exclusively features products for the Pulp Book Store! Just click on the Treasure Chest on the Pulp Book Store Page and you’ll find fantastic monthly discounts on an ever changing variety of items from our various stores! Check the Treasure Chest now to see what great discounts await everyone from the avid Pulp Fan to the casual reader! The Treasure Chest is Open now in the Pulp Book Store!
“Six Men of Evil” was originally published in the February 15, 1933 issue of The Shadow Magazine. Six men with a bizarre secret, exploit that secret in order to begin a crime wave that covers the entire United States. The Shadow will travel from New York to Mexico to San Francisco’s Chinatown before he will be able to conquer the evil of those six men. As our story opens, six men are on horseback, crossing the border from Mexico into Texas. They have only recently been released by ancestors of the ancient Aztecs, where they had been held captive as punishment for crimes against the lost tribe. Each man will adopt a new name and enter a new community as a respectable citizen. They will plan crime. Regardless of whether they murder or steal, they will do it openly and allow witnesses to see them. Because, they will have an iron-clad alibi. The perfect crime!
But before The Shadow can begin to combat this crime, he must take a trip to Mexico and find the lost city of Zeltapec. And this is where the story, which is already a corker, gets even better. And then, as if a trip to a lost civilization isn’t enough, we get a rousing climax when The Shadow visits San Francisco and it’s famed Chinatown. There we learn another secret about The Shadow’s girasol ring.
The Shadow appears as Lamont Cranston in this story. He is accompanied by his agents Burbank, Harry Vincent, investment-broker Rutledge Mann and reporter Clyde Burke. There is no mention of Kent Allard; author Gibson hadn’t invented him yet.
This is definitely an early version of The Shadow. He is nearly all-powerful. He wields a hypnotic presence; his eyes contain a mesmeric glint that brooks no refusal. He shoots to kill, not to wound; and he shoots straight the first time. His mastery of even the esoteric languages of the ancient Zeltapec chief is demonstrated here.
The early years of The Shadow Magazine are universally recognized to contain the best of The Shadow’s pulp adventures. And this story is definitely one of the best. Plenty of action. Plenty of mystery. Visits to far-flung places. And the exciting power of The Shadow at its most concentrated. It all goes to make this story a must-read. Treat yourself to one of the best of the best today for $12.95 at Radio Archives in the Pulp Book Store!
Comments From Our Customers!
Carole writes:
And Doc! Oh I do love being read to! I left off start of disc 4 of Python Isle–Doc is on the scene! Tear-gassed, surrounded by dead canaries and yowling cats, but he’ll find a way! (I’m quite partial to Ham, case you’re interested.) This is beyond rich, and the Book List lady’s comments re McConnohie made me smile. O my, isn’t he a wonder! I had to back track when he did the female holler for help. Murray’s jargon is even more fun on audio than in printed form. I tell you listening in the stillness of the night, lights on low, is just magic. I’m hooked. If I sound obsessed it’s because I am. Eager to rescue Renny, wonder what’s happened to Habeas. And never ever will “here kitty kitty” sound the same.
E. Tomlinson Fort:
The audio production of The Jade Ogre is absolutely terrific. Michael McConnohie has a good narrative voice and the production has nice little music cues throughout. As a novel, the books has its high and low points. There is good character development and the slower’ opening gives Murray plenty of time to set up his narrative. Likewise, I enjoyed the heavy involvement of Pat in this adventure, It is also a nice change to feature Ham without Monk for a good portion of the story. While I enjoy both characters immensely, their constant interaction occasionally needs a break. Having Ham playing a more prominent role is again a clever move by the author.
Brad Bennett:
I just wanted to write you and thank you for your quick service in sending me my order and also a great big thanks for putting out these wonderful operetta/musical comedy radio recordings. I certainly hope they sell and you are able to keep putting more and more out for the public to purchase. So thanks again for your terrific efforts in getting these Railroad Hour’s out for us to buy.
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email to Service@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!
The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you at RadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items at RadioArchives.com.
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Publisher, writer, artist, researcher, and formatter, Reinagel took the opportunity to dedicate his time to fulfilling a dream he’d had since childhood. “Being a passionate reader of comic books and novels since I was about knee-high,” said Reinagel, “I have always had a deep-seated desire to write and illustrate my own series of stories. About five years ago I started working on an epic-length ‘Steampulp’ story involving dozens of Victorian era characters of the late 1800’s combined with a group of four heroes of the 1930’s pulp era in a universe known as Infinite Horizons. The main title is Pulp Heroes and the individual novels are subtitled More Than Mortal, Khan Dynasty, and the upcoming Sanctuary Falls. The Hunter Island Adventure is the first of a long series of short stories, and it takes place between Khan Dynasty and More Than Mortal. The next series of novels take place in the 1800’s, and are described as Gothic Horror Steampunk. These are Modern Marvels – Viktoriana and the upcoming Modern Marvels – Gothika.”
Bob & Ray: The Soap Operas Volume 5
