Memorial Day

This is a special Memorial Day for me.  My son had his birthday this weekend and it's one I've looked forward to for a long time.  He was born with a condition that, at the time, was not so understood.  With what little information they had we were informed that he wouldn't see his 35th birthday.  He has not only survived but thrived and celebrated 35 years here on this rock we call home.

While we all remember those that sacrificed their lives so that we can live ours, I'm beyond thankful that this Memorial Day gives me one less person to pay posthumous tribute to.

ON THE AIR, January 16, 1938

Sabotage!  This a true classic.  Welles reading crooks minds.  Saving the U S of A from the vicious unnamed villains (Nazis, to be sure).  Rooting out traitors and escaping death traps.  All in a days work for The Shadow.  Make sure you listen to "Sabotage" and start your Memorial Day weekend with The Shadow.

"Meathooks" page 6

"How much luckier can a fella be?"

Another Cussler, you say

Yeah, after "Murder Town" I'm attacking another "Clive Cussler" novel.  I'm not sure how much Clive has to do with these posthumous stories, but as long as these characters exist I'll keep collecting them and reading them.

"Meathooks" page 5

"They tell me you are wicked and I believe them..."

"Meathooks" page 4

"...to settle your debt..."

"Meathooks" page 3

 "You don't seem to mind taking that money."

What I'm reading now

I read John's review prior to getting into this tale and I'm intrigued.  When the cases take place in the country rather than a city I'm usually not all that excited.  But I trust John so...

"Meathooks" page 2

 "So is this clown actually from New York, or what?"

ON THE AIR: January 9, 1938

 I've listened to this countless times as I'm sure most agents have.  This has been out on cassette for a very long time but now it can be found here.  It's been one of my favorites for a very long time, probably for the characterizations.  The prosecutor sounds more like a crime boss than a defender of justice.  Mary Sullivan, the brave and honorable Irish girl.  The Shadow was, as always, inevitable.  Classic.

"Meathooks" page 1

"Stormy, husky, brawling."

Meathooks

 Aaaahhhhh, Eduardo is back!  A new adventure begins.

10 years since Jeffrey C. Jones left us.

Jeffrey Catherine Jones still influences me, every day.  I will never understand what they went through, mentally.  But I'll spend my days trying to see what they saw and work it into how I see.  Jones, Fechin, Sargent, Mucha, Klimt, Cornwell, A. Wyeth... the list goes on.  But Jones stands above them for me.  I met them at one time, before the change.  I got to spend hours with the artwork when it was exhibited at The Joe Kubert School, probably 35 years ago.  Amazing experience.  

 

Sculpture

 

 

Draftmanship

 

Storyteller

Painter

Artist

a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious skill and creative imagination

 "You okay, keed?"

The second novel I ever purchased, the one that got me truly hooked

This Steranko cover pretty much formed my vision of The Shadow.  Such an exciting image and the look of vengeful justice on that dramatic face, just fantastic.  James Steranko was the perfect choice to update the covers and Alex Ross was just as great a choice to continue the covers (even though it was for those awful Dynamite comic stories).

"Out of the Past" page 24

"No Maggie.  Not Harry..."

"Out of the Past" page 23

"H...Harry?"

ON THE AIR: January 2,1938

From The Shadow Wiki:

"Six wealthy people have committed suicide. A former professor of Lamont Cranston's believes the deaths occurred because they each touched a cursed idol from a sacred temple. Later, the professor is found dead too. When The Shadow investigates, he seeks the professor's wife and discovers that she and her husband, who faked his own death, are behind the six killings. They wanted to erect a temple in India devoted to Djaruti, goddess of death and needed the wealthy people's money to do so." 

  No radio programme today, folks.  I thought that this sounded like a great episode and, going forward, I am going to list the episodes as they aired whether a copy has survived or not.  I have chosen not to post the re-enactments, however.  I hope this doesn't disappoint anyone, just want to keep it as close to original as I can.

"Out of the Past" page 22

 "I have someone... paying the bills."

Gunning for Thursday

 Looks like The Shadow shot down Monday, Tuesday with Wednesday and Thursday about to hit the floor.

"Out of the Past" page 21

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

80 years ago this week

 Seven menacing hands.  Like this cover...

And let's not forget the symbol of The Seventh Star engraved on the golden base of the girasol ring that The Shadow always wears, indicating a secret order of Royalist Russia. At some point in his past, The Shadow has been a member of the group whose members numbered only the most trusted nobles of the czarist regime.*  Lucky number 7, indeed.  

*Thanks to John Olsen for his review of "The Red Menace".

"Out of the Past" page 20

 "...or you will answer under the spell of my girasol ring."

Vincent Price does The Shadow?

"House of Wax" 1953

"Out of the Past" page 19

"Then you spoke too soon!"

"Out of the Past" page 18

"Remember that it's there if you need it."

ON THE AIR December 26, 1937

A creepy episode to follow Christmas Day.  Dogs with the voices of kittens.  Go figure.  A truly vengeful antagonist in this one and a true classic from the early days of The Shadow radio program.  If you haven't heard it take a listen, it's a lot of fun.

"Out of the Past" page 17

"I killed Anastasia."

Who did it better?

Rozen

 or

 

Steranko

"Out of the Past" page 16

"The Shadow protects his agents.  Other agents do not."

"Out of the Past" page 15

"I was never able to say good-bye to his body."

If you can't take the time to curl up with a pulp

The Shadow Shop is offering full length audio versions of 5 (as of now) pulp tales.  I might try one of these just for kicks.  I haven't been a fan of audiobooks in the past but it could be fun hearing someone else's voice in my head as the adventure unfolds.

"Out of the Past" page 14

 "Margo.  You're not... you're not..."

"Out of the Past" page 13

"Of course everyone suspected that it was taken by... by..."

"...by your husband."