Friday, August 21, 2026

ON THE AIR: October 20, 1950


 
 
 Now it's time to listen to one of my favorite programs, The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe.  Sydney Greenstreet made this a pure joy to listen to.  Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's right hand man, was played by a multitude of actors over the course of it's 26 episode run.  Wally Maher is Archie in this, the first episode.  Lamont Johnson will play Goodwin in the next episode, Herb Ellis plays in episodes 3 & 4 while Larry Dobkin appears in episodes 5 - 12.  Gerald Mohr portrays Wolfe's man Friday in episodes 13 - 16 and Harry Bartell becomes the longest tenured Archie, playing the character in the final 10 cases.  Does anyone recognize Inspector Cramer?  It's none other than Bill Johnstone.

The Shadow #2 "Freak Show Murders" page 14

 
"The rest have alibis!"

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Saturday's random pulp cover: Doc Savage Magazine : "Fear Cay"_September, 1934


 Doc, Pat and company seem to be tangled up in another classic adventure.  Walter did a wonderful job painting this cover.

Friday, August 14, 2026

ON THE AIR: May 22, 1945

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  And so ends our re-presentation of "The Strange Dr. Weird".  I hope you enjoyed this short run series.  Time to dig through the OTR files and see what I can come up with for next week and beyond.  Thanks for tuning in and taking a listen to UTBL radio.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled lives. 
 


 

The Shadow #2 "Freak Show Murders" page 9

 
"Shadow... that was a shot!"

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Saturday's random pulp cover: Doc Savage Magazine : "The Mystery of the Majii"_September, 1935


 Love this cover.  I have no idea what is going on but there really seems to be a story just wanting to come out.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

The Shadow #2 "Freak Show Murders" page 1


 This  composition really feels like it comes from the pulp era.  And the center illustration keeps the mood from the cover so well.

Monday, August 3, 2026

Freak Show Murders

Fun cover where we see Kaluta still finding his way with the character.  He captured a great mood with this one.
 

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Saturday's random pulp cover: Argosy : "Don Peon"_August 22, 1936


 Nicely painted decorative cover for the magazine that started it all.  I couldn't tell you what Zorro-land is, but I would have given it a read.

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Pulpfest featuring The Shadow Con is here!

 
featuring


 Stop by our table and say "The Sun is Shining" and we'll know who's an agent.  If you haven't been to a Pulpfest before this is the year to give it a go.  We neighbor up with super pulp aficionado and prolific author, Will Murray.  Drop in and say hi.

The Shadow #1 "The Doom Puzzle" page 19

 
"One who loathes small, greedy creatures who prey on decent men--"

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Saturday's random pulp cover: G-8 & His BATTLE ACES : "The Squadron of Death Flies High"_December, 1942


 I'd love to love this cover, but I just can't.  Exciting?  Undoubtedly.  Enticing?  For sure.  So why don't I like it?  The figure at the bottom of the cover is just that, riding the bottom edge of the cover.  The parachute lays up against the left edge of the cover.  It stops the action and it no longer feels like they are falling out of the sky.  This is painted well enough, but the design is severely lacking.  This feels like an art director told the artist to include all of these elements and despite several thumbnail sketches that were far superior the guy behind the desk kept pushing for a large figure in front, a significantly sized airplane and a hero diving to his possible death.  That's how I see this one coming together.  I could be wrong but I'd like to give the artist the benefit of the doubt.

Monday, July 20, 2026

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Saturday, July 18, 2026

The Shadow Con is almost here

 

If you are attending PulpFest July30 - August 2, make sure to stop in a say hi to Tim, Sam or myself at our table.  We are launching the first annual con within a con dedicated to The Shadow.  This year marks 95 years since the pulp debut of that greatest of all characters.  Be sure to pick up an "Agents of The Shadow Con" membership card and bring it with you each year through 2031 when we will be celebrating 100 years of The Shadow.  Anyone who comes to 5 or 6 of the cons will be eligible for a drawing of an original painting by me.  And, please, if there are ideas you have for future events, let us know and we'll try to make each successive con better than the previous.

Saturday's random pulp cover: G-8 & His BATTLE ACES : "Death to the Hawks of War!"_January, 1941


 Let's continue with the Hawks and Death titles.  This cover may actually have too much going on.  The giant grappling hook dominates this composition and, unfortunately, the bi-plane on the right is a victim of a tangency... a cardinal sin in art.  If Mr. Blakeslee had just moved the plane down even a quarter inch then the top wing wouldn't look so static and the plane would look even more like it is in the background.  Still, that bad guy is pretty awesome to look at.  So, all is forgiven.