July/August 2010 - Big Little Books

THE
BIG
LITTLE
TIMES
______________________________________________
VOLUME XXIX, NUMBER 4
BIG LITTLE BOOK COLLECTOR’S CLUB
P.O. BOX 1242
DANVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94526
JULY/AUGUST 2010
_________________________________________________________________________________
Mickey Mouse Cards (1935)
Hap Lee’s Movie Gags #1145 (1935)
Back
Front
Cover
Cover
®
BIG LITTLE BOOK CLUB
MEETING
I hope that BLB Club members take a look at our Club’s website
once
in a whileis(biglittlebooks.com).
Thewho
site had
somethe
problems
Frank Chandler
a fictitious character
learned
secrets of the
last
November.
Some
hacker
invaded
the
site
and
put
unsavory
codesball to
Yogi’s in the Far East. He used his special powers and a crystal
into
the
files.
Thus
Google
removed
the
site
from
the
web
until
recently.
thwart the enemies of mankind. He became well-known as Chandu, the
A computer expert went through our site line-by-line and removed 17
Magician.
items that had been inserted. Now that they are removed, Google has put
site program
back on the
web. the Magician, began on
The popular juvenile the
radio
Chandu
October 10, 1932 on the West Coast Don Lee Network, radio station KHJ,
The site
is continually
updated
— every
twoMutual.
months when
each new
Los
Angeles.
It soonbeing
expanded
to the
East on
The 5-day
series of
issue
of
The
Big
Little
Times
is
published.
Since
last
year,
issues
have
been and
15-minute episodes was sponsored by White King Soap in the West
added
on aNut
regular
basis
to the
website. The nice thing about them is they
by
Beech
Gum
in the
East.
are in full color — wish I could afford full color for the paper editions. Take
a look.
I am
sure you
willAmerican-born
enjoy rereadingFrank
a colorful
issue at
ourlearned
website.
The
title
character
was
Chandler
who
occult
secrets in India. He acquired supernatural skills, including astral projection,
Other items are
also
John Hochstraser,
Member
teleportation,
and
theupdated
ability toperiodically.
create illusions.
Calling himself
Chandu,
#1294,
has
been
working
with
me
for
nearly
a
year
to
provide
a
complete
he intended to fight any “evil that threatens mankind.”
listing of BLBs — Whitman’s and all the other companies. Each item in the
listings
is described
in detail,
including
information
onand
variations.
Values
The
original
show was
created
by Raymond
Morgan
Harry Earnshaw.
for
each
item
—
GOOD,
VERY
GOOD,
FINE
—
are
also
listed.
John
and I in
Vera Oldham who worked for them, wrote several hundred episodes
feel
that
the
prices
listed
are
fair
and
accurate
for
2010.
They
are
based
on and
which Chandler’s sister, Dorothy Regent, and her two children, Betty
sale
information
provided
by
Club
members
during
the
past
year,
thus
are
Bob, try to find Dorothy’s husband, Robert Regent, who disappeared in a
probably truer
than prices
listed
in Chandler
various catalogues.
are out
shipwreck.
Suspecting
foul
play,
takes the Catalogues
family to Egypt
where
of
date
as
soon
as
they
are
published,
their
listings
are
often
inaccurate
they encounter dangerous adventures and the evil Roxor. Chandler has
incomplete.
aand
mild
romance with Nadji, an Egyptian princess, and he discovers that
Roxor had kidnapped and holds Robert prisoner in an attempt to get his
A section
the site shows
plans
foron
a powerful
ray dozens
gun. of BLBs and related items for sale (based
on the site’s catalogue prices). As the items sell, new items are continually
added to replace
them. came to an end in 1936, it was revived for another
Although
the program
run beginning June 28, 1948. The original scripts were reworked by Vera
In anotherand
section
on the site
devoted
our Club, abygrowing
gallery
of on
Oldham,
the episodes
were
againtosponsored
White King
Soap
photos
of
Club
members
can
be
found.
If
your
number
appears
here,
your
ABC, Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. The spooky theme music was provided
picture
is on Juan
the site:
#1, #16,under
#21, #34,
#80,pseudonym,
#150, #163, #200,
#218,
by
organist
Rolando
his #66,
Hindu
Korla
Pandit.
#222,
#228,
#272,
#276,
#309,
#316,
#325,
#335,
#347,
#377,
#392,
Then on February 2, 1949, the serialized episodes were dropped,#681,
and the
#753, #778,
#822, #852,
#924, #973,
#1095, #1102,
#1262,
#1296,
#1310,
program
became
a 30-minute,
self-contained
story
each
week.
The last
#1311,
#1327,
#1337.
broadcast was heard on September 6, 1950.
LARRY LOWERY
Editor
Send For Yours Today!
Radio and Cereal Premiums of Big Little Book Characters
from 1930 to 1950
Part 1: A Feisty Urchin, Airmen, and Western Heroes
by
Walt Needham (Member #1102)
Thursday, September 9th
at 6:30 p.m. ‘til 8:30 p.m.
One of the highlights of the 1983 film classic, A Christmas Story, took place
when young Ralphie waited excitedly for the mailman to deliver his
Orphan Annie decoder badge. Ralphie felt betrayed by Annie as he read the
decoded message -- “Be sure to drink your Ovaltine,” the popular cereal
beverage of that era. Although in reality, Annie’s announcer, Pierre Andre
did not deliver such a message, Jean Shepherd who wrote both the book
and screen play (1) caught the initial enthusiasm of many of the boys and
girls whose after-school activities included a run to the mail box to see if
a prized premium had arrived. Unlike Ralphie, most were pleased to be
able to decode radio secret messages or wear the badges that indicated
membership in an organization headed by one of the radio (and Big Little
Book) heroes. Moreover many of the premiums offered had an almost
magical quality. They had been integral parts of the broadcasts’ plots,
helping the hero escape disaster or solving a mystery.
Hosted by Joe D’Aniello, Member #753
15 Chestnut Street
Plainville, MA 02762
(508) 612-2322
The idea of “giveaways” or gifts at little cost began early in the history
of radio. However, it did not start with cereal. Jim Harmon (2) reported
that in 1921 radio band leader, Vincent Lopez, offered an autographed
picture of himself to any one who wrote in and requested it. As a result,
station WJZ in Newark had to hire a staff to answer the many requests,
demonstrating the enthusiasm of the radio listeners for such radio gifts.
However, it is hard to imagine adult listeners manifesting the same
enthusiasm as their youthful counterparts.
The meeting will be held following a cook out at 5:30 p.m.
Please bring along any rare or hard to get blb related items for
show and tell, and bring along any books that you would like to sell
or trade as there will be an opportunity to get some blb bargains
and or treasures.
Big Little Book heroes were given a voice on radio, frequently in a
weekday, 15 minute format. Other BLB stalwarts, while not on the air,
were brought to life on cereal boxes and in newspaper ads, typically in
the comics section. While many offers required proof of purchase and
perhaps one thin dime, there could even be a hero-related premium inside,
or even on, the cereal package itself. While not as elaborate as the radio
items, which had to be requested through the mail, such offers catered to
immediate gratification and the overflowing of the pantry with cereal.
The Brimfield show is going on the week of September 7-12. SO, if anyone might want to take a ride to the show on either Thursday the 9th
or Friday the 10th WE CAN ADD THE TRIP TO OUR PLANS. It is about 50
minutes from my home.
Call Joe for details and Hotel Lodging information.
Tom Mix Premium Advertisements
4
3
4
5
Apparently, the first widely issued radio
premiums for youngsters stemmed from
Harold Gray’s 1924 comic strip, Little
Orphan Annie. This feisty hero, who was
the subject of 17 Big and Better Little Book
adventures, was probably the
first, if not only, transgendered
character in comics. She was initially
created male as “Little Orphan Otto,”
but Gray changed the name and deleted
trousers upon advice of his editor (3).
Little Orphan Annie
Cocomalt BLB Premium
Annie made her radio debut in 1930 on WGN in Chicago. The program
moved to the Blue Network in 1931 (4) where it became an immediate success
as the first late-afternoon children’s serial. Among the first premiums offered
in the early 1930s were sheet music of the Little Orphan Annie song, a shake-up
mug with game instructions included, and metal buttons with Annie and Joe
Corntassel, her sidekick, printed on them. Subsequent offers included
a water pistol, photographs, emblems, lucky coins, booklets, wearing
apparel, rings, comic books, clickers, sundials, and games. Over the years,
the “Little” was dropped and Annie became Radio Orphan Annie and she
formed her Secret Society. It was not until 1935 that the first decoders and
Secret Society instructional manuals were offered. Decoders were continued
on a yearly basis. The last Annie Ovaltine decoder was offered in 1940
after which Quaker Puffed Wheat Sparkies became its primary sponsor.
In 1942 the Quaker Company issued an Annie kit which contained a Whirl
-o-matic decoder among its contents. However few secret messages were
decoded with the Whirl-o-matic as the program was discontinued on April
26, 1942. Radio Annie, too young to enlist or be given a special government
assignment, became an unheralded casualty of World War II.
1935 First Radio Annie
Decoder Pin
1936 Radio Annie
Decoder Pin
1938 Radio Annie
Decoder Pin
The Radio Annie decoders have become
one of the staples of the premium world.
They varied not only in code but design.
The 1935 issue was a sturdy, half dollar
sized pin, its primary part made of heavy
metal. Each subsequent decoder had its
distinctive features. Others were shaped
like a traditional badge, a sunburst, a fivepointed star, or rounded discs of various
sizes. The last one had a patriotic theme
featuring an eagle, a flag, and a secret
compartment.
6
The first of the Big Little Book airmen on radio
was Jimmy Allen. In fact, one of its radio plots
served as the basis of a big little book, Jimmy
Allen in the Air Mail Robbery. The Air Adventures
of Jimmy Allen continued from 1933 to 1937
during which time puzzles, pins, badges,
airplane plans, albums, flight charts, photos, and
even a series of flying lessons and photos were
offered. They were at times made available at
local Skelly Oil gas stations.
They initially issued the typical flight wing
badges but later offered a badge which
“magically” forecast the weather by means of a
litmus paper insert. Other premiums included
a brass membership, maps, a newsletter, a
model kit, and even a “surprise” package. The
Jimmy Allen program was extremely popular,
resulting in many airplane flying contests held
world-wide but its run was not a long one.
A new decoder was issued in 1942, this being
a badge with a picture of Captain Midnight,
himself, above the decoding wheel. With the
shortage of materials, this was the last until
the end of the war. However, Secret Squadron
decoding badges returned, and the 1945 version
featured a built-in magnifier.
Jimmie Allen
Big Little Book
A similarly shaped badge was issued in 1946 with a signal mirror on its
face. Badges were eliminated in 1947 when the decoder was on the side
of a plastic, blue, police-style whistle which could also be used as a signal
device after the Squadron member learned Morse code.
Skelly left Jimmy Allen grounded and sponsored Captain Midnight until the early 1940s. Although Skelly changed pilots, it kept the same
writers, Burtt and Moore, who continued throughout the radio series.
Ovaltine, after leaving Radio Annie, began its sponsorship of Captain Midnight which lasted from 1940 to 1951.
1940 First Captain Midnight
Decoder Badge
7
Captain Frank Hawks
Sky Patrol Badge
Two Big Little Book western stalwarts, Tom Mix
and the Lone Ranger, made their presence known
on radio and in all other forms of the current
media. Their range of premiums was extensive.
Tom Mix was a known hero and had to do little
to establish himself on radio. By the same token
he had little to do with the radio program which
lasted from 1933 to 1951.
Jimmie Allen
Flying Club Badge
The former announcer of the Jimmy
Allen program, Ed Prentiss, became
Captain Midnight, a flying WWI Ace
whose real name was Jim “Red” Albright.
As the program developed, Midnight
no longer was addressed as “Red”
and developed his Secret Squadron
along military lines.
He
p a r t i c i p a t e d i n Wo r l d Wa r I I
advent ures (5) b ut his primary
enemies were Ivan Shark and
his daughter Fury. Their schemes
demanded immediate intervention
by Midnight and the members of his
Secret Squadron. The need for a
decoder was apparent and in 1940 the
code-o-graph dial badge was offered to
radio listeners as part of their Secret
Squadron membership kit.
The only documented radio program that
featured a Big Little Book and real life hero,
Captain Frank Hawks, was a four month
long vehicle in 1936 titled Time Flies,
sponsored by Elgin watches (6). It seems
quite likely that there was no “box top for a
premium” offer in effect for that program. Newspaper and magazine ads appeaed in the 1930s
also offered membership in the Frank Hawks Sky
Patrol, pins manuals, parental letters, and the
possibility of winning a $35 Excelsior bicycle.
Post’s 40% Bran Flakes was the sponsor. Hawk’s
untimely death in 1938 ended these promotions.
Skelly Oil photo of
Captain Midnight, Patsy, and Chuck
A 1948 code-o-graph pocket piece had a signal mirror and secret compartment. An odd shaped key-o-matic decoder was offered in 1949. A
silver, plastic code-o-graph badge was produced during the 1957 Captain
Midnight television program which starred Richard Webb. Other Ovaltine radio premiums included badges, pins, patches, service ribbons, certificates, a detect-o-scope, various rings, a watch, model airplane kits, a
dog whistle, and a shake-up mug.
1949 Captain Midnight
Key-o-matic decoder
Captain Midnight
Brass Membership Token
8
Captain Midnight
Weather Forecasting Badge
Tom Mix’s death in 1940 did not interfere with his on-the-air adventures.
Ralston sponsored this extremely popular program during its entire run.
Its plots incorporated the Ralston Straight Shooter organization with
radio listeners as members and premiums contributing to Mix’s success
in his adventures. Its rituals were more extensive than most of the other
radio clubs. For example, at all meetings the first part of the secret
password “ral” was whispered, to be answered by “ston,” where
upon recognized members would softly say “ralston” together (7).
As might be expected of a
western hero, one of the first
Tom Mix Straight Shooter
premiums was a wooden pistol
with moving parts. Assembled
as a group, Mix’s radio premiums consisted of almost more
secret devices than any spy
agency. Early offers included
an extensive membership kit,
which included the basic
equipment including a letter
to the new Straight Shooter’s
mother.
The Wooden Pistol
9
1933 Sharp Shooter’s Manual
Other accessories available from Ralston’s Checkerboard Square in
St. Louis included a bandana, spurs, a watch fob containing gold ore,
a good luck spinner, special featured rings, comics, books, photos,
patches and badges.
In 1936 Ralston offered a premium similar to the style and format of a Big Little Book. It was titled The Trail of the Terrible Six,
“written by Tom Mix, himself.” At times Ralston offered premiums inside
the cereal box, such as decoder, picture buttons featuring images of
Sheriff Mike Shaw, Jane, Wash (the cook), Tony (Mix’s horse) and “the
radio Tom Mix, Curley Bradley.” During its broadcast years it featured
many radio actors who were to become famous in their own right,
including Willard Waterman, Hal Peary, George Goble, and Les
Treymayne.
Tom Mix Decoder Button
with Sheriff Mike Shaw
Tom Mix Decoder Button
with Jane (Tom Mix’s ward)
The Lone Ranger program was initially sponsored
by regional bakeries when it began in January
1933. General Mills took the program’s reins in
1941. Whereas the earlier sponsors had offered
premiums such as booklets, badges, membership
in a safety club, and a mask, Kix, Wheaties, and
Cheerios left these sponsors in the dust with their
many, and often unique, premiums (8).
A box top and a silver coin could bring badges, bandanas, a paper
decoder, glow-in-the-dark belts, shirts, head dresses, bracelets, an atom
bomb ring, a warning siren, a silver bullet, a compass, revolvers of
various types, and an official pedometer. One did not even have to look
inside the box itself as both an airbase and parts of a complete frontier
town were printed on the box itself. Unlike earlier radio premiums,
these items were typically not connected with the plots of the radio
program.
Roy Rogers did not deny his fans an
endorsement of a choice of breakfast cereals with
both Quaker and Post being sponsors at times. His
program began in 1944, promoted by Goodyear and
during its last year, 1954, Dodge paid the tab.
Roy was both generous and versatile in his
offerings. They included the usual badges, lucky
coins, mugs, comic books, and rings but also the
chance to win a trip to Hollywood.
Other BLB heroes had radio programs with giveaways but they were
not sponsored by cereal companies. They did not pursue the long term
aggressive marketing as did Ralston, Ovaltine, Post, and General Mills.
For the sake of relative completeness some will be mentioned here.
Roy Rogers BLB
Big Little Book hero, Gene Autry, had a 16-year
radio run from 1940 to 1956. However, this
long-lived program, Melody Ranch, was short
on its radio premiums. Only three are listed in
Harmon’s catalog (7), these being a pre-network
photo (1938), a photo (1946), and a photo/letter
and flying A.
The sponsor, Wrigley’s gum, could not offer box tops, but
Autry endorsed “Sparkies” (Quaker Oats products — Puffed-wheat
and Puffed-rice) in newspaper ads as well as numerous other products
which contributed to his eventually becoming the wealthiest movie
cowboy.
Tom Mix Decoder Button
with Curley Bradley
Miscellaneous
Roy Rogers Premiums
Lone Ranger
Atomic Bomb Ring
Tom Mix Whistling
Sheriff’s Badge
Tom Mix Six-Gun
Decoder Badge
Hoofbeats featuring Buck Jones had a short run
from 1937 to 1938. The program was sponsored
by Grape-Nuts. Buck Jones Club badges were
among the premiums offered.
Lone Ranger
Flashlight Ring
Lone Ranger
Lunch Pail
Buck Jones BLB
Examples of Tom Mix premiums.
Items currently being sold at Hake’s Auction
10
Lone Ranger
Meteorite Ring
Lone Ranger
Six-gun Ring
Kix Premium
11
Lone Ranger Ring
Buck Jones
Ring
Buck Jones
Club Badge
12
Gene Autry Comic Book
Premiums
Quaker Cereals
13
Had any of the boys and girls of this era been
able to see into the future, he or she might have
created a substantial nest egg (7). A Captain
Midnight mystic sun god ring in mint condition
has been valued at $4500 while a Captain Midnight
flight commander signet ring goes for $2000.
The great Red Ryder appeared in various
formats from 1942 to 1951. He was
sponsored by Langendorf Bread.
Movie
serial star, Reed Hadley, was the first Ryder. The
program offered paper decoders, pins, a
membership kit, a plastic arrowhead, and a good
luck token. And, f course, the legendry Daisy Air
Rifle will always be associated with Red Ryder.
The Daisy Rifle that your
Mom thinks will “shoot
your eye out”
One should not forget to mention “Lightning
Jim” who made both a brief appearance in a Big
Little Book and on radio. Harmon (7) reports that
the program was broadcast in the 1930s, Dunning
(4) does not list it, and Golden (6) describes it as
consisting of 98 episodes in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Three premiums were offered, a membership
badge, a membership card, and a photo. The
sponsor was Meadow Gold Dairy.
14
When I wrote The Golden Age of Big Little Books 1932-1938, some details of
information were seemingly unattainable no matter how hard I tried to
research them. One was a puzzlement over the artist who drew the
caricatures of movie stars for the Hap Lee’s Selection of Movie Gags — Favorite
Jokes of the Stars. The caricatures had the fine line style of Harry Herschfield,
but when I talked with the experts at the Herschfield Museum, they said
that the caricatures were not Harry’s. So, in my book, the source for this
art remained unknown.
There were 120 Mickey Mouse bubble gum cards published by Gum Inc.
in the early 1930s. The first 96 cards show cartoons of Mickey in various
humorous situations.
Radio Annie does not fare as
well with a 1930 button in mint
condition said to be worth a
mere $800 as her most valued
premium.
Be sure to stay tuned! The radio cereal premiums of adventurers, crime
fighters, and comic characters will be covered in a future article.
References:
(1). Shepherd, Jean (1972).
Dolphin.
Ken Maynard had a short-lived and
unsponsored program in the early 1950s,
Tales of the Diamond K.
He attempted to
provide the premiums himself, notably a small
78 rpm recording of a story depicted in the
program and personalized with the listener’s first
name (7).
Mystic Sun God Ring
A full set of Lone Ranger
Frontier Town sections on boxes of
Cheerios is estimated to be worth
$4000 and the 1934 “First Lone
Ranger”
comics
has
been
priced at $4000 as well.
One house from the Cheerios/Lone
Ranger Frontier Town set
Red Ryder premiums
COLLECTOR’S CORNER
In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. New York:
(2) Harmon, Jim. (1967). The Great Radio Heroes. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.
(3) Dunn, Steve & Richardson, Mike.
(1998).
Panels. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Comics, Inc.
Comics Between the
(4). Dunning, John (1998). On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New
York: Oxford University Press.
(5). Kallis, Stephen A.
(2000).
Captain Midnight,
Biography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company
(6). Goldin, J. David
(1998)
Sandy Hook, Connecticut: Radio Yesteryear.
The
Golden
The
Age
I don’t know why I did not notice it before, but Hake’s Auction put
several Mickey Mouse with the Movie Stars cards up for bid. I’ve seen the
Movie Star cards before, but suddenly I realized they matched the Hap Lee
illustrations. Here are pictures of a few of the cards. Note how they are the
ones used on the BLB cover — and inside the book. I now assume that the
art is by a Disney artist. Does anyone in the Club have more information
about the art and how it ended up in a BLB?
The last 24 cards, published in 1935 (the same year the Hap Lee BLB was
published), show cartoons of Mickey with famous actors and actresses of
the time. The challenge on each card is to identify the movie star from a
clue in the illustration, then write that name on the back of the card. This
Mickey Mouse with the Movie Stars set was not originally issued with the
first 96 cards. It was apparently tacked on to the earlier cards. They are
quite rare and much harder to get than the lower numbers.
Wartime
of
Radio.
(7). Harmon, Jim (1997). Radio & TV Premiums. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications
(8). Heide, Robert, & Gilman, John. (1982). Cowboy Collectibles. New York:
Harper & Row Publishers.
15
16
17
We now know that the artwork in the Hap Lee BLB was adapted from the
Mickey Mouse with the Movie Star cards.
The matching BLB page
The matching BLB page
•
•
•
A flock of original BLB cover artwork hit the marketplace in the last quarter of last year. Some of the art was shown in the January/February issue
of the BLT. The art is for titles in the soft cover 5000 series. Club Member
Ken Mitchell, Member 286*, bought the art for the Road Runner, The Lost
Road Runner Mine and discovered the art and the book were originally
intended to be published as one of the 1967, 68, 69 2000 series books. To
date we have not discovered what other books from the 5000 series were
to have also been published earlier.
•
•
•
Larry Johnston also came across a Betty Boop in Gulliver’s Travels BLB with
a white spine. All the copies I’ve seen have blue spines. Larry wrote:
Just today a Betty Boop Gullivers Travels sold for $400. You may have
seen the item on EBAY. The book was blue in color as expected, but the
spine was a white color. Book was in VF/NM condition. What is your
take on this?
I’ve just had a chance to see another piece of the art that was sold last year.
What caught my eye was the fact that the art never made it to the printing
stage. The title of the proposed book is The Good Guys Scrambled Eggistence.
It would be interesting to learn the story behind books that get started but
never make it to press.
Can you identify all the movie stars pictured on the 10 cards shown in this
review?
*Ken was one of the earliest Canadian members in the BLB
Club. He made many contributions to the Big Little Times. Ken
passed away at age 78 on Friday, June 11.
18
In my collection, I have
the original planning
sketches for a 1930s Big
Little Book adapted from
Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Like the Good
Guys BLB, it never made
it to production. Instead,
Whitman decided to
do a Little Women BLB
using stills from the 1933
award winning movie.
Original
artwork
for a
Little
Women
BLB
19
I sent photos of the book to our Club’s expert on printing, John Pansmith,
Member #810. He studied the pictures and wrote back:
Larry Johnston, Member #681, picked up a copy of an ad in an early King
Comics. It is a Whitman ad for the BLBs that were available at the time. BLB
ads are few in number and seldom seen.
20
This is an easy one...blue ink is particularly fugitive when exposed to
sunlight (ultra violet rays), although sunlight can cause any color to
fade. The spine actually is faded blue, even though it appears to be almost
white. The book was probably in a bookcase near a window, sandwiched
between other books. You can see evidence of some slow fading on the
front and back near the spine, too.
21
LETTERS
John has been very helpful in explaining printing anomalies - and I’ve
learned a lot from him. In the early days of our Club, fading sometimes
caused questions about differences in cover prints. Knowing that cover
forms print complete covers (front, backbone, and back cover as a unit)
makes it unlikely that Whitman would just change the color in one small
part of the cover. Such a change is expensive and would not contribute
to more sales. On this point, John added another observation:
Your article about Chandu the Magician triggered memories. I was an
elementary school student in 1935 when the movie played at a local theater.
As a promotion, the theater owner hired me and several other students to
distribute paper face masks of Chandu to all of the students at our school.
My pay for this was one free admission to the movie.
This “fading” thing brings to mind the “Buck Rogers on the Moons of
Saturn” title. I’ve never seen a copy of your GW83a (“Buck Rogers”
in yellow on the spine) version, which is not to imply it doesn’t exist,
of course. I assume you have, or have seen, several copies. Still, there
doesn’t seem to be any good reason for Whitman to go to the expense
of making a change like that. It would require at least making new
printing plates and associated costs. Red exposed to sunlight can fade
to a pale yellow. Possible in this case?...or?
I knew that Robert Culp was a BLB collector. Many years ago while appearing
on a late night talk show, he mentioned that he collected BLBs. An address
was provided for anyone who had BLBs for sale. I sent a list of about fifteen
of my duplicates to the address. I received a form letter stating that Mr. Culp
was paying 50¢ each for BLBs. I didn’t bother to reply.
I do hope that we can “rally the troops” enough to justify your continuing
the Club and the BLB Times. You have brought me so much pleasure over
the years — even more so now. I am 84 and living in a retirement home. I
can’t get out and seek BLBs any more. I enjoy pursuing my collection and
from time to time I do buy a book on eBay.
BILL ATKINS
Member #16
Thanks to some Club members we gained 14 new members since the last issue of
the BLT. In that same time, 11 old timers passed away.
The letters in the words
BUCK ROGERS are red
Sort of sad to know I’ve just paid my last dues to the Club, but thanks heaps
for a great ride. Best book club I’ve ever been in!
DON BRATT
Member #515
The letters in the words
BUCK ROGERS are pale
yellow
Oh faithful editor and founder. I am desolate to learn you will
end your tenure. You have given so many of us so much pleasure
over the years. I am sorry I have been unable to contribute more.
Well the BLBs are gracefully degrading as are many of our members.
I am amused at the current prices some of the dealers are asking for our
little treasures. Many thanks.
BEAR BAUMAN
Member #118
I think John is correct about the Buck Rogers on the Moons of Saturn BLB.
I have one copy with the words “Buck Rogers” on the spine in pale yellow. All my other copies are in bright red. I’ve never seen another one
with yellow letters. So, it is probably true that my listing of the yellow
lettered version is not a variation in printing, but simply a fading of the
red ink to pale yellow.
Collectors can stop looking for GW83a. It does not exist.
Long live Larry Lowery. Thank you for everything.
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The most recent issues of the Big Little Times with the news of your
retirement from its editorship, and the letters of dismay that followed, came
just as I had decided to sell my collection. My wife and I (ages 80 and 76)
will be moving to a smaller place in a few months. This means that my BLB
collection must go, and without the books, it will probably be the end of my
25-year membership in the club. That will be a sad day, as these little books
have given me a lot of pleasure since my parents gave me Mickey Mouse
and the Sacred Jewel on Christmas day, 1935. And thanks to you, Larry, the
opportunity of membership in the club has made the enjoyment even greater.
But unfortunately, as you implied, old age has many implications.
I’d prefer to pass my collection intact to another club member (or potential
member), but suspect that may not be a realistic hope, as the catalogue value
of the main collection, not including 270 duplicates, is about $US 48,000,
although I would be willing to part with them for considerably less. If you
or any other club members have advice to offer re the logistics (or even
advisability) of trying to sell 700+ books as a unit I’d be grateful to hear it.
I’ve noticed ads once in a while in the BLTimes offering entire collections for
sale, but not necessarily as a unit. Shipping such a large volume of books
across the Canada-US border might also be tricky these days. Selling them
piece-meal is always an option of course.
COLIN McGREGOR
Member #270
Growing up in the 1950s, I actually don’t remember the BLBs. We were
pretty poor and I did not have extra dimes to go out and buy books. My
grandmother had to take a bus from a nearby town to bring groceries to us
as my father was in the VA hospital due to injuries from WWII, and my other
did not work. We did not have a car.
My wife bought me my first BLB approximately 15 years ago at an antique
store. Having retired after 30 years as an FBI Agent, you can assume I am
interested inn the Dick Tracy, G-Man, and other detectives series. I now
have approximately 150 books. Still haven’t read them all but hope to get
to them during retirement.
If you do decide to give up the Club, I hope one of the long-standing
members will take over. Thanks for all your efforts.
BOB RELICK
Member #1054
We old timers who remember BLBs as a kid came from a generation that
helped win WWII, developed wondrous technologies, and improved our
understanding of the universe. What will the more recent generations do?
JON GOTHOLD
Member #1100
KAREN FIELDS
Member #210
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CLASSIFIED ADS
WANTED
WANTED
Alley Oop and Dinny #763.
Looking for Mint or
very sharp Near Mint.
Phantom BLBs:
Desert Justice (1421)
Return of the Phantom (#1489)
Flash Gordon BLB:
Monsters of Mongo (soft cover)
RAY SNODGRASS (Member #1142)
[email protected]
27515 Ynez Rd., Temecula CA 92591
WANTED
Also
Zorro, Lone Ranger, Davy Crockett,
Green Hornet, Shadow, and
Crusader Rabbit memorabilia
BLB and related items
Golden Age 10¢ comics
WWI - WWII military items
And
non-sport cards, various board
games.
JEFF KEPLEY (Member #1337)
6956 Westmoreland Way
Sacramento, CA 95831
(916) 421-0921 evenings or weekends
ROBERT JOHNSTON (Member #57)
5111 South 93rd Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68127
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
Cocomalt Buck Rogers
in the 25th Century
Very Good Condition
Name written in pencil on title page.
$40.00 plus $5.00 shipping
Piecemeal or entire collection of
830 Whitman and Saalfield BLBs
Most VG or better.
Catalogue value $50,000
List on request
CONRAD OKERWALL (Member #1165)
Call: (928) 474-0745
or email: [email protected]
COLIN McGREGOR (Member 279)
49 Evergreen Drive
Ottawa Ont. K2H 6C5
Canada
613-820-0598
[email protected]
FOR SALE
FINE Condition
Animated Features and
Silly Symphonird
Only book that includes many of the
toppers for the Sunday Mickey Mouse
feature. $20.00 includes shpping.
LARRY LOWERY (Member #1)
Call: (925) 837-2086
or email: [email protected]
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