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| Books on Movie Serials; A Complete Listing | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 22 2017, 08:29 AM (3,080 Views) | |
| Pa Stark | Mar 26 2017, 08:50 PM Post #31 |
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Another book on Mascot was, "Next Time, Drive Off The Cliff." I don't have it handy right now to give you the author or publishing date. |
| Honest and Lovable Pa Stark | |
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| Barcroft | Mar 27 2017, 11:35 AM Post #32 |
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Bats, Got another one for you: Lure of the Tropix - A pictorial History of The Tropic Temptress in Films, Serials and Comics - Bill Feret Barcroft |
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| Barcroft | Mar 27 2017, 11:58 AM Post #33 |
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Bats, 3 more books about serials: The Strongman - The Daredevil Exploits of the Mightiest Man in the Movies - Joe Bonomo - A Pictorial Auitobiography - Joe Bonomo - 1968 Joe Bonomo starred as well as appearing in most of the silent serials Serial Adventures - The incredible story of the superheroes of the silver screen - James Van Hise - 1990 Calling Tracy! - Six Decades of Dick Tracy - including Serials, TV, Comics and Collectibles - James Van Hise -1990 And I think RiddleRider covered Screen Thrills Illustrated's 10 issue history. Barcroft |
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| The Batman | Mar 28 2017, 09:42 AM Post #34 |
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Wow, thanks for all the additions, guys. It may take a couple of days, but I will get all the additions/corrections/updates added. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| The Batman | Mar 28 2017, 09:58 AM Post #35 |
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Quick question for Bart, and anyone else who has read it: Is The Strongman - The Daredevil Exploits of the Mightiest Man in the Movies - Joe Bonomo a good read? I can pick up a used copy for about $30 and am always looking for a good (auto)biography. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| Barcroft | Mar 28 2017, 10:11 AM Post #36 |
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Bats, Not a bad read although I think Mr. Bonomo may have exaggerated his exploits a little bit. As info, he self published this book. RiddleRider may be able to add a little to this. Barcroft |
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| The Batman | Mar 28 2017, 10:16 AM Post #37 |
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Thanks, Barcroft, I did see it was self-published, which did lead me to wonder about its validity. Appreciate your feedback. RR, I would definitely consider any insight you can add about this tome. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| riddlerider | Mar 28 2017, 02:45 PM Post #38 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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I can speak with some authority on The Strongman because my close pal Sam Sherman was its editor, and because he was the one who introduced me to Bonomo, with whom I spoke twice (on one occasion interviewing him before a live audience). Joe was the only silent-serial hero I ever met face to face. To begin with, I wouldn't question a book's truthfulness only because it was self-published. Joe supervised its distribution because he was more interested in using it as a calling card to his business contacts than in selling it to serial fans or other movie buffs. Over the years he gave away several hundred copies to current and potential clients. To the latter it was a great ice-breaker when they finally sat down with Joe to hash out a deal. But Joe had printed a large quantity to get a good per-unit cost, so naturally he wound up with many more than he needed. Hundreds of copies were remaindered, which is why it's a fairly easy book to find, even in near-mint condition. I think the book is a compelling read, although it jumps around quite a bit. But so did Joe's memory. Consequently, while most of his stories are true, they aren't always related in chronological order. For example, he refers to the "execution" of an elephant from Universal's zoo. He pinpoints the animal's killing as occurring after the shooting of his 1925 serial The Great Circus Mystery, but I later learned that it had taken place a year or so earlier. I've since verified most of Joe's claims, the main exception being his insistence (picked up later by many other writers) that he was scheduled to play the lead in what became Tarzan the Mighty (1928), losing the role when he broke his leg on the third day of shooting. As I report in the section on Mighty in Handsome Heroes and Vicious Villains, he was never cast. The vine-swinging injury to which he referred actually took place during filming of Perils of the Wild, Universal's 1925 serial version of The Swiss Family Robinson, in which Joe played the eldest son. |
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| The Batman | Mar 28 2017, 07:21 PM Post #39 |
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Thank you, RR, that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I'll be getting the book. And I definitely didn't mean to imply that self-published books aren't truthful, I was more concerned about editing, grammar, etc. I've read a couple that never should have been published in the form they ended up in. Glad that isn't the case here. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| Barcroft | Mar 29 2017, 09:06 AM Post #40 |
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Bats, After you purchase and read the Bonomo book, let us know what you thought of it. Thanks Barcroft |
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| The Batman | Mar 29 2017, 09:35 AM Post #41 |
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Will do! I was planning to add my thoughts to all the serial books on this list (lucky you!). That's one of the reasons I started this thread, to get conversation going about the various serial-related books out there. So, aside from providing additions to the list, I appreciate any thoughts on books that you've all read. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| The Batman | Mar 29 2017, 10:05 AM Post #42 |
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Meant to add, I've just started reading In the Nick of Time, by William C. Cline, so hope others will post their thoughts on the book. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| The Batman | Mar 29 2017, 11:07 AM Post #43 |
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OK, I am working backwards through this thread, as I add each book. And as I do, I'm going to basically ask the same question: Is this book worth a read? So, first up is Serial Adventures - The Incredible Story of the Superheroes of the Silver Screen, by James Van Hise. Based on the two reviews I could find, one on Amazon and one on GoodReads, the prognosis for this one is dire: Amazon review (3 stars out of 5): The book itself doesn't have a professional look to its layout, but that's just the physical appearance. A number of stock promo photos are used which film buffs are likely to have seen before, but unfortunately most of them have no titles so the movies the pictures are from and who is in them are left uncredited. A few of them I have no idea what serial they're from. The text is meandering and redundant. The opening page or two of each chapter has its material repeated again as the chapter goes on. It's as if the chapters were written twice, but then never organized into a coherent essay. And most of this text is the author's un-edited, personal reactions to each serial, full of editorial comment and his personal preferences. He sometimes plods through an entire serial, making endless comments about each plot turn, errors in the plot's logic, etc. and it makes for very tedious reading. At times, one can have the impression that he doesn't really like most serials very much. Some interesting tid-bits are sprinkled throughout, but the entire book is so much in need of a good editor that it makes for a long, meandering, not terribly interesting read. At least we have all the Super Heroes from the serials listed in one volume. They just deserved a more organized, professional presentation. Personal note: The one positive thing about the review, the fact it lists all the super-hero serials in one volume, is useless. Anyone can Google that in 5 seconds...for free. GoodReads review (1 star out of 5): This book is comprised of brief chapters about movie serials that adapted adventure comic books and comic strips. Way too much of the text is given to synopsis and way to few to saying anything meaningful. The illustrations are drawn from photographs from these serials. I strongly suspect that most of us would much rather see the photos. I don't know if this book is self-published, but everything about it smacks of a vanity project. Personal note: Yikes! From what I get from the review, the books has hand drawn pictures of serial photos, instead of actual photos!?!? Can anyone confirm this? |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| The Batman | Mar 30 2017, 08:04 AM Post #44 |
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Lure of the Tropix - A Pictorial History of The Tropic Temptress in Films, Serials and Comics Anyone read this one? Recommended? I can't find too much information on it, and the three Amazon reviews say it is good entertainment, but not a reference book. All give it 4 stars out of 5. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| The Batman | Mar 30 2017, 08:05 AM Post #45 |
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Calling Tracy! - Six Decades of Dick Tracy This is another book by James Van Hise (see above). Need more feedback on his work, as so far it doesn't sound like it's worth pursuing. Anyone? |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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