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Books on Movie Serials; A Complete Listing
Topic Started: Mar 22 2017, 08:29 AM (3,076 Views)
Laughing Gravy
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Several years ago, Cliffhanger magazine published an article by Mario Demarco - on Rin-Tin-Tin, as I recall - and I later spoke with the folks behind WOY (the publisher) about it. It was, simply put, the most badly written piece I'd ever read, simply rife with errors, misspellings, and bad grammar. Linda apologized for it, said Mario was an advertiser of theirs and so they published the piece, and had no plans to publish more of his work.

I'd beware his books.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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The Batman
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Thanks, LG. I will add them to the list, for completeness sake, I suppose. But will be avoiding them, personally.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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The Batman
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Asked this already, but I have a chance to pick up a copy for $1 (US), plus $4 shipping, so hoping someone can provide some feedback.

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
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Laughing Gravy
Apr 2 2017, 08:45 PM
Say, has anyone mentioned Matinee Melodrama: Playing with Formula in the Sound Serial by Scott Higgins?

Now added, LG. Have you, or anyone, had a chance to check this one out? It's fairly new and reviews are hard to find.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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AndyFish
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NICK OF TIME is my favorite serial book, even if it's a bit scattered at times- i.e. serials are referenced all over the place.
My personal HC copy is so shelf worn and filled with highlighted passages it's barely readable anymore. I liked this book better than Barbour's books because he doesn't have the Republic bias that all they did was great and everything else is junk.
www.andytfish.com
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The Batman
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Thanks, Andy. I'll pick that one up at the right price for sure.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Barcroft
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Bat,
Got another book for you:

Ray Guns, Robots and Rockets - Science-Fiction Serials 1930 - 1953 - Ken Weiss

Ken used to come to the SerialFests and I got an autographed copy from him back in 2005. It's a nice read with a lot of great photos from all of the serials.

Published by Love's Labor Press and has 2 separate ISBN numbers: Hard Cover - 0-9724631-2-7
Soft Cover - 0-9724631-1-9

Barcroft
Edited by Barcroft, Apr 6 2017, 10:52 AM.
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The Batman
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Added, thanks Bart!


I've also added The Tom Tyler Story and welcome any other serial related biographies.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Steve Colt
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Here's a good biography.

I Was That Masked Man by Clayton Moore with Frank Thompson. Taylor Publishing, ISBN 0-87833-939-0

It's a good read, mostly about his time on the Lone Ranger of course, but there are some stories from his time in the serials. It also covers his time as a trapeze artist.
Hey, wait for me!
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John Doe
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Received confirmation from James Van Hise that he did NOT publish "The Serial Adventures of Superman".

That one is listed on Amazon and other book sale web sites. I thought it was suspicious that I couldn't even find a single image of the cover on the internet. It probably goes back to another erroneous entry on Amazon.com

One of his other books "Serial Adventures - The Incredible Story of the Superheroes of the Silver Screen" does have a number of pages on the Superman serials.


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The Batman
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Steve - thanks for the reminder, I have the Clayton Moore book, too, it's an enjoyable read. I'll make sure to get it added.

Thanks, John. There seems to be a couple of "phantom" serial books out there.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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John Doe
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This may be the only foreign language book on American serials:

Jackson, Jean-Pierre
La Suite Au Prochain Episode
1994 Yellow Now Editions (in French, 234 pages, w/ pictures, interview w/ William Witney & Jack Mathis, and ratings of all sound serials)

I've actually got this one - even though I can't read French, but am missing a number of the more common books!
Edited by John Doe, Apr 9 2017, 12:42 PM.
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John Doe
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Donn J. Moyer has published a 3rd edition of Cowboy Cliffhangers. 2nd ed was 148 pages, the 3rd is an update w/ 160 pgs.

The 2nd and 3rd editions are both from Wild West Publishing:

http://users.telisphere.com/djmoyer55/cowboy.htm

Edited by John Doe, Apr 9 2017, 07:53 AM.
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John Doe
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There were three editions of Ken Weiss' book "To Be Continued...".

I recall Ken mentioning at one of the Cliffhangerfest's that the 3rd edition large book is just a combo of the 2 volume set 2nd edition.

Ken told me that Ed Goodgold didn't contribute a lot to the 1st edition, and the book was pretty much by himself. I guess that explains why he didn't put Ed's name on the second or third editions:

Weiss, Ken and Goodgold, Ed
To Be Continued...
1972 Crown Publishers Inc. Bonanza Books (1st edition hardcover)
1981 Star Tree Press (1st edition, paperback)
2000 Love's Labor Press (2nd edition hardcover), two volume set, only Weiss listed as author
2002 Love's Labor Press (3rd edition hardcover), single volume, only Weiss listed as author

Edited by John Doe, Apr 9 2017, 11:56 AM.
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John Doe
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The paperback editions for these were a two volume set:

Rainey, Buck
Serial Film Stars: A Biographical Dictionary, 1912-1956
2005 (hardcover), 2013 (paperback, two volume set) McFarland & Company, Inc.


Martin, Len D.
The Columbia Checklist: The Feature Films, Serials, Cartoons and Short Subjects of Columbia Pictures Corporation, 1922-1988
1991 (hardcover), 2007 (paperback, two volume set), McFarland & Company Inc.

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