November 16, 2012
“Hi, This is Randy Stone. I cover the Nightbeat for the Chicago Star. Stories start in many different ways…”
One of the more memorable openings from the days of old time Radio, these lines spoken by actor Frank Lovejoy opened each episode of Nightbeat. For over two years from February 1950 through September 1952, NBC played host to the adventures of Randy Stone, wisecracking, tough guy reporter with a heart of gold.
An actor of many talents, Lovejoy worked as an announcer and actor on radio, his first leading role being that of comic book super hero The Blue Beetle in the 1940s. His distinctive voice, however, can be heard in multiple shows, from Dragnet to Suspense. Lovejoy also made a career in films, establishing himself as a strong character actor. Lovejoy’s straight forward tough guy with a heart persona gave him a career well into the era of early television, including leads in two television series as well as multiple guest appearances on other programs until his death in 1962.
Frank Lovejoy brought a certain everyman edge to the role of Randy Stone, the after hours scribe scouring Chicago for the best and the worst the night had to offer. He also had just enough muscle and grit in his voice to let everyone know, both characters and listeners, that Randy Stone was a man of strength and morals, “someone who knew the city that he worked in like a lover.” Couple that with a thunderous opening fanfare, well crafted and tightly plotted stories, and a strong supporting cast of actors and Nightbeat clearly stands out as one of the best remembered shows from Radio’s Golden era, even though it only lasted 28 months in its initial run.
Nightbeat, Volumes 1, 2, and 3 now features a new wonderfully atmospheric cover by Douglas Klauba. Stone, looking remarkably like Lovejoy, is front and center in this piece as he is in each story, facing danger while taking care of others. Klauba’s cover captures the essence of each episode of Nightbeat and these three Radio Archives collections feature 20 episodes per volume restored to sparkling audio quality.
Nightbeat is not only a classic radio show, but a program that combines the best elements of storytelling together to make each episode stand out as a classic. Enjoy the newspaper adventures of Randy Stone for yourself with Nightbeat, Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Each collection contains Ten hours, Twenty shows of Nightbeat. $29.98 Audio CDs / $14.99 Download.
Spotlight on Artist, Douglas Klauba
Artist Douglas Klauba is no stranger to applying his artistic talents to classic characters of Pulp, Radio, and more. He brings his fantastic ability to Radio Archives once again with a cover that is featured both on an old time radio collection as well as products featuring new tales of a classic character.
Randy Stone, the Chicago Reporter in the radio program Nightbeat, is captured by Klauba in an action scene worthy of the show itself. Doug’s cover also fronts the Nightbeat: Night Stories audiobook and ebook, new tales of Randy Stone produced by Radio Archives.
Not only is he an artist known for bringing his talent to reviving concepts from the past, Doug is also a fan. “I grew up with a great bunch of friends that collected comic books, monster magazines, made Super 8 films, recorded our own amateur OTR dramas, and created and published our own fanzines. I drew all the time! Those interests led me toward art school and I am a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago.”
His interests growing up definitely influenced Doug’s work. “There is a large part of me that has always had an interest in shadows and light playing its part in storytelling in cinema and art. I also get that same thrill with listening to OTR, since I have an active imagination. Pulp art and comic books! Golden age illustration, movie poster art and paperback covers! They have always been an influence on my drawings and paintings. It’s what interests me and I let it inspire my work.”
As for the Nightbeat artwork specifically, Doug stated, “It’s a straight forward film noir inspired, pulp cover composition. I took a bit of a chance and worked with a different color palette that I normally would have worked in - and different brand of paint. I also put myself into the mindset as a depression era illustrator working for the pulps. I worked on this project only at night, listening to hours of Frank Lovejoy’s thrilling stories set in Chicago. Plain and simple, I wanted it to look like a pulp magazine cover.”
Doug has a connection to Nightbeat that goes beyond an artist painting a picture. “Nightbeat is Frank Lovejoy in Chicago. I’m born and raised in Chicago. I’ve lived and worked in the city most of my life. I worked in an illustration studio that was in a building on Wabash Avenue right behind the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper building and pretty much right across the street from the Chicago Tribune building. My uncle worked for the Sun-Times and I saw newspapermen and women all the time. The memory of the city at night, with its lights and shadows, and nighttime noises of cars and people. I love the city and I love the Nightbeat stories. They capture the imagination that lurks in a big city without us knowing. It gives us the excitement of the good guys solving the crime and us being a part of it along the way.”
Thrill to the classic episodes of Nightbeat in Radio Archives’ three volume set as well as the new adventures featured in the Nightbeat: Night Stories audiobook and eBook, all featuring a wonderfully rendered cover by Douglas Klauba.
Spotlight on Designer, Russell Pierce
An integral part of every product produced by Radio Archives is the design work that goes into each radio set, audiobook cover, eBook cover, the website and more. Russell Pierce is the magician behind the design work done for Radio Archives and brings a wealth of experience with him.
“I studied graphic design and illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City,” said Russell, “and started my first design firm there after leaving school. This was before the advent of computers and I was well-versed in all the traditional production methods. When computers came into the industry I jumped into the digital world right away. I’ve always considered myself on the bleeding edge of technology and was constantly exploring and experimenting with different systems. Over the years I’ve had the privilege to work with many top brands including Hewlett-Packard, Yamaha, MTV, Sony-Columbia Tri-Star, Mattel, Pepsi and many others and have worked in every major category producing branding, advertising, packaging as well as interactive work that now includes mobile app design.”
Although he’s had a wide and varied career, Pierce looks at what he does for Radio Archives a bit differently. “I regard my work with Radio Archives as fun. I enjoy the category and have always been a fan of pulp artwork especially. When I first started working for Radio Archives, my goal was to establish a professional, cohesive brand for the entire line of products. I feel we’ve been very successful so far and I’m proud of everything we produce from the audiobooks, eBooks, etc. as well as all the various marketing materials we’re producing.”
When putting together packaging for Radio Archives products, Russell finds that, although different forms of art may be used, one fact remains true. “When you have a great piece of art to start with the job is relatively easy. Usually the art comes from a pulp cover that needs to have type and other graphics removed so it can work for our covers. Luckily the sophistication of the digital tools today makes it fairly easy to edit the art. Sometimes I also need to re-create the original logos so that we would have the flexibility to move it around on the artwork.”
In terms of the new designs for both existing and new Nightbeat related products, Russell Pierce is thankful for the artist involved. “Working with Doug has been great, he understands what our needs are. Doug makes my job easy. He doesn’t require a lot of art direction if any, he just hones in on the subject and goes for it. The best part is no digital retouching is needed and he gives me lots of room around the main subject to work with so that it will crop easily in various layouts. His work is great, it captures the essence of the old pulp art yet has a somewhat contemporary feel to it. Having custom illustration produced exclusively for Radio Archives brings a lot to our brand.” Russell Pierce himself also brings quite a bit to the look and brand of Radio Archives as well.
In 1950, NBC began broadcasting Nightbeat, considered one of the finest shows of its time. The show featured Randy Stone, a reporter who covered the night beat for the Chicago Star with a unique blend of wit, compassion and toughness. From murder to mystery, gunplay to climactic chases, from heartache to hardboiled, every night brought a new story to Randy Stone. Radio Archives invites you to listen to six brand new Nightbeat stories set on the streets of Randy Stone’s Chicago in Nightbeat: Night Stories.
Authors Howard Hopkins, Will Murray, Paul Bishop, Mark Squirek, Bobby Nash and Tommy Hancock breathe new life into Randy Stone, bringing the nostalgic noir feel of the radio series fans have enjoyed for over sixty years to newly written tales that capture the true essence of Nightbeat.
A mystery involving a puzzle. A mad killer strangling women. A young boy on the wrong road. An old flame threatening to burn again. Blood and conspiracy in the boxing ring. The murder of a reporter. And at the center of every tale, Randy Stone. This nostalgic collection of new tales for your listening pleasure comes alive courtesy of noted voice actor Michael C. Gwynne. Delivering each line with a mix of two fisted determination and humanity, Gwynne makes Randy Stone and his Chicago living, breathing realities for both Nightbeat fans and new listeners.
Listen as 1950s Chicago comes alive when the sun sets. Join Michael C. Gwynne as Randy Stone in Nightbeat: Night Stories. Features an original oil painting cover by Douglas Klauba.
This Collection includes:
Introduction by Tommy Hancock
Strangler by Howard Hopkins
The Chicago Punch by Paul Bishop
Puzzle in Purple by Will Murray
Down Addison Road by Mark Squirek
Lucky by Tommy Hancock
The One That Got Away by Bobby Nash
Step into the world that comes alive when the sun sets with Nightbeat: Night Stories. Six exciting hours. $23.98 Audio CDs / $12.99 Download.
Nightbeat Audiobook Reader, Michael C. Gwynne
Nightbeat: Night Stories comes to life as an original audiobook from Radio Archives, voiced by noted actor Michael C. Gwynne. A fan of old time radio, Gwynne counts Nightbeat among one of his favorite programs and found both enjoyment and value in being a part of Nightbeat: Night Stories.
“Good story writing,” says Gwynne in reference to both the classic Nightbeat and the new audiobook, “that’s the essence of real education. Learning about ourselves, learning about our behavior. We go to movies to see things blow up and everything like that, that’s fine, eyeball candy we call it, but there has to be a story and Randy Stone told stories. And thanks to the people at Radio Archives we have another outlet for stories. It doesn’t matter, they go on forever in any time zone, yesterday, tomorrow, today, it all works if you’ve got a tale to tell, a tale well calculated.”
Referring to storytelling as “magic”, Gwynne continues, “There must be something else in there about this kind of storytelling and I’m really thankful to Radio Archives for bringing them back out. There must be a huge audience of people who don’t know about Old Time Radio shows yet, so in some ways I’m honored to be part of something that gets it out there.”
Experience Nightbeat: Night Stories performed by Michael C. Gwynne today.
Tune in to a special Podcast episode of PULPED! Featuring the voice of the Nightbeat: Night Stories audiobook, Michael C. Gwynne!
In 1950, NBC began broadcasting Nightbeat, considered one of the finest shows of its time. The show featured Randy Stone, a reporter who covered the night beat for the Chicago Star with a unique blend of wit, compassion and toughness. From murder to mystery, gunplay to climactic chases, from heartache to hardboiled, every night brought a new story to Randy Stone and he would be drawn in, eager to see them, hear them, live them, and record them. Nightbeat was more than a crime drama. It was a human drama.
Radio Archives invites you to return to the streets of Randy Stone’s Chicago in Nightbeat: Night Stories. Six brand new Nightbeat stories are now available in this beautifully formatted eBook. Authors Howard Hopkins, Will Murray, Paul Bishop, Mark Squirek, Bobby Nash and Tommy Hancock breathe new life into Randy Stone, bringing the nostalgic noir feel of the radio series fans have enjoyed for over sixty years to newly written tales that capture the true essence of Nightbeat. A mystery involving a puzzle. A mad killer strangling women. A young boy on the wrong road. An old flame threatening to burn again. Blood and Conspiracy in the boxing ring. The murder of a reporter. And at the center of every tale, Randy Stone. This nostalgic newly written collection issued for your reading pleasure in electronic format also features a cover by Douglas Klauba.
This Collection includes:
Introduction by Tommy Hancock
Strangler by Howard Hopkins
The Chicago Punch by Paul Bishop
Puzzle in Purple by Will Murray
Down Addison Road by Mark Squirek
Lucky by Tommy Hancock
The One That Got Away by Bobby Nash
Step into the world that comes alive when the sun sets with Nightbeat: Night Stories. eBook only $4.99.
Spotlight on the Creators - Nightbeat: Night Stories
For over two years from February 1950 through September 1952, NBC played host to the adventures of Randy Stone, wisecracking, tough guy reporter with a heart of gold. Nightbeat clearly stands out as one of the best remembered shows from Radio’s Golden era, even though it only lasted 28 months in its initial run.
“I was eight years old in a small Arkansas town,” Hancock says. “I’d found a station out of a college about 100 miles away that played the neatest stuff I’d yet to hear. Shows that were like television programs, but on the radio! My favorite hands down was Nightbeat.”
“There’s something basic that appeals to anyone familiar with Nightbeat,” explains Hancock. “Some stories are two fisted pulpy tales of action and crime, while others are really human interest tales dressed up in the ebony of the night.”
As he became a writer, publisher, editor, podcaster, and convention organizer, Hancock carried the memories of Nightbeat with him, always wanting an opportunity to put his own spin on the classic concept. "Nightbeat: Night Stories is the realization for me of not only telling those type of stories, but actually being involved in stories continuing the exploits of Randy Stone and his Chicago. Radio Archives recognizes the strength of the concept of the original show and the appeal that these types of stories carry for readers even still today.”
Nightbeat: Night Stories are all new tales written by a variety of talented modern writers, but set squarely in the 1950s Chicago Randy Stone called home. Paul Bishop, Will Murray, Mark Squirek, Bobby Nash, and Howard Hopkins, and Hancock bring Randy to life once more. And just as the show did, each story covers the spectrum, from true human drama to adrenaline filled action.
Will Murray is the uncrowned King of all Pulp, and heavy hangs the head of he who must write Doc Savage novels, co-edit the Sanctum Books reprints of Doc, The Shadow, and The Avenger, and helps oversee the Will Murray Pulp Classics line of audiobooks and eBooks produced by RadioArchives.com. Over fifty-plus novels, uncounted short stories, and innumerable articles, Murray has striven to be worthy to stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before him.
Murray’s story, Puzzle in Purple begins with jigsaw pieces that lead Randy to a greater mystery. “Although it stars a newspaper reporter, not a private eye,” says Murray, “Nightbeat: Night Stories is in the great trench-coated tradition of the hardboiled pulp writers who contributed to Black Mask magazine during its heyday when Carroll John Daly, Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler were top contributors. I see Nightbeat as a 1950s incarnation of the great 1930s tough guys.”
Paul Bishop is a thirty-five year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. Paul has had twelve novels published, including five novels in his L.A.P.D. Detective Fey Croaker series.
Paul has also written feature film scripts and numerous episodic scripts for television, including such shows as Diagnosis: Murder, LA Dragnet, The New Detectives, and Navy Seals: The Untold Stories. Paul is currently writing and editing the monthly Fight Card series, 25,000 word e-novels inspired by the fight pulps of the 1930s and ‘40s
The Chicago Punch, Bishop’s tale, reaches into Randy’s boxing past and brings a one-two punch to his present. Bishop states, “The Nightbeat stories originally spoke - literally - to a generation hungry for upstanding heroes. The Nightbeat stories thrill us because, while they entertain, they also inspire us to believe we can each make a difference.”
With an interest in multiple genres, Bobby Nash writes a little bit of everything. From his secret lair in the wilds of Bethlehem, Georgia, Bobby has penned novels, comic books, short prose, novellas, graphic novels, screenplays, media tie-ins , and even a little pulp fiction.
Nash’s story, The One That Got Away reunites Randy with an old flame that may burn him alive this time. “Randy Stone,” says Nash, “is one of those great pulpy noir characters that are so much fun to write. He’s more than just a rough and tumble guy. Stone’s a thinker. By it’s very format, Nightbeat allows writers to tell a variety of stories. Randy Stone’s job is anything but boring.”
Mark Squirek has published several short stories in the pulp fiction field. He has written for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Comic Book Marketplace, Comics and Games Weekly, Hogan’s Alley, and many other magazines. He is currently a staff reviewer for The New York Journal of Books. A half dozen of his plays have been produced in the Baltimore area over the last six years.
Down Addison Road, Squirek’s entry in the collection, follows Stone as he fights to keep a young boy off the wrong road. Squirek says, “Writing a Nightbeat story was a dream for me. I love Chicago. It is one of the greatest of all American Cities and I had the privilege of living there for a year while I was in school in the late eighties. The radio show is a classic and to listen to them again today with fresh ears was a joy.”
Howard Hopkins wrote 31 westerns under the pen name Lance Howard and horror stories under his own. Howard began his writing career in the late 1980s. His interest in pulp magazines led him to create a magazine of his own. He produced and edited Golden Perils, a journal for fans of the magazines, and went on to produce other fanzines as well and write modern Pulp stories for Moonstone Books. Howard passed away in January 2012. His story, Strangler pits Randy against a murderer of women who may add the reporter to the kill list.
Tommy Hancock, also a writer, contributed a tale to the collection. Lucky centers around the mystery of a reporter’s death, a reporter named Stone.
Nightbeat: Night Stories brings six stories from six talented writers together, but this eBook is really more than that. It is the continuation of the adventures of a truly iconic character for both longtime fans and new readers to enjoy.
Listen to a special Podcast episode of PULPED! Featuring the writers behind Nightbeat: Night Stories!
Spotlight on eBooks, John Olsen
Nightbeat: Night Stories, an original eBook produced by Radio Archives, features tales based on the classic radio program. Thanks to the design and format work of John Olsen, this collection of six stories is available to you in a beautifully crafted eBook, handled with the same care and precision Olsen handles all the eBooks from Radio Archives.
“I’ve been a fan of old radio all my life,” Olsen states, “especially The Shadow, but my interest in pulps began in late 1996 when I read my first Shadow pulp. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software was rather primitive at that time, but I wanted to see if I could digitize a pulp novel and successfully transfer it from the printed page to the digital medium. I succeeded, although it was a bit of a challenge, and I began regularly scanning pulps and OCRing them. In 2010 I began working with RadioArchives.com on their huge pulp preservation project. In the past year, I have worked on transitioning several hundred more pulps from old crumbling paper to digital medium.”
Olsen brings his experience to bear on bringing classic Pulp as well as this new collection to customers at Radio Archives and it is an extensive process. According to him, “You need a real mixed-bag of tricks to do this stuff. I don’t do all of the steps. We have a dedicated and tireless team of over thirty people, most who specialize in one or two of the below processes. My job is to coordinate all of them. One person scans the old pulp magazine. This gets a picture of the individual pages digitized and in the computer. Another person uses OCR software to convert those pictures into text that can be edited. Another person reads through the newly created text file and corrects the errors that the OCR software has made. Another person takes that word processor document and formats it, indenting messages, making chapter titles in bold print, adding the cover graphics, and creating the table of contents. The proofer proofreads the story, and reports any errors that have slipped through. For the ultimate in quality control, we then send the file to a second person for another proofreading, to fix any last little lingering errors. Then another person takes that word processor document and converts it into the eBook formats, epub and mobi. Liner notes are created, to describe the product on the web site. And finally, the finished files are submitted to Kindle, Nook, iTunes and RadioArchives.com.
One thing is certain. Olsen wants to be sure that readers have a unique experience when they read a Radio Archives eBook. We want our readers to enjoy a pulp-like experience when they read one of our pulp eBooks. And we want this to be attractive and easy on the eyes. We use a font that is the proper size so that it can be resized up or down by the device the reader is using, all to adjust to their personal taste.”
“It has been said,” comments Olsen, “that eBooks have made “reading” cool, again. I’m not sure that’s true. I think it’s always been cool. It’s just that in today’s busy world, it has become inconvenient. But with the advent of the mobile eBook reader, reading has once more become convenient. So people can now read on their iPhones, their Kindle Fires and other devices, because it’s so easy to take with them wherever they are. People have always wanted to read for enjoyment, and now they can find it easier to do just that!”
Enjoy the work of John Olsen and all those involved in the eBook process with Nightbeat: Night Stories.
The best of timeless Pulp now available as cutting edge eBooks! Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings the greatest heroes, awesome action, and two fisted thrills to your eReader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and Operator #5 as well as wonderfully obscure characters like the Octopus and more, Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday's Pulp today!
In amusement parks, restaurants and private homes people were dying, convulsed in the throes of a horrible death! Some were marked for endless torture — awaiting the will of the Doctor of Murder... Richard Wentworth’s own friend, Stanley Kirkpatrick, lay stricken with the drug of the living dead. Then — his beloved, Nita van Sloan, became a victim of the madman’s venom!... Faced with the bitter despair in his own heart and the blind apathy of a nation ensnared in a death trap, the Spider launches forth on one of the most pulse-quickening adventures of his career! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine.
The leprous hordes of the Eastern world descend like a blighting plague upon a terrified New York. The citadels of the natron's commercial strongholds totter under a Juggernaut of crime. And Richard Wentworth, the one man able to cope with the menace, must offer himself, as a sacrifice to the pestilence! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks.
It was a sultry day in August when the ghastly cold first came. Snow began to fall; ice formed, and in a brief hour, New York City was paralyzed. A new and deadly weapon had been directed at America by a ruthless, international syndicate, for, under cover of the sub-zero weather, barbarous, armored warriors swarmed into the United States, turning our country into a helpless colony to be exploited savagely. In quick succession, other cities — Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans — fell before the assault of the astute enemy and the marrow-chilling cold. Could Operator 5 of the disabled Secret Service — Jimmy Christopher to his friends — save our land from shameful slavery? With Tim Donovan, his father and his beloved Diane all in the bloody clutches of the invader, Jimmy Christopher gambled for the highest stakes in the world — America — with his own life only an extra counter! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks.
Terror Tales Nat Schachner, Book 1
In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Terror Tales magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a collection of stories from the pages of Terror Tales magazine, all written by Nat Schachner, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format.
In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Terror Tales magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a collection of stories from the pages of Terror Tales magazine, all written by Wayne Rogers, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format.
Captain Future… the Ace of Space! Born and raised on the moon, Curt Newton survived the murder of his scientist parents to become the protector of the galaxy known as Captain Future. With his Futuremen, Grag the giant robot, Otho, the shape-shifting android and Simon Wright, the Living Brain, he patrols the solar system in the fastest space ship ever constructed, the Comet, pursuing human monsters and alien threats to Earth and her neighbor planets.
This is one of the infamous "final seven" Captain Future tales. After a run of twenty pulp issues, the quarterly magazine closed. But that was not the end of Captain Future. He returned in a series of short stories published in Startling Stories magazine, beginning with the January 1950 issue. Edmond Hamilton, creator of Captain Future and author of the majority of the full-length novels, returned to pen seven more Captain Future stories. His style had matured, as had his original audience, and these final seven Captain Future stories are considered to be some of his best. Captain Future left the pages of Startling Stories with the May 1951 issue, but editors left open the possibility that Captain Future might return some day. True fans are still waiting. Until then, Captain Future returns in these vintage pulp tales, reissued for today's readers in electronic format.
All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.
Find these legendary Pulp tales and more in Will Murray's Pulp Classics, now available in the Kindle store and the Barnes and Noble Nook store! and RadioArchives.com!
Receive an exciting original Spider adventure for FREE! Part of the Will Murray Pulp Classics line, The Spider #11, Prince of the Red Looters first saw print in 1934 and features his momentous battle with The Fly and his armies of crazed criminal killers.
For those who have been unsure about digging into the wonderful world of pulps, this is a perfect opportunity to give one of these fantastic yarns a real test run. With a full introduction to the Spider written by famed pulp historian and author Will Murray, The Spider #11 was written by one of pulp's most respected authors, Norvell W. Page. Writing as Grant Stockbridge, Page's stories included some of the most bizarre and fun takes on heroes and crime fighting in the history of escapist fiction.
Even today Page's scenarios and his edge-of-the-seat writing style are still thrilling both new and old fans everywhere. For those who have never read one of these rollercoaster adventures, you are in for a thrill. If you already know how much fun a classic pulp is, make sure you get a copy of this classic.
See what the Total Pulp Experience is for yourself. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine.
Send an eMail to eBooks@RadioArchives.com and start reading your FREE copy of the Spider #11 within seconds! Experience The Best Pulps the Past has to offer in the most modern way possible!
One of the top crime-fighters from the golden age of pulp fiction, The Spider returns in two thrill-packed adventures written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of Grant Stockbridge. First, in “The Spider and the Jewels Of Hell” (1940), Tough, dauntless miners, accustomed to hardship and danger, paled in helpless terror as their homes were destroyed, their loved ones slaughtered! No one was safe, above ground or below, when The Killer walked among them. Only the Spider dared challenge the strangle-hold of fear that held an entire town in its deadly grip! Then, in “Recruit For the Spider Legion” (1943), Staunch supporter of justice and champion of the law Stanley Kirkpatrick, finds himself about to gain unexpected insights into the workings of the system when he himself is faced with the electric chair! Can the very man who has forever branded the Spider a criminal for his vigilante efforts join with his old enemy to battle the forces of Kali? These two exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading and feature both of the original full color covers as well as interior illustrations that accompany each story. Buy it today for $14.95!
The Knight of Darkness crushes crime in the classic pulp novels that inspired Hollywood's first two Shadow feature films! First, the bizarre terms of a dead man's will lead to a series of murders that will condemn an innocent man unless The Shadow can unmask the true killer in Walter Gibson's "The Ghost of the Manor," the inspiration for the 1937 film, "The Shadow Strikes." Then, the Dark Avenger hunts a sadistic blonde murderess and the masked supervillain known as "Foxhound" in Theodore Tinsley's violent novel that was filmed in 1938 as "International Crime." BONUS: Film historian Ed Hulse unearths rare secrets behind the making of the first Shadow feature films! This instant collector's item showcases the original pulp covers by George Rozen and the classic interior illustrations by Tom Lovell, with historical commentary by Will Murray. Buy it today for $14.95.
The Pulps' original "Man of Steel" returns in three action-packed tales by Paul Ernst and Emile Tepperman writing as "Kenneth Robeson." First, The Avenger enters a "House of Death" to unravel the mysterious murders befalling the owners of strange gold medallions! Then, the fate of the nation hangs in the balance as Dick Benson attempts to prevent "The Hate Master" from winning the presidential election! Finally, a single misstep could result in "A Coffin for The Avenger" in an exciting novelette by Spider-wordsmith Emile Tepperman. BONUS: a Nick Carter mystery by Bruce Elliott! This classic pulp reprint leads off with a knockout color cover by Graves Gladney, and also features Paul Orban's classic interior illustrations and commentary by pulp historian Will Murray. Buy it today for $14.95.
By Dr. Art Sippo
“Was Hercules real?” That was the question the beautiful Lee Mayland kept asking. She came to see Doc Savage to get the answer. But thugs intervened and kidnapped her before she could enlist the Bronze Man’s aid. But Doc and his Iron Crew are on the case and track her to a country home owned by a physical culture guru whose ads in the magazines promise to “make YOU into a Hercules.”
But when they arrive, Doc and his crew encounter strange doings. Objects appear and vanish as if by magic. Unparalleled criminal events occur that can be nothing less than feats of superhuman strength by an unseen party who tosses Doc and his men around like tenpins. And who is the elderly man who collapsed at the scene of the crime of apparent old age?
From the Old World, the legend of Hercules comes into modern New York. Has someone discovered the secret of Hercules’ legendary strength? Can even Doc Savage, the modern Galahad, fight the power of the ancient Greek Demigod?
The Whisker of Hercules is a pivotal Doc Savage story marking the transition from the adventurous editorship of John Nanovic to the more sedate story type that the new editors at Street and Smith wanted. Ironically, it was ten years to the month after the iconic 1934 story The Monsters which had been an all-time favorite Doc Savage Adventure. After this story, the editors wanted no more gadgets and no more fantastic plots. Doc Savage was to become a Science Detective to appeal to a different audience.
This was the last truly weird adventure Doc would have until Up From Earth’s Center in 1949 which ended the series. You don’t want to miss this one! Get Doc Savage, Volume 18 containing this story and another full length Doc Savage novel for only $12.95 from Radio Archives!
The shattering sequel to Fortress of Solitude.
The Doc Savage exploit that went untold for 74 years—Death’s Dark Domain!
In the aftermath of the evil John Sunlight’s pillaging of the secret Fortress of Solitude, a dreadful super-weapon has fallen the hands of a Balkan dictator intent upon seizing control of the vampire-haunted zone of desolation known as Ultra-Stygia. War is imminent. Monsters are loose in the disputed region. A strange darkness falls over the sinister landscape. Only Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, understands the terrible threat to humanity. And only he can prevent the terror from spreading…
There are unknown Things prowling the darkest patch of land on the planet. Haunted by creatures that might have emerged from the Hell’s lowest regions, ancient Ultra-Stygia has turned into a cauldron of conflict between rival countries. Monster bats careen through the night sky. Invisible Cyclopes patrol the scorched battleground. And a power beyond understanding robs men of their vision.
Can the 20th century’s premier scientist and superman untangle this Gordian knot of carnage before neighboring nations are drawn into an apocalyptic new world war? Or will the Man of Bronze succumb to an unstoppable power he himself has unleashed upon mankind?
From the frozen Arctic to the war-torn Balkans, Doc Savage and his fighting five follow a winding trail of terror to a blood-freezing climax.
Death's Dark Domain features a fantastic cover painted by Joe DeVito! Buy it today for only $24.95 from Radio Archives.
Back in print after 20 years! The rare Lester Dent-Will Murray collaboration resurrecting the original pulp superman...
Also available is the first Altus Press edition of Will Murray’s 1993 Doc Savage adventure, The Forgotten Realm. Deep in the heart of the African Congo lies a secret unsuspected for thousands of years. Doc Savage and his men embark on a quest to discover the secret of the strange individual known only as X Man, X for unknown. Before they come to the end of the trail, they find themselves fighting for their lives like gladiators of old!
No one knows who—or what—the strange being who calls himself “X Man” truly is. He was found wandering the ruins of a crumbling Roman fort, dressed in a toga, speaking classical Latin—and clutching a handful of unearthly black seeds.
Declared insane, the X Man patiently tends his weird plants until the day, impelled by a nameless terror, he flees Wyndmoor Asylum to unleash a cyclone of violence that is destined to suck the mighty Man of Bronze into the blackest, most unbelievable mystery of his entire career. For far from Scotland lies a domain of death unknown to the world and called by the ancient Latin name of Novum Eboracum—New York!
From the wild Scottish moors to the unexplored heart of darkest Africa, Doc Savage and his indomitable men embarked upon a desperate quest for the Forgotten Realm….
The Forgotten Realm features a spectacular cover painted by Joe DeVito! Buy it today for only $24.95 from Radio Archives.
Comments From Our Customers!
Louis Hemmi writes:
I love what I bought, Fibber McGee and Molly, the Lost Episodes and the free Operator #5 – Masked Invasion CD. I’m getting ready to order something else, and really like your newsletter that shows a lot of effort, and a great result. Thanks very much,
John Doyle writes:
Top notch quality! So appreciated. John Doyle Retired from WSB-TV, Channel 2, and The Weather Channel
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Regina Zeyzus writes:
I'd love to try this eBook edition of Spider. You are very generous to offer this sample. Thank you very much.
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