Sorry, Rick, no. Although Charlie Boeckman was the source of the photo, having gotten it, I believe, from his close friend Talmage Powell.
Okay, the gent seated across from Gil Brewer is Day Keene's son, Albert James Hjertstedt, who wrote ppbk novels and short stories as Al James. One of his books, POTENT STUFF (Novel Books, 1961), is particularly reminiscent of his father's crime fiction.
Thanks, Bill. I would never have gotten it. I have a few boooks by James but have never read them. I like the name because a petite woman who taught for was named Al James. A strict Baptist who would not have approved of the writer's books at all.
I wouldn't have known, either, if he hadn't been IDed for me by Charlie Boeckman. Odd name for a strict Baptist woman, Al James. She definitely would not have approved of her pseudonymous namesake's novels, all of which seem to have been on the semi-sleazy side.
POTENT STUFF is the only one I've read, plus a few of his stories in Manhunt and other 50s and 60s hardboiled digests. Hope you're not disappointed in it. It's reminiscent of his father's work, as I wrote, but not nearly as good.
I knew Powell would have fit the circumstances, but I don't believe the resemblance and age matched up. Same with Robert Turner, Jonathan Craig, Bill Brannon, and others. I'm with Bill C., I never would have gotten it.
Thanks for providing that, Bill(s). I sent a big one to Bill (Crider) today of the 1951 MWA banquet. If Mr. Crider posts that one, I hope people chime in hard. There are a lot of faces there, and expressions and activities that go across the spectrum: a man covering his eyes with two cocktail napkins, a woman making gestures over her head, etc. Most impportantly, I haven't been able to identify people my own self yet, though Otto Penzler has got a few.
12 comments:
Gil Brewer and someone who looks vaguely familiar?
The Brewer part is correct.
My guess would be Mackinlay Kantor for the other gentleman.
I don't know. I'm waiting for Bill Pronzini to tell us.
Nope, not Mackinlay Kantor. Answer later this evening.
Charles Boeckman, Jr.?
Sorry, Rick, no. Although Charlie Boeckman was the source of the photo, having gotten it, I believe, from his close friend Talmage Powell.
Okay, the gent seated across from Gil Brewer is Day Keene's son, Albert James Hjertstedt, who wrote ppbk novels and short stories as Al James. One of his books, POTENT STUFF (Novel Books, 1961), is particularly reminiscent of his father's crime fiction.
Thanks, Bill. I would never have gotten it. I have a few boooks by James but have never read them. I like the name because a petite woman who taught for was named Al James. A strict Baptist who would not have approved of the writer's books at all.
Just ordered the.book.
I wouldn't have known, either, if he hadn't been IDed for me by Charlie Boeckman. Odd name for a strict Baptist woman, Al James. She definitely would not have approved of her pseudonymous namesake's novels, all of which seem to have been on the semi-sleazy side.
POTENT STUFF is the only one I've read, plus a few of his stories in Manhunt and other 50s and 60s hardboiled digests. Hope you're not disappointed in it. It's reminiscent of his father's work, as I wrote, but not nearly as good.
I knew Powell would have fit the circumstances, but I don't believe the resemblance and age matched up. Same with Robert Turner, Jonathan Craig, Bill Brannon, and others. I'm with Bill C., I never would have gotten it.
Thanks for providing that, Bill(s). I sent a big one to Bill (Crider) today of the 1951 MWA banquet. If Mr. Crider posts that one, I hope people chime in hard. There are a lot of faces there, and expressions and activities that go across the spectrum: a man covering his eyes with two cocktail napkins, a woman making gestures over her head, etc. Most impportantly, I haven't been able to identify people my own self yet, though Otto Penzler has got a few.
Al's full name was Almola. I can see why she preferred Al. Novel Books were seldom classics, but couldn't resist.
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