Australian paperback writer Alan G. Yates (1923-1985) published some 221 mystery paperback novels under the name "Carter Brown" ("Peter Carter Brown" or "Peter Carter-Brown" for some Australian and British editions). Most were published in his native Australia; many (some of which were revised) were republished in England and in America. Fast-paced, quick reads with breezy dialog, a hint of sex, a dash of humor, and no lack of corpses or adventure -- the Carter Brown novels were popcorn for the mind. Many of his books had series characters: Al Wheeler, a California homicide dtective, Rick Holman, Hollywood private eye, Larry Baker, Hollywood scriptwriter, Danny Boyd, a New York private eye, and Mavis Seidlitz, a not-too-bright private eye with a great body. Among his other detectives were Paul Donovan, Andy Kane, Mike Farrell, Zelda Roxanne, Mark Jordan, Joe Kahn, Ivor MacCullum, Max Dumas, and Randy Roberts. (Some of his U.S. paperbacks may have been ghostwritten, although the Yates esate apparently denies this. Reportedly, Robert Silverberg wrote four "Carter Brown" books; whether they were ever published is anybody's guess. Ten "Carter Brown" mysteries were ghost-written by C. J. MacKenzie in 1958, while Yates was overseas.) There was also a comic books series, several French films, and a Japanese television series. Reportedly, there was a French literary award given out for "the most whiskies drunk in a single novel."
(Yates was generally considered to be the author of the 38 romantic suspense books published as by "Caroline Farr," but only one can be traced to him; the remainder were written by various Australian ghost-writers. Yates also wrote science friction as "Paul Valdez," thrillers as "Dennis Sinclair," and other books, including westers, romances, and horror novesls as "Tex Conrad," "Tom Conway," "Sinclair McKellar," "Ace Carter," and under his own name.)
On Australian radio, there were two series: Carter Brown Mysteries (52 one-hour shows, each comprising four fifteen-minute episodes) and Carter Brown Mystery Theater (28 half-hour shours), both produced in the 1950s. Many of the radio shows lifted dialog directly from the Carter Brown novels.
Newspaper columnist Johnny Lane printed a story about some unhappy thugs paying a visit to mobster Albert Ferraro. who was scheduled to testify at a Senate committee investigating vice in the city -- perhaps to even name Mr. Big. But the story was written before the thugs paid their visit and before Albert Ferraro was found strangled by a silk stocking. The cops want answers...
"Call for a Columnist" was the first program aired on Carter Brown Mysteries, presumably in 1950, although I have not been able to establish an exact air date. The show was introduced by "Carter Brown" himself, who promised to be back the next week with another thrilling story.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqW3fCLjL5Y
As you know from my latest FFB I wrote an introduction to the latest Carter Brown omnibus from STARK HOUSE. I grew up reading Carter Brown books and only stopped when those great McCinnis covers were replaced by terrible photographs. I've been told some of the Carter Browns in the 1980s were "sexed" up but I never bothered to check that out.
ReplyDelete