SUSPENSE: THE HANDS OF MR. OTTERMOLE (DECEMBER 2, 1948)

Gas-lit, fog-enshrouded London is in the grip of terror due to a series of brutal, random murders.  A relentless police inspector is obsessed with unmasking the predator.  The tale has a twisted and powerful ending.

Scripted by respected mystery writer Kendall Foster Crossen and based on Thomas Burke's 1929 short story, this version features Claude Rains and Vincent Price, with Lou Krugman, Ben Wright, Raymond Lawrence, Alec Harford, and Paul Frees.

In 1949, a panel of mystery critics selected "The Hands of Mr. Ottermole" (The Story-Teller, February 1929) as the best mystery story of all time;  thirty-five years later, the Mystery Writers of America named it one of the four best suspense and mystery tales.  The FictionMags Index indicates the story has been reprinted at least 38 times since its original publication.  The story has also been televised several times, most notably on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, featuring Theodore Bikel and Rhys Williams.

Thomas Burke (1886-1945) was a British author best known for his stories about the poverty-stricken Limehouse District of London, collected in such books as Limehouse Nights, Twinkletoes:  A Tale of Limehouse, Whispering Windows:  Tales of the Waterside (also published as  More Limehouse Nights, East of Mansion House, The Pleasantries of Old Quong (also published as A Tea-Shop in Limehouse), and Night Pieces:  Eighteen Tales.  He also published nearly two dozen works of non-fiction, many of them about London and its environments.  In contrast to many of the tales of orientals and the "yellow peril" popular at the time, Burke showed a particular respect for his subjects.  The Limehouse of Burke's time -- with its crime, sex, and violence, is long gone, but can be relived through his stories.  Time has also blunted the effect of "The Hands of Mr. Ottermole," but it still remains a chilling and effective tale.

Enjoy this classic tale.

https://archive.org/details/TSP481202

SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: UP IN SMOKE

"Up in Smoke" by "Tigrina" (Edythe Eyde)  (according to the copyright notice, this was apparently published in an unknown fan or amateur publication  in July 1949 -- or perhaps just written on that date; the actual date of copyright is 2001 for the anthology Rainbow Fantasia:  35 Spectromatic Tales of Wonder, edited by the author's friend, Forrest J. Ackerman; no further publication known)

It's 1947 and immature and petulant Carolynne Devereaux has just started her college career, meeting her "newest and best" friend Zelda Troyer only two weeks before.  Carolynne is 17 and is no longer a baby; she should be able to do what see likes, including smoking cigarettes.  After all, she had been smoking for the last three months of the elite Finishing School for Gentlewomen before her recent graduation!  But her parents object to her smoking in no uncertain terms, saying that smoking is immoral, un-Christian, bad for one's health, and could lower one's resistance to worldly wickedness.  They had even gone so far as to threaten to take away the car they gave her for graduation, making her promise to give up that wicked habit.  Carolynne resented this because, as stated, she was not a baby!

While driving through town with Zelda, who was two years older than Carolynne and oh-so-sophisticated, Carolynne borrowed an unusual cigarette from her friend, bright red in color and strangely shaped.  Zelda explained that they were made specifically for her by a mysterious man known as Morloq (rhymes with "Warlock").  The red color of the cigarette matched Zelda's dress perfectly.  Zelda need to order more cigarettes, so the two stopped at Morloq's odd establishment: "Morloq -- Cigarettes and Perfumes of Distinction."

Morloq welcomed the two to his shop with its display of individually shaped and colored cigarettes.  He offered to show them around the shop, including a back room where he kept his perfumes, where each scent was rare and bottle in unique containers.  One wall held intricate and delicately beautiful bottles that Morlock forbid them to touch because they were so fragile.  Carolynne was particulaly attracted to one -- a strange white cloisonne container.  While Carolynne relaxed in a chair, *sipping a small glass of a rare Asiatic liquor Morloq had offered the two, her friend went with Morloq to the front of the store to order her cigarettes.  Carolynne could not resist examining the white bottle. accidently dropping it to the floor.  Luckily the bottle did not break, but the top came off.  Was that a faint, whote  mkist that came from the bottle, exiting through th8e window?  No, it must have been Carolynne's imagination, spurred on  by the rare liquor.  Carolynne replaced the bottle where she had found it and sat back in her chair just as Zelda and Morloq returned.  Before leaving the shop, Carolynne ordered perfume for herself, and was told it would take several days to prepare.

That Saturday, her perfume was ready and Carolynne and Zelda returned to the small shop.  Morloq gave Carolynne a strangely pleasant black cigarette while he went to the front of the shop to wait on customers.  Zelda went with him.  This particular cigarette had a strange effect on Carolynne.  Suddenly she found herself standing in the middle of the room, all her senses sharpened, but at the same time she was still seated in the chair.  Carolynne was insubstantial with a pale string connecting her standing self to her seated self.  She could float in the air.  When Zelda and Morloq returned to the room, they were carrying large fans and could see the insubstantial Carolynne.  Morloq took a knife and sevred the cord between the ethereal Carolynne and her physical self.  Morloq and Zelda began waving the fans, drawing Carolynne closer to the open white cloisonne bottle.  Morloq explained that Zelda was his aide, bringing victims to him and that the Egyptian god Og Manankh, the Imprisoner of Souls, demanded souls be brought to Him.  When Carolynne dropped the bottle a few days  before, she released an important soul that could never be recaptured, so Carolhnne -- despite having a soul of lkittle depth and character -- would have top replace it.  The black cigarette was a means to release Carolynne's ka in order to be trapped in the bottle.  And -- whoosh! -- Carolynne was sucked into the bottle.

The next day the entire college was talking about Carolynne, who was found found wandering downtown, completely devoid of intelligence.  No one could understand what happened, least of all her parents.  Why, they said, she didn't even smoke.

Edtythe Eyde (1921-2015) was an actress, editor, songwriter, and active science fiction fan.  She created the first known lesbian publication in  North America, Vice Versa (nine issues, June 1947 through February 1948).  Writing as "Lisa Ben," she began publishing regularly for The Ladder. the first nationally distributed lesbian magazine    Also as Ben, she recorded a number of songs, often sapphic takes on well-known pieces; she had a very sweet voice.  The early lesbian organization Daughters of Bilitis proclaimed her "the first gay folk singer."  Active in science fiction fandom since 1941 under the name "Tigrina," she was an early member of the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society, eventually becoming that group's secretary.  She gained som0e notoriety proclaiming her interest in satanism.  As Tigrina, she was known to nave published at least four fantasy stories (two of them in collaboration with Ackerman) and three poems.  She has been lauded as an important pioneer in the lesbian movement.  She was inducted in 2010 into the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association Hall of Fame.  Despite her acclaim, when she died at age 96, her death was unannounced and no obituaries published.

Forrest J. Ackerman (1916-2008) was known as "Mr. Science Fiction."  A writer, editor, and collector of science fiction memorabilia, Ackerman founded Famous Monsters in Filmland magazine and named and wrote the origin story for the comic book character Vampirella.  He was also responsible for bringing the German juvenile series Perry Rhodan to America.  He had over 50 cameos roles in science fiction movies.  Ackerman in person was bright, charming, and open.  (He and Kkitty once broke into a sppontanious rendition of "42nd Street" at a convention, earning her lifelong approval.)  He edited a number of science fiction anthologies, many of them filled with creaky and minor stories of the past, and many with gimmicky titles such as Martianthology, Womanthology, and Ackermanthology.  Rainbow Fantasia:  35 Spectromatic Tales of Wonder collects stories that mention a color in their titles: black, gray, smoke, brown, purple, violet, blue, green, yellow, golden, orange, red, scarlet, white, and rainbow -- a pretty weak basis for an anthology.  The stories range from pretty good to clunky and amateurish.  A noble, albeit unfocused, attempt.

"Up in Smoke" is an amusing, predictable, and far from great story.  Its main interest is in the author.  Still, it may be worth the few minutes of your time to read it.

OVERLOOKED TELEVISION: RANDALL AND HOPKIRK (DECEASED) - EPISODE 1: MY LATE LAMENTED FRIEND AND PARTNER (SEPTEMBER 21, 1969)

Created by British television writer Dennis Spooner (The Avenger, Doctor Who, Betgerac, The Baron), Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) ran for two seasons (26 episodes), and was syndicated in the United States as My Partner the Ghost.  The series concerned Jeffrey Randall (Mike Pratt, a popular screen and television actor and songwriter), who is a successful and somewhat seedy private investigator, and his friend and partner Martin Hopkirk (Kenneth Cope, Coronation Street, That Was the Week That Was, Carry On at Your Convenience, Carry On Matron), who is killed in a supposed hit and run accident.  When Hopkirk's ghost later appears to Randall, he learns that his partner's death was actually murder.  The two -- man and shade -- go off to solve the murder, aided by Randall's secretary Jeannie Hopkirk (Annette Andre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Saint, Wuthering Heights) who was also Hopkirk's widow.

The show was remade in 2000 with an ampersand -- Randall & Hopkirk (Deceaed) -- and starred Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Emilia Fox, Tom Baker, and Charlie Higson (13 episodes).

At the end of the pilot episode of the original series, we learn that Hopkirk cannot return to the grave.  At least not yet.  It will take about a hundred years for him to do so.  So the partnership of Randall and Hopkirk lives on.

This episode was scripted by Ralph Smart (Danger Man, The Adventures of Robin hood, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot) and directed by Cyril Frankel (School for Scoundrels, Don't Bother to Knock, The Witches).  Also featured in the pilot episode are Anne Sharp, Frank Windsor, Delores Mantez, and Dave Carter.

Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDA6c0smJFE&t=5s

PLAYING FOR CHANGE

Playing for change is a multimedia music project, founded in 2002, featuring musicians and singers from across the globe.  The idea began when one of the founded, Mark Johnson, heard sidewalk singer Roger Ridley performing "Stand by Me" when he was in Santa Monica.  The project features mostly street singers and musicians performing much-loved and influential popular songs.  The project has also gathered many top name stars to appear in their videos.  A small film and recoding team travel to over fifty countries to record musicians outdoors (their first mobile recording studio was powered by golf cart batteries), then the individual recording are edited into one final piece.  The name of the project stems from the fact that sidewalk musicians are normally playing for change, and the fact that, as a universal language, music can break down social and political barriers and bring about needed change.  In addition to its "Music Around the World" videos, also records individual and groups doing solo songs.  A Playing for Change band was formed with a number of these artist, playing to sold out audiences throughout the world.  In 2007, a separate non-profit Playing for Change Foundation was formed to create music and art schools for children around the world; thus far there are fifteen such schools, usually in underdeveloped countries.

The music and the joy are absultely infectious.

"Everyday People" -- with Jack Jackson, Jason Mraz, Keb' Mo', Yo Yo Ma, and many others...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g4UWvcZn5U

"Stand by Me" -- the Playing for Change Band live in Brazil, with Grandpa Elliott, Clarence Bekker, Jason Tambo, Tula ben Ari, Roberto Luti, and others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g4UWvcZn5U

"What a Wonderful World" -- all  kids (including Grandpa Elliott and Jason Tamba, both kids at heart , all amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddLd0QRf7Vg

"Lean on Me" -- with Renard Poche, Roberto Luti, Niki la Rosa, Grandpa Elliott, Clarence Bekker, Saritah, Titi Tsari, and many others 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiouJsnYytI

"What's Going On" -- with Louis Mhlanga, Clarence Bekker, Titi Tsira, Sara Bareilles, Vasti Jackson, the Novi Sad String Trio, and others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEp7QrOBxyQ

'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking for" -- this one will tug at your heartstrings; recorded in honor of the International Day of the Disappeared, it features Roopak Naigaonkar, Marta Kurakina, Daniel Lanois, Inara George, Shereita Lewis and Rosalyn Williams, Olivia Ruff, John Cruz, the Sosha Choir, Hala al-Saddar, Rebal Alkhadari, Chris Pierce, and others -- including the mothers, wives, and sisters of the Disappeared  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJsWWTpagUQ

"Down by the Riverside" -- featuring the late Grandpa Elliott, with Nick Cavazos and Oscar Castro, Nevena Reljin and Mirjana Dragonic, Washboard Chaz, the Choeur de Grace, Keb' Mo', the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and others 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ1gHm8v3ek

"Mona Ki Ngi Xica" -- with Paolo Herman, Raul Tolingas, Alana Alberg, Bonga, Torcuato Mariano, 
Yuri Da Cuhna, the Daande Lenol Percussions, and others; the title means "The Child I'm Leaving Behind," written by legendary Angolan artist Bonga; it became an anthem for revolutionaries fighting against colonial rule.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA8LuZXTYo4&list=PLC122061BDC373B4B&index=9

"Riders on the Storm" -- with John Densmore and Robby Kreiger (original members of The Doors), the Lakota Drum Group, Lukas and Mikah Nelson, Sierra Ferrell, Don Was, Izzan Jaa, Aaron White, Foo Fighter Rami Jaffee, and others; a tribute to Ray Manzark and Jim Morrison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSiuMgKmiyk&list=PLC122061BDC373B4B&index=1Izzzx

 "Oye Coma Va" -- with Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Tito Puente Jr., Manuel Perez Selinas and Jose Valdes Teran, the Al Harben Brothers, Cory Henry, Estevinson Padilla Valdes and Carlos Cassiani Shimarra, Chouloute Minouche, and others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJZW8U9bbmM&list=PLC122061BDC373B4B&index=17

"When the Levee Breaks" -- with John Paul Jones, ZStephen Perkins, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH0-WXUFY2k&list=PLC122061BDC373B4B&index=18

"Iko Iko" -- with Doctor John, Grateful Dead members Bill Kreutzman and Mickey Hart, Ian Neville, Donald Harrison, George Porter Jr., TPOK Jazz, and others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwMuRu6m_aY&list=PLC122061BDC373B4B&index=24

"The Weight" -- with Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Marcus King, Roberto Luti, Larkin Poe, Mermans Mosingo, Char, John Cruz and Hutch Hutchinson, Robin Moxey, Ahmed al Harmi, Rajeev Shrestha, Lukas Nelson, Sherieta Lewis and Roslyn Williams, and others

vhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ&list=PLC122061BDC373B4B&index=35

"All Along the Watchtower" -- with John Cruz, Ivan Neville and Cyril Neville, John Densmore, Warren Haynes, and others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UHHc7POovg&list=PLC122061BDC373B4B&index=44

"Bring It Home to Me" -- with Roger Ridley, James Gadson, Tony (Eiji) Hayashi, Reggie McBride, Roberto Luti, the Sassi De Matera Strings, Grandpa Elliot, Char, Alice Tan Ridley, The Havana Horns, and Karl Denson; this is the last song roger Ridley and Grandpa Elliott sang together be=fore their unfortunate passing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLa_J4CcHZU

"One Love" -- with Jimmy Buffett, The /Coral Reefer Band, Tula, Vusi Mahlasela, Roberto Luti, Mermans Kenkosenko, Sinamuva, Martin Machapa, the One6ness Choir, the Exile Brothers, Keb'  Mo',  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94mRU-ZGOsk

"St. James Infirmary" -- 15-year-old River Eckert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0AIt4BaE04&list=PL-x8Ol1-UMGu7v1CZoUJu0FHoJet2Yfok&index=17

"Weary Blues" -- the California feet Warmers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yez29hXBjuY&list=PL-x8Ol1-UMGu7v1CZoUJu0FHoJet2Yfok&index=49

I'm a bout eight months early for this one, but what the heck.  "Low Down Dirty Christmas" -- Grandpa Elliott, Titi Tsira, Tula Ben Ari, Clarence Bekker, and other members of th8e Playing for Change Band took a break from their Brazilian tour some twelve years ago to record this original song outside in Sao Paolo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-Tdu_eYQg&list=PL-x8Ol1-UMGu7v1CZoUJu0FHoJet2Yfok&index=94

"Better Man" -- Keb' Mo' recorded this song on his back porch in 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6cX61oNsRQ&list=PL-x8Ol1-UMGu7v1CZoUJu0FHoJet2Yfok&index=113

"Guantanamera" -- with over 75 Cubans musicians, including Carlos Varela, Diana Fuentes, Equis Alfonso, Grupo Sintesis, La Pasion, Gabino Jardines and Eva Grinan, Reinado Elosegui, Louis Bonfill, and Aymee Nuviola 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blUSVALW_Z4

"La Bamba"  -- with Alberto Manuel De La Rosa, Los Lobos, Andres Cslamaro, La Marisoul, Baby Black Ndombe, and others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5dkwQY-_tk

Music is universal.  Would it be wonderful if peace and understanding were also?

HYMN TIME

 The Peasall Sisters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg1CyWSJ7E4

SLAM-BANG COMICS #7 (SEPTEMBER 1940)

 Slam-Bang Comics was a short-lived anthology comic book from Fawcett that lasted a mere seven issues, from March through September 1940.  It featured adventure tales and action characters, including a few long forgotten superheroes.

• Zoro, the Mystery Man.  Not to be confused with the "bold renegade who marks a Z with his blade," although this Zoro carries a sword in a golden sheath.  He looks like a dandy, with a red bolero jacket, a wide golden sash, a bow tie, and a debonaire mustache.  He is "steel-strong of body and diamond -keen of brain."  He is dedicated to defending the down-trodden and bring evil-doers to justice.  And he has a pet cheetah, evidently named Cheetah.
• Diamond Jack, a magician who possesses an all-powerful diamond ring, which he uses to defeat a green dragon in the lost civilization of Tarya.  the Trayans have eternal life and their beautiful queen barely wears a revealing top to her va-va-voom outfit.  When Diamond Jack defets the green dragon, the entire civilization turns to dust.  C'est la vie eternelle!
• Jim Dolan, hard -hitting editor of Daring Detective Magazine, goes undercover in a prison to catch a killer.
• Lucky Lawton is a fast-shootin' cowboy who travels with his dog, Pal.  In this episode, Lucky rides into the midst of a "fuming" range war.
• Hurricane Hanson, the captain of the Surprise, an allied raider disguised as a tanker (which given what we've learned during the current Administration, might be a war crime) "comes face-to-face with the deadly Kazilian high-seas menace."
• The Foreman's Revenge, a two-page text story.  Jim Rockwell (not the television detective) is a furnace man at the Illinois Steel Company's main plant.  He crosses swords with the plant's venal foreman, Stanislaus Wojinsky.
• Mark Swift, a young student, travels with his teacher, Rodney Keant.through the centuries in the Time Traveler, a marvelous history-spanning machine.  they end u meeting Napoleon Bonaparte...and danger!
• The War Bird is Captain Sharp, an allied war ace.  Here, he fights his arch-enemy, the Baron Bruht, in a deadly air battle.
• Lee Granger, Jungle King.  Is there anything else that needs to be said?  Well, no.  Except that Eric, Granger's lion buddy, understands and can speak English, and reveals a nasty plot to kill a girl reporter.  This one may have been written by Manly Wade Wellman (although the character was created by Bill Parker) and may have been drawn by Jack Binder -- emphasis on the word may.

Of them all, Lee Granger appears the most enduring, appearing in eleven issues of Golden age comic books, but all the characters are no pat of the dust of history.

Nonetheless, an interesting compilation.  Enjoy.

https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=97922&comicpage=&b=i

FORGOTTEN BOOK: TYLER CROSS: ANGOLA

Tyler Cross:  Angola, written by Fabien Nury, with art  by Bruno and colors by Laurence Crook, 2019; originally published in French in 2014.

To supplement their line of cutting edge crime novels, Hard Case Crime began publishing a series of graphic novels and comic books in 2017, some original and some reprinted from foreign sources.  As with their novels, the Hard Case Crime graphic novels re amazingly varied and uniformly entertaining.  I've read 22 of the (by my count) 34 graphic novels thus far published and am hoping to read the reminder this year.

Tyler Cross :  Angola is a follow up to the earlier Tyler Cross: Black Rock, which Hard Case published the year before.  Tyler Cross is a 1950s criminal for hire who would fit right in to a Quentin Tarantino movie -- tough, ruthless, unforgiving.

When what appeared to be an easy job goes wrong, Cross is caught and sent to the Louisiana State P:ententiary in Angola, a maximum security hellhole surrounded by swamp and infested with cruel and psychotic guards and corrupt and venal officials.  To make matters worse, a price has been put on Tyler's head by the Sicilian mob, many of whose members are Tyler's fellow prisoners.  Tyler survives beatings, torture, and attempts on his life, eventually making a desperate bid for freedom, but escaped prisoners are invariably caught and killed.  Tyler has an additional purpose other than mere escape:  those who betrayed him and set him up for arrest must pay.  Any resemblance to Richard Stark's Parker not coincidental; the author acknowledges Parker an an importance influlence.

A violent, uncompromising graphic novel with effective, blocky artwork by "Bruno" (Bruno Thielleaux), which provides a pared-down cinematic feel to the story.

Nury is a popular French comic book artist and screenwriter, perhaps best known for his graphic novel The Death of Stalin.  At least one further adventure of Tyler Cross has been published in France, taking the anti-hero to Miami.  I'm hoping it will also be released in English  by Hard Case Cri/me. 

Recommended for those who like their comics dark and gritty.