Author Description

Pop-culture historian Ed Hulse presents this collection of informative, extensively researched essays on the Westerns of pulp fiction and Saturday-matinee motion pictures from the 20th century's first half. He examines such best-selling authors as Zane Grey, Max Brand, Walt Coburn, and Clarence E. Mulford; such memorable series characters as Zorro, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, and Whistling Dan Barry; and such popular cowboy stars as Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, William Boyd, Randolph Scott, George O'Brien - to name just a few in each category. While not a comprehensive narrative history, this book's 17 essays in their totality cover a long span of time and a large amount of ground. Hulse has uncovered a wealth of heretofore unreported information on the making of classic Western movies, much of it gleaned from the actors, writers, and directors themselves. As a bonus the book reprints Stewart Edward White's outstanding 1919 novella, THE KILLER, twice adapted by Hollywood; the second and best version, a stylish 1932 exercise in "Western Gothic" titled MYSTERY RANCH, is one of the films covered by Hulse at length. At 286 pages, its 146,000 words accompanied by dozens of seldom-seen cover reproductions and rare movie stills, THE WILD WEST OF FICTION AND FILM is an invaluable addition to the history of American pop culture.