Johnston McCulley
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

John William Johnston McCulley (February 2, 1883 – November 23, 1958) was an American writer of hundreds of stories, fifty novels, numerous screenplays for film and television, and the creator of the character
Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...
.


Biography

Born in
Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
, Illinois, and raised in Chillicothe, Illinois, McCulley graduated from Chillicothe Township High School in 1901. He started as a police reporter for ''
The Police Gazette The ''National Police Gazette'', commonly referred to as simply the ''Police Gazette'', is an American magazine founded in 1845. Under publisher Richard K. Fox, it became the forerunner of the men's magazine, men's lifestyle magazine, the illus ...
'' and served as an Army public affairs officer during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. An amateur history buff, he went on to a career in
pulp magazine Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazine ...
s and screenplays, often using a Southern California backdrop for his stories. Many of his novels and stories were written under the
pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
s Harrington Strong, Raley Brien, George Drayne, Monica Morton, Rowena Raley, Frederic Phelps, Walter Pierson, and John Mack Stone, among others. Aside from Zorro, McCulley created many other pulp characters, including Black Star, The Spider, The Mongoose, and Thubway Tham. Many of McCulley's characters—The Green Ghost, The Thunderbolt, and The Crimson Clown—were inspirations for the masked heroes that have appeared in popular culture from McCulley's time to the present day.


Works


McCulley's characters


Zorro

McCulley's
Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...
character, reminiscent of
Baroness Orczy Baroness Emma Orczy (full name: Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála Orczy de Orci) (; 23 September 1865 – 12 November 1947), usually known as Baroness Orczy (the name under which she was published) or to her family and friends as Em ...
's
Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in London, having ...
, was first serialized in the story '' The Curse of Capistrano'' in 1919 in the
pulp magazine Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazine ...
''All-Story Weekly''.
Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...
became his most enduring character. The appearance of the 1920
Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including '' The Thie ...
silent movie ''Silent Movie'' is a 1976 American satirical comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Mel Brooks, released by 20th Century Fox in the summer of 1976. The ensemble cast includes Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman, Bernadette Peters, and Sid Cae ...
'' The Mark of Zorro'', based on the first novel, was the direct cause for McCulley's reviving what had originally been a one-time hero plot. The popularity of the character led to three novellas appearing in '' Argosy'': ''The Further Adventures of Zorro'' (1922), ''
Zorro Rides Again ''Zorro Rides Again'' (1937) is a 12-chapter Republic Pictures film serial. It was the eighth of the sixty-six Republic serials, the third with a Western theme (a third of Republic's serials were westerns) and the last produced in 1937. The s ...
'' (1931), and '' The Sign of Zorro'' (1941).The Vintage Library
In between, he wrote many other novels and stories set in early Spanish California which did not have Zorro as the lead character. Republic optioned the character for a serial, ''Zorro's Fighting Legion'', which was released in 1939 and was well received. Over the coming decade Republic released three other serials connected in some way with the Zorro character. In 1940, ''The Mark of Zorro'' remake starring
Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include '' Jesse James'', ...
and
Linda Darnell Linda Darnell (born Monetta Eloyse Darnell; October 16, 1923 – April 10, 1965) was an American actress. Darnell progressed from modeling as a child to acting in theater and film. At the encouragement of her mother, she made her first film in ...
made the character much more widely known to the public at large, and McCulley decided to bring Zorro back with new stories. McCulley made an arrangement with the pulp ''West Magazine'' to produce a brand new Zorro short story for every issue. The first of these stories appeared in July 1944 and the last one appeared in July 1951, the final issue of the publication. Fifty-three adventures in all were published in ''West''. An additional story (possibly a story originally written for ''West'' which went unpublished when ''West'' folded) appeared in '' Max Brand's Western Magazine'' in the May 1954 issue. The final Zorro story appeared in '' Short Story Magazine'' in April 1959, after McCulley's death and after
Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...
's
Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...
television program starring Guy Williams had become nationally popular.


Black Star

Probably his second most popular character from the pulps was "The Black Star", a criminal mastermind who is pursued by Roger Verbeck-Flagellum and Muggs, a millionaire bachelor and his ex-thug partner. Black Star first appeared in the
Street & Smith Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. was a New York City publisher specializing in inexpensive paperbacks and magazines referred to as dime novels and pulp fiction. They also published comic books and sporting yearbooks. Among t ...
pulp ''
Detective Story Magazine ''Detective Story Magazine'' was an American magazine published by Street & Smith from October 15, 1915, to Summer, 1949 (1,057 issues). It was one of the first pulp magazines devoted to detective fiction and consisted of short stories and seri ...
'' on 5 March 1916. Black Star was what was once termed a "gentleman criminal", in that he does not commit murder, nor does he permit any of his gang to kill anyone, not even the police or his arch enemy Roger Verbeck. He does not threaten women, always keeps his word, and is invariably courteous, nor does he deal with narcotics in any of his stories. He is always seen in a black cloak and a black hood on which is embossed a jet black star. The Black Star and his gang used "vapor bombs" and "vapor guns" which rendered their victims instantly unconscious, a technique which pre-dated the Green Hornet's gas gun by several decades. These stories were very popular with the readership of ''
Detective Story Magazine ''Detective Story Magazine'' was an American magazine published by Street & Smith from October 15, 1915, to Summer, 1949 (1,057 issues). It was one of the first pulp magazines devoted to detective fiction and consisted of short stories and seri ...
'' and some of them were reprinted by Chelsea House, a division of Street & Smith, in a series of inexpensive hardback books. The character lasted through the end of 1930.


The Spider

The Spider was another long-running villain character, considered by some a significant pulp supervillain. The Spider appeared in 11 short stories and three short-story collections between 1918 and 1930. He was injured as a young man and used a wheelchair, but he used his mental abilities to run an international crime ring from his office, "The Spider's Den".


The Crimson Clown

The Crimson Clown appeared in ''
Detective Story Magazine ''Detective Story Magazine'' was an American magazine published by Street & Smith from October 15, 1915, to Summer, 1949 (1,057 issues). It was one of the first pulp magazines devoted to detective fiction and consisted of short stories and seri ...
'' beginning in 1926 and immediately attracted reader interest, so much so that Street & Smith published two hardback collections of his adventures. ''The Crimson Clown'' (1927) was rushed to press just as soon as there was enough material available to fill a hardback volume. This was followed by ''The Crimson Clown Again'' (1928). The Crimson Clown is Delton Prouse, a wealthy young bachelor, able veteran of The Great War, explorer, and all-around adventurer who functions as a modern
Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is depic ...
, stealing from the unjustly rich and returning money to helpless victims or worthy organizations. He dresses in a mostly red clown suit and uses a syringe of knockout drug (later this is replaced by a "gas gun"). Like McCulley's earlier "Man in Purple", who also stole from the unjustly rich, he frequently had to destroy his outfits to evade capture. McCulley retired Delton Prouse at the end of 1931, but "The Crimson Clown’s Return" (''Popular Detective'', Oct 1944) brought him back for one final adventure. Though an original story, it lifted the title from another Clown story in the October 18, 1930 issue of ''Detective Story Magazine''.


Filmography

Many of Johnston McCulley's stories were made into films. McCulley also wrote for films. Here is a brief filmography. * ''
Ruth of the Rockies ''Ruth of the Rockies'' is a 1920 American silent Western film serial directed by George Marshall. Two of the 15 episodes survive in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Plot As described in a film magazine, in New York City breezy Bab Murphy ...
'', 1920, story * ''
Captain Fly-by-Night ''Captain Fly-by-Night'' is a 1922 American silent adventure film directed by William K. Howard and starring Johnnie Walker, Francis McDonald, and Shannon Day.Munden p. 110. Set in historic Spanish California, it was inspired by the success of ...
'', 1922, story * ''
Ride for Your Life ''Ride for Your Life'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Bud Watkins is in love with Betsy Burke. However, she shows a preference for The ...
'', 1924, story * ''The Ice Flood'', 1926, story * ''The Red Rope'', 1937, story * ''The Trusted Outlaw'', 1937, story * ''
Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm ''Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Mack V. Wright and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Armida. Based on a story by Johnston McCulley, the film is about two cowboys who assume the identities of dead o ...
'', 1937, story * ''
Rose of the Rio Grande ''Rose of the Rio Grande'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by William Nigh and starring Movita Castaneda as Rosita de la Torre. Plot When killers come after her wealthy brother Don Jose, she narrowly escapes with Sebastian and hides ...
'', 1938, story * ''
Doomed Caravan ''Doomed Caravan'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring William Boyd. The film is a serial Western and part of the Hopalong Cassidy series. It is the 32nd entry in a series of 66 films. Plot Cast * Willi ...
'', 1941, writer * ''Overland Mail'', 1942, story * '' South of the Rio Grande'', 1945, story * ''
Don Ricardo Returns ''Don Ricardo Returns'' is a 1946 American western drama film. After having been abducted and sent away on a ship in 1835, Don Ricardo (Coby) escapes and makes his way back to Alta California. He returns to exact revenge on those who kidnappe ...
'', 1946, story * ''
The Mark of the Renegade ''Mark of the Renegade'' is a 1951 American Adventure Western film directed by Hugo Fregonese starring Ricardo Montalbán and Cyd Charisse.Blottner p.157 The film is based on the novel ''Don Renegade'' by Johnston McCulley, and is set in Mexican ...
'' 1951, story


Death

Johnston McCulley died on November 23, 1958, in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, California at age 75. The ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' obituary gives his address in Los Angeles as 6533 Hollywood Blvd. at the time of his death, an address which is confirmed in the Marquis volume and places McCulley in the Hillview Hollywood Apartments. There is no record of when he moved there, although the Marquis article may have been originally prepared in the late 1940s/early 1950s, with additional material appended in the late 1950s. ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' obituary mentions that he died "after a series of operations," a phrase echoed in other newspaper obituaries from other parts of the country, most likely taken from a ''New York Times'' feed. McCulley is entombed in
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original and current flagship location of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a chain of six cemeteries and four additional mortuaries in Southern Cal ...
, Los Angeles, California.


References


External links

* * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:McCulley, Johnston 1883 births 1958 deaths Pulp fiction writers 20th-century American novelists American male novelists Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) People from Chillicothe, Illinois Novelists from Illinois Zorro People from Ottawa, Illinois American male screenwriters American Western (genre) novelists Screenwriters from Illinois 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters