John Ernest Bechdolt (July 13, 1884 – December 28, 1954) was an American short story writer, novelist, and journalist. He wrote under the name Jack Bechdolt as well as his full name. He worked for the ''

Seattle Post-Intelligencer The ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' (popularly known as the ''Seattle P-I'', the ''Post-Intelligencer'', or simply the ''P-I'') is an online newspaper and former print newspaper based in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, United States. Th ...

'' from 1909 to 1916, after which he moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

, where he worked for Munsey Publications for a year before freelancing. His first novel, '' The Torch'', was serialized in the magazine ''

Argosy Argosy or The Argosy may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Argosy'' (magazine), an American pulp magazine 1882–1978 and revived 1990–1994, 2004–2006 * ''Argosy'' (UK magazine), three British magazines * Argosy spaceship in ''Escap ...

'' in 1920. Several of his stories were adapted into films. image:Jack Bechdolt illustration.png, Image taken from ''The Cartoon; A Reference Book of Seattle's Successful Men'' by Jack Bechdolt, listed in the book as a member of the Seattle Cartoonists' Club. The man in the background is Seattle businessman F. S. Roddy. Bechdolt served as a solicitor for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1910. During that time, he was also drawing; he was listed as a member of the Seattle Cartoonists' Club in their 1911 book ''The Cartoon; A Reference Book of Seattle's Successful Men''. He signed one of the illustrations in the book, a caricature of a painter. Bechdolt was born in

Mankato, Minnesota Mankato ( ) is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the state of Minnesota. The population was 44,488 according to the 2020 census, making it the 21st-largest city in Minnesota, and the 5th-largest outside of the Minnea ...

. His father, Adolph F. Bechdolt (1846–1938), was an educator and university professor. His older brother,

Frederick R. Bechdolt Frederick Ritchie Bechdolt (July 27, 1874 – April 12, 1950) (also known as Fred or Bech) was an American journalist, Western fiction writer, and pioneer member of the Carmel art colony. He is best known as a Western writer for the works ''When ...

(1874–1950), was also a journalist and writer. Bechdolt died on December 28, 1954, at Pinebluff Sanitarium in

Pinebluff, North Carolina Pinebluff is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,337 at the 2010 census. History Pinebluff was once a regional resort area during the early 1900s, enjoying even greater renown than Pinehurst Resort at the ...

. He was buried in

Southern Pines, North Carolina Southern Pines is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 12,334 as of the 2010 United States Census. History Southern Pines was founded as a winter health resort for Northerners. As of 1898, it was a sundow ...

Books

* ''The Lost Vikings'' (1931) * ''The Vanishing Hounds'' (1941) * ‘’Junior Air Raid Wardens’’ (1942) * '' The Torch'' (1948) * '' On the Air: A Story of Television'', a novel (E. P. Dutton, 1950) * ''The Modern Handy Book for Boys'' (1933)

References

Additional sources

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External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bechdolt, Jack 1884 births 1954 deaths 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American screenwriters 20th-century American short story writers American fantasy writers American illustrators American male journalists American male novelists American male screenwriters American science fiction writers American male short story writers Journalists from Washington (state) Novelists from Minnesota Novelists from Washington (state) Seattle Post-Intelligencer people Screenwriters from Minnesota Screenwriters from Washington (state) Writers from Seattle