Come with us now as we skate over the surface of time, bumping back through the years to 1953 and to the story, DANGER: DINOSAURS! by Richard Marsten.
Evan Hunter, king of pseudonyms, wrote a few juvenile fiction/Sci-fi books early in his career of which this is one such lizard-filled example. Taking time-travel as a starting point, Hunter/Marsten brings us Goodies, Baddies, Monsters, Mayhem, Machinations and a Singing Chef. Who could ask for more?
Trying to make sense of the story with Paul this episode is his brother, Garry Abbott, a writer of Sci-Fi/Speculative fiction whose work can be found at https://garryabbott.com, with his books available via Amazon. Sweep back the jungly tendrils of the cycads and join us on our mission.
Fare thee wel... oh lord... no... ALLOSAURUS.... AAAAAARGH!
We jump time-streams from the 87th Precinct of the written-word to the 87th Precinct of the acted-world, as we explore the fifth episode of the NBC TV series (1961-62) based on Ed McBain's stories. McBain/Hunter himself only wrote three teleplays for the series. Two were based on books but this one, Line Of Duty, was an original story.
Paul shares what he's found out about the story and we speculate on how it relates to the broader concept and series of the 87th Precinct and we also say the word "Haberdashery" several times. You have been warned.
This december bonus episode has been enhanced by the amazing generosity of one of our listeners, thus providing us with ample book-huffing opportunities. Should you wish to gift us anything, then our hearts would be gladdened by a review or rating on whatever podcast platform you use - a share and a recommendation to others goes a long way too!
There's more extra pods coming soon, but we'll be back before too long with our main podcast and 1966's "EIGHTY MILLION EYES". See you soon, Merry Christmas and Fare Thee Well!
Hark! It’s an 87th Precinct Podcast Bonus Episode!
Our focus is on the covers of our editions of Ed McBain’s twentieth 87th Precinct novel, Doll and we discuss those as well as the original release covers of the US and UK editions.
Book Huffing is discussed in ludicrous detail and Stevo reveals his love for supergroup “Book Huffington and The Huffers” as we descend even further into Bonus Episode madness. We also tackle some listener questions both McBain based and personal.
Join us soon for the next book, Eighty Million Eyes. As always please rate, review and share wherever you can. We appreciate it and, if you’re listening to these bonus episodes, we admire your tolerance!
In our last episode, Morgan
teased at some research he’d done relevant to the story, but which we decided
not to share in case of spoilers. We also didn’t do what we suggested and put
it in the bonus episode (out soon) so here, for those curious to know, is that
information pertaining to the twentieth of the 87th Precinct novels,
“Doll”.
The title of the book is the key
giveaway here. Obviously the doll in question is, literally, the doll being
played with by Anna, the child of the victim, Tinka Sachs, as she overhears the
murder of her mother. ‘Doll’ is used figuratively throughout as well, with the
obvious implications of fashion models as dolls but even our embattled hero,
Steve Carella, becomes a plaything himself.
But we think the root of the story
is found in the Macguffin of the literal doll of the title. Whilst there
certainly was a doll called “Chatterbox” on the market in the
early/mid-sixties, made by the Madam Alexander doll company, this didn’t have
the capabilities of the toy described in the book. They were 23” tall dolls
with a battery compartment in the back that also concealed a small vinyl record
that would play a series of stock phrases such as “Do you love me?” and “Let’s
go to the park!” and “Take Daddy’s Wallet. Burn the car. Leave no traces!” –
stuff like that. Anyway, it seems that McBain took the name Chatterbox, which
suits the narrative of the story, and applied it to a different doll model.
The American Doll Company, most
famous for their Tiny Tears doll, produced “Little Miss Echo” between 1962-64
and it was on sale until at least 1965, which nicely matches the writing and
release period of the book.
The toy in the book is described as:
“The doll measured
thirty inches… There were two D-size flashlight batteries and one 9-volt
transistor battery in a recess in the doll’s plastic belly… there was a
flesh-colored, open plastic grid that concealed the miniature electronic device
in the doll’s chest… The device was a tiny recorder. The brooch below the doll’s
collar was a knob that activated the recording mechanism.”
The description matches the
real-world Little Miss Echo almost exactly, save that the mechanism of the real
world doll (essentially a simple tape loop) could only record 30 seconds where
the recording in the book is described as lasting a minute and a half. It’s
lucky that when Meyer Meyer and Kling retrieved the doll, they didn’t turn the
brooch the wrong way and erase the recorded evidence of Tinka Sachs' murder.
Witness the full horror of Little
Miss Echo’s blank unmoving face and relentless repetition of those around here,
in this contemporary advert.
