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.
Welcome back to 1965 and to the savage and strange world of “Doll” – the 20th novel in the series.
We have a look at the context in which it was released by exploring the Christmas charts and television of that year, with an exclusive Dave Clark Five rendition thrown in as well. Paul shares some intriguing research linking McBain with the espionage writer Eric Ambler and we share another mutual passion as we talk about Joseph Wambaugh. Oh – we go on about motorways a bit as well. Sorry.
Join us in the next episode for “Eighty Million Eyes”. Please rate, review and share the show wherever you can. It is true that every little contribution helps, however you make it.
We're back with our usual round of exploring the physical book - looking at the editions and covers of the versions we've got of Ed McBain's "He Who Hesitates", as well as the original releases. Stevo gives his usual olfactory assessment of the books and seems to become slightly obsessed with the notion of 'fonts'.
We answer a couple of listener questions here, in particular about other lesser-known authors we enjoy and, what with it being late October, give our Haunted House Halloween Recommendations! All these are listed on the blog as well. Thanks to everyone who got in touch - we love being able to respond, so please contact us through social media or via hark87podcast@gmail.com
We'll be back soon to enjoy the next 87th Precinct novel, Doll, with you, but we should have some super-special bonus stuff coming up soon as well. Fare thee well!
Ed McBain's first 87th Precinct of 1965 is "He Who Hesitates" and it's a change from the norm. Join us as we tag along with Mountainy Man Roger Broome as he walks the streets of Isola, trying to decide whether to go to the police about.... something.
As usual, we set the scene by taking a look at the pop culture and events of the time and Paul outlines all the research bits'n'pieces he can find about the book, and we share contemporary reviews of the story and some of our listeners' opinions as well.
Remember you can find us on all the podcast platforms and social media as HARK87PODCAST and you can contribute to the running of the show with a one-off donation at KO-FI.COM. Or help us out by writing a review and sharing!
We'll be back with our bonus episode soon, and then onto the next book in the series - "DOLL". Fare thee well.
