Murray Leinster connection

In 1937-1939, Warner Brothers made a series of 9 films about Torchy Blane, an intrepid girl reporter. Glenda Farrell played the role in 7 of them, Lola Lane in one, and Jane Wyman in the final one. Turner Classic Movies has been showing the series this year. Ben Mankiewicz, descendant of film mogul Joseph Mankiewicz, does a foreword & an afterword to the films. In his afterword to the 7th film, "Torchy Blane In Chinatown", he notes that Glenda Farrell's portrayal of the character and Lola Lane's name were direct inspirations for the name and personality of Lois Lane in the Superman comics.

Of more direct interest for our purposes, according to the afterword, said 7th film was a remake of a 1920 film "Purple Cipher" and a 1930 film "Murder Will Out." Story credit for those two and this film went to Will F. Jenkins and Murray Leinster. [Apparently the studio didn't know they're the same person.] How cool is that?

obLMB: Lois McMaster Bujold is a fan of Murray Leinster.

filkferengi, fan of trivia & funky fannish connections

Arizona trip!

Ze spouse went to Arizona and hiked a total of 52 miles over several days. Here are the pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24609723@N08/sets/72157633146205706/