Howard at the Movies

[bleno11]

Hi,
I used to blog on Damon's website and did do some work on Kong. I wrote an article for the Cimmerian, "When Yaller Rock County Came to Chawed Ear", and I presented the point that Howard saw Kong.

In "Cupid from Bear Creek" Howard has an episode very similar to the scene in Kong where Kong picks up the logbridge and shakes everybody off.

Off the top of my head King Kong was shown in one of the nearby theaters to Cross Plains when released, but I can't remember the date or which town right now.

While my article isn't 100% proof, read Howard's story and watch the Kong scene. No way he didn't see it.

[bulbous]

Thanks, Bleno! I remembered your article in general arguing that one of his stories mirrored Kong in some way, but couldn't remember the details. More information on Howard's possible inspirations is great to have.

[Von K]

Jan 25, 2022 14:02:05 GMT -5 bleno11 said:

Hi,
I used to blog on Damon's website and did do some work on Kong. I wrote an article for the Cimmerian, "When Yaller Rock County Came to Chawed Ear", and I presented the point that Howard saw Kong.

In "Cupid from Bear Creek" Howard has an episode very similar to the scene in Kong where Kong picks up the logbridge and shakes everybody off.

Off the top of my head King Kong was shown in one of the nearby theaters to Cross Plains when released, but I can't remember the date or which town right now.

While my article isn't 100% proof, read Howard's story and watch the Kong scene. No way he didn't see it.

I remember reading one of your articles on that topic, almost certainly on TGR, and came away convinced that REH had seen Kong.

Here are a couple of glimpses from Don Herron's site (unfortunately the link to the original article is down):

donherron.com/sinister-cinema-two-gun-bob-and-kong/

donherron.com/sinister-cinema-scream-queen/

[bleno11]

Thanks for jogging my memory! The Lyric Theater in Brownwood, that's what I was trying to remember.

[linefacedscrivener]

Great to hear from you Bleno. You really did some great articles for The Cimmerian, its companion website, and TGR. I recently purchased the full run of The Cimmerian and I would have to say, you were definitely one of the noted authors. 

That article you did was in Vol. 5, No. 5, in October 2008, "When Yaller Rock County Came to Chawed Ear: Howard, Tuttle--and Kong." Great title! As an aside, that article, and the reprinting of Howard's one page typing practice and list of Adventure authors and stories sent me down the path of reading all of those stories from the Adventure magazine. It has been a great ride and I have you to thank for sparking the interest after reading your article.

In the article, you said it was Morgan Holmes who had asked in an earlier issue: "A question I have had for a long time and one that I know other Howard enthusiasts have thought is: did Robert E. Howard see the original King Kong in 1933?" 

Your answer: "That question, I think, is answered by one of Howard's Elkins tales, 'The Peaceful Pilgrim,' which seems to slyly borrow a famous scene from what at that time, a recent state-of-the-art hit in movie theaters."

You also noted that "The revised section from his A Gent from Bear Creek is even closer to the movie version."

So, Howard fans, pull down your Breckenridge Elkins collections or your copy of A Gent from Bear Creek and I think you will see what Bleno showed in the article. If anything, it gives you an excuse to read more Howard. Enjoy!

And thanks again, Bleno. 

[linefacedscrivener]

Jan 25, 2022 16:42:57 GMT -5 bleno11 said:

Thanks for jogging my memory! The Lyric Theater in Brownwood, that's what I was trying to remember.

[bleno11]

Thank you very much for the kind words. It's appreciated.

Adventure magazine is a goldmine for great reading. I can't stay away from it!

Thanks again.