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About DonHerron.com
In 1977 Don Herron began leading The Dashiell Hammett Tour, now the longest-running literary tour in the nation. On this site you’ll find information on current walks — dates, where to meet, arranging tours by appointment — plus a hard-boiled blog with news, reviews of books and film, and a dash of noir.
The latest and greatest edition to self-guide you up and down the mean streets.
Willeford: The Book
Includes the first “Mr. Hunt” story, “Knives in the Dark.”
Monthly Archives: February 2011
Tour: March and April Walks
Ask at least a month in advance and there’s a fighting chance you will receive — attend the tour on Sunday March 13th or the walk on Sunday April 3rd and check it out with the folk who gave me enough lead … Continue reading
Sinister Cinema: Lorre Noir
Valentine’s Day again — one of the birthdays of noir. In 1930 — 81 years ago today — Knopf released the first edition of The Maltese Falcon in hardcovers. As I maintain in the short essay “San Francisco Noir” (and to my … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Film, Frisco, Lit
Tagged Bogie, Falcon from Knopf, Joel Cairo, John Huston, Noir, Noir City, Peter Lorre, Poe, Valentine
Two-Gun Bob: Hard-Boiled and Deviled Again
“Where on Earth is Don Herron?” asked Al Harron (no relation, or none that I know of — I have been remiss in my geneaological studies the last few years) on his blog just last month. Al trailed after Damon Sasser’s original “Where in the … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, News, REH
Tagged Al Harron, E. Hoffmann Price, J. Dan Price, Pulps, Rob Roehm, The Cimmerian
Suicide Club: Billboard Liberation
Before the Billboard Liberation Front spearheaded the modern artform of liberating billboards, it had its shadowy origins in the exploits of the ur-urban adventure group, The San Francisco Suicide Club. Personally, I never cared much about billboards, but keenly appreciated the … Continue reading
Frisco Beat: Powell Hotel
Speaking of Willeford, I owe my pal, boxing fan Brian Leno, for bringing to my attention the postcard of Sailor Tom Sharkey, giving an address in the Powell Hotel. As I detail in my book Willeford, the author of Cockfighter and Miami Blues … Continue reading
Posted in Frisco, Lit, REH, Willeford
Tagged 1906 Quake and Fire, Boxing, Brian Leno, Powell Hotel, Pulps, Sailor Tom Sharkey
Posse McMillan: For Willeford Fans
Back from a run down to LA, what do I find in the inbox but a link sent by Leo Grin, with his headline “Reality One-Ups Willeford.” Yeah, you can’t really mention cockfighting without thinking of Willeford and Warren Oates … Continue reading
Tour: Third Printing
The other day copies of the new trade paperback state of The Dashiell Hammett Tour: Thirtieth Anniversary Guidebook gumshoed up to the door. Very nice — the colors on the covers are even brighter than on the hardback printing. Slick. Yeah, … Continue reading
Posted in DMac, Lit, Tour, Willeford
Tagged Book Collecting, Green Apple Books, Hammett Tour Book, Kevin Hunsanger, Kindle, Vince Emery
Frisco Beat: 100, and Counting
During the throes of repainting the old website in the closing months of 2010, knocking together the current blog format, I had to sit on the sidelines and watch news and anniversaries pass by. The one I most regret not being on … Continue reading
Posted in Frisco, Lit, News, Tour, Willeford
Tagged 811 Geary, Earthquakes, Fritz Leiber, Kindle, Literary Plaques, Margo Skinner, Our Lady of Darkness, Palm Sunday Tour, Tenderloin, Valentine