Search donherron.com
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: October 2022
Rediscovered: Dr. Caligari
And for his final Halloween auto for the day Brian Leno evokes the past: Three years ago we showcased Conrad Veidt and Lil Dagover from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. This time around we have the good doctor himself, Werner … Continue reading
Rediscovered: The Vampire
Brian Leno keeps the Halloween inbox hopping: Sharp photo with a signed card by John Beal. Poor guy better get a shave if he wants to have any chance at romance with the fainting beauty. Released in theatres as The … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Another Bride
Brian Leno pulls another auto from the cast of James Whale’s The Bride of Frankenstein: Valerie Hobson, also known as Baroness Frankenstein in Universal’s 1935 classic The Bride of Frankenstein. The signature is a little shaky, as it’s on a … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Dr. Pretorius
Another arcane John Hancock from the vaults of Brian Leno: Dr. Pretorius, Ernest Thesiger, from The Bride of Frankenstein. It’s a great movie but the scene with the little people created by Pretorius is just downright silly. Painful to watch. … Continue reading
Posted in Film
Tagged Autographs, Brian Leno, Bride of Frankenstein, Dr. Pretoruius, Ernest Thesiger, James Whale
Rediscovered: The Gorgon
Brian Leno continues his Halloween cornucopia: The autograph of Prudence Hyman, who played the Gorgon in Hammer’s aptly titled The Gorgon, from 1964. Prudence doubled in the monster scenes for Barbara Shelley, supposedly because she could glide effortlessly across the … Continue reading
Rediscovered: The Halloween Knell
This year Halloween snuck up on me on little cat’s feet, but Brian Leno remembered the annual tradition we’ve had going on with eldritch John Hancocks, year after year. He’s begun popping them in for interested eyeballs: “Pigeons from Hell” … Continue reading
Posted in Film, REH
Tagged Autographs, Boris Karloff, Brian Leno, John Newland, Ottola Nesmith, Thriller
Posse McMillan: Kent Harrington and the Third Degree
Our buddy Kent Harrington from the old Posse McMillan days — and up to today — fields some snoopy queries in his latest interview over on the Noir Con site. He mentions Dennis McMillan and the days of yesteryear, plus … Continue reading
Hammett: Jeopardy! Strikes Back!
After a furious release, one after another, over years, Hammett clews suddenly became scarce on Jeopardy! with the passing of the great Alex Trebek. I was thinking maybe the clew guy who liked to mine Hammett had left the staff … Continue reading
Hammett: At the Commodore
Gary Romeo, perhaps best known in recent years as a staunch booster of L. Sprague de Camp, pops in some history, illustrated: “About 15 years ago I went to the Harry Ransom Center and scanned a bunch of de Camp … Continue reading
Posted in Dash
Tagged 4th American Writers Congress, Autographs, Commodore Hotel, Gary Romeo, Harry Ransom Center, L. Sprague de Camp