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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.”
Category Archives: Film
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
Two-Gun Bob: June 11, 1926 — 1936 — 2022
Today marks the anniversary of the suicide by gunshot at age thirty of Texas author Robert E. Howard, sitting in his Chevy outside the family home in Cross Plains. Our resident Autograph Hound Brian Leno lays out another John Hancock … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Frisco, Lit, News, REH
Tagged Autographs, Book Collecting, Boris Karloff, Brian Leno, Collier's, Hugh Wiley, literary suicides, San Francisco Mysteries, Steve Eng
Hammett: More Hawkman
Remember back in 2016 when the DC comics show Legends of Tomorrow debuted on the CW? Seems like only yesterday, and now it has been canceled, the last sad dregs streaming off into oblivion. . . . But hey, I … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Film, News
Tagged Brian Wallace, Dominic Purcell, Hawkman, Joe Kubert, Legends of Tomorrow, Murphy Anderson, Prison Break, The CW
Rediscovered: The Death of Sax
Arch-Autograph Hound Brian Leno hauls out a couple of John Hancocks to mark an anniversary, including one from the iconic Anna May Wong, who just got her own American quarterpiece, if you prefer to collect coins. Here’s Brian: Sixty-three years … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Lit, News, REH
Tagged Anna May Wong, Autographs, Brian Leno, Fu-Manchu, Joan Bradshaw, Joseph Clement Coll, Sax Rohmer
Hammett: The Noir Croissant
Brian Wallace updates the news regarding Clive Owen playing Sam Spade, after Sam has moved to France, it’s circa 1963, and a plot is brewing. First, The Ronin blurbs the project and speculates who might pick it up — they … Continue reading
Rediscovered: W. R. Burnett on Defund the Police
A few weeks ago I finally got around to reading the heist-gone-wrong classic The Asphalt Jungle from 1949 by W. R. Burnett. With his first novel in 1929, Little Caesar, Burnett made his name. A cornerstone of crime fiction, the … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Val Lewton
Autograph Hound Saturday once more, and Brian Leno is back to give us a glance at one of his most recent acquisitions in the Department of Serious John Hancocks. Take it, Brian: I haven’t seen too many Val Lewton signatures … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Lit
Tagged Autographs, Boris Karloff, Brian Leno, James T. Farrell, Val Lewton, Weird Tales
Mort: Fred Ward
After the fact, word drifted in that Fred Ward died on Sunday May 9 at the age of 79. Got to note it here since — as pictured above — Fred was the first to essay the role of Charles … Continue reading
