Category Archives: Lit

Hollywood Beat: That Photogenic Mug, Jim Tully

Posted on May 16, 2026 by Don

Autograph Hound Saturday yet again. . . . Back in 2012 I made a run down to Hollywood to hit Musso & Frank and hobnob with my fellow wizards. Leo Grin had mentioned that he noticed a nice signed photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Lit | Tagged , , , , |

Mort: DMac & DSF

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Don

Man. A Couple of Really Bad Days at Black Rock. A few days after the fact I heard from fellow Posse McMillan member Kent Harrington that our pal, publisher Dennis McMillan, had passed away on Friday May 1st. Word as … Continue reading →

Posted in DMac, Frisco, Lit, News | Tagged , , , , |

Rediscovered: Belly Band Tuesday

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Don

We’ve done belly bands before — notably, one on Michael Connelly’s first crime novel. But now I sense that our maniacal book collecting pal Brian Leno might have picked up a jones for those bands. Just in case, I better … Continue reading →

Posted in Lit | Tagged , , , |

Rediscovered: Gene and Joe

Posted on April 18, 2026 by Don

Autograph Hound Saturday. Courtesy Brian Leno, today let’s spotlight a favorite writer here on These Mean Streets. “Some good news,” Brian reports, “I picked up a signed Eugene Cunningham’s Texas Sheriff for 20 bucks. No dj but it supposedly has … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash, Frisco, Lit, REH | Tagged , , , |

Rediscovered: Shiel and Floyd and an Absurd Adventure of Dennis McMillan

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Don

Just noticed a quick email from 2022 where Brian Leno told me: Came across a letter where Lawrence of Arabia — in his T. E. Shaw alias — tells a bookseller he will take a copy of Shiel’s The Purple … Continue reading →

Posted in DMac, Lit, News | Tagged , , , , , , , |

Rediscovered: And an Opinionated John Hancock

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Don

Autograph Hound Saturday, sure, but it’s always Autograph Hound Saturday in Autograph Hound Brian Leno’s redoubt. Here’s another one, which just fell into Brian’s clutches today — an hour ago. Only the latest, in a legion. Let’s allow Brian to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lit | Tagged , , , , , , |

Rediscovered: Vathek You Very Much

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Don

Autograph Hound Saturday, and our favorite maniacal collector Brian Leno has landed a John Hancock he’s been after for years: William Beckford. Here’s Brian with some remarks: Just won the bidding on a William Beckford signed letter, an autograph I … Continue reading →

Posted in Lit | Tagged , , , , |

Rediscovered: More Caveman Lit

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Don

Autograph Hound Saturday yet again, and as ever, Brian Leno is on the prod. Back in 2020 Brian landed an inscribed copy of The Day of the Brown Horde and thought he’d read it immediately when it rolled in. Didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Lit | Tagged , , , , |

Hammett: The Jutting Jaw of Jeopardy!

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Don

Once more the clew crew at Jeopardy! dips into the deep trough of the life and career of Dashiell Hammett to summon up hard-boiled ghosts of the past. Seas42 Ep124. February 26, 2026. First round. $400 clew. Category: First Lines … Continue reading →

Posted in Lit, News | Tagged , , , |

Rediscovered: Postcards from Sauk/Arkham

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Don

Brian Leno has decided to throw his collection of postcards promoting August Derleth and his home in Sauk City, Wisconsin onto the market. Search eBay for “August Derleth Signed Postcards” — though I guess technically only one card is signed. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lit, News | Tagged , , , |