Tag Archives: Bill Arney

Sinister Cinema: The Shadow of Bill Arney

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Don

Dropped in on a memorial party for the late great Bill Arney last night in 891 Post, tales were told of his exploits, we found the raw footage of his epic toy tank battle filmed in Death Valley or someplace, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Frisco | Tagged , , , |

Frisco Beat: Mark Coggins on 891 Post and Bill Arney

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Don

Just got a note from crime writer Mark Coggins rounding up some stuff about the late Bill Arney on Twitter. One of the links offers Bill reading something by Mark on KQED. I bet there’s a lot of Bill’s voice … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash, Frisco | Tagged , , |

Frisco Beat: Up in Spade’s Room

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Don

Thomas Burchfield just put up an article on the late great Bill Arney — especially useful because it first appeared in 2009 and contains lots of info on Bill’s movements in San Francisco. I’d almost forgotten the breakup with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash, Frisco, News, Tour | Tagged , , , , , |

Mort: Bill Arney

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Don

It’s a sad day in Sam Spade’s San Francisco. Got a note from Mike Humbert last night to inform me that Bill Arney died yesterday morning, September 28 2021. As of now, I don’t know what got him. I’m kicking … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash, Frisco, News, Tour | Tagged , , , |

Hammett: The Roscoe Barked

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Don

In Chapter II of The Maltese Falcon — Death in the Fog — Sam Spade describes the gun used to bump off his partner Miles Archer: “Webley-Fosbery automatic revolver. That’s it. Thirty-eight, eight shot. They don’t make them any more.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash | Tagged , |

891 Post: The Reign of Wild Bill Arney, Remembered

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Don

Just got a note from Bill Arney, who you’ll remember as the longtime Keeper of the Sacred Shrine, i.e. Hammett’s apartment in 891 Post Street — where a little classic titled The Maltese Falcon was written. Bill just got a … Continue reading →

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

Hammett: “Brigid Skates”

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Don

Back in 2009 I had a potential brush with the Court of Historical Review in San Francisco, which plays with old crimes — for fun, they re-try them. The loose plan was that I would provide background info on evidence … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash | Tagged , |

Hammett: Trouble in Paradise

Posted on November 10, 2018 by Don

Shot above from a few years ago, Mike Humbert, Don, Bill Arney standing in front of the folded-up Murphy bed in Sam Spade’s apartment, 891 Post Street. Mike maintains a Hammett website and Bill is famed as the one-time occupant … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash, News | Tagged , , , , |

Hammett: Gutman’s Daughter Preying on Minds

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Don

I was just mentioning to Bill Arney that our days of hanging out in San Francisco bars between ten and twenty years ago was a Golden Age, and that I said so at the time. Golden Ages don’t slip past me … Continue reading →

Posted in Dash, Frisco | Tagged , , |

Tour: The Kermit Sheets Copy

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Don

Grizzled eBay gunhawk Brian Leno told me that a signed copy of an old tour book currently is on the block — Buy It Now for $39.50. First printing of the second edition from 1982. Same printing as the copy I … Continue reading →

Posted in Frisco, News, Tour | Tagged , , , , , , , , |