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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.”
Tag Archives: Floyd Salas
Mort: Floyd Salas
Just got word that Floyd Salas died Sunday the 17th at the age of 90. Tattoo the Wicked Cross, baby. His companion of 38 years, Claire Ortalda, did the obit for Berkleyside — an excellent piece of writing, rounding up … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Padgett Powell Book Posts Willeford
Aha. Another guy has just discovered the late great Charles Willeford and covers the waterfront on the direct-to-your-inbox service Book Post. If interested, hop to the link fast — I have no idea what the archiving is like. My book … Continue reading
Rediscovered: More on Joe Memoli
Who would have thought a casual mention made when I was working up an article on the boxer-poet Floyd Salas would lead to more about Joe Memoli on These Mean Streets — and now, years later, to even more. Just … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Floyd Salas Interviewed
Shot above, Floyd Salas, foreground, and Donald Sidney-Fryer from their first meeting. Matthew Asprey Gear just popped in word that a newly published interview with Floyd (conducted via email in 2014) is now available in Girl Gangs, Biker Boys, and … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Floyd Salas Meets Donald Sidney-Fryer
Left: Floyd Salas. Right: Donald Sidney-Fryer. (Background: gold statue by Floyd titled “The Boxer.”) I’ve had the idea that Floyd Salas and Donald Sidney-Fryer, “a pair of similar opposites” (to use a term Leo Grin came up with) really ought … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Life and Death for the Boxers
Boxing is in the air I’m breathing this weekend. Need to drop in for a birthday party for my pal Floyd Salas, who is hitting 85 years on the Mean Streets — and some of the streets he went up and down were unquestionably … Continue reading
Posted in Boxing, REH
Tagged Billy Papke, Brian Leno, Floyd Salas, Hype Igoe, John Lardner, Lovecraft, Manuel A. Mora, Nat Fleischer, Nathan Ward, Pete "The Goat" Stone, Stanley Ketchel
Rediscovered: Joe Memoli, Made Man
Heading up for Xmas dinner with Floyd Salas reminded me that a little over a year ago I promised to correct something else on the website. Now I’ve just been back up to the Floyd lair last weekend for his … Continue reading
Posted in Lit, News
Tagged Boxing, Floyd Salas, Frank Sinatra, Golden Gloves, Iris Odonata, Joe Memoli, Oakland California, Tower of Power
Hammett: And Prohibition
Per my normal Xmas rituals, I’ll be heading up to the dinner table in the hideout of Floyd “Tattoo the Wicked Cross” Salas, but here’s a tidbit to hold down a place under the tree: some casual speculation on Hammett … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Frisco
Tagged 891 Post, Bill Arney, Blaine Act, Floyd Salas, Izzy Einstein, John's Grill, Mark Murphy, New Orleans, Prohibition, Red Harvest, The Maltese Arms, Vince Emery, Volstead Act
Posse McMillan: Contrappasso Noir
Dennis McMillan has been buzzing through the area lately — you’ll remember he got his car with Kansas plates stolen as an early Xmas present — and a few weeks later he got the ticket for his stolen car running … Continue reading
Rediscovered: More Contrappasso
Recently a 1977 issue of The Diversifier that I’d never seen before passed through my hands. It included a memoir of Edmond Hamilton by E. Hoffmann Price and a two-pager I hadn’t known about, in which Fritz Leiber discussed his tribulations … Continue reading
Posted in Lit, News
Tagged AHMM, Contrappasso, E. Hoffmann Price, Edmond Hamilton, Elmore Leonard, Farnsworth Wright, Firsts, Floyd Salas, Fritz Leiber, Harry Morris, Kindle, Matthew Asprey, Nyctalops, PW, The Cimmerian, The Diversifier, The Romantist, Weird Tales