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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: Jack Benny
Rediscovered: At Last, “Roadhouse Benny” Enigma Explained
Remember back in 2012 when a bunch of us heard the name Jack Benny and “wireless hero” during a screening of Roadhouse Nights from 1930? Only problem was that Jackson wasn’t supposed to be on the radio before 1932. In … Continue reading
Posted in Film, News
Tagged Dennis Devine, Don M. Yowp, Hope Sears, Jack Benny, Jack Binns, John Wayne, Zach Eastman
Rediscovered: More on Roadhouse Benny
My Jack Benny Research Team never sleeps! Not much, anyway. Remember the post I did back in 2012 about hearing the mention of Benny’s name in the movie Roadhouse Nights, based — and I use the word based very, very … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Wouk, A Name Checked for Over Half a Century
You know how it is, you just sit around and try to mind your own business, and things start impinging on you. The other day I was watching Jeopardy! when a clew asked for the author of the 2012 novel The … Continue reading
Hammett: And the Oscar Goes To
As I was moping around the web during Oscar season this year a bit of information attracted my attention. I’d no doubt seen the same stats when I looked over Oscar info the previous season, but no bells rang at that time. This … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Film
Tagged Ace Atkins, Ben Affleck, Black Mask, Falcon from Knopf, George Arliss, Hammett Tour Book, Jack Benny, Marky Mark, Maurice Chevalier, Oscar, Pulps, Ronald Colman, Shylock, Spenser, Valentine, William Godschalk
Hollywood Beat: Jackson in Musso & Frank
Didn’t spot any celebrities during the recent stop in Musso & Frank (not to say that they weren’t there, but I didn’t recognise them if they were), but I knew a specific ghost from the past to check for over my shoulder. … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Film, Frisco
Tagged Brown Derby, Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny, Jo Hammett, Musso & Frank
Sinister Cinema: Oscar Aftermath
So, I got to see my movie — which is to say the only movie I had seen — win bigtime during the 84th annual Oscar ceremonies. Really liked Dejardin’s tribute to Doug Sr. in his acceptance speech. I even got interested … Continue reading
Posted in Film
Tagged Bogie, Casablanca, Douglas Fairbanks, Jack Benny, Jean Dejardin, Old Time Radio, Oscar, Paul Lukas, Ronald Colman, The Artist
Rediscovered: Roadhouse Benny
One of the major reasons I went to the Hammett-fest the last day of Noir City is that I figured I might as well, finally, catch a showing of Roadhouse Nights from 1930. I don’t recall it ever showing in … Continue reading
Tour: Guest Stars
And on that tour by appointment for April 19 I was talking about, Charlie Morfin and Carrie-Anne of the Black Dahlia walks in Hollywood were up to check out the Frisco scene, get some tips about leading tours for film … Continue reading
Posted in News, Tour
Tagged Bela Lugosi, Bing Crosby, Black Dahlia tours, Bogie, Burritt alley, Burritt alley plaque, celebrity graves, Charlie Morfin, Dwight Frye, Jack Benny, John Ford, Lon Chaney Sr., Musso & Frank
