"Oh what a tangled
web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."
Sir Walter Scott
Winter 2003
Volume I,
issue 3
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"Oh what a tangled
web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." |
Winter 2003 |
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By publishing their magazines (including Behind
the Mask & Action Adventure Stories, Detective Mystery Stories, and Echoes),
Tom and Ginger Johnson over the last 20 years have shone new light on
countless "lost" stories from the pulp heyday.
The Johnsons' website offers a wealth of information on pulp history. Direct correspondence to Virginia E. Johnson or to editor@lifeloom.com. |
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All Star Detective Stories
November 1930
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Although there were dozens of pulp publishing houses, there were only four leading publishers: Ace, the Better or Thrilling line, Popular Publications and Street & Smith. Last issue, we discussed Gold Seal Detective, a title from the Ace line. This time around, we thought it would be fun to look at one of the minor publishing houses. All Star Detective Stories was an interesting title from the Clayton line of pulps. Actually, the title began as Three Star Stories with the April 1928 issue, published twice a month, for 34 issues, then changed to All Star Detective Stories with the October 1929 issue, and ran for 26 issues under that title. Later in the series it was actually combined with yet another Clayton title, Clues. In the early 1930s, Clayton sold their titles to other publishers, dissolving the Clayton line altogether. With All Star Detective Stories combined with Clues, it disappeared forever when Street & Smith bought Clues for their line. It was an interesting period. Perhaps the Clayon line was losing money. Whatever the reason, their titles were absorbed into the other pulp houses – or at least some of the titles were. Today, the Clayton pulps are highly sought after by pulp collectors, and when they can be found, bring a hefty price. All Star Detective Stories was publishing the same authors and the same type of stories that the other houses were publishing at the time. Some of the top authors contributed to its pages. The cover we are looking at here is from November 1930, Volume 12, Number 3. The cover illustrates "The Rollicking Rogue," a Johnston McCulley story. McCulley, you will remember, created the famous Zorro, as well as many other costumed heroes and villains for the pulps.
All Star Detective Stories was just another pulp title that graced the stands
for a while then disappeared. But it left its mark in the memories of mystery
readers of the day, and those covers stand out as classics seventy years
later. Copyright 2003 by Virginia E. Johnson |
| "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." |
