The Wild West of Fiction and Film

Popular-culture historian Ed Hulse has written this collection of informative, extensively researched essays on Westerns of pulp fiction and Saturday-matinee movies from the 20th century's first half. In 14 separate pieces he discusses the works of such venerated Western authors as Zane Grey, Max Brand, Walt Coburn, Clarence E. Mulford, and Paul S. Powers. He documents the first and early appearances on film of such legendary characters as Zorro, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, Red Ryder, and Whistling Dan Barry. And he examines motion pictures featuring such popular Western stars as Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, William Boyd, Randolph Scott, and George O'Brien. While not pretending to be a comprehensive narrative history of the entire genre, this book covers a lengthy span of time and a considerable amount of ground. Hulse presents a wealth of heretofore unreported information on the making of classic Western movies, much of it gleaned from interviews with the actors, writers, and directors involved. At 344 pages, its 150,000 words accompanied by dozens of seldom-seen cover reproductions and rare movie stills, The Wild West of Fiction and Film is an invaluable addition to the history of American pop culture, lending new respectability to a chronically under-appreciated genre.