Edward Anthony(August 4, 1895 – August 16, 1971) was an American journalist and writer who co-wroteFrank Buck's first two books,Bring 'Em Back Alive,andWild Cargo.
Edward Anthony | |
|---|---|
 Edward Anthony | |
| Born | August 4, 1895 New York City, New York |
| Died | August 16, 1971(aged 76) Gloucester,Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Known for | Collaboration withFrank Buck |
| Spouse |
Esther Howard (m.1928) |
| Children | Richard Anthony (born 1931) |
Early career
editAfter completing high school, according to the 1940 US Census, Anthony got his start as a journalist onThe Bridgeport Heraldin Connecticut and then worked for theNew York Heraldin 1920–23. An associate editor for a short time ofJudge,the humor magazine, Anthony joined the staff of the Crowell group of magazines, laterCrowell-Collier Publishing Company,in 1924. In 1928, he served as eastern press director forHerbert Hoover's presidential campaign.[1]
Collaboration with Frank Buck
editOfFrank Buck's three co-authors, Edward Anthony,Ferrin Fraser,andCarol Weld,Anthony was the most talented at imparting immediacy and freshness to Buck's narrative. Anthony wrote Buck's stories in a modest, matter-of-fact, yet almost every one has danger in it. With his knack for eliciting telling details, Anthony created a sense of drama, and as a result, Frank Buck's first two books are his best.[2]
In his autobiography, Anthony describes his collaborator:
"Frank Buck was a first-class actor and his pantomimic footnotes to some of his verbal explanations were most effective. One night during a session on the book our room in the hotel got stuffy—we both had been smoking for hours—so we opened the door wide and put a chair against it to start the air circulating. We were working on a chapter about a leopard—it eventually wound up in theLincoln Park Zooin Chicago—which had inconsiderately damaged its cage and wriggled free on one of the cargo decks of the S.S. Granite State en route from Calcutta to San Francisco and was roaming the ship while nearly everyone fled for cover. Buck, to illustrate one of the animal's maneuvers, had slipped to the floor and was moving about on his hands and knees preparatory to springing at an unwary seaman, giving off guttural growls as he prepared to deplete the freighter's population. As he was about to leap at his victim he heard a sound in the hall and looking up he saw that he was playing to a gallery!—a bellboy and several patrons. He saw the humor of the situation, gave vent to a heartysoure cabatcha![a Hindustani epithet], and prepared to resume operations. 'Are we disturbing you?' asked the bellboy. 'Yes,' said Buck, and our gallery vanished. "[3]
In 1933, Anthony filed suit in Brooklyn Supreme Court to recover two percent of the motion picture profits Buck had earned on the film adaptation ofBring 'Em Back Alive,effectively ending their collaboration.
Anthony wrote or co-wrote other books, among themThe Big Cagewith wild animal trainerClyde Beatty.[4]
Later career
editAnthony was the publisher ofWoman's Home Companionfrom 1942 to 1952 andCollier'sfrom 1949 to 1954.Collier'sfolded shortly afterwards. Anthony wrote an autobiography,This Is Where I Came In:The Impromptu Confessions of Edward Anthony(1960).
References
edit- ^Edward Anthony, Writer, Dies; Former Collier's Publisher, 76.The New York Times.August 17, 1971, p 40
- ^Lehrer, Steven (2006).Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck.Texas Tech University Press. pp. xi.ISBN0-89672-582-0.
- ^Edward Anthony,This Is Where I Came In:The Impromptu Confessions of Edward Anthony.Doubleday. New York, 1960, p. 266–267
- ^Buck Sued over Jungle Film.The New York Times.March 3, 1933, p.13
External links
edit- Edward Anthony Papers, Princeton University Library
- Edward Anthony papersat the University of Oregon
- "Books: Beastcatcher".Time.June 6, 1932. (review ofWild Cargo,1932)
- "White Seals".Time.October 6, 1930. (review ofBring Em Back Alive,1930)
- Works by Edward AnthonyatLibriVox(public domain audiobooks)
