''The Crime Club'' was an

imprint Imprint or imprinting may refer to: Entertainment * ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series * "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror'' * ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film ...

of the Doubleday publishing company, which later spawned a 1946-47 anthology radio series, and a 1937-1939 film series.

Literature

Many classic and popular works of detective and mystery fiction had their first U.S. editions published via the Crime Club, including all 50 books of

The Saint The Saint may refer to: Fiction * Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint", the protagonist of a book series by Leslie Charteris and subsequent adaptations: ** ''The Saint'' (film series) (1938–43), starring Louis Hayward, George Sanders an ...

by Leslie Charteris (1928-1983). The imprint also published first editions in Sax Rohmer's

Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu () is a supervillain who was introduced in a series of novels by the English author Sax Rohmer beginning shortly before World War I and continuing for another forty years. The character featured in cinema, television, radio, comic ...

series. The Crime Club began life in 1928 with the publication of ''The Desert Moon Mystery'' by Kay Cleaver Strahan, and ceased publication in 1991. In the intervening 63 years, The Crime Club published 2,492 titles.

Radio

Stories from this imprint were first dramatized on ''The Eno Crime Club'', a detective series broadcast on CBS from February 9, 1931 to December 21, 1932, sponsored by Eno Effervescent Salts. The Crime Club novels were not adapted for the later ''Eno Crime Clues'', heard on the

Blue Network The Blue Network (previously known as the NBC Blue Network) was the on-air name of a now defunct American Commercial broadcasting, radio network, which broadcast from 1927 through 1945. Beginning as one of the two radio networks owned by the N ...

from January 3, 1933 to June 30. 1936. ''The Crime Club'' returned on the

Mutual Broadcasting System The Mutual Broadcasting System (commonly referred to simply as Mutual; sometimes referred to as MBS, Mutual Radio or the Mutual Radio Network) was an American commercial radio network in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the Old-time radio, golden ...

as a half-hour radio series with adaptations from the Doubleday imprint. Each installment was introduced by the series host, The Librarian, portrayed by Barry Thomson and

Raymond Edward Johnson Raymond Edward Johnson (July 24, 1911 – August 15, 2001) was an American radio and stage actor best remembered for his work on ''Inner Sanctum Mysteries''. Early years Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Johnson started out as a bank teller, and late ...

(who was better known as the host of ''

Inner Sanctum Mysteries ''Inner Sanctum Mystery'', also known as ''Inner Sanctum'', is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952. It was created by producer Himan Brown and was based on the imprint given to the mystery novels ...

''). The series began December 2, 1946 and continued until October 16, 1947.

Film

In 1937,

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

made a deal with Crime Club and were granted the right to select four of their yearly published novels to adapt into films. The unit responsible for these films was producer

Irving Starr Irving Starr (1905–1982) was an American film producer.Hischak p.244 He worked for a number of studios including MGM, Universal Pictures and Columbia Pictures, generally employed on lower-budget films. Later in his career he also worked in tele ...

with former film editor

Otis Garrett Otis Garrett (1905–1941) was an American film editor, screenwriter and film director.Shelley p.150 Filmography Director * ''The Last Express'' (1938) * '' Danger on the Air'' (1938) * '' The Black Doll'' (1938) * ''Personal Secretary'' (1938) ...

often directing. Eleven films were made in the series between 1937 and 1939. The first film in the series was ''

The Westland Case ''The Westland Case'' is a 1937 American mystery film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Preston Foster, Frank Jenks, and Carol Hughes. Cast * Preston Foster as Bill Crane * Frank Jenks as Doc Williams * Carol Hughes as Emily Lou Martin ...

'', based on the

Jonathan Latimer Jonathan Wyatt Latimer (October 23, 1906 – June 23, 1983) was an American crime writer known his novels and screenplays. Before becoming an author, Latimer was a journalist in Chicago. Early life and education Born in Chicago, Illinois, L ...

novel ''

Headed for a Hearse ''Headed for a Hearse'' is a murder mystery by Jonathan Latimer, the second in the series to feature Detective Bill Crane. It was first published by Doubleday Doran as part of the Crime Club in 1935. In 1937 it served as the basis for the film, ' ...

''.

List of ''Crime Club'' films

*''

'' (1937) *''

The Black Doll ''The Black Doll'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett and starring Donald Woods and Edgar Kennedy. The film was the second in Universal's Crime Club series following ''The Westland Case''. Production In 1937, Universal ...

'' (1938) *''

The Lady in the Morgue ''The Lady in the Morgue'' (1936) is one of the novels by Jonathan Latimer featuring private detective William Crane. The lady of the title is a female corpse which is stolen from a Chicago morgue before the dead woman's identity can be establish ...

'' (1938) *''

Danger on the Air ''Danger on the Air'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett. The film was based on the novel ''Death Catches Up with Mr. Kluck'' by author Xanthippe. Plot summary Nan Grey, as Christina "Steenie" MacCorkle, a radio advertisin ...

'' (1938) *''

The Last Express ''The Last Express'' is an adventure video game designed by Jordan Mechner and published by Broderbund in 1997 for PC. Players take on the role of an American who accepts an invite by a friend to join them on the Orient Express, days before the s ...

'' (1938) *'' Gambling Ship'' (1938) *''

The Last Warning ''The Last Warning'' is a 1928 American mystery film directed by Paul Leni, and starring Laura La Plante, Montagu Love, and Margaret Livingston. ''The Last Warning'' was also one of the very last silent films Universal made — except it was a ...

'' (1938) *''

Mystery of the White Room ''Mystery of the White Room'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett and starring Bruce Cabot, Helen Mack and Joan Woodbury.Weaver & Brunas p.441 A surgeon is killed during the middle of an operation when the hospital room is thr ...

'' (1939) *''

Inside Information Insider trading is the trading of a public company's stock or other securities (such as bonds or stock options) based on material, nonpublic information about the company. In various countries, some kinds of trading based on insider information ...

'' (1939) *'' The House of Fear'' (1939) *''

The Witness Vanishes ''The Witness Vanishes'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett and starring Edmund Lowe, Wendy Barrie, and Bruce Lester. Cast list Production In 1937, Universal Pictures made a deal with Crime Club, who were published of w ...

'' (1939)

References and sources

;References ;Sources *Dunning, John. ''Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976'' (1976) *Nehr, Ellen. ''Doubleday Crime Club Compendium 1928-1991'' (1992) *

External links

Crime Club
at Old Time Radio, Internet Archive.
Zoot Radio, free old time radio show downloads of 'The Crime Club.'
Book publishing company imprints 1940s American radio programs CBS Radio programs Mutual Broadcasting System programs {{The Crime Club

Literature

Radio

Film

List of ''Crime Club'' films

See also

References and sources

External links