''Casey, Crime Photographer'' (also known as ''Crime photographer''; ''Flashgun Casey''; ''Casey, Press Photographer''; ''Stephen Bristol, Crime Photographer'') was an American

media franchise A media franchise, also known as a multimedia franchise, is a collection of related media in which several derivative works have been produced from an original creative work of fiction, such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, o ...

that lasted from the 1930s until the 1960s. Created by crime writer

George Harmon Coxe George Harmon Coxe (April 23, 1901 – January 31, 1984) was an American writer of crime fiction. He created the series featuring crime scene photographer Jack "Flashgun" Casey, which became a popular radio show airing through to the 1940s. ...

, the photographer Casey was featured in radio, film, theater, novels, magazines and comic books, and television. Launched in a 1934 issue of the

pulp magazine Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 until around 1955. The term "pulp" derives from the Pulp (paper), wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed, due to their ...

''Black Mask'', the character Jack "Flashgun" Casey, was a crime photographer for the newspaper ''The Morning Express''. With the help of reporter Ann Williams (portrayed on radio and TV by Jan Miner), he solved crimes and recounted his stories to friends at The Blue Note, their favorite tavern.

''Black Mask''

'' "Flashgun" Casey'' began in the ''March 1934'' issue of '' Black Mask'', in the story "Return Engagement". This story was later used in the film ''Here's Flash Casey''. Twenty more stories appeared in the magazine over the next decades, and collections of these stories were published in anthology form as well. Two of the subsequent novels were serialized in the magazine, in addition to the 21 short stories. In 1941, three parts of the novel ''Silent are the Dead'' were published in ''Black Mask'' in September, October and November as ''Killers Are Camera Shy''. In 1943, ''Murder for Two'' was serialized in January, February and March as ''Blood on the Lens''.

Novels

Coxe wrote five novels featuring Casey. * ''Deadly Image'' (1964) * ''Error of Judgement'' (1961) * ''The Man Who Died Too Soon'' (1962) * ''Murder For Two'' (1943) : serialized in ''Black Mask'' over three issues. * ''Silent Are the Dead'' (1942) : serialized in ''Black Mask'' over three issues. Paul Ayres (Pseudonym of Edward S. Aaron) wrote a novel starring Casey, based on the works of Coxe * ''Dead Heat'' (1950)

Films

* ''

Women Are Trouble ''Women Are Trouble'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Errol Taggart and written by Michael Fessier. The film stars Stuart Erwin, Paul Kelly, Florence Rice, Margaret Irving, Cy Kendall and John Harrington. The film was released on J ...

'' (1936) * ''

Here's Flash Casey ''Here's Flash Casey'' is a 1937 American film directed by Lynn Shores and starring Eric Linden and Boots Mallory. Plot Flash Casey is able finally to get the job as photographer at Globe Press. And he would like to marry newspaper woman Kay Lann ...

'' (1938)

Radio

Begun as stories in ''Black Mask'', the stories were brought to radio under multiple names. The series aired on CBS for its entirety. 07/07/43 - 11/16/50 and 01/13/54 - 04/22/55. : Selected cast * Matt Crowley, Casey *

Staats Cotsworth Staats Cotsworth (February 17, 1908 – April 9, 1979) was an American actor in old-time radio.DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. ...

, Casey * Jan Miner, Ann Williams * John Gibson, Ethelbert : Titles of show * ''Flashgun Casey'' * ''Casey, Crime Photographer'' * ''Casey, Press Photographer'' * ''Crime Photographer'' The radio show was sustained by the network, sponsored by

Anchor Hocking Anchor Hocking Company is a manufacturer of glassware. The Hocking Glass Company was founded in 1905 by Isaac Jacob (Ike) Collins in Lancaster, Ohio, and named after the Hocking River.

, Toni home permanents, Toni Shampoo and Philip Morris. The Blue Note was a jazz club; the

Archie Bleyer Archibald Martin Bleyer (June 12, 1909 – March 20, 1989) was an American song arranger, bandleader, and record company executive. Early life Bleyer was born in the Corona section of the New York City borough of Queens. His father was a well-k ...

Orchestra and first

Herman Chittison Herman "Ivory" Chittison (October 15, 1908 – March 8, 1967) was an American jazz pianist. Biography Born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, he began his career in 1928 as a member of Zack Whyte's territory band in Ohio. Chittison moved to New York ...

and later The Teddy Wilson Trio were featured, usually in the introduction and wrap up of the show.

Comic books

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

predecessor

Timely Comics Timely Comics was the common name for the group of corporations that was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman (publisher), Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics. "Timely P ...

published four issues of a comic book tie-in to the radio show. The series began in August 1949 and ended in February 1950. Art was provided by regular Timely artist Vernon Henkel.

Television

In 1951 the popular series moved to television * First Telecast: April 19, 1951 * Last Telecast: June 5, 1952 : Cast * Jack "Flashgun" Casey (June 1951-April 1952):

Darren McGavin Darren McGavin (born William Lyle Richardson; May 7, 1922 – February 25, 2006) was an American actor. McGavin began his career working as a set painter for Columbia Pictures. In 1954, he originated roles in Broadway productions of '' My Three ...

* Ann Williams: Jan Miner (reprising her role on radio) On Darren McGavin's website, he is quoted as saying "The cast of ''Crime Photographer'' didn’t go down fighting. "They took off for the hills. It was so bad that it was never re-run, and that’s saying something when you recall the caliber of television programs in those days." DarrenMcGavin.net

References

{{reflist Mass media franchises introduced in 1934 Crime fiction Crime fiction characters Edgar Award–winning works