NEW FROM BEARMANOR MEDIA:
“I am the Whistler and I know many things for I walk by night. I know many strange
tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the
nameless terrors of which they dare not speak!”
As recited by a sinister voiced host accompanied by a hauntingly discordant thirteen note whistle, these memorable
words struck fear in the hearts of many an American radio listener beginning in May, 1942.
The brain child of writer, actor, radio pioneer, J. Donald Wilson radio’s The Whistler was a sensational
success, eventually becoming one of the longest running programs in radio history, spawning innumerable imitations and influencing
the entertainment industry for generations. By the mid 1940’s Hollywood was paying attention.
To capitalize on the series’ phenomenal popularity in 1944 Columbia Pictures
began producing Whistler motion pictures starring legendary Academy Award
nominated film actor, Richard
Dix. Despite their low budget status the eight Whistler motion
pictures (1944-48) were extremely well made engendering a faithful following and surprisingly positive notices from
elite critics.
Written by film historian, longtime Classic Images contributor Dan Van Neste , BearManor Media’s The Whistler:
Stepping Into the Shadows is the story of the Whistler films, the studio which produced them, and the
many unsung filmmakers who contributed their talents to make them a success. Included are rare profiles of fifty
actors and filmmakers who worked on the series highlighted by a fond, in-depth look back at the life and career of one of
the cinema’s most underrated talents, Academy Award nominated Whistler star, Richard Dix. Actor, producer, author
Robert Dix (Richard’s son) wrote the foreword and contributed personal reminiscences of his famous father.
Also included is a discussion of the Whistlers as noir by noted author, film noir expert, Karen Burroughs Hannsberry.
Included are profiles of the following:
Stars: Richard Dix and Michael Duane
Leading Ladies: Lenore Aubert, Pamela Blake, Leslie Brooks, Janis
Carter, Lynn
Merrick, Karen Morley, Gloria
Stuart
Character Players: Jim
Bannon, Trevor Bardette, Mona
Barrie, Tala Birell, John
Calvert, James Cardwell, Mary Currier, Alan Dinehart, Jeff
Donnell, Claire DuBrey, Paul
Guilfoyle, Porter Hall, Bernadene
Hayes, Kathleen Howard, John Kellogg, Richard Lane, Barton
MacLane, Mike Mazurki, Helen Mowery, J.
Carrol Naish, Regis
Toomey, Nina Vale, Rhys Williams, Joan Woodbury
Directors: William Castle, William Clemens, Lew Landers, D. Ross Lederman,
George Sherman
Creator: J. Donald Wilson
Technical: Mischa Bakaleinikoff (Music Director), Reginald Browne (Editor),
Rudolph Flothow (Producer), Richard Landau (Writer), George Meehan
(Cinematographer), L.W. O’Connell (Cinematographer), Hans Radon
(Art Director), Raymond Schrock (Writer), Philip Tannura
(Cinematographer), Eric Taylor (Writer), Aubrey Wisberg (Writer).
Featuring over 100 photos, BearManor Media’s 421 page The Whistler : Stepping Into the Shadows is
now available for $24.95 plus $5.00 postage for the first book, $1.00 for each additional directly from the publisher:
BearManor Media: P.O. Box 1129, Duncan, OK 73534-1129.
Phone:
580-252-3547 (Sandy Grabman) Fax:
814-690-1559.
Online:
www.bearmanormedia.com Most major credit cards and
Paypal accepted.
From author: Dan Van Neste, 2800 Northwest Avenue, Lansing, Michigan 48906.
( Postage is $7.00 for the first book, $1.00 for each additional. Money Orders and personal checks only) If ordering
from author, be sure to specify: not autographed, autographed, or personalized autographed.
