Author Archives: Dazzling Erin

The Detective Fiction Covers of Lejaren Hiller

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

by Lejaren Hiller

Lejaren Hiller ws born in Wisconsin in 1880.  He studied at the Chicago Art Institute and started his career in Paris.  Eventually, he returned to America and found found regular work as an illustrator.  Hiller would be known as one of the pioneer of photographic illustration, carefully staging his photographs so that they would be as exciting and as full of mystery as any of the more traditional pulp covers.

Even as Hiller found success as a photographer, he also continued to paint and draw.  His 1930s covers for Detective Fiction Weekly remain popular amongst collectors.  Here’s a sampling of his work for Detective Fiction Weekly:

Hiller passed away in 1969.  His son, Lejaren Hiller, Jr., was a prominent chemist and composer.

Check Out These Snappy Covers!

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

1936 September, Cover by Earle Bergey

When it comes to the history of the pulps, it can be difficult to keep track of which magazine was which.  Snappy Stories was first published in 1912 and it ran until 1933.  The stories were considered to be risqué for the time but are tame by today’s standards.  During its heyday, Snappy Stories was one of the most popular magazines in America but it appears that its publishers fell victim to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the final issue of Snappy Stories was published in 1933.

At the same time, there was another magazine called Snappy, that also features risqué stories and covers that featured pin-up artists.  Snappy began its run in 1929 and apparently ran through the 1930s.  Were Snappy Stories and Snappy Magazine connected or do they just have the same name?  I have not been able to find out for sure.

Both magazines, though, are popular with collectors.  Below is just a small sampling of Snappy covers!

1921, December. Cover by J. Norman Lynd

1922, July, cover by Carl Becker

1923, July, cover by DeAlton Valentine

1924, August, cover by Enoch Bolles

1925, May, cover by Enoch Bolles

1926, July, cover by Enoch Bolles

1926, October, cover by Enoch Bolles

1930, May, cover by Earle Bergey

1934, January, cover by Earle Bergey

1934, September, cover by Earle Bergey

1936, November, cover by Earle Bergey

1937, January, cover by Earle Bergey