This exciting cover is from 1957.
Tag Archives: Walter Popp
Artwork of the Day: Manhunt (by Walter Popp)
Artwork of the Day: Handle With Fear (by Walter Popp)
Artwork of the Day: A Time For Murder (by Walter Popp)
Artwork of the Day: Shabby Street (by Walter Popp)
This was first published in 1954. I just like the title. Who wouldn’t want to live on Shabby Street? This cover was done by Walter Popp.
Let’s Go To The Cities With The Pulps!
With the 4th of July approaching, let’s celebrate the American city with the pulps! Ever since the early days of the pulp industry, writers and artists have excited readers with stories about the lives of those living in America’s cities. Here, curtsey of some of the best artists to have worked in the industry, is a pulp-guided tour of those cities!
Let’s Go Country With The Pulps
With the Fourth of July just a few days away, let’s celebrate the American countryside with the pulps! From the early days of the pulps, life in rural America has been a favorite subject. Here are a few portrayals of that life, courtesy of some of the best artists and illustrators to work in the pulp industry!
Artwork of the Day: The Promoter (by Walter Popp)
Something tells me this guy might not have her best interests at heart!
The Promoter was first published in 1957. Orrie Hitt was one of the most prolific writers of so-called “adult fiction” at the time. The cover was done by one of my favorite cover artists, Walter Popp.
Artwork of the Day: The Marriage Rite (by Walter Popp)

by Walter Popp
The Marriage Rite was first published in 1953 by Intimate Novels. You can probably guess what type of books they published just by the name of their company. Five years later, the art was reused for the cover of a novel called Wild Oats, which was published by Beacon. I think The Marriage Rite is a better title than Wild Oats.
“Thou shalt not commit adultery!,” the cover reads, “But if a husband sins, should his wife follow suit?” Was that the only option available? The cover also says that this is “a novel of sham passions and triumphant love.” What are sham passions?
I like the contrast between the swooning lovers and the shocked witness, who I am assuming is the wife. Is he cheating at home or has his wife followed him to his secret love nest? His mistress has good fashion sense, combining a green skirt and a red sash with a black top.
This cover was done by Walter Popp, who is one of my favorites.
The Adventures of Steve Harragan and His Eye Patch
Who was Steve Harragan? He was a hardboiled private investigator who was the main character of a handful of paperback detective novels that were all published in 1952 and 1953. Though his adventures were not much different from those of any other P.I. of the pulp era, Steve Harragan has a cult following for two reasons.
First off, the author of Harragan’s adventures was also named Steve Harragan. Did the author Steve Harragan name the character after himself or was “Steve Harragan” just a pseudonym for another author or perhaps several authors? No one knows for sure, though all of Harragan’s novel were written in the first person.
Secondly, Steve Harragan the Detective only has one eye. In almost every cover, he’s featured wearing an eye patch.
Here are a few of the Steve Harragan covers. As always, the artist has been identified when known: