Serial Books & Magazines


LOST SERIAL PHOTONOVEL SERIES
These 6"x9" full bookstore-quality publications include stills from the original serials in their proper place in the story, so you can experience the next best thing to having been there to see the serial in a theater!

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THE BLACK BOX (Universal 1915) by E. Phillips Oppenheim

Scientific genius and private detective Sanford Quest (Herbert Rawlinson, star of THE FLAME FIGHTER and frequent player in Republic serials) is called to investigate a murder and finds himself enmeshed in an ever-widening and increasingly bizarre case involving missing jewels, a stolen ape skeleton, disembodied hands that murder without warning, and mysterious messages delivered in a small black box by the unknown killer. Quest and his assistant Laura (Anna Little) use inventions far ahead of their time, including a "portable wireless" (essentially a text-messaging cell phone) to try and solve the case -- if they don't, Quest himself will be imprisoned for the crime! Foreword by Raymond William Stedman. Crime/Mystery 264 pages, 32 original stills, 6"x9", full color glossy cover, black and white interior. $20.95
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THE TREY O'HEARTS (1914) by Louis Joseph Vance
Starring George Larkin, Cleo Madison and Edward Sloman. Second Squadron edition upgraded with a huge collection of now 75 original photographs, many from the personal collection of original cast member and featured villain Edward Sloman -- including amazing behind-the-scenes production shots. A great serial jam-packed with action about Seneca Trine, an embittered man who vows to take revenge on Alan Law, son of his enemy who crippled him and ruined him in business. One of his twin daughters, Rose, is in love with Law, the other, Judith, sworn to kill him. The sign of death is a "trey of hearts" playing card with three bullet holes shot through it. This groundbreaking serial brought what was to be known as the cliff-hanger into full form and was the first to allow deathtraps and danger to drive it all the way through. It all builds to a wild murderous pursuit during a lightning storm, crashes, disaster, and even a shock/surprise ending. A sensation upon its original release.194 pages, 6"x9", full color glossy cover, black and white interior. $19.95
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UNDER THE CRESCENT (Universal 1914) by Nell Shipman
In this riveting conflict between East and West, American actress Ola Humphrey, "The Purple Iris," who played herself in the 1915 Universal Pictures dramatization of her own true-life story, is charmed by visiting Egyptian prince Ibrahim Tousson (Edward Sloman) and becomes his wife. But when she finds herself then a prisoner in his harem, she determines to escape his cruelty with the help of soldier of fortune Stanly Clyde (William C. Dowlan). The violence escalates to an alarming level when with the help of Princess Zohra, mother of the Prince's unacknowledged child, she escapes from the palace and is pursued by the army -- after the Prince has proclaimed "Death to all Christians!" Originally filmed in six chapters, this wide-ranging and dramatic serial starts off like a romance novel but continues to build in suspense to perhaps the most violent conclusion of any chapter play, which remains shocking to this day. Exotic adventure. 223 pages, 64 original stills, 6"x9", full color glossy cover, black and white interior. $19.95
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THE STRANGE CASE OF MARY PAGE (Essanay 1916) by Frederick Lewis
A short novelization of a mystery/courtroom drama serial that was directed mostly at the ladies but is nice to have for serial completists. The heroine, a Broadway actress (Edna Mayo), is faced with a desperate situation. Discovered unconscious on the floor of a restaurant near the corpse of a man who hated her, with a pearl-handled revolver in between them, she is put on trial for murder where she is defended by the man she loves (Henry B. Walthall). Photoplay edition includes photographs from the original 1916 Essanay serial and additional illustrations in their proper place near corresponding text.114 pages, 6"x9", full color glossy cover, black and white interior. $12.95
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SERIALFEST ANNUAL
150-page 8 1/2 x 11" collection of reviews, opinions, and information about what's interesting in the world of serials.

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SERIALFEST 2008 ANNUAL and BONUS DVD
Contributors: Ken Chapman, Tom McGeeney, Ace Drummond, Raymond William Stedman, Adrian Booth, Dr. Grood, SerialFest attendees and the Serial Squadron.

The first-ever SERIALFEST ANNUAL, with a whopping 150 pages of articles on the latest and most interesting serial stuff, archive versions of some of the most valuable forum threads such as The Squadron Glossary of Serial Cliches, Best Serial Fights, Favorite Stunts, Favorite Lines, Favorite Mystery Villains, Favorite Serial Superheroes etc., lots of rare serial photos and stills, and highlights from SerialFests of the past (including the script and photos from the infamous 2002 Fu Manchu Stunt Show) and the 2008 event. Also includes the script for Chapter 1 of THE MYSTERY MIND, rare photos from the lost serial THE HIDDEN HAND, articles about the re-creation of THE MASKED RIDER chapter, Serial cars, Olive Thomas, Elmo Lincoln, the new BBC ROBIN HOOD serial, new serial-related comic book releases, the making of THE DANGERS OF DEBORAH, a list of commercial serial DVDs released from original elements, a review of FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE, a Linda Stirling pinup an Adrian Booth photo collection and filmography, and lots more. If you've attended a SerialFest or posted on the Squadron message boards, you may find your own picture or post included here, so don't miss this chance to own a valuable souvenir of the events and an archival copy of your contribution to the world of serials. If you haven't yet been able to attend a SerialFest, this package will be the next best thing we can provide to being there!

dvdA 148 minute (2 hour 28 minutes) bonus DVD is also included in the publication which includes:
- The DAREDEVILS OF THE WEST panel discussion with Jim D'Arc of BYU and those who saw the serial
- Ace Drummond's Serial Jeopardy game
-The live performance of THE MYSTERY MIND Chapter 1 from SerialFest2006 (in which Adrian Booth played a part)
- Adrian Booth speaking about her career (30 min. audio file), and
- Chapter 4 of T. J. Moore's THE DANGERS OF DEBORAH.

The SERIALFEST 2008 ANNUAL is a 150 page black and white perfect bound book with a full color heavyweight glossy outer cover and DVD attached in an envelope to the inside back cover. The price for the book and DVD is $23.95. Books ordered before Aug. 1 will ship this week. Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of new orders as this publication has sold out already and will now have a second printing.

To order the SerialFest 2008 Annual/DVD online using the PayPal service click below.



To order the SerialFest 2008 Annual/DVD by mail, click here.

If you are planning to make a Squadron DVD order and would like to order the SerialFest 2008 Annual directly from the lulu.com printing service (for quicker shipping), you may do so by visiting this link:

Order SerialFest Annual direct

This will get you the book only, however, not the DVD -- so you must then add a note to Prince Barin with your next Squadron DVD order so he can ship you the SerialFest 2008 DVD. DVDs may not be ordered separately and will not be shipped separately.



BOOKS BY KEN WEISS


All Ken Weiss books on this page may be ordered from
Cummington Co., 17 Old Orchard Rd.,
New Rochelle NY 10804
For further information: email Ken Weiss at: citizenken@optonline.net

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To Be Continued: American Sound Serials 1929-1956
By Ken Weiss (Third Edition)

644 pages, 8 1/4 x 10 1/2"
One volume with (black) hardcover binding
Over 800 stills/illustrations.

The "Bible" for American sound serial fans Includes a 25-page introduction
which discusses studios, actors, stunt people and character actors, and the rest of the book is comprised of cast lists, plot descriptions and photos from all sound serials, 1929-1956, in chronological order. A much-improved edition over the second printing, with all the text and pictures consolidated into one volume and a comprehensive index at the back. Highly recommended.

Published at $150.00
Special offer for Squadron Members: $75 postage paid


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Serial descriptions that appear in To Be Continued are expanded or rewritten in the three serial-genre volumes below, which also contain many additional pages of stills.



Ray Guns, Robots and Rocket Ships: Science Fiction Serials 1930-1955
8.5 x 11 - Hardcover - 188 pages
253 stills/illustrations

Covers every science-fiction sound serial, 26 of them. Many expanded synopses and stills not in To Be Continued.

List price: $34.95. + $4.00 P&H
Squadron price: $25 + $4.00 P&H


Lost Cities, Killer Apes and White Goddesses: Jungle Serials 1929-1955
8.5 x 11 - Hardcover - 218 pages
258 stills/illustrations

Covers every “jungle” sound serial, 32 of them. Many expanded synopses and stills not in To Be Continued.

List price: $34.95. + $4.00 P&H
Squadron price: $25 + $4.00 P&H


Land Grabs and Six Shooters: Western Serials 1930-1956
8.5 x 11 - Hardcover - 372 pages
577 stills/illustrations.

Covers every western sound serial, 67 of them. Many expanded synopses and stills not in To Be Continued.

List price: $75 postage paid
Squadron price: $52 postage paid


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A Movie Lover’s Scrapbook: A Journey Through Early Film History
8.5 x 11 - Hardcover - 272 pages

Amazing collection of more than a thousand rare movie and serial ads, stills, news items and tid bits. “This is material you will never see elsewhere! Highly recommended for a teriffic journey through the past.”—Boyd Magers
List price: $49.95 postage paid
Squadron price: $35 postage paid



Each article describing a serial in the serial books below has a listing of production staff, extensive cast list (with the name of the character the actor plays), chapter titles, a detailed synopsis, fascinating stills and an index. All books are lavishly illustrated with stills carefully captioned and actors (and bit players) identified.