Frederick D. Glidden was one of America's foremost western authors. Under the pen name Luke Short he published several novels, novelettes and articles. He also wrote a number of screenplays and teleplays. This collection documents his writing career and publishing record through manuscripts, correspondence, reviews, magazines, tearsheets and personal documents.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through
a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical Note
Frederick Dilley Glidden was born in Kewanee, Illinois in 1908. A graduate of the University of Missouri, he began his early career as a general reporter for a series of Midwest daily newspapers. Not lasting long at any of the papers, the Depression found him trapping for furs in Canada. He married Florence Elder in 1934 and, during the next few years had three children.
Glidden's writing career began in earnest when he started submitting western stories to pulp magazines while living in Santa Fe. Once he took on an agent, Marguerite Harper, his work began to sell. It is not clear who came up with the pen name Like Short- Ms. Harper or Glidden himself- but apparently enough of his audience appreciated this accolade to the real-life man, and sales were not hindered. By the end of the 1930's he had turned out fourteen novels and numerous short stories.
The 1940's proved to be the most profitable decade in Glidden's career. For the first few years, he worked as a scriptwriter in Hollywood. A number of his books were made into movies, with stars such as Joel McCrea, Randolph Scott, and Robert Mitchum in the lead roles. He signed contracts with paperback publishers, generating a lifetime total of over 26 million copies in sales. Toward the end of the decade, Glidden broke out of the pulps and into the slicks, such as Collier's and Saturday Evening Post. Between the two magazines, nine Luke Short novels were serialized.
During the next twenty years or so, Glidden tried a series of different ventures, none very successful. He wrote more screenplays in hopes of landing more movies, but these were rejected. The thorium company he founded proved to be a bust. There were several cases of plagiarism of his stories by others, none of which ever saw the courtroom. He also tried other genres of writing, but received little encouragement. Residing in Aspen, he came to love Colorado's natural beauty and became active in civic affairs.
His writing came full circle when, by the end of the 1960's, he had returned to writing westerns on a full-time basis and produced six novels. Despite rapidly deteriorating eye sight, Glidden continued to write, but discovered that he had throat cancer. He died in August, 1975.
Source: Gale, Robert L. Luke Short. Twayne's United States Authors Series, 1981.
Content Description
The Papers of Frederick D. Glidden, one of America's foremost western writers known internationally by his pen name Luke Short, document his writing career and publishing record. Included in the collection are correspondence, personal documents, reviews, manuscripts, teleplays, tearsheets, pulp magazines containing his stories and books.
Correspondence in the collection is arranged alphabetically by person or organization. The largest segment is that with his agent Marguerite Harper, providing a bio-bibliography of Luke Short, as well as a history of the publishing business as applied to westerns. One file of notable interest is that of the Western Writers of America, Inc. It concerns the plagiarism of the Luke Short story "Ramrod" (1943) by Gladwell Richardson in 1951. Richardson was published under the pseudonym John Winslowe, calling the plagiarized piece "Short Trigger Man."
Novels, novelettes, short stories, non-fiction articles, screenplays, and unpublished teleplays comprise the manuscript series. They are arranged alphabetically by title. Glidden dictated his stores and the typed copy, with corrections, represents the original manuscript (with the exception of one novel written in long-hand). A selection of untitled manuscripts, identified only by the first line, completes the series. The teleplays that follow were all produced by Zane Grey Theatre.
The tearsheets represent the first time a particular story was published. Appearing serially in magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Collier's, many were subsequently published as books, primarily in paperback form, or in anthologies. Additionally, some were published in pulp magazines and several eventually appears in comic book form. The tearsheets, pulp-printed stories, and books are all arranged alphabetically by title.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use :
Property rights reside with the Special Collections & University Archives.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the
Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The
reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation :
[Identification of item], Frederick D. Glidden Papers, Coll. 148, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series: Series I. Correspondence; Series II. Financial and Personal Material; Series III. Manuscripts; Series IV. Untitled Manuscripts; Series V. Teleplays; Series VI. Tearsheets; Series VII. Stories in Pulp Magazines; Series VIII. Comic Books.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
And the Wind Blows Free (carbon, corrected, with original corrected sheets inserted)
7
10
And the Wind Blows Free (carbon, corrected, with original corrected sheets inserted, cont.)--with notes on locale, characters and details
8
1
"Aspen, a view from a High Window" (rejected by Colorado Magazine, letter included)
1965
8
2
"Blood Brothers" (first carbon)
8
3-6
Blood on the Moon (first carbon)
8
7-8
Blood on the Moon, screenplay by Harold Shumate and Luke Short (carbon)
8
9
"Cabin in Manhattan" (original) with agreement, Fred Glidden and E.J. Evans, July 18,19, 1941. Sold to M.G.M. but never produced.
8
10
"Countermand" (carbon)
8
11
"Cover to Cover" (carbon)
9
1
"Danger Hole" (novelette, carbon) Original title: "The Drowned Emma." Published in Saturday Evening Post, August 7, 17, 1948. vol 221, nos. 6&7.
9
2-3
Debt of Honor (novelette, original, corrected)
9
5-8
Debt of Honor (novel, carbon)
10
1-4
Desert Crossing (original, corrected)
10
5-7
The Deserters (original)
10
8
The Deserters (original) with plot synopsis and notes on characters and locale
10
9-12
The Deserters (carbon with holograph corrections and revisions)
11
1
"The Dividend"
11
2-5
Donovan's Week (first version with holograph corrections and partial revisions)
11
6-9
Donovan's Week (second version with holograph corrections and partial revisions)
11
10
Donovan's Week (third version, fragments) with plot synopsis and notes on characters
12
1
"Double or Nothing" (original)
12
2
Extension 66 (pilot, television series) Presentation, and teleplay titled: Calculated Risk (original and carbon). Unsold
12
3-6
Fiddlefoot (first carbon)
12
7-10
First Campaign (original, corrected) Original title: My Brother's Keeper
13
1-4
First Campaign (final copy, corrected)
13
5-8
First Claim (original, corrected)
14
1-4
Guns of Hanging Lake (first draft, original with holograph corrections)
14
5
Guns of Hanging Lake (fragments of second version)
14
6
Guns of Hanging Lake (corrected and revised fragments, carbon and holograph original)
14
7-10
Hanaway (first draft, original with holograph revision)
15
1-4
Hanaway (final carbon)
15
5
The Hangman (original) Made into motion picture by Paramount
15
6-10
Hard Money (first carbon)
16
1-5
Hardcase (printer's copy)
16
6
Headwater (original and carbon) Premise of television series
16
7
"High Grade" (carbon)
16
8-11
High Vermillion (first carbon)
16
12
"The Iron Cobweb" (two carbons, one corrected)
16
13
I've had it (carbon) Musical comedy, with Joe Marsala. See Ajax Music Co.
17
1-4
Last Hunt (carbon, with original corrections inserted)
17
5
"Long Leave" (carbon)
17
6
Luke Short (carbon). Teleplay, unsold
17
7-9
The Man From Two Rivers (typed draft, original and carbon, holgraph revision and corrections.)
17
10
The Name is Carmichael Television pilot. Also carbon titles “The Professor,” teleplay for the Carmichael series.
18
1-4
Paper Sheriff (original, corrected)
18
5
“The Passenger” (original) Not published. Trip to Uranium City paid by Collier’s magazine. Story rejected because they considered it too controversial. Expense money refunded them.
18
6
Pearly [Pearley] (first draft, holograph)
18
7
Pearly [Pearley] (first version, carbon)
19
1-3
Pearly [Pearley] (second version, original, corrected copy and notes)
19
4-8
Pearly [Pearley] (final copy, with minor corrections) unpublished
20
1-4
Play a Lone Hand (first carbon, before revision) Original title: The Sunday Man
20
5
Primrose Series (television series proposal) General notes on series and characters
20
6
Primrose Series (television series proposal) “The Blacksmith” (original) teleplay
20
7
Primrose Series (television series proposal) “Full Circle” (carbon) short story
20
8
Primrose Series (television series proposal) "The Housekeeper" (carbon) short story and premise
20
9
Primrose Series (television series proposal) "The Postmaster" (carbon) teleplay
20
10
Primrose Series (television series proposal) "The Wayfarer" (2 drafts, carbon. See also published teleplays)
20
11-13
The Primrose Try (original with corrections and corrected sheets)
21
1-4
Ramrod (original with corrections)
21
5-8
Saddle by Starlight (printer’s copy)
21
9-10
Saddle by Starlight (carbon) Screenplay, with letter: Saul David of Warner Brothers to Glidden regretting no sale – February 19, 1963
22
1-4
Silver Rock (original, corrected)
22
5
“Snipes ‘till June” (original – corrected, carbon or revision) Later published as: “A Swindler for Love,” Liberty Magazine, October 26, 1940
22
6-9
Some-Day Country (original, corrected)
22
10-12
The Stalkers (typed draft, carbon and original pages, pp. 80-93 missing)
23
1
“Station Break” (carbon)
23
2-5
Station West (first carbon)
23
6-8
Summer of the Smoke (original, corrected)
23
9-12
Sunset Gaze (first carbon)
24
1
"Take Your Lunch" (carbon)
24
2
“Tax Rap” (original) unfinished serial
24
3
“The Teehanner” (carbon)
24
4
“Ten O’Clock Spot” (carbon)
24
5
“Test Pit” (carbon)
24
6
“Test Pit” (teleplay) for Zane Grey Theatre. See also teleplay, Grubstake
24
7-10
Three for the Money (original, with holograph corrections and revisions)
24
11
Three for the Money (fragments, holograph)
25
1-4
Three for the Money (final carbon with slight editorial revision)
25
5
Three for the Money (page proofs, proofs for title page, advertisements, etc.)
25
6
Three for the Money (carbon) motion picture outline
25
7
“Top Hand” (carbon)
25
8-11
Trouble Country (original, corrected)
26
1-2
“Trumpets West” (original, corrected) Original title: The Thin Blue Line; published in Argosy, July, 1945 as “Trumpets West!” (revised version, carbon)
Series IV: Untitled Manuscripts (identified by first line)
Container(s)
Description
Box
Folder
26
12
“When Mart Farrand saw the single gasoline light of Hudens’ Post in Pemmican...” (original)
26
13
“It was dawn when old Lew Benlow tried to turn over in his sleep...” (original, corrected)
26
14
“The long train of empty stock cars slowed down a little for the lamplit station... Will Lathan dropped his sacked saddle.”
26
15
“Rammed down in his chair on the porch of Edmonds Brothers and Cross store, Bowie Shores was...” (original, corrected)
27
1-2
“Canadian serial, unfinished.” (original with corrections)
27
3
“Canadian Notes” (outline of serial, with holograph and typed chapters and fragments)
27
4
“Canadian Notes” (outline of serial, with holograph and typed chapters and fragments, cont.) Unfinished short pieces, with distinctive titles: "Smuggler’s Berg"; "Some do, Some Don’t"; "Wind"
27
5
“It was Fiesta in Santa Fe... Steve Lorimer stood like a tall grey ghost...” (carbon)
27
6
Outline of characters for unwritten novel featuring Harold Branti, murderer.
27
7
“Tom Cathey was sitting in his wall tent stretching rat skins when he heard the shots...” (original)
27
8
“The Arizona sun bathed the terrace... but to Dr. Humphrey Holabird, it had in it a taint of dungeon air.” (original)
27
9
“The bellhop made his second pass through the jammed bar calling, ‘Mr. Jabine, Mr. Richard Jabine, please.’...” (original, corrected)
27
10
“There was only one way to the office, past the windows of Henri Lodas Limited, twice a day...” (original, corrected)
27
11
“As head bookkeeper and office manager for Dominion Exploration Ltd., it was Freed’s job to scare the seven stenographers on each visit to the water cooler.” (original, and cast of characters)
27
12
“Following his after-breakfast cigar through the wide front doors of the Coleman House, First Lieutenant Howard Abel, Paymaster’s Department United States Army, paused at the head of the porch steps to look at the day.” (original, corrected)
28
1
“The train had been standing on the spur beside the long white Hudson’s Bay Company warehouse since early morning.” Canadian serial (original, corrected)
28
2
“If the heels of his cowman’s boots had been two feet high, instead of two inches, they could not have caused more attention...” (original and outline of unfinished story)
28
3
“There are many ways to meet a person.” (re: Ernest Haycox) (carbon)
The Doctor Keeps a Promise, teleplay by Harold Swanton, story by Luke Short. Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre. Culver City, CA, Four Star-Zane Grey, n.d., no production no.
28
5
Grubstake, Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre. North Hollywood, CA., Four Star-Zane Grey, n.d. With revisions, October 28, 1959. Telecast date: December 24, 1959. No production no. (Original story: Test Pit)
28
6
Hardcase, (TV premise) Created by Luke Short and Charles Wallace. Four Star-Zane Grey proposed series. n.d.
28
7
Stagecoach to Yuma, by Luke Short and Charles Wallace. Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre. North Hollywood, CA, Four Star-Zane Grey, n.d. No production no.
28
8
Wayfarers, teleplay by James E. Moser. Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre. North Hollywood, CA, Four star-Zane Grey, n.d. No production no.
28
9
Wayfarers(rewrite) Teleplay by James E. Moser. Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre. North Hollywood, CA, Four star-Zane Grey, n.d. No production no.
“Does a Spectre Haint Our Skiing?” (non-fiction) Ski Magazine, v. 16, no. 2
December 1, 1951
29
6
“Doom Cliff,” Collier’s, v. 138 no. 13, v. 139 no. 1 (Third and final installment published in Saturday Evening Post, February 9, 1957; not with collection)
December 21, 1956-January 4, 1957
29
7
“Feel My Muscle,” Chicago Tribune
September 14, 1941
29
8-9
“Fiddlefoot,” Saturday Evening Post, v. 218 no 35-41
March 2, 1946-April 13, 1946
29
10
“Finish the Fable,” Chicago Tribune
March 30, 1941
29
11
“Fool’s Treasure,” Satuday Evening Post, v. 227 no. 42-48. (Parts 1 and 4 only)
April 16, 1955-May 28, 1955
29
12
“Last Hunt,” Daily News (New York), (incomplete)
April 29, 1962-May 13, 1962
29
13
“Make Mine Dark,” Denver Post
March 26, 1939
30
1
“Neutral Spirits,” Blue Book, “Nightmare in Lace Pants” (non-fiction)
January 1942
30
2
“Paper Sheriff,” Daily News (New York), (first installment only)
July 11, 1965
30
3
“Play a Lone Hand,” Collier’s, v. 126 no 19-24 (no. 22, part 4 missing)
November 4, 1950-December 9, 1950
30
4
“Rough Shod,” Blue Book
April 1939
30
5
“Saddle by Starlight” Collier’s, v 129 no 23-26, v. 130 no. 1-3 (parts 1, 2, and 6 only)
June 7, 1952-July 19, 1952
30
6
“Silver Rock,” Collier’s, v. 132 no. 6-9 (part 3 missing)
August 21, 1953-October 2, 1953
30
7
“Station West,” Saturday Evening Post, v. 219 no. 16-22 (parts 1, 2, and 4 only)
October 19, 1946-November 30, 1946
30
8
“Ten O’Clock Spot,” This Week
August 31, 1941
30
8
“Tough Enough,” Argosy
September 4, 1937
30
9
“Vengeance Valley,” Saturday Evening Post, v. 222 no. 23-29 (parts 4 and 5 missing)
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
