Jim Griffin is a horseman and a collector of the Texas Rangers pulp magazine. Even if you don't read that pulp, you should join the WesternPulps mailing list just to enjoy Jim's recounting the adventure he shares with horse, Yankee. (See the Western Links page on this site for info on the WesternPulps mailing list.)
I invited Jim to write up a short introduction to Texas Rangers Magazine for The Pulp Rack, and he's turned in a nice piece. Take it away, Jim:
Texas Rangers Magazine
First Issue: October 1936
Final Issue: February 1958
Total Number of Issues: 206
Texas Rangers Magazine was published monthly from October 1936 to April 1938, with the exception of January 1937, when no issue was published. It was then published bi-monthly (in even-numbered months) from June 1938 to December 1945. From January 1946 to the cessation of publication with the final issue dated February 1958, Texas Rangers was published monthly, except for February and September 1946 and December 1957, when no issues were published.
Every issue's feature novel was a story featuring Jim Hatfield, Texas Ranger, by Jackson Cole. Jackson Cole was a house name for Better Publications (Standard Magazines, publishers of many pulp Western titles). The character Jim Hatfield was actually created by A. Leslie Scott. There were, in total, 12 authors of the Hatfield stories. A. Leslie Scott wrote 55, Tom Curry wrote 55, Walker A. Tompkins wrote 32, Roe Richmond wrote 22, Peter Germano wrote 16, Dwight Bennett Newton wrote 4, Joseph Chadwick wrote 3, Clark Gray wrote 2, and C. William Harrison, Lee E. Wells, Dean Owen, and Lin Searles each wrote 1. There are 13 Hatfield stories whose true authors have not been identified. (Source: Al Tonik.) However, recent evidence indicates that J. Edward Leithead may have penned at least one, and possibly two, of the Hatfield stories. There were also always several short stories in each issue. Some issues had stories by Louis L'Amour appearing under the pseudonym Jim Mayo.
Jim Hatfield was a larger-than-life hero, who took on great odds, was beat up, shot, and left for dead in just about every story, but always came through and defeated the outlaws. His faithful horse, Goldy, a magnificent golden sorrel, was also a larger-than-life equine hero, saving Hatfield's life -- and the day -- many times.
Part of the fun in reading Texas Rangers, besides the always-exciting action, are the amazing inconsistencies in the Jim Hatfield stories from month to month, depending on which author penned that issue's story. For example, poor Goldy, in once issue, would be a stallion, then in the next would be a gelding, and then in the next he would be a stallion again. In some issues no one but Hatfield could touch him; in others, he would be stolen -- so, clearly, Goldy was more approachable depending on who wrote the story (or whether the plot demanded a stolen steed).
In most of the Hatfield stories, he was called the "Lone Wolf," but during a stretch of time in the late 1940s and early 1950s, he was given a girlfriend, Anita Robertson, and her brother, Buck, as a sidekick. This led to quite a controversy among the fans of Jim Hatfield, with a great debate as to whether or not the "Lone Wolf" should have a girlfriend. The relationship was never more than platonic anyway . . . in fact, Jim Hatfield always seemed more interested in the teenaged Buck than the beautiful Anita. Eventually, the Robertsons just disappeared from the series.
In the Hatfield stories Roe Richmond wrote, Jim was given three partners. Peter Germano's stories, in my opinion, captured best the relationship between a man and his horse, Hatfield and Goldy.
Several of the early Hatfield stories were published in hardcover. In the 1960s, many of them were reprinted in paperback by Popular Library. Ulverscroft published several large print hardcovers in the 1980s. In addition, Pyramid, in the 1960s, published, along with some reprints, several original Jim Hatfield tales.
Due to a dispute with Standard Magazines, A. Leslie Scott eventually lost the rights to the character he had created. He then recycled Jim Hatfield into Ranger Walt Slade, the Hawk. Most of the Walt Slade stories I have read are poor imitations of the Jim Hatfield tales.
For the collector, the most valuable issue of Texas Rangers -- besides the October 1936 volume 1, number 1, issue -- is the November 1949 issue. This issue contains a short story written by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, written under the pseudonym W.R. Colt. This makes the November 1949 issue sought after by Scientologists, and hard to find. (Although, since the Jim Hatfield story in that issue is "Guns of Fort Griffin", and because my last name is Griffin, and I was born in November 1949, I favor the personal connection as the reason for this issue's value.)
I first discovered Jim Hatfield in my college days, buying the Popular Library paperbacks in used bookstores for 25 cents. Having discovered that they originally appeared in Texas Rangers pulps, I started collecting the magazine with a vengeance, and now have 186 of the 206 published. My collecting has lead in some interesting directions, including a friendship with a real Texas Ranger stationed with Company F in Waco, and the opportunity to tour the Company F Headquarters, along with the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco. I've also met lots of fellow collectors, several Western authors, and soon, my horse and I will be written as characters in a forthcoming novel, my character being that of a Texas Ranger captain.
My thanks to, and credit for, the research in this article goes to Al Tonik and Don Will.
- submitted by Jim Griffin
If you're interested in dipping your reader's toe into the wild and woolly world of the Texas Rangers, some of the "Jackson Cole" novels are available in Large Print editions from Amazon. We list some of them below. Click on the title to visit that book's page at Amazon. Note, however, that LP editions seem to fly out of print relatively quickly, so availabilty may change without notice.
Texas Fury
The Death Riders
Fast Draw
Killer Country
Two-Gun Devil
Hell in Paradise
Black Rider
Posted by ds at September 27, 2002 11:58 AM
Great article by Jim Griffin. Jim's passion for his horse and tales of the Texas Rangers is genuine and deeply rooted in history and lore. I enjoy Jim's fiction too. Thank's for the link and the information, Jim.
stareagle
Posted by: Lynn Holland at September 29, 2002 11:55 PM
Good article, Jim. As a librarian, I particularly
appreciate the bibliographic information you've provided on the publishing history of the magazine, and the sometimes difficult to find
author information. If I ever have a question about pulp Westerns, I'll know who to call!
Regards to Yankee and Chauncey.
Posted by: Pat Johnson at October 3, 2002 10:38 AM
New information, from research by James Reasoner, has uncovered three more authors of Jim Hatfield stories, published under the house name Jackson Cole.
J. Edward Leithead wrote three of the earliest stories, Riders of the Shadows, Gun Harvest, and Brand of the Lawless
Samuel Mines wrote Riders of the Mesquite Trail
Bennie Gardner wrote Land of Hidden Loot, Loot of the Wolf, and Gold of the Aztecs.
THANKS, JAMES.. this leaves us with exactly six Jim Hatfield novels whose writers are still unidentified.
Posted by: Jim Griffin at October 4, 2002 08:16 PM
Great article, Jim. You've covered the topic well. Readers and collectors alike will benefit from the info.
Posted by: Don WIll at December 23, 2002 02:27 PM
My uncle has nearly 100 (mostly western) pulp novels and magazines. He is not a collector. He just bought them to read in the 30's, 40's, and 50's and never threw them out. He wanted to pitch them and I thought that he could get some money for them even though they are not in great shape. Can you refer to me anyone who bus this stuff. I have his collection inventoried and can send it through e-mail. Thanks.
Dan N.
Posted by: Dan Nagle at December 31, 2002 02:11 PM
I have been collecting Texas Ranger pulp magzines for more than 30 years. I am only interested in those issues prior to 1952. I am missing about 10 and would like to hear where I might purchase or trade for them. I have quite a few duplicates that would make good trading material. I could supply a list of those issues I wish to obtain to anyone interested.
Posted by: John Hoyt at August 16, 2003 11:12 PM
John: Texas Rangers Magazine, particularly the earlier issues, is getting harder and harder to find. I've purchased most of mine thorough auction on eBay. There are also issues available at abe.com
Email me at the above address with your list of duplicates. I have a couple duplicates also, so I might have one you need.
Posted by: Jim Griffin at August 24, 2003 03:44 PM
My great grandfather was john edward leithead and i was speaking to my grandfather this weekend and he was telling me how his dad wrote westerns. he also said that his mother sold all of his work and he has nothing left, i have been searching the internet for some and would greatly appreciate it if you could send me any information about this
thank you so much
Posted by: chris bomar at September 21, 2003 03:35 PM
Chris:
Email for pulprack goes through msn, which is not working. Please email me directly at keeneyanke@yahoo.com, or email the western pulps egroup at westernpulps@yahoogroups.com, so we can get in touch. I'm not an expert on the authors, but the members of the group are, and I'm sure we can give you plenty of information.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Griffin at September 22, 2003 07:49 PM
Greetings from the United Kingdom ..... Some 55 years ago, soon after the second World War. I would await with excitement for the next 'Texas Ranger' magazine to appear on sale in the UK. I seem to remember they were sold by Woolworth's. I have just started to collect them again and read those stories again. Does anybody remember the story of the gang that Jim Hatfield was in pursuit of, that disappeared behind a waterfall? I cannot remember what the story title was; but would love to read that one again! Thanks for a great site and happy memories.
Posted by: Colin Burgess at November 14, 2003 03:32 PM
Howdy, Colin:
Boy, I can recall the story, and I know I have that issue of Texas Rangers in my collection. I just can't recall the title of the story. If I think of it, I'll post it here.
Jim
Posted by: Jim at December 1, 2003 07:30 PM
I work at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I am going to do a display in January about the Texas Rangers in the pulps for the Texas Collection Library. I am going to show several of the Texas Rangers pulps and a number of other Western pulps with Texas Ranger stories. One is a Thrilling Western issue featuring Walt Slade. Thanks for the information here; I can use it to help in the display. One item I am going to display is a 1952 Pyramid Paperback of the Texas Rangers series featuring JIm Hatfield: "Trigger Law". Is that an original story or is it a reprint of one of the pulp stories? I couldn't find that title on my list of the 206 stories.
Another item we are going to display is a 1939 hardback edition(with DJ) of "Lone Star Silver" which originally appeared in the Dec. 1938 Texas Ranger. It is autographed with an inscription by Jackson Cole, which I know is a pseudonym. Which person actually wrote this story? I would like to put a real name in the display. Thanks for any information you can give me here.
Monte Herridge
Posted by: Monte Herridge at December 19, 2003 02:55 PM
"Lone Star Silver" was written by A. Leslie Scott as by Jackson Cole. "Trigger Law" is a Pyramid reprint of "Moon Valley Trail", which originally appeared in the July 1950 issue of Texas Rangers. It was also written by A. Leslie Scott as by Jackson Cole. Good luck with the exhibit.
Posted by: Jim Griffin at December 21, 2003 07:29 PM
Just a personal update. I now am the proud owner of 202 of the 206 issues of Texas Rangers Magazine. Only 4 more to find!!!!!
Posted by: Jim Griffin at December 21, 2003 07:31 PM
I have one of these pulp books it's a Dec.1953
Texas Rangers if you are interrested please e-mail me.
Posted by: Letha Howie at August 14, 2004 09:09 PM
I would like to obtain any "Texas Rangers" issues from 1946 (except December which I have). Aside from wanting to read some of the stories I enjoyed as a twelve year old, I would also like to see again a letter I wrote to the magazine about one of the issues that year. In it I pointed out an anachronism in the use of a rifle one of the characters used. At the time I was astonished that they published it word for word (but unfortunately I can't remember which month it was). If anyone can tell me where I might buy issues from that year, I would greatly appreciate it.
Posted by: J. Terleph at August 25, 2004 09:02 PM
Three more of the true authors of Jim Hatfield stories have been uncovered. "Power of the Range", April 1944, was written by Tom Curry. "The Iron Trail", January 1953, was written by Peter Germano. And "Boss of Hang Noose", October 1957, was the missing story written by Lin Searles. This leaves "The Frontier Legion", May 1937, "The Brass Circle", December 1939,"The Outlaw Nobody Knew", June 1954, and "Killers of San Rosa", June 1957 as the remaining Jim Hatfield stories whose true authors remain unknown.
Posted by: Jim Griffin at November 11, 2004 04:25 PM
