Robert E. Howard Readers discussion

I purchased my ticket and I plan to head out early Friday morning to REH Days 2023 this year. This should be really different. I've never been to Cross Plains when it's still cool enough to possibly enjoy the weather. I didn't make it to REH Days 2022 last year. I'm Looking forward to picking up the new Collected Poetry Vol 2 and 3.this year and look forward to meeting up with past friends and new ones.

I'm glad you get to go. I hope I get to go one of these years.

I visited Robert E. Howard's home in 2008. There's something wonderful about driving through a tiny Texas town and seeing a mural of Conan painted on the library wall, the barbarian's gim eyes staring over the empty playground equipment just outside. Touring REH's home was the spark that got me writing again, something that I'll never forget.

That's a great experience!

A few years later I wrote a short essay about it. Conan has long been a friend in arms.

I agree a great experience! My first trip to Howard Days was 2008. that was the poetry year I believe.
My first trip to Cross Plains was actually 1982. I had just moved to TX and was traveling on business from Abilene to Brownwood and drove through Cross Plains but I didn't know the address of the house at the time and was profoundly disappointed that there was no recognition of Howard. I went back in 2006 after missing the 100 Birthday celebration which featured Roy Thomas. Somehow I had the dates mixed up. I saw the mural on the library and visited the house. Two years later I finally got there and have actually lost track of how many times I have been there since.
Vincent I look forward to you going. I'm sure a Scholar like you would be invited to sit on a panel or two.

Just a quick comment. I mention how disappointed I was the Cross Plains had no recognition of REH and this was pretty much true until Rusty Burke and Bill Cavalier visited the Cross Plains Library in 1985 I believe and in 1989 Project Pride purchase the Howard Home.
While on the walking tour of Cross Plains led by Rusty and Jack Baum (Jack and his sister inherited the Literary Rites to Robert E Howard about 1985) Rusty mentioned the first trip to the Library while standing in front of it.
Jack then offered to take a few of us a bit further to the house where Novalyne Price lived when she lived and was a teacher in Cross Plains. Jack mentioned that when he was at the reading of the will he found out he had the Literary Rites to REH and said it was the first time he ever heard of him! What is funny about that is that he knew people like Dave Lee who was one of REH's best friends. He owned a garage on North Main Street and when he was a kid Jack would hang out there and listen to Dave's stories.

A quick comment, in 1985 Rusty and Bill Cavalier visited the library and in 1989 Project Pride purchased the Howard Home.
On a walking tour with Rusty and Jack Baum (who inherited the Literary Rights to REH in 1985), after the tour was over Jack offered to continue to the house which Novalyne Price once lived in while a teacher in Cross Plains. On the way Jack said he had never even heard about REH until he and his sister inherited the Rights. The funny thing is Jack knew people like Dave Lee and Lindsay Tyson who were REH's best friends in Cross Plains. Dave owned a garage on N Main Street (not there anymore) and Jack used to hang out there as a kid and listen to Dave Lee's stories.
Today Cross Plains is a bit run down and most people there are elderly and retired. The young people work in Brownwood or thereabouts as there is very little business in Cross Plains. When I go I have stayed in Cisco (about 20 miles north), Brownwood (about 30 miles south) and this last time in Comanche (about 39 miles east).

That's pretty interesting. I wonder how they got the rights. The chain of custody for the literary rights of REH isn't something I've paid a lot of attention to.

I used to know but I've forgotten some of it but here goes from memory....if someone wants to correct me on some of this I'm open....
REH's father Dr Howard became ill not long after REH and his mom died. He moved to Ranger, TX and lived and worked with his friend Dr Kuykendahl who owned a clinic. He lived with the Kukendahl's as well. When he died he left everything to them. That is where the infamous "trunk" was. The pavilion at the REH Museum is named after Alla Ray Morris who I believe was the Kuykendahl's daughter. They employed Glenn Lord as the literary agent but much later had a falling out with him.
Jack and his sister inherited the Rights. They may have been their children or other close relative. I've forgotten. Jack's wife Barbara was a school teacher and they have both been active in Howard Stuff. If you remember back about 2008 there were juvenile drawings by REH that were found in the trunk and were published by Robert E Howard Foundation.
Jack said he was currently 76. I have seen he and his wife around and spoke to them on occasion at Howard Days in the past. Very nice people.
They were instrumental in getting the Wandering Star publications released.
They eventually sold the Rights to Fredrick Malmberg who started a company (Paradox?) and he now owns Cabinet Entertainment and still has the Rights. He has been to at least two Howard Days Events that I have been to.
On another note, Paul Herman unveiled the original writing table that Howard actually used on Saturday. It was left to a neighbor when Dr Howard moved.
The neighbor had 10 inches cut off the legs and turned into a coffee table.
Paul tracked it down to the daughter of the woman it was left to. She now lives in Graham, TX. After pleading with the family (her son) for (a year or 2?) they donated it to the museum. A professional is going to put new legs on it and clean it up to be placed into the museum. It will be there for the next Howard Days.

Thank you for all of that!

You're welcome. I got to run my hands over the top of the table that REH wrote all his great stories on!
I highly recommend you plan a trip in the near future. You would have to fly in to DFW airport and drive 2.5 to 3 hours to Cross Plains. I recommend staying in Brownwood. That's also where REH and his parents' grave is at. It's 30 miles south of Cross Plains. The motels north ( like Cisco) are funky. Holiday Inn Express in Early TX is the best.
I am quite you would be invited to be on a panel.
This is small. no huge crowds. I'm sure you would be treated like royalty. If you need any help with this let me know. I live near Houston which is further away. Texas is very big so be prepared.
I grew up in Rhode Island. DFW is 7.5 times the size of RI and Houston is 8.5 times the size. This is hard to envision but it is very true!
I would be really happy to help with any info you need.

Michael wrote: "You're welcome. I got to run my hands over the top of the table that REH wrote all his great stories on!
I highly recommend you plan a trip in the near future. You would have to fly in to DFW airpo..."

Did you get a copy of the trivia book or Cross Plains Pilgrimage?

I got the Trivia Book but missed the Cross Plains Pilgrimage. I wanted to get it but didn't have the cash on me when I saw it.
The trivia book is great! I went through the first several pages Friday night in my motel room and got half of them wrong. It's very challenging!

Michael wrote: "I got the Trivia Book but missed the Cross Plains Pilgrimage. I wanted to get it but didn't have the cash on me when I saw it.
The trivia book is great! I went through the first several pages Frid..."
That's too bad. They were handing out CPP for free at the sign-in table. Still, glad you like the trivia book.

They were free? I went back there later and the table had closed down I believe due to the wind and rain. Bummer!
The only copy I saw later was one you gave to the museum. You had signed it and they were asking a lot of people to sign it!

Vincent wrote: "That's pretty interesting. I wonder how they got the rights. The chain of custody for the literary rights of REH isn't something I've paid a lot of attention to."

Barbara Baum's essay in REH CHANGED MY LIFE covers some of the history and their dreams.

Michael wrote: "They were free? I went back there later and the table had closed down I believe due to the wind and rain. Bummer!
The only copy I saw later was one you gave to the museum. You had signed it and the..."

Yeah, Cross Plains Pilgrimage was the giveaway book last year and I don't many extra copies to the museum, so they were handing them out at the sign-in table. Too bad you missed it...but there's always next year!

Yes I plan to be there next year too!

Jason M wrote: "Vincent wrote: "That's pretty interesting. I wonder how they got the rights. The chain of custody for the literary rights of REH isn't something I've paid a lot of attention to."

Barbara Baum's es..."
That's right I forgot about that! I remember back in 2008 she spoke at a panel outside at the pavilion (in 100 degree heat! She was showing the drawings that REH drew when a school kid. I took pictures as she showed them. My wife was with me she has never gone back with me again. The heat was too much for her!
BTW I didn't realize you wrote one of the essays in "Hither Came Conan". You were lucky to have "Tower of the Elephant". You should have signed it for me.

Michael wrote: "Jason M wrote: "Vincent wrote: "That's pretty interesting. I wonder how they got the rights. The chain of custody for the literary rights of REH isn't something I've paid a lot of attention to."

B..."
Yes - I am finally inside one of my own publications (beyond forewords and introductions). Bring your books next year - I always try to share who of the TOC is present for autographs for both REH CHANGED MY LIFE and now HITHER CAME CONAN.

Jason M wrote: "Michael wrote: "Jason M wrote: "Vincent wrote: "That's pretty interesting. I wonder how they got the rights. The chain of custody for the literary rights of REH isn't something I've paid a lot of a..."
Will do!

Here's some history on the Literary Rights to Robert E Howard Estate. I dug it up. It's been a while since I've read about this but REH apparently wanted to leave the Rights to his friends Lindsay Tyson but Dr Howard kept him from it and Lindsay was too upset to come forward.
As mentioned, Alla Ray Morris was Dr Kuykendahl's father. It got sticky. Glenn Lord was building things up and L Sprague de Camp got involved and the waters got muddied.
Jack and Barbara Baum inherited the Rights from Alla Ray.

https://reh.world/articles/history-of...

Michael wrote: "Here's some history on the Literary Rights to Robert E Howard Estate. I dug it up. It's been a while since I've read about this but REH apparently wanted to leave the Rights to his friends Lindsay ..."
Alla Ray Morris' mother was also named Alla Ray (Kuykendahl). They both received royalties from the Howard Estate for many years although they never knew REH.

Not to be-labor the point but in 2022, REH Days (which I sorely missed) featured Fredrick Malmberg as the GOH.
see attached you tube for some history:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTEjp...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XdLE...

Michael wrote: "Michael wrote: "Here's some history on the Literary Rights to Robert E Howard Estate. I dug it up. It's been a while since I've read about this but REH apparently wanted to leave the Rights to his ..."

For anyone interested here is the Literar legacy of REH. Jack Baum and his sister Terry inherited the Literay rights through their mother who was married to Alla Ray Morris' cousin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_...

Thank you!