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by William H. Harper (Author)
Long-time writer and researcher William Harper shares his wealth of articles, comics, complete radio log and much more in this definitive work on the great Western radio show, Straight Arrow
"William Harper grew up catching what he describes as the "tail end of the Golden Age of radio and comics." He listened to the exploits of Bobby Benson and the B-Bar Riders, Tom Mix, Sky King, Captain Midnight, The Shadow, etc. and, of course, Straight Arrow. He faithfully ate Nabisco Shredded Wheat, saving the "Injun-Uity" cards, those cardboard dividers printed with Indian outdoor lore, packed three to a box separating the shredded wheat biscuits. Years later as manager of the Augusta Book Exchange in downtown Augusta, Harper happened on a small collection of Straight Arrow comics. Every issue of the comics' title page bore the name of the artist, Fred L. Meagher, Harper undertook what he thought would be an easy chore; locate all 55 issues of the comic and the artist.
"The search took many twist and turns, drawing, as it were, Harper deeper into the fascinating world of comic collecting. Teresa, an artist whose appreciation included modern comics, especially fantasy works such as Conan the Barbarian and Elf Quest, was drawn into the search through her comic interest and marriage. One of the turns involved the Tom Mix comics published by Fawcett that led directly to their editing a Fawcett comic collectors fanzine, FCA/SOB. The newsletter was primarily concerned with the great Fawcett icon, the original Captain Marvel. Editorship led to publishing and later a redirection as well as name change, FCA & ME, Too , or Fawcett Collectors of America and Magazine Enterprise, the latter being the publishers of Straight Arrow. The Harper's research on Straight Arrow soon filled a file cabinet drawer and thus was born, Pow-Wow.
"In 1997 Teresa was diagnosed with breast cancer and FCA & ME, Too was discontinued; however, it still continues today published in the pages of Alter Ego under its original title FCA with Paul Hamerlinck at the helm. Later the files emptied of Straight Arrow material, the decision was made to discontinue Pow-Wow. As the finishing touches were being made to the last issue, Gasoline Alley comic strip artist/writer Jim Scancarelli located a nephew to the elusive Fred L. Meagher. The last issue was sent with the promise of a Fred L. Meagher special edition. However, Teresa Harper died October 18, 1997, and William pushed aside any future plans for the special. "During this time Jean Walton of New Jersey offered to research Meagher, and several years later she mailed her efforts to Harper, which became the backbone of the Fred L. Meagher special, which was partially published in Alter Ego.
"In 2004 William Harper bound the copies of Pow-Wow into a single volume. Looking back over the wealth of material he decided to work up a proposal for a book. There were some loose ends that needed to be gathered on personalities, so while he submitted his proposal to various publishers, he did some additional research. BearManor Media accepted the proposal.
"Straight Arrow: The Definitive Radio Log and Resource Guide for that Legendary Indian Figure on the Trail of Justice, not only draws from the pages of Pow-Wow, but includes new material never published before." - Radiogram
