Robert Arthur Jr.

Robert Jay Arthur Jr. (November 10, 1909 – May 2, 1969) was a writer of speculative fiction[1] known for his work with The Mysterious Traveler radio series and for writing The Three Investigators, a series of young adult novels.[2]

For the film producer, see Robert Arthur.

Robert Arthur Jr.
Robert Arthur Jr. at work during 1950.
BornRobert Arthur Jr.
(1909-11-10)November 10, 1909
Corregidor, Philippines
DiedMay 2, 1969(1969-05-02) (aged 59)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
OccupationWriter
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
GenreCrime fiction, speculative fiction, mystery fiction
Arthur's novelette "The Mirror of Cagliostro " was the cover story for the June 1963 issue of Fantastic Stories, illustrated by Lee Brown Coye
Arthur as pictured in Wonder Stories in 1931

Arthur was honoured twice by the Mystery Writers of America with an Edgar Award for Best Radio Drama. He also wrote scripts for television such as The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock's TV show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.[3]

Biography

Personal life

Arthur was born on November 10, 1909, in Fort Mills, Corregidor Island in the Philippines while his father, Robert Arthur Sr., was stationed there as a lieutenant in the United States Army. Arthur spent his childhood moving from place to place, wherever his father was stationed.[4]

Although he was accepted to West Point Arthur decided not to pursue a military career like his father and instead in 1926 enrolled at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia. After two years, he transferred to the University of Michigan, where he graduated from with a B.A. in English in 1930.

Arthur died at the age of fifty-nine in Philadelphia, on May 2, 1969.[5]

Professional career

After graduating, he worked as an editor and later returned to the University of Michigan where he completed his M.A. in Journalism in 1932.[6]

Writing for TV and Print

In 1959, he moved to Hollywood and began writing and editing screenplays and scripts for television shows.[7]

His stories were published in Amazing Stories, Argosy All-Story Weekly, Black Mask, Collier's, Detective Fiction Weekly, Detective Tales, Double Detective, The Illustrated Detective Magazine, The Phantom Detective, The Shadow, Startling Stories, Street & Smith's Detective Story Magazine, Thrilling Detective, Unknown Worlds and Wonder Stories.

Additionally, Arthur wrote a number of mystery books for children and young adults. His most successful stories were a series of mystery books called The Three Investigators.

Radio

Arthur, along with his writing partner David Kogan, was honoured twice by the Mystery Writers of America with an Edgar Award for Best Radio Drama. First in 1950 for Murder by Experts, and then in 1953 for The Mysterious Traveler.

Other radio credits include: Dark Destiny (1942), Adventure Into Fear (1945), The Sealed Book (1945), The Teller of Tales (1950) and Mystery Time (1952).

Bibliography

"Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators" novels

Three Investigator novels numbered 10 and 12 to 43 were written by other authors.

Short story collections by Robert Arthur Jr.
  • Ghosts and More Ghosts (1963)
  • Mystery and More Mystery (1966)
  • The Midnight Visitor

Short story collections edited by Robert Arthur Jr.
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories for Late at Night (1961)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful (1961)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Ghostly Gallery (1962)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Solve-Them-Yourself-Mysteries (1963) (All stories written by Robert Arthur with the exception of "The Mystery of the Sinister Theft")
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories That My Mother Never Told Me (1963)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Monster Museum (1965)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories Not for the Nervous (1965)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Sinister Spies (1966)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories That Scared Even Me (1967)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbinders in Suspense (1967)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do On TV (1968)
  • Davy Jones Haunted Locker (1965)
  • Spies and More Spies (1967)
  • Thrillers and More Thrillers (1968)
  • Monster Mix (1968)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Daring Detectives (1969)

Television writing credits
  • The Unforeseen (1960)
  • Matinee Theatre (1955) (episode: "The Babylonian Heart")
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (episode: "The Jokester")
  • Thriller (1961–1962) (episodes: "An Attractive Family", "Dialogues with Death", "The Prisoner in the Mirror")
gollark: Dehumanisation has always been ethical, yes.
gollark: That sounds mean. You should avoid that.
gollark: Nailgun < nail railgun, actually.
gollark: They are of course wrong.
gollark: People often complain about my nails being unreasonably long.

References
  1. Tuck, Donald H. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: Advent. p. 19. ISBN 0-911682-20-1.
  2. "Air Checks; Production Notes and Personal Intelligence," Billboard (May 5, 1951), p. 6. "Shows are 'Murder by Experts' and 'Mysterious Traveler,' both produced and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Kogan."
  3. "Robert Arthur". IMDb. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  4. "Robert Arthur Jr. Bio". www.elizabetharthur.org. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  5. "Robert Arthur Jr. Bio". www.elizabetharthur.org. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  6. "Robert Arthur Jr. Bio". www.elizabetharthur.org. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  7. "Robert Arthur Jr". www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
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