Howard Browne
Encyclopedia
Howard Browne was a science fiction
editor and mystery
writer. He also wrote for several television series and films. Some of his work appeared over the pseudonym
s John Evans, Alexander Blade, Lawrence Chandler, Ivar Jorgensen, and Lee Francis.
Beginning in 1942, Browne worked as managing editor for Ziff-Davis publications on Amazing Stories
and Fantastic Adventures
, both under Raymond A. Palmer
's editorship. When Palmer left the magazines in 1949, Browne took over in January 1950. Browne ended the publication of Richard Shaver's Shaver Mystery and oversaw the change in Amazing from a pulp magazine
to a digest. He left the magazines in 1956 to move to Hollywood.
In Hollywood, Browne wrote for television shows including Maverick
, Ben Casey
, and The Virginian
. His last credit was for the film Capone (1975), starring Ben Gazzara
.
Browne's novel Thin Air was twice adapted for television. In 1975 it was used as the basis for a first season episode of The Rockford Files
titled "Sleight of Hand." In 1982 it was the basis for a second season episode of Simon & Simon
of the same name as the novel.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
editor and mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
writer. He also wrote for several television series and films. Some of his work appeared over the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s John Evans, Alexander Blade, Lawrence Chandler, Ivar Jorgensen, and Lee Francis.
Beginning in 1942, Browne worked as managing editor for Ziff-Davis publications on Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
and Fantastic Adventures
Fantastic Adventures
Fantastic Adventures was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1953 by Ziff-Davis. It was initially edited by Ray Palmer, who was also the editor of Amazing Stories, Ziff-Davis's other science fiction title. The first nine issues were in bedsheet format, but in June 1940...
, both under Raymond A. Palmer
Raymond A. Palmer
Raymond Arthur Palmer was the influential editor of Amazing Stories from 1938 through 1949, when he left publisher Ziff-Davis to publish and edit Fate Magazine, and eventually many other magazines and books through his own publishing houses, including Amherst Press and Palmer Publications...
's editorship. When Palmer left the magazines in 1949, Browne took over in January 1950. Browne ended the publication of Richard Shaver's Shaver Mystery and oversaw the change in Amazing from a pulp magazine
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
to a digest. He left the magazines in 1956 to move to Hollywood.
In Hollywood, Browne wrote for television shows including Maverick
Maverick (TV series)
Maverick is a western television series with comedic overtones created by Roy Huggins. The show ran from September 22, 1957 to July 8, 1962 on ABC and stars James Garner as Bret Maverick, a cagey, articulate cardsharp. Eight episodes into the first season, he was joined by Jack Kelly as his brother...
, Ben Casey
Ben Casey
Ben Casey is an American medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, *, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member Sam Jaffe intoned, "Man, woman, birth, death, infinity." Neurosurgeon Joseph...
, and The Virginian
The Virginian (TV series)
The Virginian is an American Western television series starring James Drury and Doug McClure, which aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes. Filmed in color, The Virginian became television's first 90-minute western series...
. His last credit was for the film Capone (1975), starring Ben Gazzara
Ben Gazzara
-Early life:Gazzara was born Biagio Anthony Gazzara in New York City, the son of Italian immigrants Angelina and Antonio Gazzara, who was a laborer and carpenter. Gazzara grew up on New York's tough Lower East Side. He actually lived on E. 29th Street and participated in the drama program at...
.
Browne's novel Thin Air was twice adapted for television. In 1975 it was used as the basis for a first season episode of The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
titled "Sleight of Hand." In 1982 it was the basis for a second season episode of Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.-History:The original 1978 pilot called Pirate's Key was set in Florida...
of the same name as the novel.
Works by Howard Browne
- Warrior of the Dawn (1943)
- The Return of TharnThe Return of TharnThe Return of Tharn is a fantasy novel by Howard Browne. It was first published in book form in 1956 by The Grandon Company in an edition of 500 copies, of which 350 were bound. The novel was originally serialized in three parts in the magazine Amazing Stories beginning in October, 1948. The...
(1956) - Thin Air (1954)