Rogers E. M. Whitaker
Encyclopedia
Rogers Ernest Malcolm Whitaker (January 15, 1900 – May 11, 1981) was an editor of The New Yorker
magazine who was known to readers for his many contributions to Talk of the Town under the pen name of E. M. Frimbo, World's Greatest Railroad Buff.
During Whitaker's sophomore year at Princeton, Whitaker's father declined to continue paying his tuition, and instead gave him $40 and a letter of introduction to use in seeking a job. Whitaker lived in a theatrical boarding house down the hall from Mae West
and worked at the New York Times checking bridal announcements for hoaxes placed by jilted suitors while also selling advertising for a trade magazine.
magazine as head of the make-up department, responsible for laying out each issue. He went on to establish the fact-checking department and acted as chief proofreader at the copy desk. Eventually he rose to the level of editor, and took on many interesting duties. He would cover college football, signing the pieces "J.W.L." because an editor reportedly liked the look of the letters together. He was also a major contributor to the magazine's "Goings on About Town" section, spending much time at cabarets and supper clubs. Whitaker retired from The New Yorker in 1975.
. There he helped to plan the routing of troop trains.
In 1970, Whitaker testified before the Interstate Commerce Commission
to argue against the Penn Central Railroad's plan to eliminate all 34 of its long distance passenger trains.
which won a stake at Belmont
.
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
magazine who was known to readers for his many contributions to Talk of the Town under the pen name of E. M. Frimbo, World's Greatest Railroad Buff.
Early life
Whitaker's father, Charles Harris Whitaker, was an editor of the Journal of the American Institute of Architects. He lectured frequently and transited the Atlantic over 50 times on steamships. When Rogers Whitaker was nine he took his first solo train ride. He developed had a love for trains that lasted his entire life.During Whitaker's sophomore year at Princeton, Whitaker's father declined to continue paying his tuition, and instead gave him $40 and a letter of introduction to use in seeking a job. Whitaker lived in a theatrical boarding house down the hall from Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
and worked at the New York Times checking bridal announcements for hoaxes placed by jilted suitors while also selling advertising for a trade magazine.
Career at The New Yorker magazine
In 1926, Whitaker was employed by The New YorkerThe New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
magazine as head of the make-up department, responsible for laying out each issue. He went on to establish the fact-checking department and acted as chief proofreader at the copy desk. Eventually he rose to the level of editor, and took on many interesting duties. He would cover college football, signing the pieces "J.W.L." because an editor reportedly liked the look of the letters together. He was also a major contributor to the magazine's "Goings on About Town" section, spending much time at cabarets and supper clubs. Whitaker retired from The New Yorker in 1975.
E. M. Frimbo
Whitaker's greatest love in life was traveling by train. He accumulated 2.7 million miles of such travel during his lifetime, and wrote extensively about his trips under the pen name E. M. Frimbo. He put his knowledge of trains to good use during World War II, where he was commissioned as a Major in the U.S. Army's Traffic Control Division of the Transportation CorpsUnited States Army Transportation Corps
The Transportation Corps was established 31 July 1942 by Executive Order 9082. The Transportation Corps is a combat service support branch of the U.S. Army, and was headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia, but has now moved to Fort Lee, Virginia. The Transportation Corps is responsible for the...
. There he helped to plan the routing of troop trains.
In 1970, Whitaker testified before the Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
to argue against the Penn Central Railroad's plan to eliminate all 34 of its long distance passenger trains.
Personal life
Whitaker was a cat enthusiast, who gave his cats names based on unusual criteria. "Epiphany" was named in honor of the important day in the ecclesiastic calender in which he came to his home. "Edward W. Riegelman" was named for a ferryboat he enjoyed exploring. "Rosemont" was named for the similarly patterned, Widener owned horse of that nameRosemont (horse)
Rosemont was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his win in the 1937 Santa Anita Handicap, defeating Seabiscuit, a scene used in the 2003 motion picture Seabiscuit....
which won a stake at Belmont
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
.