Arthur B. Reeve
Encyclopedia
Arthur Benjamin Reeve was an American
mystery writer. He is best known for creating the series character Professor Craig Kennedy
, sometimes called "The American Sherlock Holmes
," and his Dr Watson-like sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter, in eighteen detective novels. The bulk of Reeve's fame is based on the 82 Craig Kennedy stories, published in Cosmopolitan magazine between 1910 and 1918. These were collected in book form; with the third collection, the short stories were stitched together into pseudo-novels. The 12-volume Craig Kennedy Stories came out in 1918; it reissued Reeve's books-to-date as a matched set.
Starting with The Exploits of Elaine
(1914), Reeve began authoring screenplays. His film career reached its peak in 1919-20, when his name appeared on seven films, most of them serials, three of them starring Harry Houdini
. After that—probably because of the migration to Hollywood of the film industry, and Reeve's desire to remain in the east—Reeve worked more sporadically in film. His career is marked by fiction originally published in newspapers, and a variety of magazines including Country Gentleman
, Boys' Life
, and Everybody's. Eventually, he was found only in pulps like Detective Story Magazine
and Detective Fiction Weekly. In 1927, Reeve entered into a contract (with John S. Lopez) to write a series of film scenarios for notorious millionaire-murderer, Harry K. Thaw
, on the subject of fake spiritualists. The deal resulted in a lawsuit when Thaw refused to pay. In late 1928, Reeve declared bankruptcy.
In the 1930s, Reeve rejuvenated his career by becoming an anti-rackets crusader. He had a national radio show from July 1930 to March 1931; he published a history of the rackets titled The Golden Age of Crime; and the focus of his Craig Kennedy stories completed the transition from "scientific detective" work to a racket-busting milieu.
During his career, Reeve covered many celebrated crime cases for various newspapers, including the murder of William Desmond Taylor
, and the trial of Lindbergh baby kidnapper, Bruno Hauptmann
.
He graduated from Princeton
and attended New York Law School
. He worked as an editor and journalist before Craig Kennedy propelled him to national fame in 1911. Raised in Brooklyn, he lived most of his professional life at various addresses near the Long Island Sound. In 1932, he moved to Trenton to be nearer his alma mater, Princeton.
The most complete biographical and bibliographical information on Reeve is available in the books From Ghouls to Gangsters: The Career of Arthur B. Reeve: Volume 1 (fiction) and Volume 2 (nonfiction) (Locke, editor).
Some of his stories include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mystery writer. He is best known for creating the series character Professor Craig Kennedy
Craig Kennedy
Professor Craig Kennedy is a character created by Arthur B. Reeve.Kennedy is a scientist detective at Columbia University similar to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Thorndyke...
, sometimes called "The American Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
," and his Dr Watson-like sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter, in eighteen detective novels. The bulk of Reeve's fame is based on the 82 Craig Kennedy stories, published in Cosmopolitan magazine between 1910 and 1918. These were collected in book form; with the third collection, the short stories were stitched together into pseudo-novels. The 12-volume Craig Kennedy Stories came out in 1918; it reissued Reeve's books-to-date as a matched set.
Starting with The Exploits of Elaine
The Exploits of Elaine
The Exploits of Elaine is a film serial in the genre of The Perils of Pauline.The Exploits of Elaine tells the story of a young woman named Elaine who, with the help of a detective, tries to find the man, known only as "The Clutching Hand", who murdered her father. The Clutching Hand was the first...
(1914), Reeve began authoring screenplays. His film career reached its peak in 1919-20, when his name appeared on seven films, most of them serials, three of them starring Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
. After that—probably because of the migration to Hollywood of the film industry, and Reeve's desire to remain in the east—Reeve worked more sporadically in film. His career is marked by fiction originally published in newspapers, and a variety of magazines including Country Gentleman
Country Gentleman
Country Gentleman was an agricultural magazine founded in 1831 in Rochester, NY by Luther Tucker. The magazine was purchased by Curtis Publishing Company in 1911. Curtis redirected the magazine to address the business side of farming, which was largely ignored by the agricultural magazines of the...
, Boys' Life
Boys' Life
Boys' Life is the monthly magazine of the Boy Scouts of America . Its targeted readership is young American males between the ages of 6 and 18.Boys' Life is published in two demographic editions...
, and Everybody's. Eventually, he was found only in pulps like Detective Story Magazine
Detective Story Magazine
Detective Story Magazine was an American magazine published by Street & Smith from October 15, 1915 to Summer, 1949 . The first pulp magazine devoted to detective fiction, it consisted of short stories and serials....
and Detective Fiction Weekly. In 1927, Reeve entered into a contract (with John S. Lopez) to write a series of film scenarios for notorious millionaire-murderer, Harry K. Thaw
Harry K. Thaw
Harry Kendall Thaw was the son of coal and railroad baron William Thaw. He is best known for murdering the architect Stanford White at Madison Square Garden in 1906 in a jealous rage.- Early life:...
, on the subject of fake spiritualists. The deal resulted in a lawsuit when Thaw refused to pay. In late 1928, Reeve declared bankruptcy.
In the 1930s, Reeve rejuvenated his career by becoming an anti-rackets crusader. He had a national radio show from July 1930 to March 1931; he published a history of the rackets titled The Golden Age of Crime; and the focus of his Craig Kennedy stories completed the transition from "scientific detective" work to a racket-busting milieu.
During his career, Reeve covered many celebrated crime cases for various newspapers, including the murder of William Desmond Taylor
William Desmond Taylor
William Desmond Taylor was an Irish-born American actor, successful film director of silent movies and a popular figure in the growing Hollywood film colony of the 1910s and early 1920s...
, and the trial of Lindbergh baby kidnapper, Bruno Hauptmann
Bruno Hauptmann
Bruno Richard Hauptmann was a German ex-convict sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of the 20-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The Lindbergh kidnapping became known as "The Crime of the Century".-Background:Hauptmann was born in Kamenz in the German Empire,...
.
He graduated from Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and attended New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
. He worked as an editor and journalist before Craig Kennedy propelled him to national fame in 1911. Raised in Brooklyn, he lived most of his professional life at various addresses near the Long Island Sound. In 1932, he moved to Trenton to be nearer his alma mater, Princeton.
The most complete biographical and bibliographical information on Reeve is available in the books From Ghouls to Gangsters: The Career of Arthur B. Reeve: Volume 1 (fiction) and Volume 2 (nonfiction) (Locke, editor).
Some of his stories include:
- The Black Hand 1911
- The Campaign Grafter
- Constance Dunlap
- The Deadly Tube 1911
- The Dream Doctor 1914
- The Ear In The Wall 1916
- The Exploits of ElaineThe Exploits of ElaineThe Exploits of Elaine is a film serial in the genre of The Perils of Pauline.The Exploits of Elaine tells the story of a young woman named Elaine who, with the help of a detective, tries to find the man, known only as "The Clutching Hand", who murdered her father. The Clutching Hand was the first...
1915 - The Film Mystery 1921
- Gold of the Gods 1915
- Guy Garrick
- The Invisible Ray
- The Poisoned Pen 1912
- The Romance of ElaineThe Romance of ElaineThe Romance of Elaine is a 1915 silent adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz, Leopold Wharton and Theodore Wharton. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Pearl White - Elaine Dodge* Creighton Hale - Walter Jameson...
1916 (the sequel to The Exploits of Elaine) - The Silent Bullet 1912
- The Steel Door
- The Treasure-Train 1917
- The War Terror 1915
- The White Slave
- The Grim GameThe Grim GameThe Grim Game is a 1919 silent film starring Harry Houdini. The film's basic plotline serves as a showcase for Houdini's talent as an escapologist, stunt performer and aviator.-Plot:...
1919 - The Radio DetectiveThe Radio DetectiveThe Radio Detective is a 1926 adventure film serial directed by William James Craft and William A. Crinley. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Jack Dougherty - Easton Evans * Margaret Quimby - Ruth Evans...
1925 (Boy' Life serial, film serial, and novelization) - The Golden Age of Crime 1931
- The Stars Scream Murder 1936