Joseph Shallit
Encyclopedia
Joseph Shallit was an American mystery novelist and science fiction
author. He was the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants from Vitebsk
(now in Belarus), born in Philadelphia under the name Joseph Shaltz. This name was the result of a clerical error affecting his parents when they emigrated from Russia, and he changed it back to "Shallit" in November 1942.
He was instrumental in getting the regulation against photography in Independence Hall changed when he was arrested for taking a photo of the Liberty Bell
in 1942. He was a reporter at the time for The Philadelphia Record
. Subsequent to this event, the rule was changed.
Shallit served in the Army Signal Corps in the Philippines during World War II
. Upon his return, he began to write, publishing his first mystery, The Billion-Dollar Body, in 1947 with Lippincott. Other mysteries include Yell Bloody Murder, Lady, Don't Die on My Doorstep, and Kiss the Killer. Take Your Last Look was published under the pseudonym "Matt Brady". He also wrote a number of short stories for science fiction magazines, including "Education of a Martian", in the August 1952 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction
. A short story, entitled "Margie Passes", was published in Whit Burnett
's collection Story, and later adapted by John Tobias into one segment of a 1972 ABC television drama produced by Fred Coe
, entitled "Of Men and Women" and starring Deborah Raffin
.
Shallit later worked for Pennsylvania Railroad
(later Conrail), editing an employee magazine that they published. He retired in 1980, and died of Alzheimer's disease
on June 13, 1995.
He was married to Louise Lee Outlaw Shallit, an author, and was survived by two sons, Jonathan Shallit, a music professor and Jeffrey Shallit
, a computer scientist.
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...
author. He was the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants from Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
(now in Belarus), born in Philadelphia under the name Joseph Shaltz. This name was the result of a clerical error affecting his parents when they emigrated from Russia, and he changed it back to "Shallit" in November 1942.
He was instrumental in getting the regulation against photography in Independence Hall changed when he was arrested for taking a photo of the Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
in 1942. He was a reporter at the time for The Philadelphia Record
The Philadelphia Record
The Philadelphia Record was a daily newspaper published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1877 until 1947. The Record was founded in 1877 as a one-cent daily newspaper...
. Subsequent to this event, the rule was changed.
Shallit served in the Army Signal Corps in the Philippines during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon his return, he began to write, publishing his first mystery, The Billion-Dollar Body, in 1947 with Lippincott. Other mysteries include Yell Bloody Murder, Lady, Don't Die on My Doorstep, and Kiss the Killer. Take Your Last Look was published under the pseudonym "Matt Brady". He also wrote a number of short stories for science fiction magazines, including "Education of a Martian", in the August 1952 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction
Galaxy Science Fiction
Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...
. A short story, entitled "Margie Passes", was published in Whit Burnett
Whit Burnett
Whit Burnett was a writer and writing teacher who founded and edited the literary magazine Story. In the 1940s, Story was an important magazine in that it published the first or early works of many writers who went on to become major authors...
's collection Story, and later adapted by John Tobias into one segment of a 1972 ABC television drama produced by Fred Coe
Fred Coe
Fred Coe , nicknamed Pappy, was a television producer and director most famous for The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse in 1948-1955 and Playhouse 90 from 1957 to 1959...
, entitled "Of Men and Women" and starring Deborah Raffin
Deborah Raffin
Deborah Iona Raffin is an American film and television actress.Raffin was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Trudy Marshall, a Brooklyn-born former movie actress, and Phillip Jordan Raffin, a restaurateur and meat/brokerage executive.She appeared in several 1970s Hollywood films...
.
Shallit later worked for Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(later Conrail), editing an employee magazine that they published. He retired in 1980, and died of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
on June 13, 1995.
He was married to Louise Lee Outlaw Shallit, an author, and was survived by two sons, Jonathan Shallit, a music professor and Jeffrey Shallit
Jeffrey Shallit
Jeffrey Outlaw Shallit is a computer scientist, number theorist, a noted advocate for civil liberties on the Internet, and a noted critic of intelligent design. He is married to Anna Lubiw, also a computer scientist....
, a computer scientist.