Sid Graedon Collection on Mickey Spillane
Collection
Identifier: MS-0228
Collection Organization
This collection spans the breadth of Mickey Spillane's career.
Spillane's early work in comic books (Boxes 2 and 3) is a highlight of the collection, including scripts written for many of the major characters created by Funnies, Inc. such as Namor the Submariner, Captain America, and Captail Marvel. Because most comic stories of the time were uncredited, there is great potential for research in this part of the collection.
When he returned from military service, Spillane conceived of the idea for a comic book named "Mike Danger". Many of Spillane's papers related to the near-production of this comic are contained in this collection. The idea made it to the layout stages, but didn't see the light of day until years later. When he made the turn to novels a year later, Spillane changed Mike Danger into Mike Hammer and a legend was born. Boxes 4 through 6 highlight the promotional efforts of Spillane and Graedon.
Also contained in this collection are typed manuscript copies of many Spillane's novels (Boxes 7-19). Many contain handwritten notes from Spillane and/or his editors. Several of the manuscripts, including the one for his first novel I, The Jury had been stored in a garage prior to Spillane gifting them to Sid Graedon, and show signs of aging as well as some fire damage. The manuscript in the collection for The Twisted Thing had been abandoned by Spillane in the 1950s, and lost the last several pages in a fire. Graedon came across the manuscript around 1966 and encouraged Spillane to reconstruct the ending and publish it. Spillane dedicated the published version to Graedon.
Boxes 7-12 contain manuscripts featuring Spillane's Mike Hammer character. Boxes 13-16 are stand-alone novels, while boxes 17-19 are from the Tiger Mann series.
The remainder of the collection consists of promotional items, including a vinyl pressing of Spillane reading a Mike Hammer short story titled "The Woman", as well as posters and original artwork. Extensive files kept by Graedon related to Spillane's publicity tours in the 1960s and 1970s will be of interest to those studying publishing during the era, as well as those interested in comparing Spillane the persona versus Spillane the man.
Correspondence, 1950-1982, undated
Series – Box 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1950-1982, undated
Correspondence, 1950 - 1951
File – Box 1, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1950 - 1951
Correspondence, 1961 - 1963
File – Box 1, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1961 - 1963
Correspondence- 1965 (1 of 3), 1965
File – Box 1, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Correspondence- 1965 (2 of 3), 1965
File – Box 1, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Correspondence- 1965 (3 of 3), 1965
File – Box 1, Folder: 5
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Correspondence, 1966 - 1967
File – Box 1, Folder: 6
- Dates
- Creation: 1966 - 1967
Correspondence, 1967 - 1968
File – Box 1, Folder: 7
- Dates
- Creation: 1967 - 1968
Correspondence, 1970
File – Box 1, Folder: 8
- Dates
- Creation: 1970
Correspondence- Graedon & Altman, 1965 - 1966
File – Box 1, Folder: 9
- Dates
- Creation: 1965 - 1966
Correspondence- Honey West, 1965 - 1966
File – Box 1, Folder: 10
- Dates
- Creation: 1965 - 1966
Correspondence, 1971 - 1972
File – Box 1, Folder: 11
- Dates
- Creation: 1971 - 1972
Correspondence, 1973
File – Box 1, Folder: 12
- Dates
- Creation: 1973
Correspondence, 1974 - 1980
File – Box 1, Folder: 13
- Dates
- Creation: 1974 - 1980
Correspondence with Max Allan Collins, undated
File – Box 1, Folder: 14
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Correspondence, undated
File – Box 1, Folder: 15
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Comic Book Work, 1951, undated
Series – Box 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1951, undated
Annie Oakley- Synopsis, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Army Air Corps, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Blue Bolt (comic book signed by Spillane), 1951
File – Box 2, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1951
Comics Assignment Sheets, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Current Plots- Adventure, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 5
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Drifter Comics, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 6
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Human Torch- Plot File, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 7
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Human Torch- Current Synopsis, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 8
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Kid Colt- Synopsis & Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 9
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Lena and the Revolution, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 10
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Matinee Comics, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 11
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miss America- Synopsis & Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 12
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Tex Morgan, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 13
- Dates
- Creation: undated
True Crime Plot File, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 14
- Dates
- Creation: undated
True Crime- Current Synopsis, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 15
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Two Gun Kid, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 16
- Dates
- Creation: undated
V.M.I. Cadets- Magazine Clip, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 17
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 18
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 19
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 20
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 21
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 22
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 23
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 24
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 25
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous Comic Story Plots, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 26
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Namora, undated
File – Box 2, Folder: 27
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Short Stories and Fragments, 1953, undated
Series – Box 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1953, undated
Spillane- Completed Short Stories (1 of 4), undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Spillane- Completed Short Stories (2 of 4), undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Spillane- Completed Short Stories (3 of 4), undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Spillane- Completed Short Stories (4 of 4), undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Novel Fragments, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 5
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Danger- Indicia Examples, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 6
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Danger Magazine Mock Ups, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 7
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Hammer Daily- Strip Samples, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 8
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Hammer Daily- Scripts, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 9
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Hammer Daily- Synopsis, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 10
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Hammer Daily- Sketches, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 11
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Hammer Daily- Sketches, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 12
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Mike Hammer Daily- Scripts, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 13
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Artwork- Mike Hammer "Velda" Album, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 14
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Screen Test Script- "The Deadly", undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 15
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Re: Set Design- "The Night I Died", undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 16
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Set Design- "I, The Jury", 1953
File – Box 3, Folder: 17
- Dates
- Creation: 1953
Original Transcripts- 13 tapes, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 18
- Dates
- Creation: undated
"Learn to Fly"- Drawings for Book or Pamphlet, undated
File – Box 3, Folder: 19
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Promotional Materials, 1961-1973, undated
Series – Multiple Containers
- Dates
- Creation: 1961-1973, undated
NAL correspondence, 1965
File – Box 4, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
NAL correspondence/ Day of the Guns, 1965-05-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 4, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-05-01T00:00:00+00:00
Mickey Spillane (correspondence) - Chamber of Commerce, 1967
File – Box 4, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1967
NAL correspondence/ Day of the Guns, 1967 - 1969
File – Box 4, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: 1967 - 1969
Correspondence -NAL/Mickey Spillane, 1970 - 1976
File – Box 4, Folder: 5
- Dates
- Creation: 1970 - 1976
Bloody Sunrise - West Coast Tour, 1965
File – Box 4, Folder: 6
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Expenses - Mickey Spillane Tour - Day of Guns, 1965-05-09T00:00:00+00:00 - 1965-05-22T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 4, Folder: 7
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-05-09T00:00:00+00:00 - 1965-05-22T00:00:00+00:00
The Body Lovers (Tour), 1967
File – Box 4, Folder: 8
- Dates
- Creation: 1967
Mickey Spillane Promotional Tour -Minnesota, 1967-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 4, Folder: 9
- Dates
- Creation: 1967-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
The Delta Factor - Correspondence/Tour, 1968 - 1969
File – Box 4, Folder: 10
- Dates
- Creation: 1968 - 1969
The Erection Set (Tour), 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 11
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Mickey Spillane - Promotional tour expenses, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 12
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Atlanta - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 13
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Dallas - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 14
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Detroit - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 15
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Las Vegas - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 16
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Los Angeles - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 17
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Miami - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 18
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
San Diego - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 19
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
San Francisco - The Erection Set - Spillane Promo Tour, 1972
File – Box 4, Folder: 20
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
The Last Copout, 1973
File – Box 5, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1973
The Last Copout (Tour), 1973-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1973-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
The Last Copout - Spillane Promotional Tour, 1973-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1973-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Woolworth -Los Angeles, CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Woolworth - Market Street - San Fran,CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 5
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Woolworth - Los Angeles, CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 6
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Mickey and Sherri w/Mr. E. Swain - Woolworth - Los Angeles, CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 7
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Woolworth - Los Angeles, CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 8
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Unimart - Culver City, CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 9
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Unimart - Culver City, CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 10
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
Photos - Miscellaneous, undated
File – Box 5, Folder: 11
- Dates
- Creation: undated
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Woolworth - San Fran,CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 12
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
Photos/Promotional materials - misc. (1), multiple
File – Box 5, Folder: 13
- Dates
- Creation: multiple
Photos/Promotional materials - misc. (2), multiple
File – Box 5, Folder: 14
- Dates
- Creation: multiple
Photos/Promotional materials - The Deep , 1961
File – Box 5, Folder: 15
- Dates
- Creation: 1961
Photos/Promotional materials (1), 1965
File – Box 5, Folder: 16
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Photos/Promotional materials (2), 1965
File – Box 5, Folder: 17
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Sherri Spillane - Articles/correspondence, multiple
File – Box 5, Folder: 18
- Dates
- Creation: multiple
Photos - Sherri Spillane, undated
File – Box 5, Folder: 19
- Dates
- Creation: undated
(Photo) Mickey Spillane Autographing Party - Sherri Spillane - Culver City, CA, 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
File – Box 5, Folder: 20
- Dates
- Creation: 1965-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
(Photo) Sherri Spillane - "A Funny Thing Happened…" - California, 1965
File – Box 5, Folder: 21
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Manuscripts - Miscellaneous, multiple
File – Box 5, Folder: 22
- Dates
- Creation: multiple
Spillane - Manuscript, undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: undated
The Plastic Man - Manuscript - David Gerrity, undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Spillane - Articles/Clippings (1), undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Spillane - Articles/Clippings (2), undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Spillane - Articles/Clippings (3), undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 5
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Spillane - Articles/Clippings (4), undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 6
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous - Publications (1), undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 7
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Miscellaneous - Publications (2), undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 8
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Pigeons, undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 9
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Photos- Press/Promotional Tour, 1965
File – Box 6, Folder: 10
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Articles, Other Media, undated
File – Box 6, Folder: 11
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Manuscripts, 1947-1973, undated
Series – Multiple Containers
- Dates
- Creation: 1947-1973, undated
Manuscript- I, The Jury, 1947
File – Box 7, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1947
Original Manuscript- Vengeance is Mine! (FRAGILE), 1950
File – Box 7, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1950
Manuscript- Vengeance is Mine!, 1950
File – Box 7, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1950
Original Manuscript- The Big Kill, 1951
File – Box 8, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1951
Manuscript- Kiss Me Deadly, 1952
File – Box 8, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1952
Manuscript- Kiss Me Deadly, 1952
File – Box 8, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1952
Galley Proof- The Snake, 1964
File – Box 9, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1964
Edited Galley Proof- The Twisted Thing (1 of 2), 1965
File – Box 9, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Edited Galley Proof- The Twisted Thing (2 of 2), 1965
File – Box 9, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Original Manuscript- The Twisted Thing, undated
File – Box 10, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Manuscript- The Twisted Thing, 1965
File – Box 10, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Galley Proof- The Body Lovers, undated
File – Box 11, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Manuscript- The Body Lovers, 1966
File – Box 11, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1966
Galley Proof- Survival.. Zero!, 1970
File – Box 12, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1970
Manuscript- Survival… Zero!, 1970
File – Box 12, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1970
Manuscript- Survival… Zero!, 1970
File – Box 12, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1970
Manuscript- Killer Mine, 1965
File – Box 13, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Manuscript- Killer Mine, 1965
File – Box 13, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Manuscript- Man Alone, 1965
File – Box 13, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Manuscript- Man Alone, 1965
File – Box 13, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Movie Plans- The Erection Set, 1972
File – Box 14, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Manuscript- The Erection Set, 1972
File – Box 14, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Manuscript- The Erection Set (1 of 2), 1972
File – Box 14, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Manuscript- The Erection Set (2 of 2), 1972
File – Box 14, Folder: 4
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Bound Galley Proof- The Erection Set, 1972
File – Box 15, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Galley Proofs- The Erection Set, 1972
File – Box 15, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1972
Manuscript- The Last Cop Out, 1973
File – Box 16, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1973
Edited Manuscript- The Last Cop Out (1 of 2), 1973
File – Box 16, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1973
Edited Manuscript- The Last Cop Out (2 of 2), 1973
File – Box 16, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1973
Galley Proof- Day of the Guns, 1964
File – Box 17, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1964
Edited Manuscript- Day of the Guns, 1964
File – Box 17, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1964
Manuscript- The Death Dealers, 1965
File – Box 18, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Galley Proofs- The Death Dealers, 1965
File – Box 18, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1965
Edited Manuscript- The By-Pass Control, 1966
File – Box 19, Folder: 1
- Dates
- Creation: 1966
Manuscript- The By-Pass Control, 1966
File – Box 19, Folder: 2
- Dates
- Creation: 1966
Galley Proofs- The By-Pass Control, 1966
File – Box 19, Folder: 3
- Dates
- Creation: 1966