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{{short description|American writer (1886–1958)}}

{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
|name=Walter R. Brooks
|name=Walter R. Brooks
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|occupation = Writer
|occupation = Writer
|genre = [[Short stories]], [[children's novels]]
|genre = [[Short stories]], [[children's novels]]
|notable_works = [[Mister Ed]] book series<br>[[Freddy the Pig]] book series
}}
}}
⚫
'''Walter Rollin Brooks''' (January 9, 1886 – August 17, 1958) was an American writer, known for his [[children's literature|children's books]] about [[Freddy the Pig]] and the other anthropomorphic animal inhabitants of the Bean Farm in [[upstate New York]], and also for his short stories about [[Mister Ed]] the talking horse, made into a television show after his death.

⚫
'''Walter Rollin Brooks''' (January 9, 1886 – August 17, 1958) was an American writer best remembered for his short stories on [[Mister Ed]] the talking horse and children's books, particularly those about [[Freddy the Pig]] and other anthropomorphic animal inhabitants of the "Bean farm" in [[upstate New York]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


Brooks was born in [[Rome, New York]]. He attended college at the [[University of Rochester]] and subsequently studied [[homeopathic medicine]] in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester where he married his first wife Anne Shepard in 1909. Brooks found employment with an advertising agency in [[Utica, New York|Utica]], and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent; in 1917, he went to work for the [[American Red Cross]] and he later did editorial work for several magazines, including "a nonfiction stint with ''[[The New Yorker]]'' 1932–1933".<ref name=SFE /> In 1940, Brooks turned to his own writing for his full-time occupation. Walter married his second wife, Dorothy Collins, following the death of Anne in 1952.
Brooks was born in [[Rome, New York]]. He attended college at the [[University of Rochester]] and subsequently studied homeopathic medicine in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester where he married Anne Shepard in 1909. He found employment with an advertising agency in [[Utica, New York|Utica]], and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent; in 1917, he went to work for the [[American Red Cross]] and he later did editorial work for several magazines, including "a nonfiction stint with ''[[The New Yorker]]'' 1932–1933".<ref name=SFE /> In 1940, he turned to writing for his full-time occupation. He married Dorothy Collins following the death of Anne in 1952.


The first works that Brooks published were poems and short stories. Among the latter were a series (from 1937) of short stories featuring "a talking horse and his drunken owner"; it was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series ''[[Mister Ed]]''.<ref name=SFE /> (Credit is given in each episode to "Walter Brooks" for creating the characters. Brooks himself had died by the time production began on the show; as of early November 2013, it was not known whether his estate collected royalties from its production.) His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books that he wrote about [[Freddy the Pig]] and his friends. [[Anthony Boucher|Boucher]] and [[J. Francis McComas|McComas]], for example, praised ''Freddy and the Spaceship,'' saying that it "offers wit, sound structural plotting, genuine character-humor, and admirable English prose".<ref>"Recommended Reading", ''[[The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction]]'', January 1954, p. 95.</ref>
The first works that Brooks published were poems and short stories. Among these were a series of short stories featuring "a talking horse and his drunken owner" which was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series ''[[Mister Ed]]''.<ref name=SFE /> His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books that he wrote about [[Freddy the Pig]] and his friends. [[Anthony Boucher]] and [[J. Francis McComas]] praised ''Freddy and the Spaceship'' because it "offers wit, sound structural plotting, genuine character-humor, and admirable English prose".<ref>"Recommended Reading", ''[[The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction]]'', January 1954, p. 95.</ref>


Brooks died of a heart attack at his home in [[Roxbury, New York]] at age 72.<ref>{{cite news |title=Walter R. Brooks, Author, Dies at 72; Wrote Freddy the Pig Children's Books |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/08/19/archives/iwalter-rbrooksauthor-dies-at-72-wrote-freddy-the-pig-childrens.html |accessdate=19 November 2019 |work=New York Times |date=August 19, 1958 |page=28}}</ref> He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in [[Hamilton, New York]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Memorial page for Walter R. Brooks (1886-1958) |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8870420/walter-r_-brooks |website=Find A Grave |accessdate=19 November 2019 |page=Find A Grave Memorial no. 8870420}}</ref>
⚫
In 2009, Overlook Press published a biography on the life and work of Walter R. Brooks entitled ''Talking Animals and Others: The Life and Work of Walter R. Brooks, Creator of Freddy the Pig'' and written by Michael Cart {{ISBN|1-59020-170-1}}.


⚫
In 2009, Overlook Press published ''Talking Animals and Others: The Life and Work of Walter R. Brooks, Creator of Freddy the Pig'' by Michael Cart {{ISBN|1-59020-170-1}}.
⚫
==Mister Ed stories==


== Works ==
The first story that he published featuring the character Mister Ed was “The Talking Horse”, featured in ''Liberty'' magazine for September 18, 1937, which contained two illustrations by Tony Sarge. The last in the series was “With Teeth and Tail”, which appeared in the August, 1945 issue of ''Argosy'' magazine. The short story “Ed Signs the Pledge” in ''Argosy'', June 1944, was reportedly the story that [[Arthur Lubin]] used to sell the concept for the Mister Ed comedy series to TV executives. The series was produced by Filmways and was syndicated initially. It was picked up by CBS in 1961 and ran on the network until 1966.


=== Novels ===
⚫
In January, 1963, Bantam in New York City published a paperback collection of the Mister Ed stories entitled ''The Original Mr. Ed'' which featured illustrations by Bob Bugg.<ref>[https://www.flayrah.com/4381/review-original-mr-ed-walter-brooks Patten, Fred. Review: 'The Original Mr. Ed', by Walter Brooks. flayrah.com. October 22, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2016.]</ref>
{{main|Freddy the Pig#Freddy books in order of publication}}


⚫
=== Mister Ed stories ===
The Mister Ed character was featured in the following short stories:
⚫
Nine of these stories were published in a collection, ''The Original Mr. Ed'', in 1963. "Ed Signs the Pledge" was the story [[Arthur Lubin]] used to pitch the ''Mister Ed'' comedy series to TV executives.<ref>[https://www.flayrah.com/4381/review-original-mr-ed-walter-brooks Patten, Fred. Review: 'The Original Mr. Ed', by Walter Brooks. flayrah.com. October 22, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2016.]</ref>


*"The Talking Horse", ''Liberty'', September 18, 1937
*"The Talking Horse", ''Liberty'', September 18, 1937
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{{Portal |Children's literature}}
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
* {{FadedPage|id=Brooks, Walter Rollin|name=Walter Rollin Brooks|author=yes}}
* {{FadedPage|id=Brooks, Walter Rollin|name=Walter Rollin Brooks|author=yes}}
* {{Librivox author |id=17326}}
*[http://www.freddythepig.org/ International ''Friends of Freddy'']
*[http://www.freddythepig.org/ International ''Friends of Freddy'']
*[http://www.harley.com/freddy-the-pig/ Harley Hahn's Freddy the Pig information page]
*[http://www.harley.com/freddy-the-pig/ Harley Hahn's Freddy the Pig information page]
*[http://www.mreha.com/ ''Mr. Eha's Place,'' a fan site celebrating Walter R. Brooks's Freddy the Pig series]
*[http://members.tripod.com/~jill_morgan/freddy.html Jill Morgan's Freddy the Pig pages]
*[http://members.tripod.com/~jill_morgan/freddy.html Jill Morgan's Freddy the Pig pages]
* {{isfdb name|6256}}
* {{isfdb name|6256}}

* {{LCAuth|n82133781|Walter Brooks|73|}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


Latest revision as of 13:41, 10 April 2024

Walter R. Brooks
BornWalter Rollin Brooks
(1886-01-09)January 9, 1886
Rome, New York, USA
DiedAugust 17, 1958(1958-08-17) (aged 72)
Roxbury, New York
OccupationWriter
GenreShort stories, children's novels
Notable worksMister Ed book series
Freddy the Pig book series

Walter Rollin Brooks (January 9, 1886 – August 17, 1958) was an American writer, known for his children's books about Freddy the Pig and the other anthropomorphic animal inhabitants of the Bean Farm in upstate New York, and also for his short stories about Mister Ed the talking horse, made into a television show after his death.

Biography[edit]

Brooks was born in Rome, New York. He attended college at the University of Rochester and subsequently studied homeopathic medicine in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester where he married Anne Shepard in 1909. He found employment with an advertising agency in Utica, and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent; in 1917, he went to work for the American Red Cross and he later did editorial work for several magazines, including "a nonfiction stint with The New Yorker 1932–1933".[1] In 1940, he turned to writing for his full-time occupation. He married Dorothy Collins following the death of Anne in 1952.

The first works that Brooks published were poems and short stories. Among these were a series of short stories featuring "a talking horse and his drunken owner" which was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series Mister Ed.[1] His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books that he wrote about Freddy the Pig and his friends. Anthony Boucher and J. Francis McComas praised Freddy and the Spaceship because it "offers wit, sound structural plotting, genuine character-humor, and admirable English prose".[2]

Brooks died of a heart attack at his home in Roxbury, New York at age 72.[3] He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Hamilton, New York.[4]

In 2009, Overlook Press published Talking Animals and Others: The Life and Work of Walter R. Brooks, Creator of Freddy the Pig by Michael Cart ISBN 1-59020-170-1.

Works[edit]

Novels[edit]

Main article: Freddy the Pig § Freddy books in order of publication

Mister Ed stories[edit]

Nine of these stories were published in a collection, The Original Mr. Ed, in 1963. "Ed Signs the Pledge" was the story Arthur Lubin used to pitch the Mister Ed comedy series to TV executives.[5]

  • "The Talking Horse", Liberty, September 18, 1937
  • "Horse Sense", Esquire, October 1938
  • "Mr. Pope’s Thoroughbred", Liberty, June 10, 1939
  • "Ed Has His Mind Improved", Liberty, October 14, 1939
  • "Ed Shoots It Out", Liberty, June 1, 1940
  • "The Midnight Ride of Mr. Pope", Liberty, August 3, 1940
  • "Just a Song at Twilight", Liberty, September 21, 1940
  • "Ed Holds a Séance", Liberty, March 1, 1941
  • "Ed Likes to Be Beside the Seaside", Liberty, July 5, 1941
  • "Ed Takes the Cockeyed Initiative", Liberty, September 27, 1941
  • Ed Gets a Mother Complex, Liberty, November 8, 1941
  • "Mr. Pope Rides Again", The Saturday Evening Post, July 4, 1942
  • "Bird in the Bush", The Saturday Evening Post, September 5, 1942
  • "Dr. Atwood and Mr. Ed", The Saturday Evening Post, January 16, 1943
  • "Do Ye Ken Wilbur Pope?", The Saturday Evening Post, June 5, 1943
  • "Ed Quenches an Old Flame", Argosy, May 1944
  • "Ed Signs the Pledge", Argosy, June 1944
  • "Ed Makes Like a Horse", Argosy, August 1944
  • "Well, Really, Mr. Pope!", Argosy, October 1944
  • "Ed the Were Horse" (a.k.a. "Monster in Horse’s Clothing"), Argosy, February 1945
  • "Ed Goes Psychic" (a.k.a. "Such a Spiritous Horse!"), Argosy, April 1945
  • "Ed Divides and Conquers", Argosy, July 1945
  • "With Teeth and Tail", Argosy, September 1945
  • "His Royal Harness", only in The Original Mr. Ed
  • "Medium Rare", only in The Original Mr. Ed

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Brooks, Walter R". Revised November 13, 2014. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (sf-encyclopedia.com). Retrieved 2015-01-29. Entry by 'JC', John Clute.
  2. ^ "Recommended Reading", The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January 1954, p. 95.
  3. ^ "Walter R. Brooks, Author, Dies at 72; Wrote Freddy the Pig Children's Books". New York Times. August 19, 1958. p. 28. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Memorial page for Walter R. Brooks (1886-1958)". Find A Grave. p. Find A Grave Memorial no. 8870420. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  5. ^ Patten, Fred. Review: 'The Original Mr. Ed', by Walter Brooks. flayrah.com. October 22, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2016.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_R._Brooks&oldid=1218223399"