Charles Beaumont (writer)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles ("Chuck") Beaumont (actually Charles Leroy Nutt ; born January 2, 1929 in Chicago ; died on February 21, 1967 in Woodland Hills , Los Angeles ) was an American screenwriter and writer of science fiction and fantasy . He is best known for his scripts for the television series Twilight Zone .

Life

Beaumont was born as Charles Leroy Nutt in northern Chicago in 1929, the only child of Charles Hiram Nutt and Violet "Letty" Nutt (née Phillips). At first he was not interested in reading or literature. It was only when he was 12 years old that meningitis forced him to deal with other things than football , baseball and “stealing cookies in the kiosk”. He discovered the world of Oz for himself, then Poe , then Burroughs and more. The real world of his childhood was dark like something out of a horror novel. He once confided to his colleague William F. Nolan that his horror story Miss Gentillbelle had real roots in his childhood, that his mother had put him in girls' clothes and once threatened to kill his dog as a punishment.

Perhaps because of his mother's problems, perhaps also because of the better climate in the Pacific, Charles was then taken to the northwest to Washington to live with his grandmother and five old aunts, who ran a hostel there and in the evenings told stories of the death of their husbands by the stove. Charles had become an avid reader of the science fiction and horror stories in the pulp magazines of the time, sending endless letters to their publishers and putting out his own fanzine called Utopia . He was only little interested in school and his performance was correspondingly poor. In the tenth grade (in the sophomore year , i.e. between 15 and 16) he left high school and went to the United States Army , where he was only kept for four months because of back problems. Next he tried his hand at an illustrator and managed to sell some illustrations to pulp magazines. Since his name was unsuitable for an artist or even a writer - nutcase or nut for short means "spinner" in English - he used the pseudonym "Charles McNutt" as an illustrator, and later "Charles Beaumont". He kept the name from then on and had his legal name changed accordingly.

At the age of 19 he met the twenty-year-old Helen Broun and married her a year later. In May 1950 the first son Christopher ("Chris") came, who was later followed by three more children (Catherine, Elizabeth and Gregory). Beaumont now had a family to look after , worked as a piano player, disc jockey, bouncer, dishwasher, as an animator at MGM and in the copy department at Universal . During this time he wrote incessantly and wrote short stories, none of which he could sell.

Finally, in 1951, a first short story, The Devil, You Say? at Amazing Stories , further publications followed. In 1953 he had lost the job at Universal and from then on wanted to make a living from writing, but had to accept a position at Whitman Publishing in February 1954 , where he worked with William F. Nolan and wrote book adaptations of popular comics . In September 1954, Black Country finally appeared in the then still very young Playboy . Beaumont has now published in glossy magazines and prestigious publications such as Esquire , Collier’s and the Saturday Evening Post , got decent pay, and in 1957 a first collection of short stories, The Hunger and Other Stories , appeared on GP Putnam's Sons. Beaumont was now a writer.

The improved economic situation allowed him to indulge in a new passion, motorsport. Together with Nolan, he attended and drove races, dined together at the relevant restaurant Grand Prix in Hollywood and wrote articles for magazines such as Road & Track , Autosport , The Motor , Sports Car Illustrated and Autocar . In collaboration with Nolan, two non-fiction books about motorsport, Omnibus of Speed (1958) and When Engines Roar were created. (1964).

His novel Run from the Hunter (1957), which he wrote under the pseudonym Keith Garland with John Tomerlin, tells of an innocent man on the run from the law, convicted of murder, and was an inspiration for the television series On the Run .

From 1958 Beaumont had also started writing screenplays and had already sold scripts for some television series such as Suspense , Have Gun - Will Travel , Wanted: Dead or Alive and One Step Beyond, as well as for a B-movie called Queen of Outer Space . A turning point for Beaumont came in 1959 when his first script for the television series Twilight Zone was accepted. By 1964, a total of 22 Beaumont scripts for episodes of the Twilight Zone had been filmed. Along with Richard Matheson and Rod Serling , he was one of the main authors of the series (the trio wrote 127 of 156 episodes). His colleague William F. Nolan said of him:

"Chuck was the perfect Twilight Zone writer, more than Matheson or Rod Serling, even. Matheson is very much of a realist who can mentally lose himself in those worlds. He doesn't live in them the way Chuck lived in them. Chuck actually lived in the Twilight Zone. "

“Chuck was the ideal Twilight Zone writer, even more so than Matheson or Rod Serling. Matheson is largely a realist who can get involved in these worlds. He doesn't live in these worlds like Chuck does. Chuck really was a resident of the Twilight Zone . "

In addition to the scripts for Twilight Zone , Beaumont also wrote the scripts for a number of feature films, including several films by Roger Corman . Under the title The Intruder , Corman filmed the 1959 novel of the same name by Beaumont, which deals with everyday racism in the southern states. Beaumont was also a screenwriter on The Intruder and appeared in a supporting role as the friendly headmaster in front of the camera.

In 1963, Beaumont, then 34 years old, began to experience strange symptoms of exhaustion, which barely allowed him to fulfill his various contractual obligations as a screenwriter. He lost weight and suffered from constant headaches, which he treated himself with large amounts of Bromo-Seltzer . A ghostwriter was found , Jerry Sohl , who agreed to take on most of Beaumont's obligations for half of the fee, and so Sohl wrote five screenplays for Twilight Zone under Beaumont's name , three of which were filmed, and other television scripts for Route 66 , Naked City and Alfred Hitchcock Presents , as well as some articles for Playboy .

In his circle it was initially assumed that the symptoms were due to overwork or to Beaumont's alcohol consumption, which had risen sharply during this time. However, none of this could explain the changes in behavior, speech disorders and the noticeable, rapid external aging. Finally, around May 1964, a series of medical tests were carried out at the UCLA clinic , with unclear but by no means favorable results. As a result, Beaumont suffered from either Alzheimer's or Pick's disease , both neurodegenerative diseases with ultimately fatal results. Since there was nothing to be done for him, he was sent home with the prognosis that he would still live six months to three years and continue to deteriorate physically and mentally to the point that he would be unable to walk or understand. When Beaumont died in 1967, according to his son Chris, he resembled a 95-year-old old man in every way except his actual age. Beaumont died at the age of 38.

During his brief career, he had written and sold 10 books, 74 short stories, 24 articles, 14 columns, 40 comic book scenarios, 13 film scripts (9 of which were produced), and over 70 television scripts. Posthumously, he received the Bram Stoker Award in the Best Collection category in 1989 for the Selected Stories collection published by Roger Anker . Beaumont's friends, including Richard Matheson , John Tomerlin, Ray Bradbury , William F. Nolan and Roger Corman , each contributed introductory texts to the stories in this volume . In the meantime, several collections of texts by Beaumont have appeared, most recently a two-volume edition of the Twilight Zone scripts, the first volume of which was published in 2004.

bibliography

Novels
  • as Keith Grantland, with John E. Tomerlin: Run from the Hunter (1957)
  • The Intruder (1959)
Collections
  • The Hunger and Other Stories (1957; cover story shortened; new edition as Shadow Play , 1964)
  • Yonder (1958)
  • Night Ride and Other Journeys (1960)
  • The Magic Man and Other Fantasy Stories (1965; 9 stories from Hunger , 3 from Yonder , 6 from Night Ride )
  • The Edge (1966; 3 stories from Yonder , 8 from Night Ride )
  • Best of Beaumont (1982, 4 stories from Hunger , 8 from Yonder , 6 from Night Ride , 4 previously unprinted)
  • Charles Beaumont: Selected Stories (1988; limited edition with 9 stories from Hunger , 3 from Yonder , 8 from Night Ride , 1 from Best , 8 previously unprinted; paperback as The Howling Man , 1992)
  • A Touch of the Creature: Unpublished Stories (2000, 14 previously unprinted stories)
  • Perchance to Dream: Selected stories (2015)
Short stories
  • The Devil, You Say? (January 1951, Amazing Stories , adapted for Twilight Zone as Printer's Devil )
  • The Beautiful People (September 1952, If , adapted for Twilight Zone as Number 12 Looks Just Like You )
  • Fritzchen (1953, Orbit Science Fiction # 1 )
  • Place of Meeting (1953, Orbit Science Fiction # 2 )
  • Elegy (February 1953, Imagination , adapted for Twilight Zone )
  • The Last Caper (March 1954, F&SF )
  • Keeper of the Dream (1954, in: August Derleth (ed.): Time to Come )
    • German: The big dream. In: August Derleth (ed.): Paradies II. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3181. Heyne, Munich 1970.
  • Mass for Mixed Voices (May 1954, Science Fiction Quarterly )
  • Hair of the Dog (July 1954, Orbit Science Fiction # 3 )
  • The Quadriopticon (August 1954, F&SF )
  • Black Country (September 1954, Playboy )
  • The Jungle (December 1954, If , adapted for Twilight Zone )
  • The Murderers (February 1955, Esquire )
  • The Hunger (April 1955, Playboy )
  • The Last Word (with Chad Oliver, Apr 1955, F&SF )
    • German: The last word. In: Anthony Boucher (ed.): 20 Science Fiction Stories. Heyne, Munich 1963.
  • Free Dirt (May 1955, F&SF )
    • German: Free Earth. In: Edward L. Ferman, Anne Jordan (eds.): The best horror stories. Droemer Knaur, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-426-01835-7 .
  • The New Sound (June 1955, F&SF )
  • The Crooked Man (August 1955, Playboy )
  • The Vanishing American (August 1955, F&SF )
    • German: Invisible. In: Anthony Boucher (ed.): 20 Science Fiction Stories. Heyne, Munich 1963.
  • Last Rites (October 1955, If )
    • German: The last problem. In: William F. Nolan (ed.): The others among us. Melzer, Cologne 1967. New edition: Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3120, 1968.
  • A Point of Honor / I'll Do Anything (November 1955, Manhunt )
  • A Classic Affair (December 1955, Playboy )
  • Traumerei (February 1956, Infinity Science Fiction )
  • The Monster Show (May 1956, Playboy )
  • The Guests of Chance (with Chad Oliver, Jun 1956, Infinity Science Fiction )
  • You Can't Have Them All (August 1956, Playboy )
  • Last Night in the Rain / Sin Tower (October 1956, Nugget )
  • The Dark Music (December 1956, Playboy )
  • Oh Father of Mine / Father, Dear Father (January 1957, Venture Science Fiction )
  • The Love-Master (February 1957, Rogue )
    • German: The love doctor. In: Michel Parry (ed.): Devilish kisses. Vampire Paperback # 64. Pabel, Rastatt 1978.
  • The Man Who Made Himself / In His Image (February 1957, Imagination , adapted for Twilight Zone as In His Image )
  • Night Ride (March 1957, Playboy )
  • The Customers (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • Fair Lady (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • The Infernal Bouillabaisse (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • Miss Gentilbelle (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • Nursery Rhyme (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • Open House (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • Tears of the Madonna (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • The Train (April 1957, in: The Hunger and Other Stories )
  • A Death in the Country / The Deadly Will Win (November 1957, Playboy )
  • Anthem (April 1958, in: Yonder )
  • Mother's Day (April 1958, in: Yonder )
  • A World of Differents (April 1958, in: Yonder )
  • The New People (Aug 1958, Rogue )
    • German: On the blood altar. In: Michel Parry (ed.): Rarities from the devil's kitchen. Vampire Paperback # 34. Pabel, Rastatt 1976.
  • Perchance to Dream (October 1958, Playboy , adapted for Twilight Zone )
  • The Intruder (1959, excerpt from the 10th chapter of the novel of the same name)
  • The Music of the Yellow Brass (January 1959, Playboy )
  • The Trigger (January 1959, Mystery Digest )
  • Sorcerer's Moon (July 1959, Playboy )
  • The Howling Man (November 1959, Rogue , adapted for The Twilight Zone as Howling Man )
  • Buck Fever (March 1960, in: Night Ride and Other Journeys )
  • The Magic Man (March 1960, in: Night Ride and Other Journeys )
  • The Neighbors (March 1960, in: Night Ride and Other Journeys )
  • Song For a Lady (March 1960, in: Night Ride and Other Journeys , adapted for the Twilight Zone as Passage on the Lady Anne )
  • Gentlemen, Be Seated (April 1960, Rogue , adapted for Twilight Zone as a radio play)
    • German: The laughing society. Wulf H. Bergner (ed.): Murder in the space station. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3122. Heyne, Munich 1968.
  • Three Thirds of a Ghost / The Baron's Secret (August 1960, Nugget )
  • Blood Brother (April 1961, Playboy )
    • German: blood brother. In: Michel Parry (ed.): Dracula's rivals. Vampire Paperback # 70. Pabel, Rastatt 1979.
  • Mourning Song (1963, Gamma # 1 )
  • Something in the Earth (1963, Gamma # 2 )
  • Auto Suggestion (1965, Gamma # 5 )
  • Insomnia Vobiscum (1982, in: Best of Beaumont )
  • My Grandmother's Japonicas (1984, in: JN Williamson (ed.): Masques )
  • Appointment with Eddie (1987, in: The Howling Man )
  • The Carnival (1987, The Howling Man )
  • The Crime of Willie Washington (1987, in: The Howling Man )
  • The Man with the Crooked Nose (1987, in: The Howling Man )
  • To Hell with Claude (with Chad Oliver, 1987, in: The Howling Man )
  • The Wages of Cynicism (1999, in William F. Nolan, William Schafer (eds.): California Sorcery )
  • Adam's Off Ox (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • Fallen Star (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • A Friend of the Family (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • The Indian Piper (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • The Junemoon Spoon (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • Lachrymosa (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • A Long Way from Capri (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • Moon in Gemini (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • Mr. Underhill (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • The Pool (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • Resurrection Island (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • The Rival (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • Time and Again (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • With the Family (2000, in: A Touch of the Creature )
  • I, Claude (with Chad Oliver)
  • The Rest of Science Fiction (with Chad Oliver)
Anthologies
  • The Fiend in You (1962)
Non-fiction
  • Remember? Remember? (1956, essays on American popular culture between the world wars)
  • with William F. Nolan : Omnibus of Speed: An Introduction to the World of Motorsport (1958)
  • with William F. Nolan : When Engines Roar. (1964)
comics
  • with William F. Nolan: The Mystery of Whalers' Cove. Mickey Mouse # 43 (1955)
  • with William F. Nolan: The Mystery of Diamond Mountain. Mickey Mouse # 47 (1956)

Scripts

Twilight Zone

The episodes marked with an asterisk (*) are not from Beaumont, but from Jerry Sohl as a ghostwriter .

  • Perchance to Dream ( The Power of Dreams , 1959, Episode 9 )
  • Elegy ( Cemetery of Dreams , 1960, episode 20 )
  • Long Live Walter Jameson ( Long Live Walter Jameson , 1960, episode 24 )
  • A Nice Place to Visit ( Mr. Valentine's New Beginning , 1960, episode 28 )
  • The Howling Man ( The man in the cell , 1960, Episode 41 )
  • Static ( The Old Radio , 1961, episode 56 ; based on a story by OCee Ritch)
  • The Prime Mover ( Lesson for a Friend , 1961, episode 57 ; based on a story by George Clayton Johnson)
  • Long Distance Call ( The Toy Telephone , 1961, episode 58 ; with Bill Idelson)
  • Shadow Play ( shadow plays , 1961 Episode 62 )
  • The Jungle ( The Talisman , 1961, episode 77 )
  • Dead Man's Shoes ( In the shoes of a dead man , 1962, episode 83 ; underlying story of Beaumont; screenplay by Ocee Ritch)
  • The Fugitive ( His Majesty the Brummer , 1962, episode 90 )
  • Person or Persons Unknown ( Who knows Mr. Gurney?, 1962, episode 92 )
  • In His Image ( Like a Mirror Image , 1963, episode 103 )
  • Valley of the Shadow ( The Valley of the Shadow , 1963, Episode 105 )
  • Miniature ( The Dollhouse , 1963, episode 110 )
  • Printer's Devil ( Mr. Winter and Mr. Smith , 1963, episode 111 )
  • The New Exhibit ( The wax figures , 1963, episode 115 ; *)
  • Passage on the Lady Anne ( The Last Voyage of Lady Anne , 1963, episode 119 )
  • Living Doll ( The Revenge of the Doll , 1963, episode 126 ; *)
  • Number 12 Looks Just Like You ( number 12 looks like you , 1964, episode 137 , with John Tomerlin)
  • Queen of the Nile ( The Queen of the Nile , 1964, episode 143 ; *)
Movie

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Roger Anker (ed.): The Howling Man . Tom Doherty Associates, New York 1992, introduction.
  2. ↑ a b Marc Scott Zicree: The Twilight Zone Companion. Toronto & New York 1989, pp. 74-77
  3. ^ William P. Simmons: Two perspectives on Charles Beaumont: interviews with Chris Beaumont and Roger Anker , 2006. See the interview with Roger Anker.
  4. ↑ John Clute: Beaumont, Charles. In: Clute, Nicholls: The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. 3rd edition (online edition), version dated October 9, 2017.
  5. ↑ Marc Scott Zicree: The Twilight Zone Companion. Toronto & New York 1989, p. 74.
  6. ↑ A drug widespread in the USA with the active ingredients paracetamol , baking soda and the acidifier citric acid .
  7. ↑ Marc Scott Zicree: The Twilight Zone Companion. Toronto & New York 1989, pp. 353-356.
  8. ↑ Marc Scott Zicree: The Twilight Zone Companion. Toronto & New York 1989, p. 75.
personal data
SURNAME Beaumont, Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Nutt, Charles Leroy (maiden name); Grantland, Keith (pen name); Lovehill, CB (pseudonym); McNutt, C. (pseudonym); McNutt, Chas. (Pseudonym); McNutt, Charles (pen name); Nutt, Charles (pseudonym); Phillips, Michael (pseudonym); Tenneshaw, SM (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American screenwriter and writer of science fiction and fantasy
DATE OF BIRTH January 2, 1929
PLACE OF BIRTH Chicago
DATE OF DEATH February 21, 1967
Place of death Woodland Hills , Los Angeles