Mike to be featured speaker at 2022 annual Tarzan Dum Dum – June 3 and 4

Thursday, April 7th, 2022 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking, Tarzan | No Comments

For the fourth time in the last 20 years, Mike will be a featured speaker at the annual Dum Dum, which will be held at the Drury Plaza Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, June 2 – 4, 2022. The annual event is hosted by the Burroughs Bibliophiles to honor the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan and John Carter, Warlord of Mars.  Burroughs wrote 24 Tarzan books and the character has been featured in over 50 films.   The convention is open to the public both days for a $5 ticket. The Huckster Room will have over a dozen exhibitors with many rare Tarzan memorabilia items on display and for sale. At the closing banquet on June 4, Mike will talk about two movie Tarzans and the books he wrote about them — Herman Brix (aka Bruce Bennett) and Glenn Morris. Brix was a silver medal winner in the shot put in the 1928 Olympics and was a football star at the U of Washington, playing in the Rose Bowl. He made his two Tarzan films in the mid 1930s, portraying the ape-man as an intelligent and literate jungle hero, like in the books. He changed his name to avoid being typecast and starred in nearly 100 movies as Bruce  Bennett, including blockbusters “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and  “Mildred Pierce.” Mike spent 5 days interviewing Bruce in his Hollywood home and wrote the book, called “Please Don’t Call Me Tarzan”  in 2001.  Glenn Morris won the gold medal in the decathlon in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and played Tarzan in 1938. He served in World War II and suffered post traumatic stress disorder. Mike wrote his biography, called “the Gold and the Glory” in 2003. He will have both books and other Tarzan items for sale.

Details on the event can be found here: THE ERB DUM DUM DOSSIER (erbzine.com)

Tags: Bruce Bennett, DumDum, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Glenn Morris, Herman Brix, Tarzan

Waterloo Warriors: The Inspiring Stories Behind Becker-Chapman Post 138

Sunday, March 27th, 2022 | Books | No Comments

Mike’s latest book is called “Waterloo Warriors: The Inspiring Stories Behind Becker-Chapman Post 138.” It tells the stories of two young men from Waterloo who lost their lives at age 22 while fighting for freedom’s cause in World War I. Fred Becker was a standout student-athlete at East High School and in 1916 became the very first All-American football player at the University of Iowa. It was just his sophomore year, but he signed up to serve his country in “The War to End All Wars” and was a Marine officer in France when he was killed on July 18, 1918. It is an amazing story of courage and sacrifice. Carl Chapman (ironically, no relation to Mike) was a fine athlete at West High on the other side of the river and was attending college in Amherst, MA, when he signed up and became a pilot. His plane was shot down and he died on May 3, 1918. Mike wrote the booklet (just 36 pages but with some very rare photos) as a tribute to the men – and to help raise funds for the American Legion Post named in their honor. Mike donated his time work, as well as some of the printing cost. He held a book signing at the Post last November. Anyone wishing to buy the booklet and support the Post should call Dennis Sommer, Post Historian, at 319-232-6993. The booklet is just $10.00 plus $5 for S&H – and all proceeds, 100%, go to the American Legion Becker Chapman post 138.

Tags: American Legion Post, carl chapman, Fred Becker, Waterloo Iowa, Waterloo Warriors

Mike to be featured guest on “Bumps & Thumps: The Talk of Wrestling” Podcast, April 11

Sunday, March 27th, 2022 | Podcast, Wrestling | No Comments

On April 11 Mike will be the primary guest on the podcast “Bumps & Thumps: The Talk of Wrestling,” hosted by Brian Ferguson. The show is primarily about the early days of professional wrestling, dealing with stars like Frank Gotch, Lou Thesz and Dan Hodge. The podcast will be uploaded to YouTube and anchor.fmor.fm on Monday, April 11th at 8 a.m. CST. Learn more about Bumps & Thumps at anchor.fm.

Governor Branstad Visits Rocky Marciano Memorial Site

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 | Other | No Comments

On October 20, former Iowa governor Terry Branstad (left) and recent Ambassador to China, stopped in Newton to visit Mike (right) and see the Rocky Marciano Memorial site for the first time. The memorial was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Governor Branstad History Fund. A ceremony was held on August 30, 2019, for the unveiling of the sign and rock but Ambassador Branstad was living in Beijing at the time.

Marciano was 49-0 with 43 knockouts when he retired in 1956 and he was on his way from Chicago to Des Moines for a private party when the small plane he was riding in crashed in Newton on August 31, 1969. Also killed were a Frankie Farrell, a family friend from Des Moines, and the pilot, Glenn Belz.

To mark the sad event and celebrate Rocky’s life, Mike led a charge to have an area, including an informational sign and rock with Rocky’s name and image on it, posted along Highway 14, entering the city. Governor Kim Reynolds declared August 30 as “Rocky Marciano Remembrance Day” and guest speakers were Mayor Mike Hansen, wrestling icon Dan Gable, former national Golden Gloves boxing champion Steve Eden of Cedar Rapids, and Mike, who also read a letter from Rocky’s son in Florida.

Tags: Governor Branstad, Rocky Marciano, Terry Branstad