One of the first postings of this blog looked at a forgotten series known as Amusement Inc. This series by pulpster Theodore Tinsley showcased a private army lead by a Major Lacy going up against organized crime. The series had a checkered run, and was pretty much left unfinished in a way.
A year after Altus Press came out with their complete reprinting, we got a volume of further stories from Pro Se Press‘ Pulp Obscura line. This volume was actually one of the first proposed for that line, but took a while before it finally appeared.
For those who missed the original posting, some background. The series showed a secretive group of businessmen who funds a private army of former Marines, lead by Major John Tattersall Lacy. Operating out of the Cloud Building, his group, called Amusement Inc., went after a series of crooks in stories that ran in Fiction House‘s Black Aces pulp.
After the cancellation of that pulp, it then continued in Dell‘s All Detective Magazine. During that part of the run, we learn that the secret mastermind behind the crooks is the Scarlet Ace. For the next few stories, the group goes up against him, and in the final story, rescuing and releasing a girl named Zita, who is revealed to be the Scarlet Ace’s daughter. But the Scarlet Ace escapes and is never unmasked, and the series ends there. Altus Press has reprinted the entire run.
Now with this new volume, we get six new stories of the Major and his group going up against the Scarlet Ace. How well did they capture the important elements of the original series? Let’s see.
Bobby Nash‘s story picks up where the series ended, with Zita on the run from the Scarlet Ace as well as the Major, who tracks her down. The Major uses Zita to trap and unmask the Scarlet Ace, but in the confusion, both the Ace and Zita disappear. The story ends in a twist that may be a surprise to many.
Jim Beard‘s story deals with stolen military weapons, including a new explosive that is being used to rob and terrorize. While Amusement Inc. is able to retrieve the weapons and stop the main group of crooks, the explosives are still out there, allowing for future use in stories.
R.P. Steeves‘s story also picks up from were the series ended, with the Ace’s organization in disarray. Taking advantage of this, one of his henchmen, the Black Jack, decides to strike out on his own and go after the members of the Committee backing Amusement Inc. Will he succeed?
A bank getting gassed leads off David White‘s story that actually picks up from the end of Bobby Nash’s story (no, won’t give it away). Maybe a different path for the series.
Andrew Salmon‘s story has the group go after a different mob and wipe them out. This gang is also using ex-military men in their gang, which makes a challenge for the ex-Marines of Amusement, Inc.
The final story, by Don Thomas, goes in a different direction, with Major Lacy and Amusement Inc. confronting their evil counterparts, part of a conspiracy to take over the country. Though there is a mistake as it claims there are more members of the Emergency Council than there should be (six). Be interesting to see this take on the future of the series continue.
All told, a great collection with another cover by Mike Fyles, who I think had done all the Pulp Obscura covers. I hope we get another collection, as several of these stories deserve follow-ups.
