Paperback 1126: Chicago: City of Sin / John J. McPhaul (Book Co. of America 005)

Paperback 1126: Book Co. of America 005 (1st ptg, 1965)

Title: Chicago: City of Sin

Author: John J. McPhaul

Cover artist: photo cover

Condition: 8/10 

Value: $9

[Chapter 2 Books, Winona, MN (July 2025)]

Best things about this cover: 

• The title is great. And the book is in very good condition. And the imprint is rare (this is only my fourth "Book Co. of America" book). Other than that, not a lot to recommend this cover. Maybe the title font. That's pretty nice.
• Grim photo. But it's also small enough that I don't really notice it much. My eye just kind of takes it in as an abstract arrangement of darks and lights. The title, with its garish yellow-on-black color scheme, is far more eye-catching than the photo.
• It's weird that this scene (and its description) dominate the cover of the book, because (as you'll see), the book isn't primarily about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, or even organized crime generally. It's an overview of all the "sinful" aspects of Chicago.

Best things about this back cover: 

• "[...] THE ONE CALLED MADISON?" Why is there a "?" at the end of that sentence? Do they not know the name of the street? Are they unsure? Maybe the typesetter left the "?" in there to remind himself to go back and factcheck, but never did.
• I don't know what "THE RIDE" is. Hang on ... lol when I google [birthplace of the ride] all I get is Sally Ride (she was born in Los Angeles, btw). Huh, not sure what "the ride" is supposed to mean. It's got sexual connotations, but I doubt Chicago is the birthplace of sex. It also can refer to being taken to prison, but again, prisons predate Chicago. Is it like being taken for a ride, as in scammed, somehow? Maybe it's some kind of hot dog ... 
• Pretty dishonest to say that the book is "SEEN AND TOLD BY AN ALL STAR CAST OF WRITERS AND REPORTERS," which implies that the book will be a kind of anthology of famous people's writing, and it is not. It's all John J. McPhaul, the "author" of the "famous film" Northside 777 (not a bad flick, tbh). Charles MacArthur wrote plays in collaboration with Ben Hecht; he was married to Helen Hayes, the first woman to win an EGOT. Finley Peter Dunne was a Chicago-based nationally syndicated humor columnist of the late 19th/early 20th century. "Written as though speaking with the thick verbiage and accent of an Irish immigrant from County Roscommon, Dunne's fictional 'Mr. Dooley' expounded upon political and social issues of the day from behind the bar of his South Side Chicago Irish pub." (wikipedia).

Page 123~

Patterson was running the New York News when a corset salesman named Judd Gray became enamored of Ruth Snyder ("a chilly-looking blonde with frosty eyes," in Damon Runyon's words). She was encumbered with a husband. The pair disposed of him with murder so badly botched that they were quickly arrested and sentenced to death.

Not sure why the head of a New York paper is in this book about Chicago, but knowing that Damon Runyon covered this fiasco makes me want to read more about it. Also, "encumbered with a husband" is a nice phrase. I've known more than a few women who could be thus described. 

~RP

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Paperback 559: The Promoter / Orrie Hitt (Beacon Books 142)

Paperback 559: Beacon Books BB142 (PBO, 1957)

Title: The Promoter
Author: Orrie Hitt
Cover artist: Walter Popp

Yours for: $20
Best things about this cover:

• "So ... you're here for the free Tai Chi lesson?"
• I love his smugfuck face: "What can I say? It's like the tagline says, I love my work."
• I like her. I really hope she takes all his money and leaves him tied up and half-naked in that room.
• Love the trash can peeking out from around the corner. Just in case you thought this story was classy.
• "On the surface she was all smooth legs and orange sweaters, but deep down inside, she was ... the Teen Temptress of Trash Town."

Best things about this back cover:

• ZZZZZZZddZZZzzzzZZZZZZZap!
• Oh, you crazy kids and your cellar clubs (!?!).
• "Cellar club" sounds like a serial killer's euphemism for "place where I keep the bones of my victims."
• "His best weapons were women ... sure, they're a little cumbersome, but once you learn to swing one you can do some Serious damage."

Page 123~

Nothing further was known about her until she had appeared in the city, five years previously, and had set herself up in the model agency business. Her credit rating vouched for the fact that she had been successful—No one had any outstanding bills against her. Her association with Andy Willis who, by the way, was from Billings, Montana, had been a routine thing.

People forget there was a time in American history when being from Billings, Montana was considered fascinating and exciting, possibly because that time never actually existed.

~RP

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Paperback 558: The Sixpenny Dame / Eaton K. Goldthwaite (Pennant Books P49)

Paperback 558: Pennant Books P49 (1st ptg, 1954)

Title: The Sixpenny Dame
Author: Eaton K. Goldthwaite
Cover artist: Uncredited

Yours for: $11

Best things about this cover:

• Larry: "Hmm. She's OK, I guess. I'll give you fine pennies." Steve: "How dare you! En garde!"
• On the rocky shores of Mustard Cove, they settled their score like men—with a dance-off!
• Sheila: "Would you two hurry it up already? I wanna go home. My neck's sore and I think I ate too many crabcakes."
• Once again—love the dress. Not sure about the bangs, but love the dress.

Best things about this back cover:

• "Hey, boss, I got this design idea. Now, close your eyes and imagine ... instead of regular old bullet points: red squares! ... yeah, I know it clashes with the purple border ... but I just thought, you know, it's a novel about conflict, so ... yes, sir. Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
• Bullet 3: See Bullet 1
• There's cryptic-good and cryptic-bad. Then there's this useless, befuddling mess of nothingness.

Page 123~

This put my Sixpenny dame in a new and uncomfortable light, for it showed she had employed psychopathic protection of a high order. 

I like how he talks about her like she's a seventh-level Wizard in "Dungeons & Dragons."

~RP

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Paperback 269: Night Squad / David Goodis (Gold Medal s1083)

Paperback 269: Gold Medal s1083 (PBO, 1961)

Title: Night Squad
Author: David Goodis
Cover artist: uncredited

Yours for: $30


Best things about this cover:

• One of the noirest, hardboiliest covers I've got. Iconic. Buncha badass fedora-wearing crime-fighters going to war. Strong light/dark contrast (just like the high contrast B&W of classic film noir). There's architectural detail in the dark parts, but you can barely see it. (actually, you can see it on the scan better than you can see it on the actual book ... weird)
  
• Love the up-shot angle. Gives the guy in the doorway and the whole building a looming, larger-than-life feel. Also like how his descent of the staircase reflects the cover copy: "... and sent him down into the brutal throbbing heart of the slums."
• Love the sickly green pall cast by the lamps. Also love the comically worried face of Fedora #2. Also love the wee policeman poised to billyclub the @#$# out of the next guy who looks at him funny.

Best things about this back cover:

• Blah.
• I thought it said "rocket boys" the first time I read it, and I wondered why the cops and NASA would be fighting over the same guy. "The terrifying story of two agencies bidding to give a man gainful employment!"
• Do you really aim a bullet at someone's head? You aim the gun. Unless your gun is broken and you are reduced to just hurling bullets at some guy's head. I guess that could happen.

Page 123~

"Where you going? McDermott asked.

Corey stopped. He stood with his back to the desk. He waited a few moments, then said, "Second and Addison. I got a date."

"With who?"

"A double gin," Corey said. "Is that all right with you?"

Great dialogue. That last line actually reads "Is that all right you you?" I hope you enjoy my non-silent emendation.

~RP

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