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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Records - The Arizona Daily Star (5)Sunday, August 7, 2005 / ARIZONA DAILY STAR • E3 13est-selling writer leaves legacy m Tucson By J.C. Martin SPECIAL TO THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR Imagine asking in a few decades who Harry Potter was and getting the re- sponse: "Harry who?" That gives you an idea of what's hap- pened to Harold Bell Wright, one of America's best-known literary figures in the first quarter of the 20th century. When the popular television pro- gram "Antiques Roadshow" came to Tucson in 2001, Dr. Barry Friedman and his wife, Madeline, took an origi- nal typescript of a Wright novel m-- with corrections in Wright's hand- writing — to show the program's ex- perts. "They'd never heard of him," Madeline Friedman said. "They said it was worthless." The blow seemed even crueler be- cause it happened in Tucson, Wright's beloved adopted "home- town." If you have ever wondered about Printer Udell Street on Tucson's East Side, enjoyed the Temple of Music and Art, or read the dedication on J.A. Jance's mystery thriller "Day of the Dead," then you have encountered Photos b ridn my Harold Bell Wright Wright — reportedly the first Ameri- Harold Bell Wright was born in 1872 in Ru—tne, N. Y He can writer to sell a million books and to died, at age 72, in 1944 in La Jolla, C;aiij. �Z�e is reportedly make $1 million from his writing. Chef rst American writer to have sold a ti�ilivi� books and Wright's meteoric rise to fame be- gan in 1902 when, as a 30 -year-old to have made $1 million from his writing. journeyman preacher in the Disci- ples of Christ Church in Pittsburg, known as Papago). Kan., he read a series of inspirational Wright first came to Tucson in 1911 essays to his congregation. The es- or 1912. A constant struggle with ill says emerged as a novel, "That Print- health brought him back in 1916. He er of Udell's," the next year. (Ronald left in 1935; it was the longest he lived. Reagan would later recall in reading in any one place. those essays as a young man "an im- "I owe more to Tucson than I can pact I shall always remember.... I ever repay," Wright once said. found a role model in that traveling His name is on the cornerstone of printer.") the Temple of Music and Art, which w Over the next 40 years, Wright pro- was built in part due to his determi- duced 19 books. Many of his titles nation and fund-raising skills. He were available through Sears Roe- also raised money for the ill, the indi- buck catalogs for as little as 68 cents gent, for children and for the nuns at and sold by the hundreds of thou- St. Mary's Hospital. As a member of sands. Fifteen were made into the Tucson Medical Center (then movies. Desert Sanatorium) board of direc- His readers loved him. Most of his tors, he initiated and paid for one of stories, including "The Mine With the first desert landscapings in the the Iron Door," which was set in the area. Santa Catalina Mountains, unfold in The 160 acres Wright owned near the West. Critics hated him. Most Speedway and Wilmot Road were readers today who pick up a Wright subdivided in 1950 into half -acre lots novel confess they don't get very far. to form the Harold Bell Wright Es - One exception is popular mystery tates. The streets are named from his writer Jance. The University of Ari- novels — Barbara Worth, Printer zona graduate, who's on tour promot- Udell Street, Shepherd (of the) Hills f ing her newest book, "Long Time Drive — and residents hold a potluck Gone," praised Wright for his "fore- to celebrate his birthday (he was sight" in collecting Tohono O'odham born May 4,1872) ever- year. folklore, which was published in 1929 For the past 20 years, the Fried - as "Long Ago Told: Legends of the Pa- mans have owned — and restored a pago Indians." the home Wright designed and built. "Otherwise, they would have just The home was placed on the National been lost," she said in a phone inter- Register of Historic Places in 1935. view. She added that she has incorpo "We love this place," Madeline rated several of these legends into Friedman said. "We call it `Harold ' s her books involving members of the House,' and sometimes, you know, he Tohono O'odham tribe (formerly comes back to visit." 11nd out mire about Harrold sell writ A view from the deck of Wright Tucson home in the 1920s. The 160 acres Wright owned near Speedway and Wilmot Road were subdivided in 1950 into half acre lots to form the Harold Bell Wright Estates. The streets are named from his novels — Printer Udell Street and Shepherd (of the) Hills Drive. Wright's living room in his Tucson home. IV1any of Wright's possessions from the room, including items such as a portable writ- ing desk, piano and Oriental rugs, can be purchased from now into Oct -ober (see accompanying box, below left). Wright � home on the East Side ir:1925. Tucson once identified him as its "First Citizen. " The Arizona Daily Star put out an eight page sec- tion ection leis praises. A critic called him "one of the most read and most ridiculed writers of his generation.P., r •� !AMON"Z� 16tscril:Mpszew �Y t a a. tt:F. 3 Zy- t Dead," then you have encountered Photos b ridn my Harold Bell Wright Wright — reportedly the first Ameri- Harold Bell Wright was born in 1872 in Ru—tne, N. Y He can writer to sell a million books and to died, at age 72, in 1944 in La Jolla, C;aiij. �Z�e is reportedly make $1 million from his writing. Chef rst American writer to have sold a ti�ilivi� books and Wright's meteoric rise to fame be- gan in 1902 when, as a 30 -year-old to have made $1 million from his writing. journeyman preacher in the Disci- ples of Christ Church in Pittsburg, known as Papago). Kan., he read a series of inspirational Wright first came to Tucson in 1911 essays to his congregation. The es- or 1912. A constant struggle with ill says emerged as a novel, "That Print- health brought him back in 1916. He er of Udell's," the next year. (Ronald left in 1935; it was the longest he lived. Reagan would later recall in reading in any one place. those essays as a young man "an im- "I owe more to Tucson than I can pact I shall always remember.... I ever repay," Wright once said. found a role model in that traveling His name is on the cornerstone of printer.") the Temple of Music and Art, which w Over the next 40 years, Wright pro- was built in part due to his determi- duced 19 books. Many of his titles nation and fund-raising skills. He were available through Sears Roe- also raised money for the ill, the indi- buck catalogs for as little as 68 cents gent, for children and for the nuns at and sold by the hundreds of thou- St. Mary's Hospital. As a member of sands. Fifteen were made into the Tucson Medical Center (then movies. Desert Sanatorium) board of direc- His readers loved him. Most of his tors, he initiated and paid for one of stories, including "The Mine With the first desert landscapings in the the Iron Door," which was set in the area. Santa Catalina Mountains, unfold in The 160 acres Wright owned near the West. Critics hated him. Most Speedway and Wilmot Road were readers today who pick up a Wright subdivided in 1950 into half -acre lots novel confess they don't get very far. to form the Harold Bell Wright Es - One exception is popular mystery tates. The streets are named from his writer Jance. The University of Ari- novels — Barbara Worth, Printer zona graduate, who's on tour promot- Udell Street, Shepherd (of the) Hills f ing her newest book, "Long Time Drive — and residents hold a potluck Gone," praised Wright for his "fore- to celebrate his birthday (he was sight" in collecting Tohono O'odham born May 4,1872) ever- year. folklore, which was published in 1929 For the past 20 years, the Fried - as "Long Ago Told: Legends of the Pa- mans have owned — and restored a pago Indians." the home Wright designed and built. "Otherwise, they would have just The home was placed on the National been lost," she said in a phone inter- Register of Historic Places in 1935. view. She added that she has incorpo "We love this place," Madeline rated several of these legends into Friedman said. "We call it `Harold ' s her books involving members of the House,' and sometimes, you know, he Tohono O'odham tribe (formerly comes back to visit." 11nd out mire about Harrold sell writ A view from the deck of Wright Tucson home in the 1920s. The 160 acres Wright owned near Speedway and Wilmot Road were subdivided in 1950 into half acre lots to form the Harold Bell Wright Estates. The streets are named from his novels — Printer Udell Street and Shepherd (of the) Hills Drive. Wright's living room in his Tucson home. IV1any of Wright's possessions from the room, including items such as a portable writ- ing desk, piano and Oriental rugs, can be purchased from now into Oct -ober (see accompanying box, below left). Wright � home on the East Side ir:1925. Tucson once identified him as its "First Citizen. " The Arizona Daily Star put out an eight page sec- tion ection leis praises. A critic called him "one of the most read and most ridiculed writers of his generation.P., r •� !AMON"Z� 16tscril:Mpszew