If you are one of those enjoying the current series of Hopalong Cassidy films on Encore's Western Channel--or are a Hoppy fan from way back--you will find a valuable resource in Francis M. Nevins' Bar-20: The Life of Clarence E. Mulford, Creator of Hopalong Cassidy. In addition to the interesting biographical material, the book also includes seven of the original short stories featuring Bill Cassidy and his Bar-20 pals. Among them is the one that tells how Hopalong got his nickname. As an added attraction, Nevins includes a detailed listing of the books, stories, and articles by the colorful Mulford, plus a filmography, with credits, of the Cassidy movies and the two silent Westerns based upon Mulford's The Orphan. (The 1924 version of that novel, The Deadwood Coach, starred Tom Mix.)

     As the well-constructed biographical narrative progresses, law professor and mystery writer Nevins pauses at each Mulford tale to present a careful summary of its plot before returning to the triumphs and trials of Mulford's life. In these summaries readers can recognize the inspirations for several of the characters who would appear in the popular film series.

     Author Mulford died in 1956, having profited substantially from the Hoppy films--even those not based upon his novels--but not entirely happy with how Hollywood had modified his roughhewn cowboy character, and taken away his limp. At the end of the book, Nevins gives us a bit of background on the last days on the screen Hoppy, William Boyd, and others involved in the memorable Cassidy films.

     McFarland published the illustrated 264-page Bar-20 in 1993 and it is still in print. Price for the library binding is $37.50. The phone number for ordering is 1-800-253-2187.

©1999 by Raymond William Stedman