452:); generally posed significant ethical dilemmas; were fast-paced; and were easy to read. While the titles of his mysteries were invariably dark, his books hinged more on implied violence and threats than on murder itself. The usual Bennett hero was a late-teenage loner drawn by circumstances beyond his control into a treacherous and confusing situation. A recurring theme was the need to reject alienation in favor of reaching out to others. His best work was considered not only quite suspenseful, but written at a maturity level that was appropriate for, and able to connect deeply with, his teen audience.
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131:. Bennett won the Edgar for Best Juvenile novel in 1974 and 1975, for The Long Black Coat (Delacorte Press) and The Dangling Witness (Delacorte Press), respectively. He was the first author to win an Edgar in consecutive years. A third book, The Skeleton Man (Franklin Watts), was nominated in 1987. Bennett is best known among English teachers and young adults for these and other juvenile mysteries, like Deathman, Do Not Follow Me (Scholastic).
164:. Unable to find a job, he went West, hitchhiking, riding open freights, and sometimes sleeping in small-town jails, which also were open to house the jobless as they wandered in search of employment. Upon his return to New York City, he had a succession of odd jobs before he was able to break into writing. During this time, he also met Sally Stern, a beautician, and they were married in February 1937.
322:, took place in daily 15-minute segments over a two-week period, with Manning in contemporary dress and delivering selected portions in modern language. Due to the mini-series format, the modern adaptation, and the day-time audience which, in those days, consisted mostly of housewives, the show was considered by some as Shakespearean soap opera. Others, however, found the adaptation more significant.
139:
He was born to Jewish parents, Pincus
Shapiro, an immigrant from Czarist Russia, and Estelle Bennett, a second-generation American who was a native of New York City. His father, a manager of a wholesale dry-goods company, and mother, the company's head bookkeeper, were able to provide a middle-class
311:
New York outlet, WABD-TV, and was later moved to a night-time slot. The series, which won the 1952 Variety Show
Management Award, was divided into two parts titled, "One Man's Experience" and "One Woman's Experience." Each part featured a single actor on a spare set, often performing adaptions of
296:(1957), among other shows. Harlem Detective, for which he was the principal writer, was the first TV show on a national network to co-star a Black actor in a non-stereotyped role alongside a White actor. The Black detective was played first by William Hairston and then by
31:
336:
described it as a "... daring experiment in presenting classics in modern dress ..." The show was successful enough that the entire two-week mini-series was reprised in the new night-time slot. Subsequent Mono-Drama classical adaptations included
397:, an encyclopedia publisher. Also at this time, he began writing fictional books. From the 1960s through the 1990s, Bennett authored over 25 novels, initially for adults and then for young adults. His first novel,
1317:
425:, was released on DVD in 2014 by Network as part of its "British Film" collection. According to UK Horror Scene, "... Catacombs remains an intriguingly rare slice of British genre filmmaking."
189:
1220:
Jay
Bennett, 96, two-time winner of the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America, died at home in Cherry Hill on Saturday of complications related to Parkinson's disease.
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318:, which Bennett adapted for this format, was one of the first presentations of the play in the new TV medium in the United States. The live broadcast, starring
297:
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195:, was broadcast annually on Christmas Eve as part of the Grand Central Station series throughout the 1940s and early 1950s. The play, narrated by
211:
908:
Gould, Jack (January 7, 1953). "Radio-TV World: Review, Comment; Jack
Manning's Hamlet in 15 Minute Daily Doses on Video Is Well Worth Taking".
1327:
978:
678:
149:
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1337:
1307:
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393:
When the locus of TV production moved to Los
Angeles in the late 1950s, Bennett remained in New York, taking a job as an editor for
1287:
794:
Evory, A.; Metzger, L. (1984). "Contemporary
Authors (New Revision Series Vol 11)". Detroit, MI Gale Research. pp. 52–53.
1322:
1154:
890:
Gould, Jack (December 23, 1953). "Television in Review; 'Harlem
Detective' Shows Common Sense of WOR in Casting of Negroes".
841:
428:
Bennett's young-adult novels were particularly well-regarded because they dealt with such timely topics as teenage suicide (
217:
Following the war, he turned to the theater and had two plays produced. No Hiding Place, a three-act play, was produced by
406:
177:
141:
1302:
172:
Bennett began his writing career in radio, authoring 27 half-hour scripts prior to the first one being sold. During
234:
128:
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called it "A highly novel theatrical experiment ..." and "... an immensely interesting show", while the
1207:
308:
292:
728:
Janeczko, P.B. (October 1977). "An
Interview with Jay Bennett". The Armchair Detective, 10(4). pp. 342–346.
1112:
369:, and continued to present classics adapted by Bennett. Among the more critically acclaimed productions were
459:
357:
196:
55:
370:
242:
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Donnelson, K. L., & Nilsen, A. P. (Eds.). (1980). "People Behind the Books: Jay
Bennett." In
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319:
339:
210:
For the War years of 1942 to 1945, Bennett worked as an
English features writer and editor for the
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157:
988:
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123:(December 24, 1912 - June 27, 2009) was an American author and two-time winner of the
1261:
776:
Gross, Ben (December 20, 1941). "Listening In With Ben Gross: Grand Central Scores".
587:
264:
43:
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192:
30:
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351:
238:
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anthology, 60 Greatest Old-Time Radio Shows of the 20th Century (Radio Spirits).
418:
200:
124:
111:
1241:
1137:
Donnelson, K.L.; Nilsen, A. P. (1980). "Literature for today's young adults".
379:
327:
226:
455:
Translations of Bennett's books can be found in well over a dozen languages.
188:, The Kate Smith Show, Manhattan at Midnight, and Mystery Theater. His play,
345:
761:
Ott, D. (June 30, 2009). "Jay Bennett, 96; wrote crime novels, scripts".
374:
145:
805:
394:
241:. Lions After Slumber, also a three-act play, was produced at London's
611:
362:
314:
603:
869:"Blacks and White TV: African Americans in Television Since 1948"
590:(May 1976). "In Their Own Words: An Interview with Jay Bennett".
458:
Bennett died on June 27, 2009, at the age of 96 at his home in
248:
In the early days of television, Bennett authored scripts for
229:
at Broadway's President Theatre (1946). The cast, directed by
1113:"Catacombs aka The Woman Who Wouldn't Die (1965) DVD Review"
567:
My Brother's Keeper. (In M. J. Weiss & H. S. Weiss, ,
1238:. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, and Co., pp. 425.
825:
823:
712:
Something About the Author Autobiography Series (Vol 4)
673:. Portsmouth, NH Libraries Unlimited. pp. 35–38.
156:
section of the boro. After graduation, he enrolled in
1318:
People of the United States Office of War Information
563:
Thirteen: 13 Tales of Horror by 13 Masters of Horror
107:
93:
85:
77:
69:
61:
49:
37:
21:
923:"Television Reviews". Variety. September 9, 1953.
505:Say Hello to the Hit Man (Delacorte Press, 1976);
830:"Television Reviews". Variety. October 21, 1953.
365:as a half-hour offering, where it took the name
642:Authors & Artists for Young Adults (Vol 10)
479:Death is a Silent Room (Abelard-Schuman, 1965)
1203:"Jay Bennett, 96; wrote crime novels, scripts"
507:The Birthday Murderer (Delacorte Press, 1977);
361:. Later in 1953, the show moved to New York's
1152:Woods, George A. (July 7, 1968). "Review 7".
644:". Detroit, MI Gale Research. pp. 35–41.
513:Slowly, Slowly, I Raise the Gun (Avon, 1983);
503:The Dangling Witness (Delacorte Press, 1974);
8:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
525:Sing Me a Death Song (Franklin Watts, 1990);
501:The Long Black Coat (Delacorte Press, 1973);
1333:James Madison High School (Brooklyn) alumni
495:Masks: A Love Story (Franklin Watts, 1972);
1252:Children and Young Adult Literature portal
723:
721:
714:". Detroit, Gale Research. pp. 35–38.
29:
18:
561:The Guiccioli Miniature. (In T. Pines ,
307:, which began as a daytime series on the
903:
901:
710:Sarkissian, A. (1987). "Jay Bennett. In
669:The 100 Most Popular Young Adult Authors
521:The Skeleton Man (Franklin Watts, 1986);
497:The Killing Tree (Franklin Watts, 1972);
413:) (1965), a British production starring
140:upbringing. Bennett was educated at the
789:
787:
579:
493:The Deadly Gift (Meredith Press, 1969);
212:United States Office of War Information
659:
657:
655:
653:
651:
635:
633:
631:
629:
627:
625:
623:
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515:I Never Said I Loved You (Avon, 1984);
557:The New Book of Knowledge Annual 1976
551:The New Book of Knowledge Annual 1974
545:The New Book of Knowledge Annual 1973
7:
1313:Writers from Cherry Hill, New Jersey
640:Hile, K.S. (1993). "Jay Bennett. In
1236:Literature for Today’s Young Adults
844:. Television Heaven. Archived from
565:, pp. 73–82, Scholastic, 1991)
1283:20th-century American male writers
987:. January 19, 1953. Archived from
559:, pp. 232–237, Grolier, 1976)
553:, pp. 186–189, Grolier, 1974)
547:, pp. 178–180, Grolier, 1973)
519:To Be a Killer (Scholastic, 1985);
475:Catacombs (Abelard-Schuman, 1959);
421:. The film, the first by director
303:Also of note from this period was
14:
1050:. September 23, 1953. p. 44.
1244:
808:. Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
529:Skinhead (Franklin Watts, 1991);
523:The Haunted One (Fawcett, 1989);
499:Shadows Offstage (Nelson, 1974);
312:classics in mini-series format.
1278:20th-century American novelists
1169:Reese, Joel (August 25, 2009).
1084:. October 14, 1953. p. 41.
1016:. February 1, 1953. p. 28.
571:, pp. 15–30, Forge, 1997)
543:The Most Dishonest Thing. (In
535:The Hooded Man (Fawcett, 1993)
531:Coverup (Franklin Watts, 1991);
1155:The New York Times Book Review
1067:. October 5, 1953. p. 41.
569:From One Experience to Another
539:Short Stories for Young Adults
527:Dark Corridor (Fawcett, 1990);
517:The Death Ticket (Avon, 1985);
1:
1201:Ott, Dwight (June 30, 2009).
935:"Obituaries: Lawrence Menkin"
555:A Million Dollar Caper. (In
511:The Executioner (Avon, 1982);
142:Hebrew Institute of Boro Park
1328:Novelists from New York City
871:. MacDonald & Associates
487:Deathman, Do Not Follow Me (
1033:. May 11, 1953. p. 34.
533:Death Grip (Fawcett, 1993);
509:The Pigeon (Methuen, 1980);
477:Murder Money (Crest, 1963);
309:DuMont Television Network's
160:but dropped out during the
1359:
1343:21st-century American Jews
1338:20th-century American Jews
1308:New York University alumni
740:"Director-Writer Database"
407:The Woman Who Wouldn't Die
405:), was made into a movie,
129:Mystery Writers of America
1298:Jewish American novelists
1208:The Philadelphia Inquirer
763:The Philadelphia Inquirer
549:I Don't Understand. (In
444:), and racial prejudice (
293:Alfred Hitchcock Presents
150:James Madison High School
28:
1293:American mystery writers
937:. Variety. July 21, 2000
371:Robert Louis Stevenson's
1288:American male novelists
483:Novels for Young Adults
460:Cherry Hill, New Jersey
358:The Taming of the Shrew
176:, he wrote scripts for
56:Cherry Hill, New Jersey
1095:"Television Reviews".
979:"Radio: The New Shows"
378:with Jack Manning and
1323:Writers from Brooklyn
1171:"Jay Bennett, R.I.P."
254:(DuMont, 1952–1953),
190:Miracle for Christmas
178:Grand Central Station
103:Miracle for Christmas
99:The Dangling Witness;
991:on December 22, 2008
867:MacDonald, J. Fred.
436:), drunken driving (
384:Crime and Punishment
276:(Syndicated, 1956),
258:(WOR-TV NYC, 1953),
97:The Long Black Coat;
1303:Edgar Award winners
1101:. December 9, 1953.
957:"Monodrama Theater"
778:New York Daily News
664:Drew, B.A. (1997).
592:The English Journal
340:The Tell-Tale Heart
290:) (CBS, 1957), and
237:, Anna Berger, and
158:New York University
1229:Additional sources
1081:The New York Times
1064:The New York Times
1047:The New York Times
1030:The New York Times
910:The New York Times
892:The New York Times
324:The New York Times
305:Mono-Drama Theatre
268:(NBC, 1950–1955),
231:Maria Ley Piscator
174:radio's Golden Age
1078:"On Television".
1061:"On Television".
1044:"On Television".
1027:"On Television".
680:978-1-56308-615-1
471:Novels for Adults
251:Monodrama Theater
223:Dramatic Workshop
203:, is part of the
118:
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101:The Skeleton Man;
81:1940s–1990s
41:December 24, 1912
16:American novelist
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667:Jay Bennett. In
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288:Will Rogers, Jr.
260:Crime Syndicated
256:Harlem Detective
235:Sarah Cunningham
182:Bulldog Drummond
162:Great Depression
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450:Franklin Watts
442:Franklin Watts
423:Gordon Hessler
401:(published by
389:Martin Kosleck
333:Brooklyn Eagle
219:Erwin Piscator
199:and featuring
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108:Notable awards
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744:. Retrieved
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598:(5): 86–88.
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588:Janeczko, P.
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454:
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441:
437:
433:
429:
427:
415:Gary Merrill
410:
398:
392:
382:
380:Dostoevsky's
373:
367:High Tension
366:
356:
352:Silas Marner
350:
344:
338:
331:
323:
320:Jack Manning
313:
304:
302:
291:
284:Good Morning
283:
277:
273:
270:High Tension
269:
263:
259:
255:
249:
247:
239:Salem Ludwig
216:
209:
171:
148:and then at
138:
120:
119:
1273:2009 deaths
1268:1912 births
419:Jane Merrow
233:, included
201:Mason Adams
197:Ken Roberts
125:Edgar Award
121:Jay Bennett
112:Edgar Award
70:Nationality
23:Jay Bennett
1262:Categories
1186:August 26,
995:August 16,
941:August 16,
875:August 15,
575:References
466:Repertoire
328:Jack Gould
326:TV critic
227:New School
186:The Falcon
135:Early life
62:Occupation
686:August 2,
411:Catacombs
399:Catacombs
346:Jane Eyre
127:from the
963:July 26,
959:. TV.com
852:July 26,
812:July 31,
746:July 31,
491:, 1968);
446:Skinhead
375:Markheim
245:(1948).
193:(script)
154:Flatbush
146:Brooklyn
73:American
1214:July 9,
1098:Variety
842:"I Spy"
438:Coverup
434:Fawcett
395:Grolier
225:of the
152:in the
114:(twice)
89:Mystery
677:
612:814509
610:
363:WOR-TV
355:, and
315:Hamlet
286:(with
168:Career
78:Period
65:Author
608:JSTOR
409:(aka
387:with
274:I-Spy
86:Genre
1216:2020
1188:2009
1124:2017
997:2009
984:Time
965:2009
943:2009
877:2009
854:2009
814:2009
748:2009
688:2009
675:ISBN
417:and
50:Died
38:Born
600:doi
221:'s
144:in
1264::
1218:.
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1115:.
981:.
900:^
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720:^
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596:65
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440:,
432:,
349:,
343:,
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602::
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