Spirit of America Bookstore
sportswriter & author
Damon Runyon
[1884-1946]
 | short profile |
“You can become a winner only if you are willing to walk over the edge.”
“I came to the conclusion long ago that all life is six to five against.”
“You can keep, the things of bronze and stone and give me one man to remember me just once a year.”
“It may be that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's how the smart money bets.”
— Damon Runyon
B I O
t e x t
h e r e
Damon Runyon entry at Wikipedia
search books on 'Damon Runyon' {returns 240+ titles} at Amazon
browse Damon Runyon Bookstore {only 7 titles} at Amazon
Damon Runyon credits [1935-2009] at Internet Broadway Database
Damon Runyon credits [1924-2005] at Internet Movie Database
search DVDs on 'Damon Runyon' {returns 40+ titles} at Amazon
Damon Runyon was awarded {posthumously):
the J. G. Taylor Spink Award (for writers)) of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967
membership in the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2002
Each year the Denver Press Club [est. 1867] assigns the Damon Runyon Award [est. 1992] to a prominent journalist; past winners
include Jimmy Breslin, Herb Caen, Bob Costas, Carl Hiaasen, Molly Ivans, Mike Royko, Ted Turner & George Will
Primary Fiction Works
search books on keywords 'Damon Runyon' {returns 240+ titles} at Amazon
¨ ¨
There is no Damon Runyon fiction on Project Gutenberg nor on the Internet Archive.
listing of Runyon's short stories at Fiction Mags Index
"A Dangerous Guy Indeed" short story [date unknown]
short story "Blood Pressure" publd in SatEvePost in April 1930
one of two Runyon stories that the "Guys and Dolls" musical and movie were based on
short story "The Brain Goes Home" publd in Cosmopolitan in May 1931
partial basis for the 1961 movie "Pocketful of Miracles"
4-page story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" for Collier’s in 1933
one of two Runyon stories that the "Guys and Dolls" musical and movie were based on
short story "Madame La Gimp" publd in Cosmopolitan in October 1929
basis for 1933 movie "Lady For A Day" and the 1961 remake "Pocketful of Miracles"
 | "Old Hardhead" [1922] short story by Damon Runyon & Bozeman Bulger, Illustrated by Frank Godwin publd by Hearst Intl. Ltd. in July 1922 CreateSpace 8¾x5¾ pb [8/2013] for $6.29 |
"Guys and Dolls and Other Stories" [1931]
4-page story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" for Collier’s in 1933
"Damon Runyon's Blue Plate Special" [1934, short stories]
"Money From Home" [1935, short stories]
"More Than Somewhat" [1937]
"Furthermore" [1938]
"Take It Easy" [1938]
"My Wife Ethel" [1939]
"My Old Man" [1939]
"The Best of Damon Runyon: Fifteen Stories" [1940] Selected by E.C. Bentley
http://www.amazon.com/Fifteen-Stories-Best-Damon-Runyon/dp/B000VB09OA/
"A Slight Case of Murder" [1940] with Howard Lindsay
"Damon Runyon Favorites" [1942]
"Runyon à la Carte" [1944]
http://www.amazon.com/Runyon-Carte-Damon/dp/B000MZTLYE/
"The Damon Runyon Omnibus" [1944]
Three Books In One Volume: "Guys and Dolls", "Money From Home", and "Blue Plate Special"
"More Damon Runyon: Take It Easy" [14 Stories 1944]
http://www.amazon.com/More-Damon-Runyon-Fourteen-Stories/dp/B000R7O0PC/
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Easy-Damon-Runyon/dp/B000C8104U/
"Short Takes" [1946]
http://www.amazon.com/Short-takes-Americas-favorite-newspaperman/dp/B0007E1YVS/
"In Our Town" [1946]
"The Three Wise Guys and Other Stories" [1946]
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Wise-Guys-Damon-Runyon/dp/B000I93ZM8/
"Trials and Other Tribulations" [1947]
"Runyon: First and Last" [25 stories 1949]
"Runyon On Broadway" [1950] Introduction by E.C. Bentley
"All This and That" [Constable, UK 1950]
"More Guys and Dolls" [1950]
"The Turps" [1951]
"Damon Runyon From First To Last" [1954)
claims to contain all of Runyon's stories not included in "Runyon On Broadway"
"A Treasury of Damon Runyon: Stories, Sketches, Essays, Verses" [1958]
Selected and with an Introduction by Clark Kinnard
"The Bloodhounds of Broadway and Other Stories" [1985]
http://www.amazon.com/Bloodhounds-Broadway-Other-Stories/dp/0688006256/
"Romance In Ihe Roaring Forties and Other Stories" [1986]
"Dream Street" [Folio Society 1989] by Damon Runyon
http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Street-Damon-Runyon/dp/B001OUYQ50/
"On Broadway" [1990]
"Guys and Dolls and Other Writings" [2008] Introduction by Pete Hamill
Other Works
"Tents of Trouble" poetry [1911]
http://www.amazon.com/Tents-Trouble-Verse-Damon-Runyon/dp/084880841X/
http://www.archive.org/details/tentstrouble00runygoog
"Rhymes of The Firing Line" poetry [1912]
https://archive.org/details/rhymesoffiringli00runyrich
"Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker" [1942] with W. Kiernan
"Poems For Men" [1947]
http://www.amazon.com/Poems-Men-Damon-Runyon/dp/0848811453/
 | "Guys, Dolls, and Curveballs: Damon Runyon On Baseball" [2004] Edited by Jim Reisler Before Damon Runyon became a denizen of Broadway and a popular author, he honed his writing skills as a Hearst News sports reporter; the editor collects Runyon's writings on every facet of the game of baseball, from 1911 on . . . Kindle Edition from Da Capo Press [2005 edition] for $9.99 Da Capo Press 9x6 pb [3/2005] out of print/many used |
Movies & Television
search DVDs on 'Damon Runyon' {returns 40+ titles} at Amazon
· ·
"Lady For A Day" [Columbia Sept 1933]
Directed by Frank Capra; adapted by Robert Riskin from Runyon's short story "Madame La Gimp"; starring
Warren William, May Robson, Guy Kibbee, Glenda Farrell, Ned Sparks, Walter Connolly, Jean Parker,
Nat Pendleton, Hobart Bosworth, Robert Emmett O'Connor & Halliwell Hobbes; Oscar nominations for
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Script/Adaptation & Best Actress (MR)
full credits from IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Day-VHS-Warren-William/dp/0792842138/
"Pocketful of Miracles" remake
[United Artists Dec 1961]
 | A charming fairy tale: A street-seller in New York City has lied to her daughter in Spain about being a high society dowager. When the girl has the chance to marry a count, the mother enlists street pals, including a local bootlegger, in maintaining the pretense. (A remake of Capra's "Lady For A Day" [1933] which was based on a story by Damon Runyon, with additional material from Runyon's short story "The Brain Goes Home".) Co-produced & directed by Frank Capra; starring Glenn Ford, Bette Davis {as Apple Annie}, Hope Lange, Arthur O'Connell, Peter Falk, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Everett Horton, Mickey Shaughnessy & Ann- Margret; minor roles by David Brian, Sheldon Leonard, Peter Mann, Barton MacLane, Fritz Feld, Ellen Corby, Jack Elam, Mike Mazurki & Doodles Weaver
M.G.M. widescreen color DVD [9/2001] out of prodn/many used M.G.M. color VHS [8/99] out of prodn/many used full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"Miracles" aka "Mr. Canton and Lady Rose"
Hong Kong action film remake [1989] starring Jackie Chan
"Little Miss Marker" [1934] /tt0025410/
The film that made Shirley Temple a star; also starred Charles Bickford
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Miss-Marker-Adolphe-Menjou/dp/6304153066/
"Sorrowful Jones" remake [1949] starring Bob Hope & Lucille Ball
http://www.amazon.com/Sorrowful-Jones-Hope-Tribute-Collection/dp/6300987507/
"40 Pounds of Trouble" remake [1962] starring Tony Curtis
http://www.amazon.com/Pounds-Trouble-VHS-Tony-Curtis/dp/6303231837/
"Little Miss Marker" remake [1980]
starring Walter Matthau, Julie Andrews, Bob Newhart, Tony Curtis
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Miss-Marker-Walter-Matthau/dp/6300181898/
"The Lemon Drop Kid" [1934] starring Lee Tracy
"The Lemon Drop Kid" remake [1951] starring Bob Hope
http://www.amazon.com/The-Lemon-Drop-Kid-Hope/dp/B00004YS6U/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Lemon-Drop-Kid-VHS/dp/B00004YS6T/
http://www.amazon.com/Lemon-Drop-Kid-VHS-Hope/dp/6304204906/
"Princess O'Hara" [1935] starring Jean Parker
"It Ain't Hay" remake [1943] with Abbott & Costello and Patsy O'Connor
"Professional Soldier" [1935] starring Victor McLaglen & Freddie Bartholomew
"A Slight Case of Murder" (1938) with Edward G. Robinson
"Stop, You're Killing Me" remake [1953] with Broderick Crawford & Claire Trevor
"Tight Shoes" [1941] /tt0034293/
"The Big Street" [1942] /tt0034514
Produced by Damon Runyon; adapted from Runyon's story 'Little Pinks'; starring Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball
http://www.amazon.com/The-Big-Street-Henry-Fonda/dp/B000O76ZQW/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Big-Street-Henry-Fonda/dp/6301328035/
"Butch Minds The Baby" [1942] starring Broderick Crawford, Shemp Howard
"The Pride of The Yankees" [1942] /tt0035211/
starring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth & Walter Brennan; prologue written by Damon Runyon
http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Yankees-Collectors-Gary-Cooper/dp/B0010YSD9A/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Pride-Yankees-Gary-Cooper/dp/B000069HZY/
http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Yankees-VHS-Gary-Cooper/dp/630159942X/
http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Yankees-Gary-Cooper/dp/6305308764/
"Irish Eyes Are Smiling" [1944] /tt0036961/
Produced by Damon Runyon; directed by Gregory Ratoff
http://www.amazon.com/Irish-Eyes-Smiling-Monty-Woolley/dp/B00BY8DMD4/
"Johnny One-Eye" [1950] starring Pat O'Brien, Wayne Morris, Delores Moran
http://www.amazon.com/Johnny-One-Eye-VHS-OBrien/dp/B00000JGHZ/
"Money From Home" [Paramount Dec 1953]
 | Filmed in three-strip Technicolor™ and in 3-D; suave Herman is in trouble with the mob over his gambling debts, so he enlists his geeky and animal-loving cousin to fix a horse race. Produced by Hal B. Wallis; directed by George Marshall; written by Hal Kanter & James B. Allardice, based on a story by Damon Runyon; starring Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Marjie Millar, Pat Crowley, Richard Haydn, Robert Strauss, Gerald Mohr, Sheldon Leonard, Romo Vincent, Jack Kruschen
Legend Films widescreen color DVD [7/2008] for $12.35 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"Guys and Dolls" [1955]
Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, and Stubby Kaye. Blaine and Kaye reprise their roles from the 1950 Broadway production. Adapted from the story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown". The big crap game is adapted from the story "Blood Pressure".
http://www.amazon.com/Guys-Dolls-VHS-Marlon-Brando/dp/6300250644/
http://www.amazon.com/Guys-Dolls-VHS-Marlon-Brando/dp/0792844769/
http://www.amazon.com/Guys-Dolls-VHS-Marlon-Brando/dp/6303878261/
"Bloodhounds of Broadway" [1989]
starring Madonna, Jennifer Gray, Rutger Hauer, Matt Dillon, Randy Quaid, Julie Haggerty, Esai Morales, and Steve Buscemi
Madonna was 'honored' with a nomination for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for her tongue-in-cheek, scenery-chewing performance.
"Three Wise Guys" [12/2005] /tt0473103/
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Wise-Guys-Eddie-McClintock/dp/B000HEVZLM/
Stageplays, Other Media
Damon Runyon credits [1935-2009] at Internet Broadway Database
® ®
"Lady For A Day" [1933] > verify?
"Little Miss Marker" [1934] > verify?
"A Slight Case of Murder" Broadway stageplay [Sept-Nov 1935]
Co-written & staged by Damon Runyon & Howard Lindsay; play credits at IBDb
 | "Strictly Dishonorable and Other Lost American Plays" [1993] Edited by Richard Nelson includes "The Racket" (1927) by Bartlett Cormack, "Strictly Dishonorable" (1929 hit) by Preston Sturges, "A Slight Case of Murder" (1935} by Howard Lindsay & Damon Runyon, and "The Ghost of Yankee Doodle" (1937) by Sidney Howard Theatre Commns Group 9x6 pb [1993] for $9.86 |
"Guys and Dolls: A Musical Fable of Broadway" musical stageplay [1950-2009]
Music & lyrics by Frank Loesser; book by Abe Burrows & Jo Swerling, based on story & characters of Damon Runyon; selected as winner of the
1951 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; however, because writer Burrows was under investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee (H.U.A.C.),
the Trustees of Columbia University vetoed the selection, and no Pulitzer for Drama was awarded that year.
original run: 1,200 performances from Nov 1950 to Nov 1953; play credits at IBDb; cast included Robert Alda {as Sky Masterson}, Isabel Bigley,
Vivian Blaine, Sam Levene {as Nathan Detroit}, Pat Rooney Sr., Stubby Kaye {as Nicely-Nicely Johnson}, Bern Hoffman & Tony Gardell
revival (bombed): 16 performances April-May 1955; play credits at IBDb; cast included Walter Matthau {as Nathan Detroit},
Leila Martin, Helen Gallagher, Ray Shaw {as Sky Masterson} & Oggie Small {as Nicely-Nicely}
revival (bombed): 15 performances April-May 1965; play credits at IBDb; cast included Alan King {as Nathan Detroit},
Anita Gillette, Sheila MacRae, Jerry Orbach {as Sky Masterson} & Jack De Lon {as Nicely-Nicely}
revival: 239 performances from July 1976 to Feb 1977; play credits at IBDb; all-black cast included Robert Guillaume {as Nathan Detroit},
Norma Donaldson, Ernestine Jackson, James Randolph {as Sky Masterson} & Ken Page {as Nicely-Nicely}
hit revival: 1,143 performances from March 1992 to Jan 1995; play credits at IBDb; cast included Nathan Lane {as Nathan Detroit},
Josie de Guzman, Faith Prince, Peter Gallagher {as Sky Masterson} & Walter Bobbie {as Nicely-Nicely}
revival: 121 performances Feb-June 2009; play credits at IBDb; cast included Oliver Platt {as Nathan Detroit},
Lauren Graham, Kate Jennings Grant, Craig Bierko {as Sky Masterson} & Tituss Burgess {as Nicely-Nicely}
"Guys and Dolls" playscript [1951]
http://www.amazon.com/Guys-dolls-musical-Broadway-characters/dp/B0007J1H1K/
±
"The Damon Runyon Theatre" 52 radio performances between 1949 and 1951
followed by a television version in 1955
"Damon Runyon Theater" radio program [1949] 52 episodes on two MP3 CDs at Old Time Radio Catalog
listen to all 52 episodes online at the Internet Archive
® ®
"The Reader's Theatre: American Plays For Reading" [1966] by Henry Gilfond
Walker Educational Book Corp. {aka Curriculum Associates, Inc.} published several books in the 1960s containing popular stories reconfigured
as stageplays, intended for drama programs at el-hi schools. The first book included a version of Damon Runyon's "A Dangerous Guy Indeed";
latter books were on themes such as Holiday Plays and Mythology Plays. Very little info exists on Amazon or elsewhere.
Works About Damon Runyon
"The Damon Runyon Story (1948) by Ed Weiner and Walter Winchell
http://www.amazon.com/Damon-Runyon-Story-Ed-Weiner/dp/B0007DPA5U/
The Damon Runyon Story (1949) by Ed Weiner
http://www.amazon.com/Damon-Runyon-Story-Ed-Weiner/dp/B00192R5JM/
 | "A Gentleman of Broadway: The Story of Damon Runyon" [1964] by Edwin P. Hoyt Little, Brown and Co. hardcover [1964] out of print/used Little, Brown and Co. hardcover [1964] out of print/many used |
 |
"Runyonese: The Mind and Craft of Damon Runyon" [1965] by Jean Wagner Stechert-Hafner hardcover [1965] out of print/scarce |
"The World of Damon Runyon (1978) by Tom Clark
http://www.amazon.com/World-Damon-Runyon-Tom-Clark/dp/0060107715/
"Damon Runyon's Pueblo" [Rocky Mtn PBS 1981] /tt1697061/
40-minute TV documentary starring Eric Austin {as Damon Runyon}, Tim Abrahamsen {as Doc Holliday} & William Campbell {as 'Bat' Masterson}
"The Men Who Invented Broadway: Damon Runyon, Walter Winchell & Their World" [1981] by John Mosedale
http://www.amazon.com/men-who-invented-Broadway-Winchell/dp/0399900853/
"Damon Runyon: A Life (1991) by Jimmy Breslin
http://www.amazon.com/Damon-Runyon-Jimmy-Breslin-Author/dp/B003O367W0/
"The Racing World of Damon Runyon (Jul 12, 1999) by Damon Runyon and Robin Oakley
http://www.amazon.com/Racing-World-Damon-Runyon/dp/009479510X/
"Broadway Boogie Woogie: Damon Runyon and The Making of New York City Culture" [4/2003] by Daniel R. Schwarz
http://www.amazon.com/Broadway-Boogie-Woogie-Runyon-Culture/dp/0312239483/
 | "Winchell and Runyon: The True Untold Story" [2008] by Trustin Howard Kindle Edition from Hamilton Books [5/2013] for $16.19 Hamilton Books 9½x5½ pb [7/2010] for $17.48 BearManor Media 8¾x6 pb [11/2008] for $22.46 |
Family & Friends
Alfred Damon Runyon was born in Kansas in 1884 and died of throat cancer in New York City in 1946 at age 66.
first wife Ellen Egan Runyon [-1931] - married 1911, estranged 1928, died Nov 1931
daughter Mary Elaine Runyon McCann [b. 1914] - institutionalized 1947 to at least 1998
grandson Richard Runyon McCann of Indiana
son Damon Runyon, Jr. [1920-68]
"Father's Footsteps: The Story of Damon Runyon by His Son" [1954] by Damon Runyon, Jr.
http://www.amazon.com/Fathers-Footsteps-Story-Damon-Runyon/dp/B000JJJC6K/
http://www.amazon.com/Fathers-Footsteps-Story-Damon-Runyon/dp/B000J0K6VE/
DamonRunyonFathersFootsteps.jpg
granddaughter D’Ann Runyon Van Arsdall
grandson Damon Runyon III
second wife Patrice Amati del Grande Runyon Coffin [] - married July 1932, widowed 1946
willed her their house on Hibiscus Island in Florida
best friend mobster accountant Otto Berman [1891-1935]
close friend & fellow New York sportswriter William Barclay 'Bat' Masterson [1853-1921]
old friend & legendary flier Eddie Rickenbacker [1890-1973]
friend & Broadway columnist Walter Winchell [1897-1972]
not to be confused with actor Damon Runyan of Toronto, Canada
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation [est. 1946 by Walter Winchell]
Runyon Indoor 5K at Yankee Stadium [Aug 2013 = #5]
L i n k s
Damon Runyon entry at Wikipedia
search books on keywords 'Damon Runyon' {returns 240+ titles} at Amazon
browse Damon Runyon Bookstore {only 7 titles} at Amazon
Damon Runyon credits [1935-2009] at Internet Broadway Database
Damon Runyon credits [1924-2005] at Internet Movie Database
search DVDs on 'Damon Runyon' {returns 40+ titles} at Amazon
http://www.denverpressclub.org/events/runyon
http://www.michaelormsby.com/pressclub.3/people.html
Damon Runyon Repertory Theatre Company [est. 1998] in Downtown Pueblo, Colorado
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/362086%7C19105/Damon-Runyon-Profile.html
here on the Damon Runyon [1884-1946] Page at Spirit of America Bookstore
top of page • short profile • primary fiction works • other works • movies & TV
plays, other media • works about Damon Runyon • family & friends • links
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