Jerome Odlum Explained

Jerome Odlum (August 6, 1905 – March 2, 1954) was an American writer.

Odlum was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[1]

He served a term in prison for forgery.^[2] After his time in prison, he became a reporter and then managing editor of The Minneapolis News.^[3]

Odlum was married in Minneapolis in 1937.^[4] His wife filed for divorce in 1939.^[5]

He published a novel, Each Dawn I Die, in 1938. It was adapted to a film of the same name in 1939. Odlum then became a screenwriter. He was under contract to Paramount at $2,500 per month in 1939. He wrote several more novels as well as film screenplays.

In 1952, it was reported that he would be writing for television.^[6]

Jerome Odlum died on March 2, 1954.^[7]

Works

Books

• Each Dawn I Die. Indianapolis; New York: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1938.^{[8] [9] [10]}
• Nine Lives Are Not Enough. New York: Sheridan House, 1940.
• Lady Sourdough. New York: Macmillan Co, 1941. By Frances Ella Fitz; as told to Jerome Odlum.
• Night and No Moon. New York: Howell, Soskin, 1942.
• The Morgue Is Always Open. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1944.^[11]
• The Mirabilis Diamond. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1945.
• Private Detective. Sydney: Invincible Press, 194-?

Films

• The Oklahoma Kid (uncredited) (1939)
• Each Dawn I Die (from the novel by) (1939)
• Dust Be My Destiny (novel) (1939)
• Nine Lives Are Not Enough (from the novel by) (1941)
• I Was Framed (idea) (1942)
• Crime Doctor (adaptation) (1943)
• A Scream in the Dark (novel "The Morgue is Always Open") (1943)
• Marine Raiders (contributor to screenplay construction - uncredited) (1944)
• Strange Affair (screenplay) (1944)
• In Old Sacramento (original story) (1946)
• Last Frontier Uprising (story) (1947)
• Cover Up (original screenplay) (1949)
• Song of India (story) (1949)
• Never Trust a Gambler (screenplay) / (story) (1951)
• Highway Dragnet (screenplay) (1954)
• The Fast and the Furious (screenplay) (1954)
• The Strange Affair (uncredited) (1968)

Television

• Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) (1 episode: Cover-Up (original screenplay) (1955)

References

1. News: 1954-03-04. Rites Set Tomorrow for Jerome Odlum. 5. The Los Angeles Times. 2021-02-28.
2. "Pictures: Jerome Odlum Jammed." Variety. Los Angeles Vol. 146, Iss. 6, (Apr 15, 1942): 20. Via Proquest.
3. News: 1954-03-05. JEROME ODLUM, 48, NOVELIST, IS DEAD; Author of Each, Dawn I Die' Also a Film Writer -- Once Minneapolis News Chief. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-01-03. 0362-4331.
4. News: 1939-12-12. Jerome Odlum's Success Spoiled Him, Wife Says. 3. The St. Louis Star and Times. 2021-02-28.
5. "Pictures: Mrs. Jerome Odlum's $100 Alimony Demand." Variety. Vol. 137, Iss. 2, (Dec 20, 1939): 6. Via Proquest.
6. News: 1952-09-01. In This Corner with Cedric Adams. 52. The Minneapolis Star. 2021-02-28.
7. News: 1954-03-05. Jerome Odlum Dies. 18. The Owensboro Messenger. 2021-02-27.
8. News: 1938-04-10. Prison Novel. 53. Star Tribune. 2021-02-28.
9. News: 1938-05-14. The Crime Sheet. 54. The Province. 2021-02-28.
10. News: 1939-01-12. In This Corner with Cedric Adams. 11. The Minneapolis Star. 2021-02-28.
11. News: 1944-06-04. Crime & Cowboys. 13. Star Tribune. 2021-02-28.