In early 1905, readers of story papers were introduced to a brand new weekly from the dime novel powerhouse Street & Smith — ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. After flipping it open, here’s what they read:
There has never been a time when the boys of this great country took so keen an interest in all manly and health-giving sports as they do today. As proof of this, witness the record-breaking throngs that attend college struggles on the gridiron, as well as athletic and baseball games, and other tests of endurance and skill. In a multitude of other channels this love for the “life strenuous” is making itself manifest, so that, as a nation, we are rapidly forging to the front as seekers of honest sport. Recognizing this “handwriting on the wall,” we have concluded that the time has arrived to give this vast army of young enthusiasts a publication devoted exclusively to invigorating outdoor life. We feel we are justified in anticipating a warm response from our sturdy American boys, who are sure to revel in the stirring phases of sport and adventure, through which our characters pass from week to week.
ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY was home to the adventures of Jack Lightfoot, a young athlete cut very much in the mold of the extremely popular Frank Merriwell. A boys’ story-paper that cost a nickel, the stories were the work of John H. Whitson and Frederick W. Davis, both hiding behind the house name of Maurice Stevens. Davis penned just two of the stories, while Whitson wrote the rest.
The Street & Smith story paper would run for a bit over a year — lasting for 56 weekly issues — before being consolidated into TIP TOP WEEKLY in 1906.
According to the “Characters in This Story” box that appeared in each issue of ALL-SPORTS, “Jack Lightfoot was the best all-round athlete in Cranford or vicinity, a lad clear of eye, clean of speech, and, after he had conquered a few of his faults, possessed of a faculty for doing things while others were talking, that by degrees caused him to be looked upon as the natural leader in all the sports Young America delights in — a boy who in learning to conquer himself put the power into his hands to wrest victory from others.”
The stories themselves were a mix of sports stories — Jack and his mates overcome all odds to defeat a competitive rival — or action adventures, usually involving travel. For the 24th issue of ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY — dated July 22, 1905 — Whitson penned one of the latter. The story was called “Jack Lightfoot’s Mad Auto Dash,” or, “Speeding at a Ninety Mile Clip.”
Now for those members of PulpFest who travel to the convention by car, “Speeding at a Ninety Mile Clip” might not seem like all that much. This is particularly true for those who drive to Mars on one of the interstates. But it was sure clipping along, back in 1905!
More than a century after Jack Lightfoot embarked on his “Mad Auto Dash,” pulp collector Jennifer DiGiacomo undertook her own Trans-Continental Cannonball Dash. Setting out on April 3, 2021, often driving at “Much More Than a Ninety Mile Clip,” Jen attempted to complete a solo Los Angeles to New York City run in under 36 hours, stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks.
On Friday, August 20, join PulpFest 2021 and Jennifer DiGiacomo for “Jen Lightfoot and Her Mad Auto Dash” — tales and time-lapsed video from an adventure that would make Pat Savage even bronzer with envy. Our presentation will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh – Cranberry, beginning at 10:40 PM.
Jennifer DiGiacomo is a digital technologist, having created the first online reality series (AOL’s THE STARTUP), and a writer, winning the Silver Telly Award for THE P.O.B. CONSPIRACY. More recently, she worked on BREAKING BAD and BETTER CALL SAUL for AMC, and CEREBUS IN HELL? with Dave Sim. From 1982 – 85, Jennifer was the publisher of SAVAGE SOCIETY OF BRONZE, a Doc Savage fanzine. Currently, she resides in New York City and has several more writing and publishing efforts planned.
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As Walter Baumhofer’s Doc and Monk head off on a mad auto dash through the streets of New York, we’ll turn our attention to the subject at hand. ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY ran for 56 issues, from February 11, 1905 – March 3, 1906. Pictured here is #24, dated July 22, 1905. The 32-page featured novel was “Jack Lightfoot’s Mad Auto Dash” or “Speeding at a Ninety Mile Clip.” The cover artist is not known.
