Pulp magazines have influenced writers, artists, film directors, software developers, and countless others over the years. Our “PulpFest Profiles” focus on contemporary creators who have drawn inspiration from these rough-paper fiction magazines.
2023 marks the 100th year anniversary of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. This month I have the pleasure of speaking with Cathy Wilbanks, Vice President of Operations for the company. As a fan of Burroughs’ work this interview is a special treat for me.
Sara Light-Waller (SLW): Let’s get started with some basics. Cathy, you’re the Vice President of Operations for Edgar Rice Burroughs (ERB), Inc. in Tarzana, CA. Please tell us something about your history with the company.
Cathy Wilbanks (CW): My mother, Janet Mann, started working at ERB, Inc. in 1976 as a temporary secretary. She stayed on for over 40 years.
During my mother’s early years with the company, Marion Burroughs — wife of Hulbert Burroughs, Edgar Rice Burrough’s son — was in charge of the company. I started working for ERB, Inc. when I was still in high school and worked part-time with Danton Burroughs — the author’s grandson — inventorying and organizing materials in the warehouse. I remember being blown away by the history, art, comics, and diversity of Burrough’s books. He wrote over 80 novels in many different genres.
In my early twenties, I got married and started having children. I got a Bachelor’s degree and then a Master’s degree, allowing me to teach first grade. I loved teaching. It gave me a creative outlet and helped me feel like I was making a difference, one child at a time.
When I came back to work at ERB, Inc. in 2001, I continued working with Danton Burroughs. Although I am no longer a teacher, I still feel I am able to touch the future by pushing Edgar Rice Burroughs’ amazing works forward, and reaching more people as we do so.
SLW: What does your role as Vice President of Operations involve?
CW: As V.P. of Operations, I juggle many responsibilities ranging from convention planning to attending licensing meetings and fighting infringements. We are a small corporation with only six full-time employees. The small office environment is nice because we work closely together and everyone on the team has to wear many hats. Each day is different and every day I’m happy to be here.
SLW: Were you always a Burroughs fan?
CW: Honestly, no. But I was definitely a reader, I loved Nancy Drew and Steven King. One day as I was working in the warehouse I opened up the novel Tarzan of the Apes. From that moment on, I was hooked. Although I haven’t read all of Burroughs’ books yet, I have read a large number of them. I love the fact that he wrote for entertainment and with humor. His books are filled with exciting adventures and most of them take place in amazing settings. They revolve around fascinating characters who transform in unexpected ways. There’s something in those books for everyone.
SLW: Tarzana — you hear the name and it just doesn’t connect at first. Did Edgar Rice Burroughs found the town? Please tell us the story.
CW: This fact always entertains me. When we go to conventions we’re often asked about our offices. When I tell people they’re located in Tarzana, a light bulb goes on. “Ah! Tarzana!” they‘ll say. Then they‘ll ask, “Which came first, Tarzan or Tarzana?”
Really, it’s a chicken-and-egg scenario. In 1919, Edgar Rice Burroughs moved to Southern California to be near Hollywood. After the first “Tarzan” movie was such a huge hit, Burroughs bought 550 acres from General Harrison Gray Otis, the publisher of the Los Angeles Times. After that, he lived in a ranch-style home up in the hills. In 1927 Burroughs had an office built on Ventura Boulevard. He’d ride his horse to work and it was at that office where he wrote his books and worked on corporate business.
At the time, the area was called Runnymede. The town was growing rapidly and eventually, it needed a post office. But it wasn’t the only Runnymede in California. There was also one in the north. In 1929, the community voted to change the name of the southern California Runnymede to Tarzana in honor of Edgar Rice Burroughs. As far as I know, Tarzan is the only superhero with two towns named after him — Tarzana, CA, and Tarzan, TX.
SLW: Recently, ERB, Inc. celebrated the centennial of its founding. Please tell us something about the festivities.
CW: In today’s world it’s rare for a corporation to celebrate 100 years. After much deliberation, our team decided to mark the occasion throughout 2023 in various ways. We had a fantastic panel at WonderCon in Anaheim at the end of March. There we shared how things came to be, including many of the highlights of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ life and genius. We had approximately 100 people show up and each attendee received a collectible coin created by Goliath Coins. Two weeks later, we had an open house in Tarzana where fans got a tour of the offices, watched a premiere of a new video featuring tributes from celebrities and Burroughs fans, and received a goodie bag containing some collectibles. Over 70 people showed up for the event and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
We are planning a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July, and several panels at PulpFest 2023 in August. It will be part of the convention’s second ERBFest. We’re helping the convention with ERBFest, along with Henry G. Franke of the Burroughs Bibliophiles.
Later this summer, we’ll be releasing two giant omnibuses collecting the first novels in each of Burroughs’ major series. These books will both celebrate the centennial and serve as an entry point into the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe.
SLW: It seems a big responsibility, to carry Burroughs’ legacy forward for contemporary readers while also keeping the franchise true to its roots. How does your team do it?
CW: Edgar Rice Burroughs never minced words about the fact that he wrote for entertainment. He provided his heroes with the timeless virtues of love, courage, honor, and friendship. He wrote about self-discovery and fulfilling our potential. And he also wrote about kindness towards animals and respect for the environment. We do our best to keep those principles alive in our new works as we bring Burroughs and his creations forward into the future. This includes our licensed properties and our new books, comics, and other merchandise.
SLW: I know that ERB, Inc. has been releasing some new graphic novels. Please tell us about your comic lines.
CW: We published our first comic book in 2021. It was called Jane Porter: The Primordial Peril. This one-shot issue was crowd-sourced on Kickstarter and launched our ERB. Universe Illustrated Epics comic book and graphic novel program. The program is headed by Mike Wolfer, our design and production specialist. Mike works closely with our Director of Publishing, Christopher Paul Carey, to ensure that the new stories are faithful to Burrough’s original works.
Last year, we released a graphic novel sequel called Jane Porter and the City of Fire. We’re now working on a trade paperback of The Moon Maid: The Three Keys and a brand-new graphic novel, Victory Harben: Ghosts of Omos. Our model is to fund the production on Kickstarter where we offer lots of exclusives like variant covers, trading cards, postcards, t-shirts, and other merchandise. Following the Kickstarter release, we make our Illustrated Epics available in mass-market editions directly through our website.
Years ago, our company launched an online comic program which is still active and available. We work with writers and artists all around the world to create visual representations of the twenty-six storylines written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Three graphic novels were published through this program. Dark Horse issued two of them — Tarzan of the Apes and Tarzan: The New Adventures. The third was published by Cedar Run Publications and is called I am a Barbarian.
SLW: What is your very favorite part of working with ERB, Inc.?
CW: That’s a tough one. There are so many parts of my job that I enjoy but in different ways. I love speaking with fans, especially the hardcore folks because they know so much about Edgar Rice Burroughs. I also love the fact that his works continue to inspire. Burroughs was a true American success story and was the first author to incorporate himself. I hope that people are inspired by his works and through them realize that you can accomplish anything if you only try hard enough.
SLW: I understand you have an archive at the ERB, Inc. offices. Please tell us something about that.
CW: Years ago, I was conversing with a colleague about my work at ERB, Inc. and our archives. He looked at me and stated, “Your company is a unicorn!” He knew that everything in our warehouse was a treasure, each piece having had a role in the corporation’s history.
Our archives include books in over thirty-five languages and files and contracts from deals made all over the world. The archives also include an amazing amount of historic correspondence.
Jim Sullos, President of ERB, Inc. calls our facilities one-third library, one-third museum, and one-third offices.
SLW: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
CW: We lost Edgar Rice Burroughs’s grandson, Danton, in May of 2008. The entire staff was devastated by the loss. Danton had such hope for the future and brought joy and vision to the company. After he passed away, we all wondered where to go from there. Coincidentally, Jim Sullos started as the company’s president that same day.
We began tackling it all one day at a time. Slowly, we made our careful way forwards. While I wish Danton was still here, it’s my hope that he would be proud of what we’ve accomplished. Limits are set only in our minds and I know we can inspire the world with Edgar Rice Burroughs’ work, especially with the team that we have in place. My job is everything to me. The office is my home, and this fills me with hope for what is to come.
SLW: Thank you, Cathy, for the stirring interview. To everybody at ERB, Inc. — keep up the great work. Here’s to another 100 years!
Our featured image is Frank Frazetta’s cover art for the 1974 Ace Books edition of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ The Moon Men. The second segment of the author’s “Moon Trilogy,” we’ll be celebrating the series’ centennial at this year’s PulpFest and ERBFest.
The Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. offices in Tarzana, California.
Jane Porter and the City of Fire is a 72-page graphic novel written by Mike Wolfer and illustrated by Miriana Puglia. The cover art is by Miriana Puglia and colored by Periya Pillai.
Cathy Mann Wilbanks is Vice President of Operations of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Tarzana, California. She joined the company in 1984. She is now responsible for all internal operations of the organization and continues to assist with the marketing of the many fantastic creations of that master of adventure, Edgar Rice Burroughs. You’ll find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Cathy will be appearing live on stage at PulpFest 2023 with Christopher Paul Carey, Director of Publishing for Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. It’s part of this year’s ERBFest, only at PulpFest 2023.
A professional journalist and illustrator with over thirty years of experience, Sara Light-Waller is an accomplished new-pulp fiction author/illustrator with three books out and more on the way. She is also the winner of the 2020 Cosmos Prize for her illustrated short story, “Battle at Neptune.” A huge pulp fan, Sara is especially fond of science fiction pulps. She is also a member of the PulpFest organizing committee and a regular contributor to our website and The Pulpster.
Since its first publication in Argosy All-Story Weekly in 1925, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ The Moon Men has been reprinted many times. Our featured image is Frank Frazetta’s cover art for the Ace Books edition, published in 1974.
A new edition of Burroughs’ “Moon Trilogy” is forthcoming from ERB Books. By special arrangement with the publisher, PulpFest fans and attendees can get $20 off The Centennial Edition of Burroughs’ “Moon Trilogy.” When placing your order, add coupon code CHOMKO20 to your shopping cart to get the discount.
You can also use this coupon on At the Earth’s Core, Tarzan of the Apes, and the Standard Edition or the Deluxe Leather Edition of Robert B. Zeuschner’s Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Bibliography. Order all five books and save $100!
Artwork © Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Trademarks Tarzan®, Jane Porter®, The Moon Maid™, The Moon Men™, Victory Harben™, Edgar Rice Burroughs®, Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe™, ERB Universe™, and others owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Associated logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Used by Permission.
