Frank H. Spearman
Encyclopedia
Frank Hamilton Spearman was an American
author
.
He was known for his books in the Western fiction
genre and especially for his fiction and non-fiction works on the topic of railroads
.
Although he wrote prolifically about railroads, his actual career was that of a bank
president in McCook, Nebraska
and did not himself work for a railroad. Spearman was also a devout Roman Catholic convert and held political views best described as proto-libertarian
, both of which beliefs are also reflected in his novels.
His western novel Whispering Smith
- the title character of which was modeled on real-life Union Pacific Railroad
detectives Timothy Keliher and Joe Lefors
(though the name of the titular hero was apparently derived from another UPRR policeman, James L. "Whispering" Smith) - was made into a movie
on six separate occasions, three silent film
s in 1915, 1926, and 1927, with later versions in 1935, 1948 and 1951. In 1961, NBC
aired twenty episode of the television series Whispering Smith
, starring Audie Murphy
, a film star and World War II
hero in the title role, and Guy Mitchell
as detective George Romack.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
He was known for his books in the Western fiction
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
genre and especially for his fiction and non-fiction works on the topic of railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
.
Although he wrote prolifically about railroads, his actual career was that of a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
president in McCook, Nebraska
McCook, Nebraska
McCook is a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Red Willow County...
and did not himself work for a railroad. Spearman was also a devout Roman Catholic convert and held political views best described as proto-libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, both of which beliefs are also reflected in his novels.
His western novel Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith is a 1948 western film starring Alan Ladd as a railroad detective assigned to stop a gang of train robbers.It is based on a novel by Frank H. Spearman and a previous 1926 film adaptation starring H.B...
- the title character of which was modeled on real-life Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Police Department
The Union Pacific Police Department is the law enforcement agency of the Union Pacific Railroad. Its headquarters is in Omaha, Nebraska and its current Chief of Police is Dennis Jenson.-Jurisdiction and duties:...
detectives Timothy Keliher and Joe Lefors
Joe Lefors
Joe Lefors was a lawman in the closing years of the Old West. He is best known for the arrest of gunman Tom Horn in 1903 for the alleged murder of 14 year old sheepherder Willie Nickell, which has since come into question, and it has long been believed that Lefors falsified evidence helping...
(though the name of the titular hero was apparently derived from another UPRR policeman, James L. "Whispering" Smith) - was made into a movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
on six separate occasions, three silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s in 1915, 1926, and 1927, with later versions in 1935, 1948 and 1951. In 1961, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
aired twenty episode of the television series Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith (TV series)
Whispering Smith is a short-lived American Western series that aired on NBC. Based on a 1948 movie, the series stars Audie Murphy as Tom "Whispering" Smith, a police detective in Denver, Colorado...
, starring Audie Murphy
Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
, a film star and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
hero in the title role, and Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia...
as detective George Romack.