Prolific author of pulp fiction, such as the "Candid Jones" series (1937-41), "Daffy Dill", "John the Cobra" and "Owl Eye Venner", published by Detective Fiction Weekly, Argosy, Dime Detective and others. He also penned more serious novels from 1936 onward, and began writing stories and screenplays for Hollywood starting in 1937. Came to Hollywood as writer/director, and worked briefly for Republic (1946-49) and 20th Century Fox (1950-53). Later known primarily for his best-selling Hollywood 'expose' novel "The Oscar".