Frank Gruber, renowned as one of the "kings of pulp fiction", was born in Elmer, Minnesota. Following his stint in the army, he embarked on a variety of writing endeavors, including serving as a trade journal editor and correspondence school teacher. During the early 1930s, he received his breakthrough by crafting "quickie" detective stories for the esteemed "pulps", publications that specialized in short stories across genres such as westerns and detective stories, characterized by their action-packed plots.
Gruber's creative output was marked by the introduction of intriguing characters, including the cunning Johnny Fletcher and his trusty sidekick, the formidable strongman Sam Gragg. He also created the more widely recognized Simon Lash series. Nevertheless, his enduring legacy lies in his significant contributions to the western genre.
Throughout his illustrious career, Gruber penned numerous western novels, many of which were later adapted for the silver screen. He also wrote several original screenplays, predominantly in the western genre. As television emerged, Gruber transitioned his talents to teleplays and produced over 200, primarily in the western genre.
Notably, Gruber was the creator of the television series Tales of Wells Fargo (1957),The Texan (1958),and Shotgun Slade (1959). Additionally, he authored a comprehensive biography of the legendary western writer Zane Grey. Gruber married Lois Mahood in 1931 and had one son.
One distinctive aspect of Gruber's writing was his tendency to center his pieces around a specific subject, such as dog shows or antique furniture, and his works often contained fascinating information.
