John K. Butler, a native of California, was a prolific writer of B-pictures and pulp fiction. He is best known for creating the memorable character of Steven Middleton Knight, also known as Steve Midnight, a cab driving hero who navigated the seedy streets of Depression-era Los Angeles.
Butler's stories appeared in popular pulps of the 1930s and 1940s, including Black Mask, Detective Fiction Weekly, Double Detective, and Dime Detective. A lifelong Californian, Butler was born in Auburn and worked various jobs before concentrating on a writing career in Hollywood in the late 1920s.
He gained a foothold at Universal as a lowly reader during the sound transition period and went on to write over 50 B-movies, half of which were westerns. In 1942, he moved to Republic Pictures, where he wrote screenplays for Roy Rogers and other western stars.
Butler was a true California '49'er at heart, often donning cowboy regalia and riding his horse Prince through Griffith Park. He would regale anyone he met on the trail with tales of his adventures, and it didn't take much prodding to get him to spin a yarn while wearing his ten-gallon hat.
Tragically, Butler suffered a broken back during a ride in 1964 and passed away at the age of 56 later that same year. Despite his untimely death, Butler left behind a legacy of memorable characters and stories that continue to entertain readers and film enthusiasts to this day.
Person biography:
John K. Butler was born in Auburn, California, and spent his early years working various jobs before pursuing a career in writing. He began his writing career in the late 1920s, working as a lowly reader at Universal Studios during the sound transition period.
Butler's writing career spanned over three decades, during which he wrote over 50 B-movies, half of which were westerns. He was a prolific writer and his stories appeared in popular pulps of the 1930s and 1940s, including Black Mask, Detective Fiction Weekly, Double Detective, and Dime Detective.
Butler was a true California '49'er at heart, and his love of the American West was reflected in his writing. He often donned cowboy regalia and rode his horse Prince through Griffith Park, regaling anyone he met on the trail with tales of his adventures.
Despite his untimely death at the age of 56, Butler left behind a legacy of memorable characters and stories that continue to entertain readers and film enthusiasts to this day.
