Edwin Balmer
Edwin Balmer was an influential American writer and editor, born on July 25, 1883, in Chicago, Illinois. He pursued higher education at Northwestern University and Harvard University before embarking on a career in journalism with the Chicago Tribune in 1903. Balmer rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the editor of The Red Book Magazine in 1927, where he focused on short fiction and novels aimed at a female readership. His editorial tenure included innovative features like a radio drama adaptation called "Magazine of the Air." Though he had notable successes, Balmer also recognized the need for modernization in the magazine industry.
In addition to his editorial work, Balmer was a prolific novelist and short-story writer, most renowned for his collaborations with Phillip Wylie on the science fiction novels "When Worlds Collide" and "After Worlds Collide," which revolve around the threat of a giant asteroid. The first of these works was later adapted into a classic 1951 film. Balmer also contributed to the early American scientific detective genre with his partnership with William MacHarg, and his short stories received recognition from literary awards. He passed away on March 21, 1959, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence the science fiction genre.
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Edwin Balmer
Fiction Writer
- Born: July 26, 1883
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: March 21, 1959
Biography
Edwin Balmer was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 25, 1883. After attending Northwestern University and Harvard University, in 1903 he became a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. He became editor for several magazines before taking his primary post as editor of The Red Book Magazine (now Redbook) in 1927. During Balmer’s time at its head, Redbook was known primarily as a vehicle for short original fiction, condensed novels, and reprinted classics targeted at a female audience. Among the many writers it encouraged was Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Redbook also had a “Magazine of the Air” version presenting radio dramas during the early 1930’s. Although occasionally capturing a news story such as a 1931 scoop regarding the Spanish succession remarked on by Time Magazine, even Balmer acknowledged the format needed updating, as his publication seemed to appeal only to “the little old ladies in Kokomo.” Accordingly, after 22 years, in 1949 he was moved into an associate publisher position. He died on March 21, 1959 in North Tarreytown, New York, leaving a daughter, artist and philanthropist, Ruth B. McChesney.
As well as acting as a reporter and editor, Balmer was a prolific short-story writer and novelist who also tried his hand at screenwriting. He is most famous for his collaborations with Phillip Wylie on the Bronsome Beta series, better known as the 1933 and 1934 novels When Worlds Collide and After Worlds Collide, about the planet being threatened by a giant asteroid. In 1951, When Worlds Collide was made into a classic science fiction movie featuring Barbara Rush.
Although remembered primarily for his science fiction novels with Wylie, Balmer’s early collaboration with William MacHarg on the Luther Trant stales (1909) are considered by many to be pioneering examples of the American scientific detective story. Balmer also wrote mystery novels and short stories under his own name, some of which were adapted into early films. His short story “Settled Down” was mentioned by the 1921 O. Henry Awards Committee as having placed high on the list. Despite his long service in the editing world, because most contemporary end-of-the-world stories can trace their lineage back to When Worlds Collide, Balmer will undoubtedly be remembered best for his collaborations with Wylie.