George Randolph Chester
George Randolph Chester was an American writer and journalist born in 1869, likely in Hamilton County, Ohio, though he preferred not to disclose specific details of his origins. His early life was marked by hardship, as he entered the workforce at a young age without formal education, taking on various jobs such as plumbing and cooking. Chester began his journalism career in 1899 with the Detroit News and later became the Sunday editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, where he gained recognition for his writing, which was syndicated in numerous newspapers.
Chester's literary work is notable for its contribution to the rags-to-riches genre, featuring colorful characters like schemers and confidence artists, which resonated with the cultural tastes of his time. His first short story, "Strikebreaker," published in 1904, allowed him to pursue writing full-time. In the 1920s, he transitioned to Hollywood, where he wrote screenplays, including adaptations of "Black Beauty" and his own "Son of Wallingford." Chester passed away in 1924 from a heart attack, leaving behind a legacy as a successful writer whose stories provide insight into American business and economic history.
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George Randolph Chester
Writer
- Born: 1869
- Birthplace: Hamilton County, Ohio
- Died: February 26, 1924
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
George Randolph Chester’s origins are something of a mystery, although most sources state that he was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1869. As an adult, Chester declined to be specific about the place of his birth. His childhood was arduous, and he entered the workforce at a very early age without the benefit of any formal schooling. In his early years, he worked as a plumber, an engineer, a cook, a salesman, and a factory hand. In 1899 he began a career in journalism; he was a reporter for the Detroit News. He later became an editor and then the Sunday editor at the Cincinnati Enquirer. He was married to Elizabeth Bethermel; this marriage produced two sons, but the couple were divorced in 1911, and in the same year, and prior to the formal dissolution of his first marriage, Chester married Lillian de Rimo, who became his collaborator.
As the Sunday editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Chester’s writing responsibilities diversified, and he began writing pieces that were taken up for syndication in twenty-four additional papers. He became quite widely known, and when his first short story, “Strikebreaker,” was published in the September, 1904, issue of McClure’s Magazine, he was able to devote himself to creative writing as a full- time vocation. His personal story of rising from lowly beginnings to become a self-made man complemented the popular tastes of his day, in which rags-to-riches stories were immensely popular. Chester’s particular contribution to this genre was the creation of vivid, picaresque characters such as get-rich-quick schemers and confidence men.
In the 1920’s, Chester and his wife relocated to Hollywood to write and direct screenplays. Two screenplays were actually produced as films, both in 1921, and both list de Rimo as collaborator: an adaptation of the novel Black Beauty and a film version of the popular Son of Wallingford, one of Chester’s own stories.
Chester’s final series of stories, The Adventures of Izzy Iskovitch, were serialized in the Saturday Evening Post. They capitalized on the popular fascination with the exotic life and questionable morals of Hollywood’s seamier side. On February 26, 1924, Chester died suddenly of a heart attack, a few months before publication of the final installment. He was immensely popular and successful in his own time, and is now remembered as one of the best writers of his genre, a creator of satirical potboilers and humorous, if devious, characters. His short stories survive as a chronicle of American business and economic history.