Seven Keys to Baldpate

by Earl Derr Biggers

1913

Seven Keys to Baldpate is an early novel by Earl Derr Biggers, best known for creating Charlie Chan. This 1913 novel is engaging in style and its clever premise leads to a surprise ending. The novel was made into a play, written and staged by no less than George M. Cohan. The first stage play opened in New York in 1913 and proved to be Cohan's most popular play. Cohan went on to star in the leading character role in the first silent film version in 1917. He reprised the leading role of Billy Magee on stage in 1935.

Seven Keys to Baldpate made its way to film many times, in both silent and talking pictures. This edition of the book includes a photo frontispiece and three internal photos from the 1925 silent “photo play” by Paramount Pictures. Sound film versions were made in 1929, 1935, and 1947 and then again in 1983 under the title The House of Long Shadows starring Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine.

Book publisher: New York: Grossett & Dunlap Publishers
Book copyright: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1913
Book edition: Photo play edition from the 1925 Paramount Pictures movie Pages: 408 (432 bound pages)
Size: 5″ x 7-5/8″
Dust jacket: No
Illustrations: B&W photo frontispiece and three internal photos from the photo play
Digital edition © 2005 Curtis Philips. All Rights Reserved.

Seven Keys to Baldpate

by Earl Derr Biggers

Leave a Comment