if it weren't for your fathers books,hotrod mag,rod&custom,and an occasional playboy my reading level wouldn't be what it is today! for a lot of us your dads fiction in our youth has become reality to day. better yet his books were a part of our youth....................
When I was in my early teens I didn't read much until my mom got me a copy of Hot Rod. I'd come home from school and go right to my room and read that book until I was finished. Then I read Crash Club and Street Rod. That was around 1960. In the '80's I met your Dad at the KKOA meet in Holland Mich. What a thrill that was. One of the few time I ever got somebody's signature. Now I have several copies of all of them. Great books.
I found Hot Rod in my high school library in the early 70's. It was the first book I found that I really wanted to read. I didn't care for reading much until I found that book. I have spent my whole life involved in the old car hobby. Your dad's book brings back great memories even to this day. I have have picked up some of his books over the years and treasure them. Thanks for getting a kid interested in reading and Hot Rods.
I too read your dad's books. I like everyone else, thoroughly enjoyed them and continue to read them. When ever I see a copy I buy it. A few years ago I ran across something on the Internet, I think it was something your sister, if I remember correctly, had put on. It had something about sending name and address to receive a card in the mail to be able to get republished books. But I never heard anything again about it. Anyway good luck with the new endeavor. Ron
Hi all. My dad gasser john originally read the books as child. He recently gave his grandson (now 2) a complete set of the new prints. Ms. Felsen made each book special with a hand written note to my son on each inside cover. She commented on each story and shared words of wisdom for my son. These books will always hold a special place in our family.
Just received the complete set for my son. He's 9 and we read Hot Rod together, he loved it. Holly signed them as well and also sent a nice note on the receipt. Definately a class act Holly!! The books will be a Xmas present for both of us I'm sure. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I'm 69 and grew up reading your Dad's books - just placed an order with my son for my Christmas present this year - gotta have that boxed set to read and pass on to my grandkids.
A treat for all you Henry Gregor Felsen fans. Sept 1950 illus by Frank Borth. This 1950 Henry Gregor Felsen graphic novel was serialized in Treasure Chest & was distributed in parochial schools. It was published biweekly throughout the school year until the 1960s, when it became monthly and doubled the number of pages. It was available solely by student subscription, and delivered in bulk to classrooms. Best of luck in finding an original complete run today... & thanks to the American Catholic History Research Canter for preserving this Felsen series.
These are GREAT! Shows what a natural talent like H.G. Felsen can do regardless of the medium he works in. Thanks for sharing, rbantique! EDIT: I wish it was possible to pair some of Robert Williams' artwork with H.G. Felsen's writing.
Read them in elementary school in the early 70s . Never forgot his name. Would love to read them all again.
The Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact was created by Dayton Ohio publisher George Pflaum. Also note the panel about a "rat race" !
After this episode Chucks is sent to live on a farm away from all this excitement. In 1954 Felsen pens another series with Chuck racing stock cars which can be viewed starting with post # 2366 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950s-hot-rod-comic-art.342215/page-79#post-9192667
Very cool stuff. Thanks for sharing! My parents sent my dog to live on a farm... Does this mean Chuck and my dog are together?
I was 11 years old , back in 66 when somebody introduced me to the books, sad they aren't required reading in schools today.
Each generation of kids faces the same and different challenges, social structures and world at large. They were a bit dated even by the time I read them as a youngster. While the core principles of learning, trying and failing then keep trying until you succeed along with respect for rules and hard work will be timeless, each generation also deserves a book of their own time. I would not have been nearly as engaged if it was a similar growing up story set in the late 1800s.
So glad this thread got resurrected! I was vaguely familiar with Felsen's fiction story books but it was his 'text book' Here is Your Hobby, Car Customizing that was a key source of information on Ed Roth's Mysterion for my reproduction of the car. The photos in his book were unavailable anywhere else in the record. Example; I never knew Ed used a '62 Plymouth headlight door for the car's big headlight pod.
In high school we were taken to the school library and had an opportunity to pick out a book of our choice. we were in a line going along a table of books. i was about 5 or 6 places away from my turn and had my eye on a book "Hot Rod". Hoping it would be overlooked by the students in front of me. When i got close enough i reached in front of a couple students, but i got it. Took it home and read it cover to cover. Many years later i met your father at a show and put 2 x 2 together that he was the author, and bought his autographed set of 6 books. Have since read them all and still have them. Your father was a great author. You should be proud.
Those are the only books that I read cover to cover. I met him at the KKOA event in Holland Mi..and got his autograph, I was just thrilled.
Gosh, I remember way back in 1961 you had to be on a waiting list to check out HOT ROD at our high school library. Those were good days to be a teenager.
Had the pleasure of meeting Mr Felson at he SEMA show a number of years ago, I bought this box set of his books, which he autographed for me.
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