DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Imagination!, v. 1, issue 6, whole no. 6, March 1938

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Imagination!, v. 1, issue 6, whole no. 6, March 1938

Page 8

8
  "A Charming Interview" with <signed> Robert Block  (by ROBERT BLOCH)   When I recvd a copy of IMAGINATION! thru the mails I opend it with avid interest.  After considerable & costly correspondence I located a lunatic afflicted with a knowledge of Ackermanese, & Exasperanto,  & had the accurst thing translated into ancient (1938) English.  I was amazed.
   Then a Mr. Ackerman, a gent of whom you may've heard (too much) -- tis rumord round the Imagi-nation that he's engaged to "Madge"--askt me to do an article.  "Write as U nevr wrote bfor:" he requested--"Write good."
  Well that confronted me with several problems:  1, Should I write the article in Esperanto? or in the more obscure dialect of dinky? --better known as Esperunto; 2, How much should I charge for the job--& just how fat a chance did I stand to collect it?; 3, What kind of an epic was this to be?!
  After solving Holler-Bloch-en's dilemma (by forgetting it) I finally decided to do an interview.  But with whom?  I wanted to make an exceptional job.
  Upon scrutinizing the entire science fiction & fantasy fields (& trying to keep from lafing while I did so) I quickly came upon the one name that was pre-eminent, outstanding, paramount & MGM.  Obviously the most famous figure of all was ROBERT BLOCH.
  (Applause.)
  Now it wasn't easy for me to interview brother Bloch as he is a very shy & modest fellow.  Not exactly retiring, tho--he never sleeps.  But in order to meet this bashful wonder-man I was forced to disguise myself so that he wouldnt recognize me.  This I did by undergoing a slight surgical operation (having my brain removed) that I might masquerade as a fanmag ed.
  For awhile the Blochead refused to believe I was an f.m.e., declaring I apeard much too intelligent.
  But after a siege of many days (I never did siege such a guy!) I at last succedeed in entering Bloch's home; sharing his bed & board, often going so far as to bathe & shave him & act as valet ("Valet nice work if you can get it"--old Chinese proverb). & if I do say so myself...I aided him no end with my writing.
  I found Robert Bloch to be a fascinatin' monster.  We agreed on every topic & had a common cause for interest in the subject of Robert Bloch.
  Time passt &, with the weight of the world on my shoulders, Atlas I broacht the subject of an interview.  After a little coaxing on my part, my pal broke down (with a bad cold).  I coaxt him more--about 3qts.  At last he consented.
  "I'll talk!" he screamd.  "I'll talk, chief!  Only make that pink dlefant stop beating me with that rubber hose trunk!  Aaargh..."
  Here, verbatim, is our interview:
 Q:  Your name is Robert Bloch?
 A:  Well, yes; that is I think it is; I am often mistaken for Robert Taylor.
 Q:  What do you do for a living?
 A: Eat & sloop.
 Q: None of that cheap minstrel show stuff! Bloch. -- How do you earn your lavish fortune?
 A: I write for Weird Tales.  In my sparetime I take in washing.
 Q: Much money in it?
 A:

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8 "A Charming Interview" with Robert Block (by ROBERT BLOCH) When I recvd a copy of IMAGINATION! thru the mails I opend it with avid interest. After considerable & costly correspondence I located a lunatic afflicted with a knowledge of Ackermanese, & Exasperanto, & had the accurst thing translated into ancient (1938) English. I was amazed. Then a Mr. Ackerman, a gent of whom you may've heard (too much) -- tis rumord round the Imagi-nation that he's engaged to "Madge"--askt me to do an article. "Write as U nevr wrote bfor:" he requested--"Write good." Well that confronted me with several problems: 1, Should I write the article in Esperanto? or in the more obscure dialect of dinky? --better known as Esperunto; 2, How much should I charge for the job--& just how fat a chance did I stand to collect it?; 3, What kind of an epic was this to be?! After solving Holler-Bloch-en's dilemma (by forgetting it) I finally decided to do an interview. But with whom? I wanted to make an exceptional job. Upon scrutinizing the entire science fiction & fantasy fields (& trying to keep from lafing while I did so) I quickly came upon the one name that was pre-eminent, outstanding, paramount & MGM. Obviously the most famous figure of all was ROBERT BLOCH. (Applause.) Now it wasn't easy for me to interview brother Bloch as he is a very shy & modest fellow. Not exactly retiring, tho--he never sleeps. But in order to meet this bashful wonder-man I was forced to disguise myself so that he wouldnt recognize me. This I did by undergoing a slight surgical operation (having my brain removed) that I might masquerade as a fanmag ed. For awhile the Blochead refused to believe I was an f.m.e., declaring I apeard much too intelligent. But after a siege of many days (I never did siege such a guy!) I at last succedeed in entering Bloch's home; sharing his bed & board, often going so far as to bathe & shave him & act as valet ("Valet nice work if you can get it"--old Chinese proverb). & if I do say so myself...I aided him no end with my writing. I found Robert Bloch to be a fascinatin' monster. We agreed on every topic & had a common cause for interest in the subject of Robert Bloch. Time passt &, with the weight of the world on my shoulders, Atlas I broacht the subject of an interview. After a little coaxing on my part, my pal broke down (with a bad cold). I coaxt him more--about 3qts. At last he consented. "I'll talk!" he screamd. "I'll talk, chief! Only make that pink dlefant stop beating me with that rubber hose trunk! Aaargh..." Here, verbatim, is our interview: Q: Your name is Robert Bloch? A: Well, yes; that is I think it is; I am often mistaken for Robert Taylor. Q: What do you do for a living? A: Eat & sloop. Q: None of that cheap minstrel show stuff! Bloch. -- How do you earn your lavish fortune? A: I write for Weird Tales. In my sparetime I take in washing. Q: Much money in it? A: