I've never read Wambaugh but I am sure I will order one of his books right away. Two weeks ago, I read my first Raymond Chandler, "The Big Sleep." It was very good. Something I got out of it was that Los Angeles was a city of regular folks in the 30s rather than a city of the very rich and poor minorities that it appears to be today. Philip Marlowe as just a $25 a day private investigator. I sort of got the same idea when I read Mickey Spillane years ago and New York City. Like Los Angeles of the 30s, Spillane's New York City of the 50s is filled with regular folks working for a living. Both cities are so stratified today that Chandler wouldn't recognize Los Angeles and Spillane probably didn't feel much at home in New York. Which is why Spillane spent much of his later years in Murrell's Inlet, SC just south of Myrtle Beach.
I’ve a lot of reading ahead of me. The Onion Field is the only Wambaugh I’ve ever read. It’s always great to be reminded of an author with a complete body of good work that I haven’t gotten to yet. Thanks and RIP to Mr. Wambaugh.
Reading your comments about the rampart business reminds me of a few years ago when it was revealed that the la county sheriffs had an internal gang or fraternity that engaged in all sorts of anti black this and that. The story made a splash then immediately disappeared when all the guys involved were Hispanic
When I read THE CHOIRBOYS, I was a teenage boy studying Latin and planning to join the Navy. That put me in the exact center of the perfect audience for that book. I agree some of the other novels are better and THE ONION FIELD is in a class by itself, but the experience I had reading THE CHOIRBOYS means it will always be my favorite.
Yes, but he was more famous decades ago. His peak was between Truman Capote, who sparked the true-crime genre in 1966, and Ann Rule, who dominated it starting with The Stranger Beside Me in 1980. The three most famous TC books of the ‘70s are probably Helter Skelter, The Executioner’s Song, and The Onion Field.
Thanks, so he was someone who was famous before my time but wasn't so famous that he would still be known to someone now.
As an aside, I checked your other blog for any mentions of Buster Poindexter, David Johansen, or the New York Dolls, and I couldn't find any. Were you a fan?
I had to look that one up. Hmm. He'd probably be a minor character, like some drug dealer type who knew too much and ended up ODed with 2 bullets to the back of the head for good measure.
All I remember is the scene in New Centurions where the black hooker tells the White cop she can't even feel them White needle dicks inside her.
Thanks for recommending some great Wambaugh books I missed. May he rest in peace.
Wambaugh has gone to pound the beat in the sky.
Can't remember the name, but the one where a pyscho cop CPRs a pickpocket to death after he steals from a neighborhood bag lady.
I've never read Wambaugh but I am sure I will order one of his books right away. Two weeks ago, I read my first Raymond Chandler, "The Big Sleep." It was very good. Something I got out of it was that Los Angeles was a city of regular folks in the 30s rather than a city of the very rich and poor minorities that it appears to be today. Philip Marlowe as just a $25 a day private investigator. I sort of got the same idea when I read Mickey Spillane years ago and New York City. Like Los Angeles of the 30s, Spillane's New York City of the 50s is filled with regular folks working for a living. Both cities are so stratified today that Chandler wouldn't recognize Los Angeles and Spillane probably didn't feel much at home in New York. Which is why Spillane spent much of his later years in Murrell's Inlet, SC just south of Myrtle Beach.
Thanks for this.
Since getting my diagnosis I’ve been reading about one book a day.
This gives me several that I’ve never read.
The Onion Field. I've read others but not for decades. Thanks for update and recommends.
I read The Choirboys, and all I remember are whoring and drinking and announcing the quality of erections in a park.
I’ve a lot of reading ahead of me. The Onion Field is the only Wambaugh I’ve ever read. It’s always great to be reminded of an author with a complete body of good work that I haven’t gotten to yet. Thanks and RIP to Mr. Wambaugh.
thank you for this. Detective Harry Bosch turned me onto the LA police beat.
Reading your comments about the rampart business reminds me of a few years ago when it was revealed that the la county sheriffs had an internal gang or fraternity that engaged in all sorts of anti black this and that. The story made a splash then immediately disappeared when all the guys involved were Hispanic
When I read THE CHOIRBOYS, I was a teenage boy studying Latin and planning to join the Navy. That put me in the exact center of the perfect audience for that book. I agree some of the other novels are better and THE ONION FIELD is in a class by itself, but the experience I had reading THE CHOIRBOYS means it will always be my favorite.
Decent movie too, directed by Robert Aldrich.
Is Wambaugh famous?
Yes, but he was more famous decades ago. His peak was between Truman Capote, who sparked the true-crime genre in 1966, and Ann Rule, who dominated it starting with The Stranger Beside Me in 1980. The three most famous TC books of the ‘70s are probably Helter Skelter, The Executioner’s Song, and The Onion Field.
Right. Wambaugh was famous in the 1970s, doing lots of network talk show appearances. But he wasn't particularly interested in staying famous.
Thanks, so he was someone who was famous before my time but wasn't so famous that he would still be known to someone now.
As an aside, I checked your other blog for any mentions of Buster Poindexter, David Johansen, or the New York Dolls, and I couldn't find any. Were you a fan?
Defund the Police Writers! Sorry, wrong thread...
Anyway, I read Floaters when it first came out. Still remember it today. Very good writer...
Wambaugh and Hackman dead the same week? Hmm, sounds like the plot of a movie starring Hackman, written by Wambaugh...
Where does Buster Poindexter fit into the narrative?
I had to look that one up. Hmm. He'd probably be a minor character, like some drug dealer type who knew too much and ended up ODed with 2 bullets to the back of the head for good measure.
Re.Onion Field: approaches great literature, his best. No mention of Police Story in which, I believe, W. was originally involved.
Right, Wambaugh was an important influence on the long upgrade of the quality of cop shows such as Hill Street Blues and The Wire.