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SMB Noir

For the Fans of Hardboiled, Pulp & Gumshoe Art

Back in 2013, our tumblr site was started and ran until 2018, when they decided it was too "adult" - too lurid, supposedly. We followed the exodus to newtumbl and four years of dedication vanished in June of 2023. That work was not only new posts but upgrades of hundreds of old tumblr posts as well. So far, there has been no way to rescue those posts, so this will be the third version of this project. And, I'll warn you in advance, I may slip in covers that are not crime or mystery but just because I like the artwork. Enjoy!

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All rights to this ongoing project are reserved by the owner.

1961 Gold Medal reprint – cover art by Barye Philips

1961 Gold Medal reissue

cover art by Barye Phillips

‘John Gonzales’ was a pseudonym of Robert Terrell

one of five books written under this name

better image than previously posted

Posted on September 29, 2026September 17, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, paperback, pulpTags barye phillips, femme fatale, gold medal paperbackLeave a comment on 1961 Gold Medal reprint – cover art by Barye Philips

August 1953 issue

August 1953

Posted on September 29, 2026September 17, 2026Categories Hardboiled, magazine, true crimeTags dame, pulp illustration, special detective magazineLeave a comment on August 1953 issue

May 1953 issue

May 1953

cover art by Howell Dodd?

cover art repurposed for July 1955 issue of Special Detective

better image than previously posted

Posted on September 29, 2026September 17, 2026Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, true crimeTags dame, special detective, true crime magazineLeave a comment on May 1953 issue

May 1936 issue ~ cover art by Wynne W. Davies

May 1936

cover art by Wynne W. Davies

Posted on September 28, 2026September 17, 2026Categories gangster, Hardboiled, magazine, pulpTags scarlet gang smashers, tux, wynne w. daviesLeave a comment on May 1936 issue ~ cover art by Wynne W. Davies

Fall 1942 issue

Fall 1942

better image than previously posted

Posted on September 28, 2026September 17, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags billyclub, c.k.m. scanlon, masked detective magazine, tuxLeave a comment on Fall 1942 issue

Scene of the Crime

Oil on canvas, 28 x 38 in.
Signed lower right

attributed by many as the work of Dean Cornwell but the signature doesn’t match

Posted on September 28, 2026September 17, 2026Categories Hardboiled, pulpTags oil on canvas, scene of the crimeLeave a comment on Scene of the Crime

November 1937 issue

November 1937

last of three issues

Posted on September 28, 2026September 17, 2026Categories crime fiction, magazine, mystery, pulp, true crimeTags e. spence de puy, purple gang, special detective magazine, william edward hayes, woman with a gunLeave a comment on November 1937 issue

November 5, 1932 issue ~ cover art by Lejaren Hill

November 5, 1932

cover art by Lejaren Hill

Posted on September 28, 2026September 17, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags erle stanley gardner, fiction detective weekly, flynn's, fred macisaac, h. bedford jones, j. allan dunn, lejaren hiller, lester leith, tuxLeave a comment on November 5, 1932 issue ~ cover art by Lejaren Hill

December 15, 1928 issue ~ cover art by V.E. Pyles

December 15, 1928

cover art by V.E. Pyles

Posted on September 28, 2026September 17, 2026Categories pulp, magazine, adventure, mystery, crime fiction, action fictionTags adventure magazine, tux, gordon young, v.e. pylesLeave a comment on December 15, 1928 issue ~ cover art by V.E. Pyles

July 1933 issue ~ cover art by Tom Lovell

July 1933

cover art by Tom Lovell

better image than previously posted

Posted on September 28, 2026September 17, 2026Categories gangster, Hardboiled, magazine, pulpTags greater gangster stories, john gerard, s. gordon gurwit, smoking, tom lovell, tuxLeave a comment on July 1933 issue ~ cover art by Tom Lovell

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