Clarence Budington Kelland (1881, Portland, Michigan – 18 February 1964, Scotsdale, Arizona) was an American writer. He once described himself as "the best second-rate writer in America".^[1]

In a long and prolific career as a writer of fiction and short stories, he was published in many magazines. The Saturday Evening Post and The American Magazine were his best markets. He published about sixty novels; juveniles at first, then reprints of his magazine serials.

Although largely forgotten now, a small number of his stories achieved some recognition, including Opera Hat, serial from The American, which was the basis for the film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), a short-lived television series (1969-70), and another film Mr. Deeds (2002). One of his best-known characters was Scattergood Baines who was featured in six films from 1941-43, starring Guy Kibbee.

He got his start as a newspaper reporter in Detroit. From 1907-15, he edited the Detroit magazine, The American Boy. From 1913-15, he lectured at the University of Michigan on writing and juvenile literature. From 1915 forward, he was a full-time freelance writer. He soon relocated to Long Island. In 1937, he bought a second home in Phoenix, where he spent the Fall and Winter.

From the mid-'20s forward, Kelland served as the toastmaster at the weekly luncheons of New York's Dutch Treat Club.

Kelland was politically active as a Republican, running as the Republican National Committeeman from Arizona in the 1930s. His passionate dislike for the New Deal seemed to have spurred his entry into national politics. Time magazine referred to him as "pugnacious," "vitriolic," "peppery," and "gaunt-faced" — a description at odds with the whimsical character of Kelland's fictional characters. He was as harsh on his fellow Republicans as he was on Democrats, blaming Eisenhower for "wrecking" the party. He was particularly critical of Eisenhower's appointment of Earl Warren to the Supreme Court.

[edit] References

1. ^ Biography

• Clarence Budington Kelland at the Internet Movie Database

[edit] External links

• Works by Clarence Budington Kelland at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Clarence Budington Kelland in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Harlan Ellison interview

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