Once a Pulp Man: The Secret Life of Judson P. Philips as Hugh Pentecost

Judson P. Philips rubbed elbows with movie stars and directors. He owned a newspaper and scratched out columns in others. He penned hundreds of stories in pulp magazines, digests and slick magazines, under a trio of pen names. His words flooded radio, television and film. He faced down Newsweek editors, owned an equity summer stock theater and boosted many ingénues to fame.

He filled pulp magazines like Argosy with stories about tough detectives, smooth-talking criminals, and down-and-out at...