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Zekial Marko

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Zekial Marko (October 21, 1933 – May 9, 2008)[1] was an American writer[2] who specialised in crime stories, often under the pen name of John Trinian.[3] He was arrested during filming of Once a Thief and spent some time in prison.[4][5] He died of complications related to emphysema on May 9, 2008, in Centralia, Washington.[6]

Early life

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Zekial Marko was born as Marvin Leroy Schmoker on October 21, 1933, in Monterey County, California to Ruth Halverson[7] and Wallace Cyril Schmoker.[8][9] As children, Marko and his brother, Kenn Davisl Kenn were neighbors of John Steinbeck in Salinas, California.[10]

After his parents divorced, Marko moved with his mother and brother to San Francisco. He attended grammar school there.[11] At the beginning of WWII, Marko and his brother attended a Catholic boy's boarding school in Marin County.[11] At the end of the war, Marko and his brother moved back with their mother and step father, Henry Davis. Kenn changed his surname to his step father's name. Marko changed his name to Zekial Marko.[12]

Career

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"Marko, a flamboyant actor (later, a Hollywood screenwriter) from Salinas, stage-managed Goodwin's opera."[13][14]

"Described as a troubled soul, Marko could also be brilliant and charming, and a powerful friend."[10]

"Marko ... was an integral part of a circle of Bohemians[15] who in the mid-1960s frequented Juanita's, a saloon operated by its colorful namesake on the converted ferry, the "Charles Van Damme", docked at on the Sausalito waterfront."[16]

William Hjortsberg states that "Marko stage-managed Jack Goodwin's opera, The Pizza Pusher,[17] that was to be performed at the festival the next day" ... "According to Goodwin, Marko "horned in and coached the poets while they rehearsed." ... "Marko made suggestions about tone, volume, tempo, and gesture."[18] for the Six Gallery reading of Allen Ginsberg's Howl[19][20][21][22][23]

"During the late 1950s, he did a stretch as a bartender at a Sausalito waterhole called The Tin Angel"[24]

"Born in Salinas, in 1933, Trinian settled in the Bay area, supplementing his writing in the 1950s by working as a bartender in a Sausalito waterhole, reminiscent of a character in a Don Carpenter novel. Trinian had quite a reputation at the time, not all of it laudatory. Pulp pundit Rick Ollerman calls him “one of the most realistic of the Gold Medal writers.”"[25]

"(Marko), who was pals with Richard Brautigan, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac, (as well as most of the Beat Poets, Writers and personalities of the day), lived the lives he writes about."[26][27][28]

John Trinian, North Beach Girl/Scandal on the Sand. "Two California novels, both published in 1960. North Beach Girl is a twisted tale set in the world of San Francisco’s beatniks, and Scandal is the story of a dozen strangers thrown together on an isolated stretch of beach with a dying whale and a sadistic cop. The double reprint includes new introductions by Rick Ollerman, Ki Longfellow and Belle Marko."[29]

"Trinian's daughter, the artist Belle Marko,[30] and a mid-volume remembrance by the novelist Ki Longfellow who, beginning when she was still a teenager, was Trinian's "soul-mate"[24][31][32]

"May, 2014 : (Rick Ollerman's) In Pursuit of a Pleasant Oblivion originally appeared in North Beach Girl / Scandal on the Sand"[33][32]

"(Belle Marko), who wrote a short essay about him that appears in a forthcoming edition[32][34] of his books, makes it clear that having him as a father was both a fascinating and difficult experience."[35]

"Brautigan[36] shared his notes and observations with Zekial Marko (the "aspiring Hollywood scriptwriter" noted in the story), Philip Whalen, Lew Welch, and others. He incorporated several of their remarks into his final story"[37] Richard Brautigan. "The Menu/1965" Evergreen Review (42) August 1966: 30–32, 86.

Edward Gorman championed Scandal on the Sand.[35]

Cannabis charge

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During the shooting of 1965's "Once A Thief", Marko asked the director to cast him as the pot smoker who shares a cell with Alain Delon. The director, knowing Marko was a pot smoker, insisted he make the early call for the scene inside L.A. County Jail. Marko didn't show, having been jailed on a cannabis charge the night before. Zekial was transferred to the cell they had lit for the scene, played his part and then returned to his cell.[38]

Personal life

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He had children with Naomi Williams: Aaron David Schmoker of Porterville, Belle Marko of San Anselmo, Zefra Marko of Marin County[39][40][31][41][42][8]

Marko was survived by his ex-wife, Sue, as well as his second ex-wife Rosalie Farre.[1]

Select credits

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References

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  1. ^ a b Variety Staff (23 May 2008). "Screenwriter Zekial Marko dies". variety.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ "John Trinian". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ III, Harris M. Lentz (28 April 2009). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2008: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786434824. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Nelson, Ralph (17 October 1965). "'Once a Thief' - Nightmare in the American Dream". Los Angeles Times. p. q6.
  5. ^ "Death Noted: ZEKIAL MARKO, aka JOHN TRINIAN". Mystery File. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  6. ^ "zekial marko passes". Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Marvin Leroy Schmoker, Born 10/21/1933 in California - CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Message Boards". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Kenneth Alan Schmoker, Born 02/20/1932 in California - CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. ^ a b "STARK HOUSE PRESS". starkhousepress.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. ^ a b Baker, Robert; Nietzel, Michael; Pronzini, Bill (1985). Private Eyes: 101 Knights : A Survey of American Detective Fiction 1922-1984. Popular Press, 1. edition (January 1, 1985).
  12. ^ Hjortsberg, William (2013). Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan. Counterpoint, Reprint edition (February 12, 2013). p. 141.
  13. ^ Hjortsberg, William (12 February 2013). Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan. Counterpoint. ISBN 9781619021051. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ "Writers Guild Theater". www.writersguildtheater.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  15. ^ Briggs, Robert (24 November 2008). Ruined Time: The 1950s and the Beat: Easyread Large Bold Edition. ReadHowYouWant.com. ISBN 9781442952034. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ "Oakland Public Library Staff's Favorite Books of 2016". Oakland Public Library. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  17. ^ The Pizza pusher; opera. By John (Jack) Francis Goodwin
  18. ^ "Fillmore: The Beats in the Western Addition - FoundSF". www.foundsf.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  19. ^ Hjortsberg, William (12 February 2013). Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan. Counterpoint. ISBN 9781619021051. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "On "Howl"". www.english.illinois.edu. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  21. ^ ""Howl": How the Poem Came to Be and How it Made Allen Ginsberg Famous". www.plosin.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Inventory of the Jack Goodwin Papers, 1940-1991". www.oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  23. ^ "Diana Goodwin Guglielmi Stine's Obituary on San Francisco Chronicle". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  24. ^ a b Haut, Woody (8 June 2014). "Another Noir Roundup: John Trinian, James Curtis, Malcolm Mackay, Owen Martell, Robert Wilson". woodyhaut.blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  25. ^ "A Dirty Baker's Dozen: My 13 Favorite Crime Novels of 2014 - Los Angeles Review of Books". lareviewofbooks.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  26. ^ Gorman, Ed (25 April 2015). "Ed Gorman's blog: From Pulp Serenade: "North Beach Girl" (1960) and "Scandal on the Sand" (1964) by John Trinian". newimprovedgorman.blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  27. ^ ""North Beach Girl" (1960) and "Scandal on the Sand" (1964) by John Trinian". www.pulpserenade.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ Accardi, Catherine A. (19 May 2017). San Francisco's North Beach and Telegraph Hill. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738581583. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  29. ^ "SEATTLE MYSTERY BOOKSHOP SPRING 2014" (PDF). seattlemystery.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  30. ^ "Belle Marko --About the Artist". bellemarko.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Biographical Notes". www.philsp.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  32. ^ a b c Trinian, John (May 2014). North Beach Girl / Scandal on the Sand. ISBN 9781933586557.
  33. ^ Rick Ollerman. "Essays". ollerman.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  34. ^ Trinian, John; Ollerman, Rick; Longfellow, Ki; Marko, Belle (13 May 2014). North Beach Girl / Scandal on the Sand. Stark House Press. ISBN 978-1933586557.
  35. ^ a b c d "crimetime.co.uk - San Francisco Noir: John Trinian". www.crimetime.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  36. ^ Hjortsberg, William (12 February 2013). Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan. Counterpoint. ISBN 9781619021051. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ "Richard Brautigan: The Tokyo-Montana Express". www.brautigan.net. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  38. ^ Art Fein (2010-07-10). "mess". www.sofein.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  39. ^ "Aaron David Schmoker". recorderonline.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  40. ^ "FORGOTTEN BOOKS #271: NORTH BEACH GIRL/SCANDAL ON THE SAND By John Trinian - GeorgeKelley.org". georgekelley.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  41. ^ a b "The FictionMags Index". philsp.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  42. ^ "Marin County Genealogy - 1996 Marin Marriage Announcements". SFgenealogy.org. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  43. ^ Trinian, John (1 July 2012). Any Number Can Win. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781440544866. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  44. ^ "Zekial Marko". Goodreads. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  45. ^ "Bookgasm » Blog Archive » North Beach Girl / Scandal on the Sand". www.bookgasm.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  46. ^ "Documentarian Mary Kerr on SWINGING IN THE SHADOWS - Script Magazine". scriptmag.com. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  47. ^ "Wild History - Straight From the Source!". California Beat Era. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  48. ^ DAVE HOEKSTRA. Sputnik I begat beatniks Chicago Sun-Times March 18, 2007
  49. ^ "Biographical Notes". www.philsp.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  50. ^ Trinian, John (1 July 2012). The Savage Breast. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781440544897. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  51. ^ a b Smith, M. Steven. "ACE Double Mystery Series - F Letter-Number Series - mystery genre writers - cover art and artists". people.uncw.edu. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  52. ^ Greene, Brian. "Lost Classics of Noir: Scratch a Thief by John Trinian by Brian Greene". www.criminalelement.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  53. ^ "Bookgasm » Blog Archive » Scratch a Thief / House of Evil". www.bookgasm.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  54. ^ A.H. WEILER. Movie Review - ONCE A THIEF - Melodrama Opens at Neighborhood Houses - NYTimes.com September 9, 1965
  55. ^ "Once a Thief (1965) - She Blogged By Night". shebloggedbynight.com. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  56. ^ lmharnisch (21 April 2014). "Movieland mystery photo (Updated)". ladailymirror.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  57. ^ "Hepcats and Hustlers: "Once a Thief"". camera-roll.com. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  58. ^ "Once a Thief (1965): Late noir à la européenne - filmsnoir.net". filmsnoir.net. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  59. ^ "Casting de Les Tueurs de San Francisco". allocine.fr. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  60. ^ robbinsrealm (19 April 2017). "Kolchak Episode – The Inspiration for Chase's Sopranos". wordpress.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  61. ^ Muir, John Kenneth (9 May 2008). Terror Television: American Series, 1970–1999. McFarland. ISBN 9781476604169. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  62. ^ Enfantino, Peter (6 January 2012). "It Couldn't Happen Here...: Episode 2: The Zombie". akolchakaday.blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  63. ^ Dawidziak, Mark (6 January 2012). "It Couldn't Happen Here...: Mark Dawidziak on The Zombie". akolchakaday.blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  64. ^ Rideout, T. D. (8 April 2014). "The Rockford Files (1975) – Say Goodbye to Jennifer & Charlie Harris at Large". themindreels.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  65. ^ Abbott, Jon (29 May 2009). Stephen J. Cannell Television Productions: A History of All Series and Pilots. McFarland. ISBN 9780786454013. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  66. ^ Robertson, Ed (19 May 2017). Thirty Years Of The Rockford Files: An Inside Look At America's Greatest Detective Series. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595342440. Retrieved 19 May 2017 – via Google Books.
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