For fans of mystery novels and films, the name Mickey Spillane has been a familiar one for nearly seven decades; more than 200 million copies of his books have sold internationally, including seven of the top 15 all-time best-selling fiction titles in the U.S. As a longtime resident of Murrells Inlet who died in 2006 (at the age of 88), Spillane’s cachet is even greater along the Grand Strand.
Those fans will have a not-to-be-missed opportunity to relive their memories of Spillane’s work and life when the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum presents I, the Writer: A Collection of Mickey Spillane Memorabilia, from March 12 – April 20. The exhibition is accompanied by a series of public events featuring the books and films created during Spillane’s long career and highlighting the legacy of his work.
The exhibit will be available for viewing from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission to the museum, and the exhibition, is free.
Presented in conjunction with Coastal Carolina University’s OLLI division and The Athenaeum Press, this wonderful collection of memorabilia borrowed from the Spillane residence in Murrells Inlet offers a glimpse into the fascinating life of one of the best-selling pulp fiction writers of our time.
Items in the exhibit include original hardback, paperback and comic book covers and posters promoting Spillane novels; photo stills from Spillane’s Miller beer commercials; photographs and illustrations; and even a vintage manual typewriter used by the author.
Longtime fans will want to attend a lecture and book signing by Jane Spillane, the author’s widow and author of My Life with Mickey, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12; a lecture and discussion led by Dr. Daniel Turner of Coastal Carolina University on Spillane’s novel Kiss Me, Deadly, held at 2 p.m. March 19; followed by a screening and discussion of the film version of the same novel at 1 p.m. on March 26, led by Chautauqua Institution lecturer David Zinman; and at 1 p.m. on April 2, a discussion of My Life with Mickey with Athenaeum Press director Patricia O’Connor and CCU student collaborator Andrew Lesh.
Admission to all events is free but seating is limited; call the museum, 843-238-2510, for reservations.
The Art Museum is located at 3100 S. Ocean Blvd. For further information, visit www.MyrtleBeachArtMuseum.org, or call 843.238.2510.