The Lost Stories of Eustace Cockrell

Eustace Cockrell was best known as a pioneer television writer who wrote many of the early westerns (Sugarfoot, Maverick and Cheyenne) while under contract with Warner Brothers. Included in this volume is a collection of the author's unpublished works.

In comparing Eustace Cockrell's unpublished manuscripts with his published works, it is clear that often the unpublished works are not as polished. This is most noticeable in his conclusions. Some stories seem dangling as if the author planned to return later and complete the piece. Others appear to be chapters in a book. Many of his unpublished manuscripts are shorter than his published works.

The reward for the reader, however, is that the unpublished tales are much more autobiographical, more emotional, and more believable, in part because they have not been shaped by magazine editors to fit the specific needs of their publications. In Cockrell's early works, his writing can be based on predetermined themes and priorities. His unpublished writings present a break from this mold to reflect a freer, more creative style of writing.