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Rice’s reach exceeds genre

“Night Stalker” author Jeff Rice probably would have appreciated a little more mystery associated with his July 1 death in Las Vegas.

When you live in a creative world riddled with blood suckers and neck crushers, an ordinary death seems just a little tame. But the results of an autopsy by the Clark County coroner’s office reveal Rice’s demise was accidental: renal failure possibly related to heat exposure. He was 71.

Readers of horror and fantasy novels will remember longtime local Rice as the creator of the character Carl Kolchak, the rumpled newspaper reporter who found a vampire using Las Vegas as a blood bank in “The Night Stalker,” a novel that became the influential movie and television series starring Darren McGavin.

Word of Rice’s death has been slow to circulate after it broke last month in this column, but author and undisputed Kolchak expert Mark Dawidziak penned an insightful essay on Rice’s influence that you’ll find on Cleveland.com. Author of “The Kolchak Companion” and many other books, Dawidziak is also the television critic for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The two were close friends.

“I thought the world of Jeff,” Dawidziak said in a phone interview from Cleveland. “He was one of the most honorable men I’ve ever known.”

In his appreciation, Dawidziak detailed Rice’s influence on the horror and fantasy genre and some working journalists, too.

“And when you consider the incredible rolling influence of his character, we’ve all probably been touched by this writer in some way or another,” he observed. “If I could write one last scene for Carl, he’d be tipping his pork-pie straw hat in tribute, and he’d be tipping it to Jeff Rice.”

LAST LAUGH: It appears former Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins gets it after seeing his friend Marilyn Kirkpatrick appointed to his seat. Not only is Kirkpatrick highly skilled, Collins says, but she got the nod ahead of his former political ally, Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross.

CULTURE CLUB: One of the things that sets apart the National Atomic Testing Museum is its professional approach to sensitive subjects. For an example, look no further than Saturday’s Japanese Culture Day at the museum, 755 E. Flamingo Road. It is part of the museum’s “70 Years of Peace” series that celebrates Japanese heritage and the history that binds our countries. There’s a full-day’s worth of activities. Information: 702-794-5151.

ON THE BOULEVARD: The classic grads of Las Vegas High assure me their letterman sweaters aren’t the least bit moth-eaten. They’ll be pulling them out of the closet for the Wildcats’ annual reunion Sept. 25 at The Orleans. Special recognition this year goes to the classes of 1940-45, with proceeds benefiting the group’s scholarship fund. Information: LVOWL@aol.com or Patty Haack at 702 876-6660.

BOULEVARD II: The new media wall at the Red Rock Race and Spots Book is an impressive site. Was it really so long ago that local bookmakers chalked the lines? … Sports betting legend Lem Banker laments the end of the line of the fabulous Las Vegas Club, mostly because of its historical link to casino guys Jackie Gaughan and Mel Exber. “The Mantle and Maris of the gambling business,” Lem says. He’s right about that.

Have an item for Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to jsmith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. On Twitter: @jlnevadasmith.

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