Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
WALLIS, James Harold
WALLIS, James Harold. (Dubuque, IA, Jan. 23, 1885-Scarsdale, AZ, Jan. 13, 1958). Author and editor. Wallis served as publisher and editor of the Dubuque Daily News and managing editor and editorial writer of the Dubuque Times Journal until 1919.
An experienced politician who served as an alderman for six years, Wallis began and then led a campaign while publisher and editor of the Dubuque Daily News to adopt the city manager plan of government in Dubuque.
Wallis authored eleven novels including The Woman He Chose (1934), The Politician: His Habits, Outcries, and Protective Coloring (1935),The Synthetic Philanthropist (1943), The Niece of Abraham Pein (1943), and Once Off Guard which, in 1945, was made into a film entitled The Woman in the Window, starring Raymond Massey, Edward G. Robinson, and Joan Bennett. In 1949 "Strange Bargain" screen play by Lillie Hayward, based on a story by J. H. Wallis, was produced by Sid Rogell for RKO Radio Pictures. Inc.
Six other books Wallis authored were mystery-detective novels including The Servant of Death, Murder Mansion, Cries in the Night, The Capital City Mystery, Murder by Formula, The Servant of Death, and The Mystery of Vaucluse.