Carl Geren Jr. Artist, writer and composer of Lawrence Co., Mo. Information, photos and materials provided by family members Kaye Smith and Pat Spearman.

Carl Geren Jr., born February 14, 1928 in Halltown, Missouri, lived most of his life in his hometown except for service in the United States Army and a short period in Hollywood, California. His roots were deep in the history and tradition of the area: His parents were Carl Geren and Opha Small Geren and his maternal grandparents were Fredrick G. Small and Lillie Hutchison Small, all of whom lived in Halltown. Mr. Geren died October 14, 1977 and is buried at Rock Prarie Cemetery in Halltown. "He wrote on the back of this one �Author making set-up for jungle sequence. Background is double page photograph taken from magazine. Scale models are jointed to permit movement while filming. In final film, cuts of live actor will be inserted between miniature shots for realism�. "

A talented artist, author and composer, Carl Geren published many magazine articles and short stories. Some of his short stories are: "Danger Island," Adventure Magazine, 1965; "The Moaning Tree," Highlights Magazine, 1964; "The Elephant Man," Golden Magazine, 1964; and "Buffalo Boy," Scholastic Magazine, 1964.

His popular children's book The Shell Hunter was published by Childrens Press in 1976. As a commercial artist he sold advertisement pictures and greeting cards.

Samples of Carl's work

Carl co-wrote "Fool Around" which was recorded by the Fontane Sisters and released by DOT Records.

Fool Around

Billboard Magazine June 3, 1957

Billboard Magazine June 17, 1957

MISSOURI FLASHBACK. Geren produced many illustrations of items from Missouri history. Many of you may remember seeing them in area newspapers from the 1960s and 1970s.

it's a MISSOURI fact. This booklet is a collection of Geren's drawings based on Missouri history.

From Carl's days at Southwest Missouri State College (formerly Southwest Missouri Teachers College): 2 pages of program from SMS College Theatre's Folio Follies.

School News was "The Educational Newspaper of the Southwest District." Editor, E. E. Neely; Publisher, Thomas R. Nickel. A subscription was Fifty Cents per Year (in the March 24, 1938 issue). The paper was published weekly at Artcraft Printing Company, 215 W. Walnut Street, Springfield, Missouri. Kaye and Pat sent a copy of the March 24, 1938 issue. There are submissions from McGregor School (Springfield), Willard and Southwest Teachers College in this issue as well, but the news is predominantly from Halltown.

Page one
Surnames include: McCoy, Downing, Small, Geren, Gray, Misemer, Deeder, Johnson, Stewart, Heagerty, Kirk, Hendricks, Savage, Estes, Fortner, Nicholson, Mason, Hash, Harmon, Sifferman, Squibb, Helton, Ray, Fuller, Helm.
Page three (2 of 3 columns)
Names include: Fuller, Garoutte, Batson, Gardner, Huff, Whitsell, Owens, Richards, Stewart, Squibb, Sallee, Mason, Berry, Tabor, Daniels, Wilkerson, and James Robinson (obituary), Cox.
Page four (1 of 3 columns)
Surnames include: Samuel, Johnson, Squibb, Wilkerson, Daniel, Berry, Dameron, Fuller, Estes, Garroute, Parnell.

The Halltown Gazette. Mr. Geren compiled this information abstracted from the May 26, 1898 edition of the Halltown Gazette. Names include: Bonnie Davis, Gladys Owen, Wm. Chamberlains, Elder Melton, Elder John Williams, Deaton, J. D. Sanders, Let Stewart, Chamberlain & Smith, C. A. Wilkerson, T. W. Fortner.

The Halltown Lawcomo, page 1.
The Halltown Lawcomo, page 2.
Geren copied this history of Halltown by Mrs. Matilda Whinery from a surviving copy of the December 1929 issue of The Halltown Lawcomo.
Names include: George Hall, Elmer West, Lish Hall, Amy Samuel, Whitesell, Pearl Downing, Alex Gordon, Charles Whinrey.

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