Calendar had a cover story ("The Road to Emporia," by John M. Wilson, Aug. 10) about the Hollywood stampede (dozens of producers) for rights to the story of the Kansas minister who was convicted of murdering his wife and plotting with his mistress to kill her husband.
Well, the stampede to tell the story of Rev. Thomas Bird and Lorna Anderson isn't over.
Screenwriter Lynn Brown Rosenberg has just optioned book rights from Vern Humphrey, Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent. Rosenberg calls him "the key figure in the investigation."
Rosenberg, who is working with book agent Mike Hamilburg of L.A., was one of the final negotiators for the dramatic rights, in association with Blue Andre Productions, and ITC Entertainment. Dramatic rights were eventually optioned by and network commitments given to Henry Winkler, Dick Clark Productions and Zev Braun.
Our article also included descriptions of the town. And two days later, an editorial in the Emporia Gazette by managing editor Ray Call began. . . .
