Alfred Hitchcock on the set of the movie Psycho.

Alfred Hitchcock on the set of Psycho

The Backstory to Robert Bloch’s Psycho

The next article in our series entitled “What Was the Author Thinking” spotlights the master of the macabre Robert Bloch, author of Psycho. The novel, originally published in 1959 and the basis of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, is considered a classic in the genre.

Robert Bloch, in common with the other authors in this series—Stephen King, Ray BradburyPhilip K. Dick and Jack Williamson also had a personal connection with L. Ron Hubbard and his psychological thriller, Fear.

Psycho’s Backstory: the “Butcher of Plainfield”

Ed Gein

Photo of Ed Gein, the “Butcher of Plainfield”

Robert Bloch lived in Wisconsin, only 35 miles from a shocking murderer, Ed Gein, who was arrested in 1957 for killing two women. What made these murders so horrifying are the discoveries the police made in Gein’s home. There they found furniture, silverware and even clothing made of human skin and body parts giving plenty of reasons to call him the “Butcher of Plainfield.”

Although Bloch didn’t know much about Ed Gein, Psycho had a similar backstory. That is, it’s about a man who lives all his life in a small community and outwardly appears normal but hidden from view, he is a killer. In this regard, Robert Bloch’s protagonist, Norman Bates, was much like Gein. On that point, Bloch realized, “I’d discovered how closely the imaginary character I’d created resembled the real Ed Gein both in overt act and apparent motivation.”

In a November 1985 Fangoria interview, Bloch attributed Psycho’s long-term impact and ability to frighten to “the distressing notion that perhaps a boy’s best friend may not necessarily be his mother, and the overall message that we may not always know our neighbors as well as we think we do; the most commonplace people in commonplace surroundings can sometimes offer unexpected menace.”

A Few Related Factoids

First Edition Psycho book cover1. Psycho was Robert Bloch’s seventh novel. It took him only six weeks to write it in 1958.

2. A younger looking Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) was cast in the movie version. Bloch wholeheartedly agreed with Hitchcock on his selection as the older, less attractive man described in the book would immediately be the suspected villain in the film.

3. When Hitchcock acquired the rights to the novel, he reportedly had his long-time assistant Peggy Robertson buy up copies of the book to preserve the novel’s surprises.

4. The original book cover was designed by Tony Palladino. When Alfred Hitchcock bought the movie rights, he also bought the rights to the cover design and used it as the logo for the movie.

5. In addition to writing books, Robert Bloch was also a radio drama scriptwriter and producer. In 1945 he co-created and wrote 39 15-minute radio program episodes called “Stay Tuned for Terror.” Many of these episodes were adaptations of his own pulp fiction stories. Unfortunately, none of these programs still exist.

The Link to Fear

L. Ron Hubbard and Robert Bloch were part of the crew of writers who wrote for John W. Campbell’s fantasy magazine, Unknown. Ron reminisces on his friendship with his fellow writers and illustrators in his article “By L. Ron Hubbard” published in the L. Ron Hubbard Series, Writer: The Shaping of Popular Fiction.

“Ah, the old names, L. Sprague de Camp, Fletcher Pratt, Robert Bloch, Ed Hamilton, Frank Belknap Long, dear old Edd Cartier and his fantastic beautiful illustrations, names still going, names forgotten.

“All for the ’by line.’

“The petty squabbles, the friendly enmities.

“I look back now and love them all.

“We were quite a crew.”

Hell Hath Fury book coverAs it were, both had their short stories published in the 1963 anthology of fantasy fiction stories from Unknown entitled Hell Hath Fury which included Ron Hubbard’s “The Devil’s Rescue” and Bloch’s “The Cloak.”

Both Fear and Psycho are psychological thrillers and each has a shocking protagonist who has gone mad but in two completely different settings and circumstances.

Later Robert Bloch would call Fear “L. Ron Hubbard’s finest work!”

8 replies
  1. Paul Waid
    Paul Waid says:

    My father’s cousin had Ed From babysit her children. Apparently he babysat for several families in the area. I can only imagine the horror they experienced when he was exposed!

    Reply
  2. James M Swanson
    James M Swanson says:

    If you v have’t read ONCE AROUND THE BLOCH by Bloch but like autobigraohical stuff with a touch of humor you should

    Reply

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  1. […] his crimes didn’t become known–until Bloch had nearly completed the book. The author later said that he was surprised to discover “how closely the imaginary character I’d created […]

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