Robert Arthur Jr. (November 10, 1909 â May 2, 1969) was an American writer and editor of crime fiction and speculative fiction known for his work with The Mysterious Traveler radio series and for writing The Three Investigators, a series of young adult novels.
For his radio work, ArthurâÂÂtogether with writing partner David KoganâÂÂwas honored with three Edgar Awards by the Mystery Writers of America. He also adapted at least one story, and had several of his own adapted by others, for Alfred Hitchcock's TV show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Arthur was born on November 10, 1909, in Fort Mills, Corregidor Island in the Philippines while his father, Robert Arthur Sr., was stationed there as a lieutenant in the United States Army. Arthur spent his childhood moving from place to place, wherever his father was stationed.
Although he was accepted to West Point Arthur decided not to pursue a military career like his father and instead in 1926 enrolled at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. After two years, he transferred to the University of Michigan, where he graduated from with a B.A. in English in 1930.
He worked as an editor and returned to the University of Michigan and received his M.A. in Journalism in 1932.
His stories were published in, among other magazines, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Mercury Mystery, Amazing Stories, Argosy All-Story Weekly, Black Mask, Collier's, Detective Fiction Weekly, Detective Tales, Double Detective, The Illustrated Detective Magazine, The Phantom Detective, The Shadow, Startling Stories, Street & Smiths Detective Story Magazine, Thrilling Detective, Unknown Worlds and Wonder Stories.
Additionally, Arthur wrote a number of mystery novels for children and young adults. His most successful stories were a series of mystery books called The Three Investigators, though they were initially branded "Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators," as Arthur was also ghost-editor for most of the "Hitchcock" anthologies published by Random House, and reprinted in shorter form by Dell Books, before Arthur's death (other ghost editors, notably Harold Q. Masur, would continue editing new "Hitchcock Presents:" and YA anthologies for Random House till Hitchcock's death).
In 1959, he moved to Hollywood and began writing and editing screenplays and scripts for television shows.
Arthur, along with his writing partner David Kogan, was honored three times by the Mystery Writers of America with Edgar Awards for his radio work: twice for "best radio drama"âÂÂin 1950 for Murder by Experts and 1953 for The Mysterious TravelerâÂÂand once, regarding his work on both of the aforementioned shows, in 1951 for "outstanding achievement in producing, directing and writing radio mystery shows."
Other radio credits include: Dark Destiny (1942), Adventure Into Fear (1945), The Sealed Book (1945), The Teller of Tales (1950) and Mystery Time (1952).
Arthur died at the age of fifty-nine in Philadelphia, on May 2, 1969, and was interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Three Investigator novels numbered 10 and 12 to 43 were written by other authors.