Robert Bloch
The master of psychological horror who, with a single novel about a motel and a murderer, forever changed the landscape of suspense.
1917–1994 (age 77)·American fiction writer·Birthday: April 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Robert Bloch was a man who knew what scared you, because he understood the darkness within the ordinary. A protégé of H.P. Lovecraft in the pulp magazines of the 1930s, he initially crafted tales of cosmic horror. But Bloch’s true genius emerged when he turned his gaze inward, exploring the terrors of the human psyche. Living in a quiet Wisconsin town, he read a news story about serial killer Ed Gein, and the chillingly mundane details sparked an idea. The result was 'Psycho,' a 1959 novel that stripped horror of its Gothic trappings and placed it in a cheap motel off a highway. Alfred Hitchcock’s film adaptation immortalized Bloch’s creation, but the writer’s influence ran deeper. For over six decades, he produced a staggering volume of short stories, novels, and screenplays, his wit as sharp as his scares. He wrote for classic TV shows like 'Star Trek' and 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents,' always with a twist in the tale. Bloch didn’t just write about monsters; he revealed the monster next door, and in doing so, shaped modern horror’s focus on psychological realism.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Robert was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1994Died at 77
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
Key Achievements
- Wrote the seminal horror novel 'Psycho' (1959), which became the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's landmark film.
- Authored hundreds of short stories, winning the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1975 and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1990.
- Wrote the classic 'Star Trek: The Original Series' episode 'Wolf in the Fold,' which featured his recurring character, the psychic detective Tony Cartwright.
Did You Know?
He maintained a long-term friendship and correspondence with horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, who encouraged his early career.
The famous line 'We all go a little mad sometimes' from Hitchcock's 'Psycho' does not appear in Bloch's original novel.
He was a passionate fan of magic and served as the president of the Society of American Magicians' Parent Assembly in Los Angeles.
Bloch's personal library contained a vast collection of books on crime, the occult, and mythology.
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.”
