Born in Lumberton, Mississippi in 1903, James Street grew up in Laurel. As a journalist, Street worked for newspapers across the south until William Randolph Hearst hired him for the New York American in 1933 to write feature stories.

The first short story Street ever published became the basis for the 1937 Technicolor comedy Nothing Sacred starring Carole Lombard, the theatrical musical "Hazel Flagg," and a 1954 film featuring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Janet Leigh entitled Living It Up.  The money he received for the film rights permitted Street to quit his day job and concentrate on writing.

"The Biscuit Eater," a short story about a boy and his hunting dog, provided the narrative for a movie by the same name in 1940.  Street then published an expanded version of the tale as a book in 1941 which was eventually translated into twenty-seven languages.  Disney shot a remake in 1972.   [go to page 2 >>]