The McBain ends his existence

The bad week for former Hitchcock screenwriters continued as Evan Hunter, author of The Birds, has died at 78. Hunter’s Hitchcock connection was less notable than his role in creating the police procedural drama under the pseudonym Ed McBain, known for his accounts of the detectives of the 87th Precinct. Starting with “Cop Hater” in 1956, Hunter added a gritty realism to dispel the notion of pipe-smoking erudite criminalists, and used the urban streets as characters. Hunter’s 55th entry in the 87th series, which has already sold more than 100 million copies, is due out in September. Hunter also produced the screenplay to The Blackboard Jungle.