Larry Edward Evans was an American novelist, playwright, and short story writer active during the early decades of the twentieth century. Known for crafting engaging narratives with strong dramatic appeal, Evans saw much of his work serialized in prominent national publications of his era. Notably, his stories appeared in the Metropolitan Magazine during the First World War—a period when former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt served as an editor for the publication. Evans's rising literary profile was highlighted in 1921 when he was featured alongside other prominent writers in promotional campaigns for the magazine.
Evans's literary output was highly sought after by the burgeoning American film industry, leading to numerous silent-era cinematic adaptations of his prose. His novel Once to Every Man was adapted into the 1925 film The Fighting Heart, and his other novel, Then I'll Come Back to You, also garnered significant contemporary attention. His popular short story "The Painted Lady," originally published in the Saturday Evening Post, was adapted for the screen three separate times, including a 1925 self-titled film and the 1934 feature Pursued. Another of his stories, "Conahan," was adapted into the film The Silent Lie, which later became a subject of scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission when distributors reissued it under a new title. Evans's career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis in May 1925.
