Tom Wolfe In 1963,
Tom Wolfe approached Dobell at
Esquire to propose an article on the
hot rod and
custom car culture of Southern California. Wolfe struggled with the article, developing writer's block, and was unable to complete it. Dobell suggested that Wolfe send him his notes so they could piece the story together. Wolfe procrastinated until, on the evening before the article was due, he worked all night typing a letter to Dobell explaining what he wanted to say on the subject, ignoring all journalistic conventions. Dobell's response was to remove the salutation "Dear Byron" from the top of the letter and publish it intact as reportage. The result, published in the November 1963 issue, was "There Goes (Varoom! Varoom!) That Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby". The article was widely discussed — loved by some, hated by others — and helped Wolfe publish his first book,
The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. Wolfe also credited Dobell with the idea of changing
Sherman McCoy, the protagonist of Wolfe's novel
Bonfire of the Vanities, from a writer to a bond trader.
Mario Puzo As the editor of
Book World from 1967 to 1969, Dobell published numerous book reviews by
Mario Puzo, including the first book review Puzo ever wrote. "I think Byron ... was the only guy who would have printed it and certainly the only guy who would have given it a front page." == Art career ==