The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-27
FIGHTS FOR FOREIGN PLAYS.
GIN THE rvCLrsrTE RTGHT no UsH
THEN BE M.fTNTIINED
An Imrortnut Question TINT the Controversy
About "A Celebrated Cnse" MAY Brinx
to ~ settlement In the Court OF Appeals.


An Important Question TINT the Controversy
About "a Celebrated Case" MAY urinx
TO ~ Settlement In the Court OF Appeals.
Evidently there Is hard fighting ahead
over the mclo1rama. "A Celebrated Case" and
the result of the contest will probably be a clear
ing up Of the uncertainty rs to whether the OK
elusive privilege Of producing n foreign play
can be maintained. Mr. Bouclcaut is believed
to have arranged with Manager Stctson Of the
Boston Globe Theatre for the production there
Of his adaptation Of the piece. To forcstall this
movement. French & Son. the purchasers from
the authors Of the right for Great Britain and
America. have sold the Boston privilege 10
Manager Field. Of the Museum and the play
will be hurriedly presented in that estabish-
ment tomorrow evening. Stetson has gathered
n company suited to n melodrama including
George BOnface and Maud Granger. and is re-
ported to be defiant. The news from Chicago Ia
that Manager Mcvicker has decided to bring
out the piece In his own theatre. II Is rumored.
too, that Mr.. Boucicault is negotiating with the
managers OF the Grand Opera House. in this
city. No peculiar scenery Is required. so that
only a few days OF preparation are necessary Ia
bring out A Celebrated Case" in almost any
theatre In the country. Nor IL there much difil-
Guilty In getting n copy. Already Robert Johns
newspapers that he has the manuscript for sale.
He Is an actor, and has played IA n star In the
Bowcry Theatre and throughout the country in
melodramas; K. l.. Wolcou also. ndycrtiscs. to
mund Gcrson. who went TO Paris for the pur-
pose. has returned with copy.
~ The question OF protecting Celebrated
Samuel French X Son. the dramatic publishers,
for they haze paid p'Ennery and C9rnon. the
duce IL in England and America. They are to
get share of the receipts during its run IN the
Union a Sggs1e and nd T. ,progaeiio9 tGrogshGu,
company. The strong success Of the play makcs
them sure Of doubling thcir investment. unlcss
they are unable 10 prevent its use 10y others.
Whether they can 50 protect II is a question not
satisfactorily settled. Until q few, years ago
being no copyright law In the United States OK.
cept for the protection OF citizens. But SUI
HAT the AmcriaSm "p putcEascr III OF ''S an
unpublished foreign play acquired a
BT@pgy right to law that WAS dgsnsiH aS
that the public acting OF play was not pub-
cation. Under those rulings. French authors
refraiped from publishing their new plays, and
sold them here in manuscript. The subject in
Court, q Appeals, and until decision is Oh
~ foreign plays Will be subject to controversy.
rrench Son ARE T TcE and s. Gb I; Bo1c
courts II will likely he bitter and decisive one.
That the exclusive right TO use play in two
prsc those who IRE not familiar with the int.
ror work ngs ~ tho theatrical business but Il
variable in value rs dramas The ordinary
price is s2j for each representation. SO that II a
play runs only week IN single theatre ting
has Just reached iis l.0o0th performance IN
the London Vaudeville Theatre bringing TO II.
J, Byron s25.O0O from that establishment alone.
II he receives no moro than the rate mentioned.
besides large income from iis use elsewhere:
DAILY. the IIlreluSgTS for Amprlru. would lnN6