New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
TWO PLAYWRIGHTS.
THE SUCCESSFUL FIRM OF BELAsCo &


You must have noticed On the bills OF the play at
the Lyceum Theatre that The Wife, was written by
Belasco & De Mille and that Lord chumley's' au-
tlors are Do Mile g. Belasco By-and-by when
Manager Frohman gets ready, you will SEQ that Inc
Charity BALI IS by Belaseo De Mile, and that the
play which follows 1t will be by De Mile q Belasco
This may curious to those who have not the
privilege Of knowing these modest gentlemen each Of
whom seeks TO hide himself from the public eye by
pushing his friend 10 the front in this alternating
way
what could have brought you two togetherl' was
the query addressed to the paywrigh,s day or two
ago when they were pounced upon in one OF Mr.
Frohman's cosey little parl0rs at the Lyceum.
Fate" said David Belasco.
The Divinity that shapes our ends" said Henry c.
De Mile
1t was not necessary to ask what keeps them to-
gether There several tes-success, belief IN eaoh
others ability and confidence in each others IN
tegrity. No contract was drawn between them. They
understand each other too we'll for that.
When Dc Mile first met Belasco at the Madison
Square Theatre he inquired of himself:
Is 10 possible that boy has been hired TO be stage
managers
And Belasoo, when his eye fell on De Mile, gave
way 10 this sober reflection:
Wonder what that Methodist preacher has to do
with the theatrel'
That in 1883. Belasc0 was not far wrong as
De Miles parents had intended him for the pr pit
But he would not preach. At early age he showed
strong inclination for transforming and circus
lemonade that the old folks concluded that he At for
nothing but the law and he educated accordingly
His home at Washington, North Carolina, about
thirty miles from the place where Augustn DAILY was
born.
"rm a Tar Heel and Pm proud Of it,' he said'
when some mentioned the reHnous quality OF MS
application to hard work. He graduated from
Columbia, class OF rs, taught school while IN
Brooklyn and later became professor Of Engpsh
literature and science at the Columbia Grammar
School In 1883 he master play-reader and gen
eral critic at the Madison Square Theatre, an ofce
which he held for four years and which involved q
general supervision Of the literary department Of that
play house Some persons have said that De Miles,
success as a playwright may be traced to his expert
ence as play reader. He must have absorbed quaint
ties Of ideas, they contend from the works OF others
which passed before him In review, or which, TO
speak moro correctly, he waded through Being
brought 90 book on THIS charge, he said:
al read from 200 to 300 plays every year. II was
our rulo to read carefully and critically everything
that was submitted no matter from what source IL
came. Plays were turned in by persons in every
walk OF life II would amaze you to hear the names
Of some who sent us their manuscript. From tho
Judge to the bootblack from the preacher TO the prize
fighter the food poured in. As for getting IDEAS
the thought Of such thing IS absurd when one con-
sIders the vast amount Of rubbish had to wade
through yes worse than rubbish; rot of the most un-
mltlgated kind"
awhat portion Of these 200 or 300 plays year did
you find acceptablei"
About 1 per cent"
Let all vain mon, women and children take warning.
Every man thinks he edit a newspaper; no ono
iroagines himself incapable Of writing a play, but
,rberc hundred knock at the door. only one Is per-
mitted To walk in.
De Miles first essay as author Of plays was
a niece called Delmers Daughters" which had run
NJ one whole week at the Madison Square Theatre
He doesn't Ike talk about it now and never voiun
tarlly recolects It. HIS second wefk was seeed
Instructionss comedy written in collaboration with
Mrs. verplanck. and now in the MADISON sauare
repertory II was one Of that theatres successes
The Main Line,' his third play. done In partner
shin with Charles Barnard Of Tho Century and
CbautauouA II was financially successful but never
had n long run in this city. Though produced hand
somely at the Lyceum. II had 10 be taken on AZ the
end of few weeks and sent on the road TO mako
room for other engagements. DC Mile sun believes
in f. and one Of these days viii revive H. after putting
IN n little strong humanity aud smothering some OF
tho novelty and noise.
People imagine that they want novelty on the
stage. but they don't. Give them a chestnut Ike
Lord Chumey' or THE Old Homestead II you want to
Gil tho house every night The nearer you get to
peoples hearts the nearer you approach succss.'
After The Main Lines came The Wife, with
Belasco as a collaboration. Its success Is fresh In
the minds Of all Belaseo. san Francisco boy with
prediction for tho stage. made himself good
actor and after treadng tho boards for several
abandoned the search for hlsrionic honors TO become
stage.manager Of Badwin's Theatre. While acting
70 that capacity he adapted and produced. with
gratifying results numerous plays, among them
Hearts of oaka and La Belle Russo" His ex
ceptlonal abilities stage director made his name
familiar TO actors and this side Of the
continent and In 1888, he was Induced to come TO
yew.York TO takeN charge Of tho Madison
Square stage. Here the methodist preacher and
the boyS from San Francisco met for the first time
Each remained at tho Madison Square about four
years, when both united their fortunes Xifh Daniel
Frohman, OF the Lyceum While at the Madison
Square Belasco brought out May Blossom and
wrote Valerie y and Strangers Of Pans.a ava
lerie' was produced at walacks
Gilbert and Sullivan could not suit each other bet
ter than Belasco suits Dc Mile and De Mile suits
Belasco They work together without friction Their
thoughts combine as tremendously as the warp and
wool in a power loom
awe do our best and trust in Providence for re-
sults' said Dc Mile.
What are your methods of workl' they were asked.
How do We work. Davel' said De Mile to his
partner.
You'd better answer that question, Henry I'm
wanted at rehearsal said Belasco, who forthwith be
took himself to the stage TO teach some Of his pupils
how TO strut and fret their hour.
De Mile then talked enthusiastically Of HIS partners
ability but could scarcely be persuaded TO say good
word for himself
ave work always in the same room,' no said in
answer to the repeated inquiry, 4" and at tho same
table, which is big one. Belasco sits at one end,
SIT at the other, and draw a line between US
which neither dares 10 cross. Dave has HIS little
ssnctiies about the arrangement Of his papers and
reckon have mine 50 We never touch each others
property, never invade each others territory. We
begin work at half past 10 in the morning and
quit a. half past Q. -Four hours of steady apploa-
ton arc enough. On some days we accomplish
great deal while on Others the progress make is
hardly perceptible."
:" How do you divide up tho work1'
"There IS no dividing UP. We work together In
every feature Of the construction and in the dialogue