The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
FROHMAN'S 900 OFFER
CHANCE FOR AMERICANS WHO
THINK THEY CAN WRITE PLAYS.
All Four Theaters Running This
Week, with Special Matinees and
Election Returns on Tuesday.

The New York Herald received a few
days ago the following letter from writer
who seems to be laying awake nights
bothering himself about the fancied I'M
happy lot Of the American dramatist,
whom he pictures on his weary way lover
the hills to the poorhouse." Here is the
letter:
Some time since read in the New York
Herald about an actress, Miss Maude
Adams. and in regard to her being star
after this season. j am not a play writer,
and / am not writing you in any selfish
spirit or for my own gain. 1 am writing
merely as an American citizen. fond of his
country and his people. and of the Amer
lean drama and sorry to see our managers
always going over to London and to Paris
for actors and plays and for opera singers
and the rest of our entertainments. There
are as good things to be found here as any
where, and If our theaters would give
them a show they would make the wellxin
ring with glad tidings of success. There
are good many Americans to-day who
have written as good plays as ever were
produced, and yet can't get them accepted,
and while few popular American writer's
can get their plays taken, there are lot
of them. good. brainy fellows. too. and L
know them, who are almost starving for
want of helping hand and getting no en-
enlargement at the managers door.
often think Of this at night and sometimes
can't sleep. thinking of it. Now, what 1
want to say is this. Here is an American
girl, Miss Adams, starting out as a star,
and here is Mr.. Frohman, an American,
who has lot of good American dollars
In his pocket, and who put them there?
Yet-see If am right-he will give no help
to American actors. but will send over to
Europe for a play for her. just as Mr..
Drew is done by. Why don't he give our
American writer's a show. especially with
American actors?"
"Of course, the man is all wrong" said
Mr.. Frohman, when he had read the let
ter, land If that's all that is keeping him
awake he can have a good nights rest If
he'll consider facts. The American dra..
matist Is welcome, doubly welcome at al
times at my theaters. and L think I can
say the same for other managers. l do
not go abroad in preference for new plays.
l am glad to have a play written by one
OF our own people. because if they are
equal in merit in other particulars to those
written abroad they have the added good
quality OF being written from an American
standpoint and not calling for rewriting or
localizing in some details. is the neces-
slty with much that comes from the other
side. SO far as Mr.. Drew is concerned
some of his most marked successes have
been In pieces written here, and at the
Garrick to-day Mr. Gillette is making a
phenomenal hit with an American COM
edy.
In London 1 have done all could to
bring the American playwright to the fore.
and The Girl L Left Behind Me- and The
Gay Parisians,' called in London "A Night
Out are more recent evidences of my de-
sire and of the success of American plays
abroad.
80 far from desiring to star Miss Ad-
ans in an English or French play, L much
prefer TO present this American girl in an
American play. 1 shall only take "a for
eign piece if / cannot secure satisfac-
| tory American play And to show the
strength OF my conviction. L will make this
offer to American dramatsts: II they will
| write a play which is a suitable one in
| which TO present Miss Adams on her first
| appearance a star. will be only too
| glad to produce it, and will agree to pay
| the author such terms that his receipts
| from the royalty will in the first twelve
| months amount to at least $4,000. That,
| will guarantee, shall be the minimum
! that he will receive. If the play is more
than ordinarily successful his royalties
will be larger, but l promise him SO 900, at
least. the first year. and as much more
/ thereafter as the play earns him by its
! continued production by Miss Adams.
| Il want TO encourage. not discourage,
the American playwright He is good
| fellow and a brainy one. as Mr.. What's
his-name says, and If he is waiting for a
market for his goods let him bring them
along, if they of the right sort. Miss
| Adams won't start out till next Septem-
Der. SO he's got plenty of time to get his
wares ready.
! Discourage the American playwris. :?
Help send him over the hills to the poor
| house? Why, my dear sir, said MIR. troh-
man, II want To give HIM such d helping
| hand that he'll ride in his special car, live
| in twice as good an apartment as L Go in
| the Waldorf eat strawberries at a dollar
apiece all winter and write good plays ali
summer Tell Mr.. What's his-name that
he's barking up the wrong manager"