The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-23
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

Does the dramatization of a popular
novel increase the sale of the book? Some
publishers give an affirmative reply. while
others, strange to relate. hold a contrary
: view, with experience to back up their
opinion Frank ]. wilstach, Viola Aliens
business manager, in discussing the prop
osition, says:
I 1.-THE dramatization of 'Trilby' inaugu-
rated the present rage. Before On Me.
rier's masterpiece had been put on the
stage, novels had found their way to The
boards in considerable number; Monte
+ Cristo' is a case in point, but nothing
/ like the output in recent years. 'Trilby'
was the rage before its dramatization; it
was sold by the thousands. Imme-
diately upon the immense success of the
novel in the form Of play, its sale al
most doubled. The same is true of The
Christian Before Miss Viola Allen ap-
peared in it as a play, the novel had had
a great vogue. The success of the play
| immensely increased the output OF the
| book. The same thing happened with the
! presentations of Little Lord Fauntleroy'
and The Lady of Quality The sales al
most doubled upon the success of these
| two books on the stage. A Becky Sharp
edition of Vanity Fair was issued last
year and had large sale. while the same
| is true of Maud Adams edition Of The
Little Minister Under the Red Robe
| had large sale before and an even great
er one after the draInatization- AN Enc
my to the King like Charles Reades
Peg Wofington,' was made into novel
after the success OF tbs play, ana many
thousand copies -are sold.
"Other books that have been drama
tized did not succeed so well-the pub
fishers claiming that after the theatre
goers saw the play they did not care to
read the book The play made them ac-
quainted with the story. 1t would ap-
pear then, that what holds good with
one book with others the exact contrary
will occur poor dramatization of a
good book will be pretty sure TO hurt its
sale as has been proved in few cases
1T will be a matter of interest to dis
cover what effect the dramatiZation OF
several popular novels Of the present
year shall have upon their sales. Viola
Allen presents 4 dramatizatien or r.
Marion Crawford's novel, In the Palace
of the King, before the entire pubiica-
ton of the novel in serial form shall have
been made. In this case. which IS IN
usual the advertising which the play
will receive will be to advantage of the
novel Usually the play profits by the
reputation of the book The Adventures
E. Dixey. and The Choir Invisible. BY
Mr. Henry Jewett, have both been very
largely read and clever dramatizaticns
should induce many new readers TO p1r-
chase the book. The same is true OF
David Harum' and Richard Carvel
Five years ago was published Her Ma
jesty' by Elizabeth Knight Tompkins-
j. l. c. Clarke has made a dramatization
of the book for Miss Grace George. 1t
will be matter OF interest in this last
named case to discover what effect sue
cessfuI dramatization will have upon
book with long ago dropped cut of view
and never got beyond one edition
at is a very common practice to de-
nounee actors for talking shop" said
Mr. w NJ Hull, Creston Clarke's business
manag ger, in discussing theatrical matters
recently yet they are by no means the
only offenders or even the worst in this
direction The fact is that almost every
individual confines his conversation
largely to the profession or occupation
in which he is engaged. or to subjects
kindred thereto. Newspaper men are no
torious for this There were probably
never gathered together two or more
newspaper writer's. especially reporters,
that the talk did not drift to the sub
jaet of journalism and result in an ex-
preston of each ones notion of an ideal
newspaper, dlOng WIFI HeTct tIitiCioHl VI
daily publications which in a greater or
less degree fail TO conform TO this ideal.
When lawyers meet they discuss courts,
cases, decisions and codes. Anecdotes of
famous Judges advocates and legislators
are passed about. and the whole CONVEX
sation has flavor of the courthouse
Doctors rarely think of anything not
connected with the profession Of medicine.
You may sit around where physicians are
and gain a pretty liberal knowledge or
medicine by listening to them Diseases,
remedies, operations. medical discoveries,
etc, are dwelt on when they are not
bitterly disparaging the talents and char
acter of their fellow practitioners, and one
can literally detect the odor OF the dispen-
sary or the dissecting room when he gets
away from a eoIloquy OF NJ DIS
Business men confine their talk largely
10 the branches of trade or speculation in
which they are engaged. and the farmer
certainly finds material for his conversa-
tienal activity in his stock and srops.
Now, why should the poor actor be
picked out for denunciation because he
talks about his profession and things tim
bred thereto. and others go exempt. wnen
the actors business is. after all. of more
intrinsic interest than that OF any of the
others? The truth is that the art of con-
versation is so difficult that hut few men
or women master 1t. and each Is compelled
to contine himself to topics in which he Is
Immediately interested. II is not special
failing. therefore In the actor, 10 talk
shop. but a weakness ne shares with his
fellow-lnen."