The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
ENGLISHS
GRAND
PARK
EMPIRE
PEayS and
PLAYERS

make a play out Of II. Such was the birth
Of THE Senator" When Lloyd completed
the play, Mr.. Crane suggested that certain
changes be made in IT, but the author died
that time Sidney Rosenfeld was a reporter
on New York paper and had earned
some reputation as writer OF 1lngles
and topical verses. Mr.. Crane called him
in to complete Lloyd's work, which he eFi-
IDENTIFY accomplished in satisfactory man
ner since the play is still before the pubic.
presented by stock companies in various
cities of the country.
Clinton Stuart another newspaper man.
gave the comedian another piece. called
Newport" 1t had one presentation ana
then the actor tried to forget about 1t
For Money" the joint production OF
Clay Greene and Augustus Thomas. was
the actors next production and during It's
run Mr.. Crane formed the acquaintance
of Paul Potter. The latter had just
turned out the hodgepodge called THE
city Directory" and Crane thought him
capable of better work. He accordingly
commissioned Potter to write him a play,
which commission was executed IN piece
called 1.-The American Minister.
At this juncture Martha Morton came into
view. She had a number of talks with the
actor and exhibited one scenario when met
his approval. She received an oraer 70
write a play and filled it with Brother
john" During the six weeks that TINS
piece was given at McVicker's Theater.
Chicago. in the closing days OF the worid
fair, its receipts were over SS6OVo:
Paul Potter again fitted the actor with
play called THE Pacific Mail" which made
way for His Wifes Father, another OIL
Miss Morton's efforts. After long and
successful career this play was succeeded
by ''The Governor of Kentucky. an am
bilious effort on the part Of Franklin Fyles,
dramatic critic of one or New YORK
prominent dailies, who is just now In the
public eyes on account of a series of very
readable articles on the stage being pub
lished in well-known periodical for femi-
nine readers.
Martha Morton having been twice sue
cessful thought she would like to make
third attempt and gave Crane one of the
best and at the same time one of the short
est lived plays he has ever had. 1t was
called "a Fool Of Fortune" and afforded
versatility. The piece had one drawback,
however, It required the acter to de- The
public fiocked to see the play. but did not
hesitate to say that 1T did not Ike to see
its favorite come to an untimely end. 1t was
clear that Mr.. Cranes followers wanted
him to move them to laughter instead of
tears. As consequence, he cropped TINS
play at the height of It's financial success.
The next native work to meet production
at his hands was "a Virginia Courtship,
by Eugene W. Presbrey. and some idea of
it's lasting qualities may be had when IL is
stated thatiit Is still in the actors roper
tory. Mr.. Presbrey's first effort encouraged
him to try again and he produced Worth
a Million" which the critics said wasn't
worth a cent, and Ii was shelyed with
cycionic rapidity. Clyde Fitch's Head of
the Family was Cranes next production,
and the present season witnessed the rise
and fall of "Peter Stuyvesant" With the
laying aside Of this latter play came into
life "a Rich Mans Son." an adaptation
by Michael Morton, a brother of Martha
Morton. This latter piece and "A Virginia
Courtship" will be produced by Mr.. Crane
at his engagement in this city.
The actors record is one of which he
proud. a
field which others have not always found
profitable and which they have not hest
tated to abandon on that account OF all
his productions only three can be said to
have been pronounced failures: Newport"
which lasted one night; Worth a Million
which had thirteen presentations. and
peter Stuyvesant," which held the boards
for five weeks. -