The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-17
Who Owns CLYDE Fitch?
A Point Disputed by Maxine Elliott,
Clara Bloodgood, and Amelia
Bingham.

Whose dramatist is Clyde Fitch2"
Three of Americas most talented and
beautiful actresses started this cues
ton. They are Maxine Elliott. Amelia
Bingham, end Clara BIoodgood. Amelia
Bingnans. in a speech on the first night
OF The Frislzy Mrs. Johnson, referred
TO Mr.. Fitch as my dramat1st." In less
than twenty-four hours the Journalists
had taken up their pens. mightier than
swords. in defense of Mrs. BIoodgood.
BY what right did Mrs. Bingham claim
Mr.. Fitch? She was forced to give proof.
She cited her production OF The Climb
ers, "A Modern MagdaIene," and The
F'risky Mrs. Johnson" which Mr.. Fitch
had adapted from the French for her.
This gave Mrs. Bloodgood's adherents
their cue. and justified them in making
known the prominent part Mr.. Fitch
had taken in the actress career. When
Mrs Bingham went to him for a play.
ne read several to her. presuming she
wanted one with a star part. When she
said she preferred one with several good
roles, he read 1.-THE Climbers" She was
delighted. but he told her there was a
point he insisted on; she might engage
whom she pleased. except that the char
acter Of Miss GOdesby had been written
for certain actress. and the play could
not be had without her Mrs. Bingham
was so DESTROYS 10 have the piece that
she consented. and braced herself To the
idea of engaging a famous actress. She
was surprised when Mr.. Fitch mentioned
Mrs Bloodgood, then known less for
her good acting in small parts than for
being a graduate of the smart set
The hit that Mrs. BlOodgood made as
Miss Godesby is theatrical history. But
the letter that the happy aut.Ior wrote
to her the next morning has been seen
by few Mrs. Bloodgood seldom shows
II. even to her intimates. though she
carefully preserves it among the treas
ures or her stage career After prais>
Ing her performance TO the extent of
two closely written pages, Mr.. Fitch
said: Proud as l am of your success.
and happy as it makes me to have been
means thereto. we haven't done all
We will do together yet Miss Godesby
Is delightful for the present but she
Is nothing to the part l will write for
you" 1t was two years before Mr.
Fitch fulfilled that promise by writing
The Girl With the Green Eyes and
arranging with Charles Frohman TO
have its production mark the stellar
debut Of Mrs Boodgood
Meanwhile. MrsA BlOOdgood continued
to be Mr.. Fitch'sN own actress" and
the fact Is said TO have brought about
more than one quarrel Amelia Rin.s-
ham, as manager. naturally wanted the
lady of The Climbers 10 play Miss
Godesby in other cities than New
York. But Mr.. Fitch had written an
ether play which he would not sell
without Mrs. BlOodgood. and which
Elsie de Wolfe wished to produce. 'rhe
matter was settled TO the satisfact,oo
of three out of the four persons con-
Corned by Mrs. Bloodgood retiring from,
THE Climbers and starting the nev
season as Mrs Lake, in "The Wa os
the World" Here came about another
row. 1t is perhaps pleasanter now not
70 dig up these quarrels, save that they
made Mrs. BlOodgood a star. Anyway.
Miss de Wolfe carried the matter to
the point of persuading a star actress
TO interrupt a tour. as friendly favor
TO. try to outshine Mrs. Bloodgood in the
part of Mrs Lake.
but these quarreis were mere side is
sues to the main controversy as to
what actress may rightfully claim Mr.
Fitch as her own dramatist The de-
cisIOn may well award the title to the
actress who has best interpreted the
work of Mr.. Fitch. Parts stand this
way: Mrs. Bingham. three: MIS-.
BloodgOOd, three; Maxine Elliott. three;
with one each for Ethel Barrymore,