Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-21
ROGERS DEATH
MAY HALT PLAY
DOLLAR MARK" CHARACTER
WAS MAGNATE'S OWN
PROPERTY MAY DICTATE DELAY
OF NEW YORK OPENING
Scene Recalling MiIIIonaire's Strange
Dread of Death May Be Cut In
Difference to Feelings of
the Family
BY W. HERBERT BLAKE

Whether the death of Henry H. Rog-
ers, which caused barely ripple on
the surface of the financial seas, will
delay the New York premiere of ''The
Dollar Mark in which the principal
character admittedly is modelled after
Mr.. Rogers, was mooted question III
local theatrical circles last night. mat
the role of Carson Baylis, the iron
hearted old magnate whose soul melts
at the appeal of human suffering, even
as did the sympathies of the late trust
baron at many pitiful plea, Will nave
to be changed radically to avoid the
improperly of q caricature upon the
dead, was the prevailing opinion.
When the Broadhurst play was pre-
scented in Los Angeles for the 1lrst
time on any stage, every auditor at
the record breaking first night per-
Torrance noted with pleasure the
character of Baylis. There was no
overt connection with Mr.. Rogers in
the text of the play, but the facial re-
semblance was unmiStakable and the
mannerisms which made the late mil
lionaire such a familiar national fig
ure were as readily traced. AS week
after week succeeded and the drama
continued on its winning way at the
Belasico theater, playgoerS almost Tor
got the name of the character ana II
was common for a patron of the play
mousse 10 speak oL DdSliS AhOASiJ as
Rogers"
When the news of Mr.. Rogers sud
den death was flashed over the wires
and into the hands of the newspaper
reading public, probably the first
thought of the Los Angeles theater~
goers was of Carson Baylis and how
he baited his foes in the business world
with that iron determination and caus
tic humor which lent stamina and go
to '"rhe Dollar Mark"
Dialogue May Be Changed
The resemblance of the character,
which was designedly drawn from
that of Mr.. Rogers, cannot fail to i'm
press itself upon New York audiences,
and it it believed that even with the
changes which the respect due the
dead may dictate the bluff old Stand
ard Oil magnate will be recognizable
in the role as portrayed at Days the
alter next fall. That there will be nu-
merous excisons and cancellations in
the dialogue to reduce the possibility
of offense on the part of the Rogers
family local theatrical folk believe ex-
tremely likely.
Up to late hour last night Mr..
Broadhurst, who is in New York city,
had given no hint of his intentions in
the matter, but a decision is looked for
today by his friends in Los Angeles.
In one of the many climactic scenes
of 1.-The Dollar Mark" Carson Baylis
is confronted with a youth who has
given up hope Of happiness and is on
the brink of suicide. Baylis has it in
his power to crush the young man fl
nancially and the misuse of opportun-
ity of which the latter has been guilty
gives him scant hope of pardon. In a
moment of inspiration, however, he
mentions to Baylis that he contem-
plates ending his life. The latter has
q horror of any mention of death
which amounts almost to a mania. In
a burst of generosity he forgives the
culprit and puts him on his feet again
in the commercial maelstrom.
Trait Marked In Rogers
One of the most marked traits in the
late H. H. Rogers was his dread of
death and his aversion to any men,
ton of it in familiar conversation.
Even Mark Twain, who was wont to
Jest on all themes in heaven or earth
in conversation with his friend Rog
ers, always discreetly avoided the one
tabooed topic. Mr.. Rogers carried his
one fear with him to the grave.
1t Is believed that whatever portions
of the dialogue are left unchanged
from reasons of artistic fitness, the
scene of the suicidal threat and its