The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-07
THE DRAMA OF THE WEEK
Still Hope
For Unknown
Playwrights
David Rciasco Has Stunned Them,
But Other Organizations Have
Taken Him In.
(Ry George A. Ronson.N

Wy 1CSiSc "A. TcCISOT.J
Some suits do not suit. So thought
David Belasco. when he was sued h,
a young playwright. aspiring though
unstng. The case is we'll known
When he produced Edward Locke.
ply. The Case CT Becky" success.
followed In its wake. Then came
forth the indignant unknown. and &C,
used Mr.. Relasco Of stealing his idea
of storing 1t away in mis- treasure
house of ideas and giving the key tc
Mr.. Locke. The complaint did not
win his suit. but the great David was
grieved at the ingratitude of the hu.
ma race. and refused to read any
more plays by unknown authors.
To other ambitious playwrtghts,
this seems indeed a o d%iscourag-
ing issue. Another cause for literary
blues is the fact that the aforesaid
producer is now turning double at
tention to the offer made by him some
months aso--to pay any earnest
youth to come to him and learn how
to act. This generous offer has been
accepted by many.
This proposal. resembles that of
William A. Brady, to give a hearing
to all men and women who sincerely
wish to act. Mr.. Brady agrees to
place in his companies n promis-
ing applicant. The part may be small,
but it will furnish the desired start
When two of the greatest theatre
cal producers In the country are de-
voting their time to the histrionic side
OF drama, the new playwright may
Well feel sighted. Nevertheless,
there is a ray of light for him. too. He
has moi been entirely ignored by other
managers. and his plays will continue
RI GOT q hAa~t~- to-
other.
The National Federation Of The
atergoers has been organized for his
benefit. This association has for its
object the furtherance of the literary
side Of the drama. Its officers de.
clare that this feature of the stage is
being crushed out by the tentacles
OF commercialism. and they have per-
fected a strong organization for car-
The federation is soon to produce
The Higher Court" written by
Henry Irving Dodge of New York.
The play was submitted anonymously,
under h rules of the organization.
and was selected from a long list. If
the play proves worthy, it will be
given a continued New York run or a
road tour. Thus will the persistent
MT: Dodge come into his own.
PNASS w uIlhI1OWn .duIHOES
will be produced in time. The am
bilious. though unheralded, play.
wright will in time get a Broadway
nearing. His play may not weather
the storm Of more than one perform
ance. but h initial hearing will teach
him much that will in the end direct
him toward success.
But the Federation Of Theatergoers
IS not the only organization working
for the unknown playwright. A WON.
ems club In New York recently offer
ed a prize Of $3.50 for the best play
submitted in competition before Jan
uary l.: If the play proves worthy
Of continued production, the author
Will secure the usual royalties.
Mrs. H. c. DeMille, wife of the man
VINO wrote "strongheart" and "The
friend Of the unknown. Mrs. DeMille
is a play broker. and is doing all she
possibly can for the struggling dra-
mattst. She believes in reading hun
dreds OF plays in the hope Of finding
one hat will prove q real literary
and dramatic success.
There are other producers who
spend much Of their time in reading
possible as plays. But they realize
tina there may be one out Of a thou
sand that will be worthy of a New
York production. and for that one
play they will read the whole thou
sand. ~
With MI. Belasco. the wizard Of
the stage" and Mr.. Brady devotine
lneir enersies toward developing a
new generation of actors, and with
other managers and oreanizations
furthering the literary feature. the
hope for the future Of American
drama is indeed bright.