The Washington times., 1914-12-01
THIS WAS Il" WORD
Of RENNOLD WOLF
Phrases Read From Manuscript
of "The Beauty Doctor" to
Show Parallels.
By GARDNER MACK.

takes the job of turning the scenario
and all-star cast of the authors, prodUc-
ers and star of THE Beauty Shop at
the trial to recover damages for in
fringement in the equity suit brought
by the author of 'lDr. FakeweH,' into a
stage production. he will probably hunt
around for a title that resembles THE
Three Twins for another character
was introduced at this mornings hear
ing of the case in The Beauty Doc
tor" who bears a striking resemblance
to the other two famous specialists. The
new character first came into being at
the Fourteenth Street Theater. in New
York some twelve years ago, but nobody
connected with the trial of the case had
heard of it until it was presented with
due Formally by the defendants coun-
sci through the medium of Rennold
Wolf
Claiming Pollock. most picturesque
Of the defendants, was put upon the
stand for the purpose of allowing At
torney Wilton J. Lambert, for the
plaintiff. to cross-eXamine him. 1t
might be stated right here that this
was not one of those examinations
where the word cross" is stricken
out and peevish inserted. Ii was a
very gentlemanly proceeding all the
way through.
How Plays Are Judged.
MI. lO4iOth AOiC something ol ItS
work as playwright, and gave some
very interesting information as to
the manner in which the judging
business is done in play contests. 1t
is not supposed, according to Mr. Pol
lock, that all of the judges will read
all of the plays He himself con-
scented to be a judge in the Dehoven
contest on the explicit understanding
that he would not be compelled TO
read any of the manuscripts sub
mitted unless there was a tie. And
be had known nothing of the contest,
therefore, until after it was all over.
After again denying that he had ever
seen Plaintiff Phllander j OhnSon's play,
DR.. Fakewen." in manuscript or other
fern. or ever knew that MIR. Johnson
lad written play. Mr.. Pollock was
replaced on the stand by Samuel B.
harris, still the proud and unblushing
partner of George N. Cohan, despite
the large group of drama upEfters with
whom he has found himself in constant
contact at this trial.
Mr.. Harris told of his business deal
ings with Messrs. Pollock and Wolf and
Of his acceptance of The Beauty Shop
and its production He also told of his
conversation with Mr.. johnson regard
ing the play, TO which Mr.. Johnson
testified when be was on the stand. II
would appear from the testimony of
Messrs. Pollock and Harris that the idea
for THE Beauty Shop" was conceived
in the latter part of the year 1911 and
that the play was produced in 1913
Rennold Wolf was one of the few
witnesses that have so far been called
in the trial with whom the public has
only a reading acquaintance. He might
be said to be known by the column TO
a number of people, but not By sight
Mr.. Wolf told the court he studied law
and practiced il for five years until he
learned to write for newspapers. and
that he had been doing newspaper work
and writing plays ever since. He has
been dramatic editor of the New York
Morning Telegraph for eight or Ten
years: and wrote things about the thea
tiers FOR several years before that.
Cites Parallel Play.
Mr.. Wolf stated he had never met
Mr.. johnson in his life and that he
never knew before the suit was flied
that M. Johnson aspireG % write a
me way. Attorney MalVinSki asked I
usually if Mr.. Wolf had ever heard of (
Il play called THE Beauty Doctor A."
or something to a similar fleet. And (
then II all happened.
II appears that The Beauty Doctor
was produced at the Fourteenth street /
lheater IN New York by "a MANAGER /
5.nown as Fred Wright in 1872: that Mr.. I
" OF had been present AT to nroduc-
Ton; mat after the suit against him
self and the other defendants had been |
NED, he secured copy of the manu- /
script Of The Beauty Doctor and Z
this was il, this being q blackboard :
book the attorney placed in his hands I
Ahd then over the objections of the /
Nlaintlh 8 counsel extracts from The ]
Seautv Doctor We're read in court. 1
which fitted many Of the phrases that /
rad beon read from both DIR. Fake !
veil. the johnson product, and The /
own or wrote or acted
The cross-eXamination OF Mr.. Wolf I
lesun Just before the afternoon recess
iale1 10 shake any Of his testimony
BeTore proceeding with the regular {
journeys decided 10 argue the matter |
81 admitting yesterdays testimony when
The case Is sun med up
Defense Not Prepared.
That Mr.. Justice Mccoy has as fine a
sense Of dramatic values as any Of tho /
experts that III his court. as We'll as a
regular Gilbert and Sullivan sense Of
humor, coupled with old fashioned
courtesy OF the type seldom net with
IN courts OF anywhere else these days
was proved by the proceedings yester-
day afternoon.
The attorneys for the defense sought
- MI ''A'' expert testimony. the plain
1Ir's counsel strenuOusly objected on
the ground that il was imrnatcrial in
conclusive, and a lot of other verbal
curiositles that find coy corners where
1hsv may curl up and be buried In HI.
books and briefs and busters OF iur.stS
The learned gentlemen handling the
DOCKS FOR the defendants insisted that
they had all sorts Of authority for their
action and Ia hurt, panied tones. de-
clared they would have produced all |
these things if they had though; FOR A |
moment the question would be raised
They asked the indulgence Of the court
Uutll this morning 10 do all TINS. And
IN tine meantime, as the gentlemen who ,
were 10 do the exporting had come all I
The way from New York with their tools !
" hetted for the occasion, would the /
court mind hearing them and then 1
when the authorities had been cited and I
duly digested. pass upon whether their |
testimony would be admitted or not.
Thomas An unknown"
Taking into consideration all these |
things, the court graciously admitted |
The evidence, under these conditions, I
and created nice little situation which |
any of the throng OF piaywrights man
ayers. producers, actors. and even crit |
les might use as the basis Of a play
although real situations as the bases OF !
plays have gone out oil style. as any 1
one Of the gentlemen enumerated might |
state.
The first person called upon 10 OK
pound playwrightIrg tochn!caliti"s Was