New-York tribune., 1918-09-08
Dran1atizi11g 'Penrod"

Now that Booth Tarkington's "Pen-
rod" has been successfully dramatized
by Edward E. Rose and is on exhibition
at the Globe Theatre, it is interesting
to consider the evolution of the play
and the strenuous efforts made by
George c. Tyler, the producer, to have
it written.
Mr.. Tyler has long been an intimate
friend of Mr.. Harrington, and perhaps
the most ardent admirer of his literary
work now living in these United States
1t was he who produced Tarkington's
"The Man From Home" and since that
time he has had sort of tacit under
standing with the novelist pla aywrig ght t
that he is to have first call on all
dramatic rights to his writings. He be-
came enamoured of the Penrod stories
when they first began to appear seri-
ally, and he commenced an epistolatory
bombardment of the author, emphasiz-
ing the immediate necessity of writing
play around them. At that time he
felt that Mr.. Harrington should write
the play himself.
ut can't be DONE" replied Mr.. Tark-
ington. "The stories are concerned
principally with what Penrod feels and
only incidentally with what he does l
don't think you could get them over on
the stage
The stories continued to appear, and
they continued to delight not only Mr.
Tyler but multitudes of readers from
one end of the country to the other.
They became, in point Of fact, the most
popular series of short stories that had
appeared in America since readers were
forced to cease scanning magazine con-
tents pages to see if another o. Henry
story" was in type. Mr.. Tyler con-
ceived the notion that Tarkington's In
diana confrere and friend, George Ade.
might try his hand at making a play
out of them. He wrote Mr. Ade and re-
ceived the following reply:
ut can't be done If it could be. and
| made successful play out Of it, Tark
would get all the credit. If it failed
they'd blame it on AIDE. What's the
use?'
Mr.. Tyler talked it over with George
NJ. Cohan. The latter was "'Penrod'
FAM" but couldn't become enthusiastic
about the stage possibilities of the
stories.
ut might be DONE" said Mr.. Cohan.
but it would be a mighty hard task.
There isn't much story to them. That
would have to be invented. It's much
too complex problem for me to under
take now. I've got too much other
work on my hands"
Then the late Harry James Smith was
appealed to. He considered the idea
tor couple of weeks, but wouldn't
undertake to attempt any actual writ
ing "A. T. Thomas was also appealed to
IN vain. Fred Ballard, author of that
other successful "boy play" young
America" tinkered and played with the
notion for a considerable space of time
and then opined that he couldn't see
that successful dramatization was
possible.
Mr.. Taylor finally vegan to believ.
that 1T looked hopeless. He had sup.
gested to Harrington that possibly if
the latter wrote special series of the
stories with the idea of play in mind
perhaps a practical comedy could he
evolved from them. The author acted
upon thls suggestion. and evolved the
series known as "Penrod Jashbar"
which ran serially in "The CosmopoN-
tan Magazine" the first FIVE months Of
this year. Even these stories. how
ever, despite the fact that they told a
more or less continuous narrative
failed to appeal as being dramatizable
to any of the authors who had nrev;-
ously considered the idea.
In the mean time Harrington had had
most tempting offer for the MOVING
picture rights to all of the "penrodn
stories, and wrote Mr. Tyler asking
him to give him some definite word .s
10 whether he would waive his ontion
on the dramatic rights. The latter was
actually on the verge of replying, Civ
ing MIN full release, when Edward f,
Rose happened into his Office one morn
ing.
George" said Mr.. Rose, "Ive worked
out a scenario for 'Penrod' play.
know you're mighty friendly with Tark
mgton, and suppose, though | don't
know positively, that you have some
sort OF an understanding with him
sort of first call"
Tome 70 my arms" said Mr.. TYLER
tcrvently. Lets hear the scenario %
mr. Rose outlined it conversationallv.