New-York tribune., 1919-11-16

plays are the work OF two
authors. George Middleton and Chan
ming Pollock, are two play@rights who
appreciate the worth OF d coworker in
their literary efforts to entertain
through the spoken narration and the
visualized description.
"Two heads are better than one" is a
generally accepted axiom on which
these two authors appear to agree.
Mr.. Middleton was found in his cozy
library in the solacing companionship
of his pipe and his "tabby." The sub
ject interested him.
when Guy Bolton and met, a
mutual sympathy for each others point
of view suggested collaboration,' he
said. "Our first venture vas the tale
Of bartender who became a temper
ance leader. For various reasons
mainly financial-we sold it TO George
M. Cohan, who transformed it into
Hit the Trail Holiday. Polly With
a Past followed Immediately, though
we waited q year for MI Belasco 10
produce it at his theager after its
secret try-out in stock. During this
time we mapped out Adam and Eva
now running at the Longacre Theater,
and The Light OF the World.' which
vail be produced in New York daring
the holidays. We have also ready
The Cave Girl but the success of
Adam and Eva has compelled us 10
keep it out OF the Longacre Theater,
where it was scheduled to appear next
month. We have also another play
n n 1o.. J.
has survived six plays-quite a record
for collaboration"
Why do you say 1t is peri.ous?"
because collaboration is the grave
yard OF many friendship. 1t is the
hardest test in the world Just ob-
serve how few colaboratons survive
one play: the jealousy of one CO.
author or the exaggerated self-im-
portance Of the other Kills it, Its con-
tlnued success granting work capac-
ity--is a matter of temperament. II
there isn't harmony and fair play the
jig xdf i cnnrso up: = !. i; +r,,n,4 -
ure what each may contribute. All
collaborations differ in essence. One
writer may be the correcting critic:
the other may be the expert in con-
struction; one may be more skilled in
dialogue; the other may have finer
sense OF character. \ witty line, for
example, may be suggested by one and
phrased by the other; a question of
structure may be q combination of
sty.es.
Ing mp what each conCri bu.es. Wee
learned shat when the ether objects
to a thing there is generally reason
and often We have found our best
effects have come from a eouoror,;so
proving each was I'M. what we are
interested in is results. We divide
everything equally-royalties and cred
1t. We alternate names on the programs
and incidentally have an iron-clad con-
tract so we can't have any possible
disputes about cur mutual rights. And
we are still the best OF friends"
You have both written plays alon' .
Why do You coliaborate ?"
because it is more fun and because
we can get better results more quickly.
When we get together each keeps the
other lacked up to concert pitch. We
don't waste time day dreaming. There
Is thus constant criticism. We can't
go so Tar wrong together as one SO
often does alone. But back of that I
suppose each brings out the best in the
other
What is your method of work."
we nave tectnlc all our own. We
haven't copyrighted it, but pre- ably it
wouldn't suit anybody else. Guy and
|, OF course, start with an idea which
must hit Us both with equal enthusi-
asm. IN Adam and Eva as | recall,
It was suggested by the fundamental
fact that most everybody wishes he
were In somebody eIse's place. That
was sufficiently general 10 offer pos
sibisitles. Then 1t developed more
specifically into the idea of putting a
lonely young bachelor, who wanted O.
family and home life. in the place of a
harassed father who wanted the loneii-
ness which the young man had.
I'VE married this idea with the ideas
Of persistent relativss-another univer-
ssl proposition Alter getting these