The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-29

The author of one hundred and
twerty-six (spell it out. please, and
think about it) successful plays is
now in the movies.
And don't say Successful plays
like you thouEbt 1t was a press agent
story, because it isn't.
Hal Reid, father of the sport shirt,
author of 125 successful plays and
Human Hearts," and the father of
wallace Reid is just as much a sue
cess in the movie game as he was in
the old days as an author of success
ful speaking plays.
Arabella Boone has a very interest
ing article in this months Photoplay
Magazine. and as Hal Reid is a ma
tionai character some of it will prove
interesting here. for IL there is a man
or woman In this broad land of ours
who has never thrilled to the heart
throbs of Human Hearts," then it is
equally certain they have also missed
the crossing of the ice with the lary-
est and most bloodthlrsty bloodhoun3s
IN captivity, as the press agents used
TO announce of "Uneie Toms Cabin /"
And Human Hearts" ran for 27
years-and is still running. And vet
Mr.: Reid carried Human Hearts" up
ana down Broadway for three long
years-think of it-before he could
1lnd anyone to produce it.
Finally one day his board bill was
iong overdue and, desperate, he found
Harms Bros. d. W. Truss Gus VIII
Iiams and John T. Kelly seated in the
Truso office. He went in and asked
them II they would listen to nlav
They pulled imaginary guns and clubs
and said thew would not. But finally
Reld made them agree to listen to it
and said if it moved them to real tears
they were to produce it. and il not he
was not to bother them again. And
the real tears came before he was
.nrough and the stage was given
Human Hearts,"
After that it was easy and Mr.. Reid
wrote 125 successful plays, and then
came the movies.
At that time he could not "see" the
movies, and come to think of it, there
was no reason why he should Hs
had 1e successful plays oagthe roao
from which he was drawing royalties
and he werely sat still and waited for
the movie novelty to pass. But some
now 1t didn't pass. One by one his
own successful PLAYS began to come
in off the road ana to rattle around
in the storehouse, bringing in no in
terest Or royalty. and he was told that
movie theatres were springing IN all
over the country. So he figured that
the only way to get even with the
pictures was to get into them, ana he
did.
But the ideas were new and Hal
Reid was not a young man. But for
all that he made god. He went to
Selig's. and while there he broke his
son. William Wallace. into the game
And when he went to vitagraph. there
to write and direct. Wallace went
along For Wagraph and Reliance
Hal Reid wrote some of those old
dramas in which Wallace appeared
and then to Universal. whore Reid
pere conducted the scenario depart
ment. He later edited the Animated
Weekly, served as general utilities"
and finally became idea" man. And
In case YOU are puzzled as to the |
meaning of idea man, it means just |
exactly what it says. The supplying |
Of ideas for anything and everything. |
For instance. one time when Universal |
wanted a big man 60 put in a big |
serial it was Reid wh.. suggested Jim |
Corbett.
Ha. Reid is big, tall, kindly man. |
He fas written more plays than any !
other living Americas. file has walked !
the streets trying to sell them. Now |
ne is installed in a comfortable Of |
flee also installed in the hearts Of |
the public. and now in the sunset or |
life is watching wallace win sAory I
and fame and is happy in his activity /
"a ther than sitting around thinking Of |
the past. Truly the world owes Hal /
Red much of its amusement--past and
present.