The Washington herald., 1920-11-14
Spends His Last 81, 900"
In Appeal to Playgoers
Earl Carroll Asks New York to Save His Play
From Untimely
End.

The success recently scored by
that precocious young stage wizard.
Earl Carroll. at Polls Theater here
with his newest play, Daddy
IDumplins." which he wrote in col
laboration with George Barr Nc
Cutcheon, has probably assisted ma
terially in changing the fortunes of
Mr.. Carroll. which were ebbing low
some days ago. when he flooded New
York with advertising that he paid
for with his last $1,000"
This advertising was CarrolFs
final gamble in an effort to save
from oblivion his really meritorious
play, The Lady of the Lamp"
which, he declares, sinister forces of
the theater were attempting to snuff
out to satisfy their own require
ments. Carrolrs advertising appeal
to the public to save his play has
apparently borne fruit, but it seems
to be an Illuminating example of a
sordid and tawdry financial game
! that is played behind the scenes all
too often. with the theater-going
| public frequently the victims.
Carrolls advertisement was a
nine days wonder in Manhattan.
After setting forth that he is
spending his last $1,000" in order
to prove his faith in 'The Lady of
the Lamp" at the Republic Theater,
of which he is the author and
which he produced in association
with A. H. Woods, subsequently
| buying out Woods interest, Car
roll made the following explanation
concerning the shows inability to
| attract the wide patronage he has
| looked forward to:
81 am spending this money in the
| last hope that 1 may reach the
really fine theater-going public of
New York. If l don't reach you,
shall, at least, know that l fired
| all of my ammunition before the
ship went down.
81 am, perhaps, the youngest au-
thor and producer in New York,
therefore, If l appear undignified,
chalk it up to inexperience.
81 have written a successful play
or two in the past, / have been am
bilious, and have saved my money;
all with one single aim-to give to
the theater the finest plays 1 could.
II believe that there are still some
good, clean, sweet, wholesome,
homeloving people left in the world
whose hearts are not so callous that
they cannot appreciate an evening s
entertainment that doesn't have a
Georgette Ntghtie. a folding bed, or
seminude woman occupying the
center of the stage.
| Holding this idea, 1 wrote and
TNIn at hn n
Theater-'The Lady of the Lamp
my critics and comrades ac-
claim it.
II received hundreds of flattering
letters, appreciative phone calls, and
personal Communications of the ar
tistic merit of this play.
"Ninety-nine out of 100 have said
it is great; that 1t is a beautiful
love story; that 1t is a dramatic
triumph, and that the finish of the
second act is the most thrilling cli-
max of the season.
81 had very little money to spend
on advertising. 1 thought that this
mouth to mouth publicity would
make my business jump beyond the
overhead expenses and that my box
office would say Success
But it didn't!
1.-The Lady has been rocking
along for weeks. Just getting by
slightly-somewhat too slightly at
times. But l hung on.
"Other theatrical interests, OF
great power, tried to take the thea
ter away from me in order to house
another attraction, and every effort
has been made to snuff out The
Lady of the Lamp The ticket
agencies were intimidated. my ad-
vertising limited. and my electric
lights turned out - but still /