New-York tribune., 1920-09-26

Rshind the Selwyns' beautiful new
4 fines Square Theater, which opens its
Il asass next Thursday night, with Flor
4 mes Reed In Edgar Selwyn's new play,
The Mirage" there Is an interesting
hary.
4 Il concerns three men who arc as
4 Ag removed In temperament, taste and
helsaation as the North Pole is re-
Naoyed from that of the South. Yet
HAer have combined in business as
Assciktion which has been remarkable
aa he success, for Selwyn and COM
N.sny have come to own theaters all
(),ysr America; have produced some
AZ the most successful plays of dec
Ms and have under long-te rim con-
auaes large list of popular players,
nest of whom are stars of the first
n,snitude. And all within eight years.
A These three men responsible for such
Amesess in such a brief space of time
Hrs Edgar Sedwyn. president of the
Nnporation; Archibald Selwyn, Edgar's
,ounger brother, who is treasurer of
he company, and Crosby Gaige, vice
& ,resident and director of the build
4 he activities, both in New York and in
score of other cities in which the
Saivyns and now erecting theaters Of
4 their own.
4 The inception Of this theatrical firm
vss attended by series Of incidents
b ,smbining tragedy and comedy. When
sagar and "Archie" Selwyn found
/ producing plays some eight years
ksso It was as much superior to
/ kAam as 1t was to anybody else. Some
tx or eight years prior to that time
HEdgar Selwyn had come to New York
from Selma, Ala, without a cent
lin his pockets. He didn't even have
aAs prospect Of job. He knew no
Il one; had no friends; he presented a
sor7y figure as he tramped day after
4 lsY from one. place to another in
4 ,saieh Of work. He rented tiny
I ysn from a kind old woman on East
4 Broadway for which he was supposed
b pay sl;25 week. She never asked
4 him for the rent because she knew he
adn't have it and her generosity ex-
4 ended even to an occasional meal when
he detected youth poured his troubles
4 nto her sympathetic ear. He didn't
q ssfS 10 pCSe upOl hCl AOhi6, nv "
/ ever. for about that time the Herald
Square Theater opened and he OBJ
4 alned job as an usher.
That was the beginning Of his loce
4 for the theater. 1t was also the turn
] ID long road Of misfortune, for after
BIT he found part with William
Gillette in one Of the plays of which
4 that actor was the star. Mr.. Selwyn's
# cd hi i'm n
bring his younger brother from Ala
hama. When archie" arrived in New
York the brothers established the first
a plsybrokers' business to be known by
ssne in the East. For Its promotion
Arthur selvyn rented tiny Office Of
4 sheh brother Archie took charge. The
aso.hers tell story Of those early days
IN business together which Is thread
d With all sorts of humorous expert
assa One of the most amusing stories
taid By the senior Selwyn is of his
4 srtes censorship Of Archie's weekly
\ aeesants.
T allowed him $40 q week for ex-
,snses exclusive OF rent" Edgar Sell
sn says. II felt 1t my duty to give
an the right business training, 80
required an itemized statement at
sss puzzled by an item which read
Vnarity; 30 cents l was not dis
esaaed over Archie's generous dispo-
snsn. but felt he should be none
10 less disciplined. 40 sent the state
asns back to him with a request for
xpianation. 1t came back to me
wa the questioned line scratched out
fsd above II there was written Char
w taking your w!ts to dipner; 80
y might well be imagined that the
s:aior Selwyn was less cxacting there
Essr In the matter Of his brothers
meSonts. Especially since there was
: = longer need for such vigilanc, for
was not long thereafter that with
Me Lay" came into their hands
sssY sold IL to William A. Brady. who
npanced It in Chicago. 1t was re-
Nissd in that city without enthusiasm.
act ssa yact In no way dampened the ar
y The Selwyns. however. They be-