davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1922-02-15
D 1 E D
In Menoriam.

In Memoriam.
Abraham, Harry Shalck. Fred J.
Huston, Margaret West, William II.
Lackey Fred r.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
Mories and Speakies Not
at L0ggerheads, He Says

Mr.. Thomas does not believe that the
movies and the speakies are at logger
heads They cant hurt each other, he
believes.
"rlaywrights are still going to write
plays, and scenario writers ar" going to
write moving pictures. he said II =
I an entirely different tield--the field of
/ the motion picture. And JUS, as there
| Is no danger of poets spelling the work
I of novrl-r>. there is no danger Of
scenario writer's running the chances Of
the play maker
Il have written but one screen story,
It was the first one written in America
directly for the screen and for great
actor. i was called 1.-The Nigh1m.
gale" and written for Ethel Barrymore
in 1919
There has been considerable specula.
ton over just what work Mr. Thomas
will do, IN his new capacity rs eNecu-
tive chairman Of the Producing Man
ayers Association.
First of all" he said. ~ am NOT
going to be car. don't mind folks
calling me- car, because there are So
few of them left these days, and like
to be different, But ! am really nor
going to be one.
"rhr work will be more in the
nature Of advisory service II j. nrres-
Cially responsible to any particular
field of the profession, one who Is free
70 decide, and who can decide dis!n-
terestcdly.'
Just after Mr. Thomas acccptancc
Of the position. 4 statement was made
by Sam II. Harris, president Of the
association, which sums up tho need
and the adviSability of having such an
official 60 ordinaror, the statement said ,
9TH" members Of the =. NJ, A..
recognizing the benefit similar organi e
Hations hope for in the concentration Of
executive activity and its Delegation n
single representative informed and
Impair .Nly situated. have asked Mr..
Angus ThomnS to serve IN such
capar for them under the title OF
cXectrE chairman.
MIR. Thomas place in the opinion
Of both the public and the profession,
his familiarity with all departments of
the theatre, literary, artistic, in
terpretive. .promotiye and managerial,
his personal acquaintance with its fore =
most men and women, his sympathy
with their hopes and ambitions, all in =
dicate him as one most likely TO ad
| vance cooperation toward which wC
! all are disposed, and to do 50 in a way
most agreeable TO the public and mos
helpful 10 the important interests in
VolVed.
1t is believed that the appointment o,
Mr.. Thomas means the death of tho
salacious and vulgar play. Mr.. Thomas
has never written a scene nor n lin,
witch could possibly give offcnse. He
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
1GUS7US THOMAS. ONCE RAILROAD LABORER, u
rs NOW DICTATOR OF THE AANERZC1AV THEA7Rl

Is. Thomas. His father was associated
with the theatre. being director for n
time OF the old ST. Charles Theatre in
New Orleans.
You see. was brought up in tho
atmosphere of the theatre Mr.. Thomas
said. as he swung II hefty blow at the
doomed tree. 1--WE talked about 1t at
breakfast, dinner and supper. And it
was most natural for my mind to be
directed thcatreward."
He was educated in the public schools
of st. Louis, was a page in the Forty.
first Congress. and up to the per riod of
his twenty second year was in the
freight department Of various railroads,
''My first play was called Alone 1t
was sentimental little thing. | began
It when ! was about fourteen years
old"
Mr.. Thomas was asked when he wrote
the first play that was produced.
THAT one was produced, replied
the author Of '1he Copperhead." and
with the suggestion Of question in
his words---an intimation OF surprise
that any one should suppose he would
write a play Tint wasn't to be pro-
duced. This surprise did not mean that
Mr.. Thomas believes he couldn't pos
SiuiS "Iilt piHS lIHL WOuluH De
good enough for production. His sur
prise merely signiticd wonder that any
one shou uld want TO write a play If il
couldn't be produced.
1t Is very significant Of Mr.. Thomas
healthy conception of what good play
should be. He isn't on acadcmician II
his attitude toward tie theatre. lie Is
very practical. lie do,an't believe tha,
because play is popular it is a badly
written play. In fact. he has a susri.
rion that the amount Of money a play
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
DR.. Quinn, of Penn.
Praises Mr.. Thomas

= Il lruMNfI.f NJ 'ILnnIu.' ,Ion, !.
assured. he s,nnds ~ drnmo - -
DR.. Arthur II. Quinn. of rLn niy"y.
sirv If pnrn,,r,on',' '',''' W wa" niVer-
,Rrrrc.nn,,Iiyo Nn,ri..,,, irn IIia u"rh on
Iirrrnry rr"ffsrnn.btr a., n,,',Lt, LL"SS' tof
uracIjrul knnwinjyn - 'V'''o,,'au ,Em s!a, WIN
for srrions ir,sr.., ,r S'%s anu
onr, of dr,mo,i'' ,,r,.,r..' " IT, 'urther-
moi rho rcvnI, Of an,Ti,,,,o, ;' ',S Morh !"
I'm, Lo has ''r,,',aoio, ',',"a"I lnNp'ta,'on.
roI J,.d"'',in,, r,.',' oa' M. T"SlS or ioei-
,hr,,', '",:, "TD'I, 'u rac'S 10 an
IN ,Irama,t ,,',s,r''',, u pr'h'lpIes
!" ha''' construction.
"a '''s ar ) ""'. 10" ms first sig
K,".;'"I r'a' Ajaoamn produced
,:rrI'" t. IG''' a. 'h' MADISON Square
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

put the travelling company made very
llt,ie money. The players rOamed from
onG clty 10 another, to Chicago, to
Milwaukee, New Orleans and many
smaller, cities. The theatres were Sec
oId'story theatres, not very comfort
able, and as like a. not over dry
goods store, or meat market o, :
hardware shop.
NO, second story theatres were
quite the thing in those days, even
later. Old Days of Now York was
second STORY theatre. the Princess
ana the old lyCcum were second story
theatres, too. Rut what Is most sig
nlhcant about this company Is that 1t
brought TO the attention of young
Charley Frohman "Editha's burglar"
which he bought for Eddy Surhern. 1t
h"ttrd me very small royalty Look
cut 80
With crunching. cracking sound,
the pine tree at first slowly. and then
very quickly, tumbled 70 the ground,
smashing down the underground
Mr.. Thomas, with a grunt of salts.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

Mr.. Thomas commanding ability
and success as a playwright, his
familiarity with; all departments of
the theatre, literary, artistic, inter-
pretive, promotive and managerial,
his sympathy and personal acquaint-
ance with all members Of the pro-
fession, make him the only logical
choice for the position which carries
with it, it is rumored, the largest
smolument given to single person
BY the producing interests.
mo, I can't say how much it is"
says Mr.. Thomas, "but am quite
satisfied with it."
Mr.. Thomas, during his long ca
seer, has written sixty-three plays:
II sohappens, one for each year that
he has lived. His first play he fin
ished when he was sixteen years
old. And he has just completed a
| play in collaboration with John
Taintor Foote, adapted from Foote's
story, "The Song of the Dragon"
IT began to write plays" Mr..
Thomas said the other day. ''bccnuSe
1t never occurred 10 me that one
|ehouldn't -
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

y. am ready to write. and ] write nm
til II O'Clock. find that | can do u
good days work in that time. There
are some years when ! do not finish Il
play. And there are other years when
l have written two
! Rccently young woman asked the
playwright which was the play he him
self liked best. The dramatist hesitated
a moment. and said. with feigned hest =
| fancy, 'Of course, it is difficult mat =
! ter to decide, | have written SO
| many -
That isn't new joke" he laughed
1T was Oscar Wildc's originally
Some one asked him to make number
of corrections i'll Lady Windemere' s
/ Fan. and he demanded, Who am
that | should trihc with classic:''' -
by this time Mr.. Thomas had sep
arated portion Of the tree trunk into
thrc" fire logs about three and hal
feet in length. The perspiration poured
from him. He whistled for his dog
Lux. but Lux had deserted him.
He II show up at the house. he
commented. And now we'll go bach
and III take shower and chat for q
while on the porch"
The dramatist. ten minutes after h,
had again entered his studio. appeared
on the porch in dazzling white pait
Of trousers. white shirt. white shoe!
and black tic. He made rather i'm.
posing figure, standing there with tn,
wind from over the Georgiac pluyinl
about him. He pointed out his sail
boat. in which he goes TO the sea eaci
morning after his work is done, anc
bathcS.
'Whcn found myself in New Yorl
there were q number of interest inC
names in my chosen field Bronson
Howard. author of Saratoga was ther
the biggest of them all Dion Bouciraul
was just quitting and clyde Fitch
Henry De Mile. father of the two -,
Mile boys of today: William Gilet,
and one woman, Martha Morton wer,
the big names.'
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
Emotional Reaction
Is Criterion of PIdy

,,.
l.Neratnrc Is 'rNhScrIp'ioh OF ~
nm. Hiu .n Wv p,uH. u" r;nnt Iasr
re"r'ITh tne crl'eil loh: re'' "s
ana az ne ne ;i''I" piaS - .i,, m.nur =" 's
PI,"!'u' I'H1Io'' ~ WI -
P'E' l'a!S 'H"t ait s"ou I'aurhs ihay
Ien!lS not o. Soou pray ~ ',;h,,s a.i ~ ha
LmrIc al. piuHs VIZ. ,"., ponn'tlt ,L; ".
Ieau, o"' "h'ch are eN'' aor"'na'9 'n'"s"
u se'' ~, ,
a.;, 'fohs nst WI, Ivd,s 'mn. nun
,SlIfG,l ,t 10 III" 'er$ ro'!>' ,;n. Mar,'rr "nat
onr,t',,. "''," W. rn,
w. " h soii h,' i,,,i;."a,;o 10,
Ia =. hn .;t,a,i r,u,. -, ,o'ay
,i'' tY,.Dho,tn., ~ =" '""S Al '"' uH' "
,,ha ,."r, fa'.. ta". .r,. .I,oo.,o, .odoL% -
I, n',io. o,,d s,,r',,,,I,d t,.
rnr,n}ni,i,, ",'' ranro. ,,t ~ @ of ~
,In,i"rr Nav, +, ,nos
inmnor ,m,' , naTf
p,i,'',,in ~, ''u ,nc
/, Cnnsoo,,c,,,,v ,Ln rI,,r ,,r'. Il.
narod Jnu.n - H. rno-ns, osYon,i,is
Frr,tnrm"ra occnrIir, - Nr Thnmos
the play must be sern at ono sitting
rrfort,,ro,,J,. - r,,-. h ,,l,,.,,i ;ra,lno,s
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

three plays to his credit, but he Is un-
doubtedly the only American play
wright, IL not the only playwright in
the world, who has managed TO
fell 300 dead pine trees in the spare
moments when he wasn't writing plays.
lie directed his attention to the tree
again. His AK sang out, the groove in
the tree wearing deeper and deeper,
"In my twcnties l entered the law
office Of John Colby. father Of Balm
bridge Colby, and studied law with him
for two years. But didn't like it very
much and at every opportunity l hur-
ricd TO some theatre or other.
about that time Charles Pope built
a new theatre in st. Louis. and j be-
came his assistant treasurer. For two
wears I sold and took in tickets. And
not only was that part Of my job, but
had other duties. / looked after the
folks behind the scenes, ushered bit.
pasted up billposters, and was kind
of general esthetic adviser. 1 was n
man of all jobs in other words--and it
was the best sort of experience
All during this period Mr.. Thomas
was writing and drawing. lie used to
draw pictures on lockwood in those days.
"In 'S4 and SO / was part owner
and manager of the Dickson Sketch
Club, named after William Dickson,
one of the owners. Edgar Smith, Inter
the we'll. known playmakcr, was the
other owner. We travelled about in the
Middle West and East aud produced
most particularly two Of my own plays,
'Edthn's Burglar adapted from the
story by Frances Hogdson Burnett,
and Combustion two-act song and
dance farce. Della Fox. later one Of
our leading condolences, played in
Combustion
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
Home Rambling House
Surrounded by Pines

lie was sitting on the wide porch OF
hs country home. two miles out Of
East Hampton, Long Island. and in
the depth Of the pine woods. His home
green frame. rambling building.
overlooking the Gcorgiac River. One
hundred feet from the house, the house
cannot be seen for the luxuriant growth
ef pine trees around it. Mr.. Thomas Is
large man, with round. jovial face.
Oh his gray head slouched a worn felt
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

artist, II was played in Mobil" and
in st. Louis, | have lost the manu-
script. 1t was in script He paused
in his hewing of wood.
There, look at that Wood chop
ping makes me pcrspire. and it brings
me exercise and kindling. in the bar
gain. soon III be wringing wet and
quite ready for 4 shower. My prob.
lem," and he pointed to his girth, 'is
on" of elimination. And | always well
come the pcrspiration. ! have been
here in this home for twenty-five years.
| built 1t myself. Every year ! cut
down about fifteen Of these trees on this
ten acre plot own. Just count that
/
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
POSITION HE NOW HOLDS
COMPARABLE TO THAT OF
lands IND WILL HAYS
Mr.. Thomas Is Not an Academiciau in
Attitude TosVard Theatre; Doesn't t
Believe That Because a Play Is Pop
u/arHLs Badly Wr1tten; Thinks More
of Average Theatre Goers' Opinion.

r,poM Of freight to the dictator of the
From baggageroom of little Missouri railroad the Office
ve highest single power in theatredom!
long, hard road through countless experiences dsheartenng
.as stimulating the position arbter
,ocv the production of plays in this
railroad reporter editor caoonit
manager producer playwright August New York. opened the
chairman of the Producing Managers Association
chairman the position created for him. he is the
ng the largest in fact the only organization
legitimate playmakers in this country.
the theatre comparable
Kenesaw Lands baseball Will
and the weds the cumulative
most influential producing managers Of the land.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

faction. bent over and took OF his
4 hat. He drew his fingers across his
forehead. well. what have We hcre?''
h" asked lightly. And. on an of
/ chance, the casual observer might have
said. You have there, sir. what was
| once 100 pounds or more of surplus fat
in liquidation"
"Thc rest of the work is easy, Mr.,
Thomas observed. "Once the tree is
down the very stars themselves assist
the newer Of wood. | raise the AK. and
specific gravity helps me bring It down
sharply. I'll cut some Of this fellow
up in small pieces.
where was |? Oh. yes. Just after
| sold the play | did some newspaper
work was reporter on the st.
Louis Post Dispatch; some time c fter-
ward ran little paper called the
Kansas city Mirror, ! illustrated It
and edited 1t.
From IS to 80 Mr. Thomas took
charge Of Julia Marlowe's first tour
She was a young girl then, and PLAYED
"Editha's burglar" Juliet. Rosatnd
and I.ytton's Lady OF Lyons" Subse-
quently she included Clyde Fitch :
barbara Frictchie," and "Whon
knlghthood Was IN Flower in her
repertoire.
With tnc close OF Miss Marlowe's :
tour Mr.. Thomas became business man.
ager for Washington Irving Bishop, n
phenomenal thought reader.
"IIc was great man. unused Mr..
Thomas. "In 1889. while giving a few
experiments at the Lambs Club. he
| died suddenly. | hurried to Philadel =
phia to get his wife, who lived there.
In my absence n physician held an au-
topsy and took out Bishops brain.
And because he did it without any one :
consent and within an hour after the
death. he was charged with manslaugh- =
ter. lie was tried, but acquitted. E1 &.
traordinary, wasn't IT,"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
He Extended One-Act Play,
'Editha's' Burglar, Into -Four

In 50 the piaywriting business
manager extended "Editha's Burglar" i"
originally II one-act play, into four
acts. II was sent on the road. with
Maurice BARRYMORE starring. Then MIR.
Thomas began to write plays in ear.
nest, went to New York and has been
there ever since.
You see IL is business with me.
Each day get up about I o'clock. BY
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

where | do my writing. That bench
over in the corner is where tinker with
mere mechanical things, for recreation.
Here is my easel. where ! paint
Mr.. Thomas pointed these ont in
large. airy room. The room Is the
size Of an ordinary house itself. Along
one wall is large fireplace. with two
lounges stretching toward it. On the
opposite wall hangs n tiftcen-foot sea-
scape by Lionel Walden.
"We'll come back here later" he
said and made for the door. Com
ing Lux:' He called to a large brown
wolfhound. which pattcred up to his
legs. This is Lux, short for Luxcm.
bourg. My son brought him from over :
seas. A German police dog. Tie nc-
companies me whenever | 60 out for
my exercise
Mr.. Thomas led the way along the
back of his house. He pointed to lit
tic extensions built to three windows
of the upper stories of his house.
''They are my own invention. Slecp.
ing porches, entered through the win
dow. My wife. incredulous at first,
was SO delighted by the one buil,
for myself l had to build one for her
and one for my daughter, too"
He picked his way along n narrow
footpath under the thick pine trees
wardng off from his face the sbort
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
Has Chopped D0lUn 800
Trees Since the Year 1900

In all, il makes approximately 800
pine trees. and it adds an additional
item to the noteworthy facts of Mr..
Thomas interesting life; he Is not only
the dean of playwrights, with sixty
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

low DrlnCNtS WHICH
struck at him as he went
.eisurely by.
Look out for that
branch. The smaller
trees make my exercise
rather difficult. They
catch the AK when l
swing it. | have to cut
them down when they're
in the v'ay,'
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

suggest that in all likelihood. were no
living today. he would write like a
contemporary playwright, but bringing
10 his plays that profound understand
ing and conception Of life and people
which we're diStinctlv his
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

believes that Government censorship
Of the stage is the surcSt and quickest
way of oblitcrating the dramatic art in
this country, yet he stands opposed TO
the imposition Of unclean stage produc-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

cross between a sombrero and
's' II" wore II rough blue shirt.
ives rolled to the elbows, worn gray
'e'S' and heavy brown shoes.
aus Is just the time of the day
asn ! am accustomed to take my
IA, DO you mind coming along
w me just leave your coat here"
,.. "e author of ''rhe Witching Hour"
pa az. " anu sFSp'eu
n u might as well see something
studio, a. we 80 out. Here 10
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
Cuts DOlrn Dead Pines
For Wood in FireDldce

"Ah here's II dead one, - lie placed
his hand on the trunk Of u foot thick
pine tree. II cut down the dead ones
and chop 'em up and use the wool
for my fireplace. Th" exercise is much
better than golf
"lll talk white ! work-a pleasant
combination, for then the work becomes
slow and amiable. -
Mr.. Thomas was born In st, Louis,
No, January 8, 1859, the son q Elihu
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

makes is good enough indication as to
whether it is n good play or not. So
called "literary' plays are not PLAYS
at all. if they simply wont play. If
play makes the average theatregoer SAY,
by rracky' that some play.' then il
is a good play, though the ucademiciau.
howl.
Alone, he continued. "wos
produced at a conductors benefit. with
Miss Mitten Willctt, later a sunerh
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02

Ruler of Ameri-
can stage at work
at his desk
Arizona republican., 1922-05-24
Little Stories For Bedtime
THIRD ADVENTURE OF LITTLE
MITE
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS

Watch you chance and seize it quick!
That's the way to do 1t.
II you don't it may be you
All your life will rue it.
Arizona republican., 1922-05-24

stranger on the Green Meadows, to
where Black Pussy was tormenting
him. That particular dog was par
ticularly fond of chasing cats. Right
away he saw fun ahead But he
didn't know Black Pussy. She knows
all about dogs Instead of running
she arched her back swelled her tail
to several times its natural size,
glared at him with eyes that looked
to him as If they actually snapped
fire, spit as only Black Pussy can,
and started straight for that foolish
little dog.
Little Mite didn't stop to see what
happened then. 1t was his chance
the Merry Little Breezes had made
for him. and he took it. He scuttled
out of sight in the tall grass. He
heard a great yelping and a ''ki-yi-
vi growing fainter and fainter
across the Green Meadows. He did
know that it was the little dog run
ming as if for his life frightened al
most out of his wits by Black Pussy.
He wouldn't have cared if he had
known. All he could think about was
finding a safe hiding place for him.
Arizona republican., 1922-05-24
Gross Currents i'm
a Girls Life
BY Carolyn Beecher

, at tn ethought-only an immense
sadness that she was different from
other girls.
Il want to succeed in my work,
Donald" she had added, so that l
can repay father and mother for all
they have done for me. They are
getting old, and they have been, oh,
SO good to me, girl who had no
claim on them. They made me really
their daughter. You see there are
two reasons l can't marry. One-I
am nobody, 'nobody's child. probably
worse-the other, my duty to the
people who have cared for me all my
life and are now spending their saw
ings SO that I may become an artist.
An artist worth while. Don't You see
that / owe them everything? They
have made me what / am"
"You aren't going to slip away from
me as easily as you think. In some
way am going to have you!" Donald
returned with all his usual cocksure-
ness. He had had his own way al
ways. His parents had passed away
left him at an age when wealth
is often a curse to son-and had
left him wealthy and also absolute
master of his fortune. He used often
to say there were no strings on his
taken his time and his thoughts for
while, but unfortunately it had weak
ened instead of strengthened his
character in some respects, as it had
those of many other boys. Especial
~ boys of unlimited means, who like
Donald had spent much time in Paris.
Olive had not dreamed Donald was
falling in love-the kind of love that
leads to marriage. She would have
withdrawn into herself, been more
careful not to encourage him. Now
she would be different. Perhaps in
making that resolve she might be apt
to rush to the other extreme-to
doubt all men-a mistake that girls
having such an experience as she had
are prone to make. Donald had trav-
eled quite extensively, and as Olive
never had travelled at all his stories
of places and peoples he had seen
took on a sort of Arabian Nights
glamour for her, and she had loved
to hear him talk. Donald had taken
her breathless interest in his stories
as interest in him. This feeling had
doubtless given him a sort Of courage
to press his suit sooner than he 9TH
erwise would.
(To be continued)