The Life of David Belasco; Vol. 2Volume 1 — PLAYS AS YET UNACTED.Reading editionChapter navigation111 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterTHE LIFE OF DAVID BELASCOILLUSTRATIONS. Volume One.“UNDER TWO FLAGS.”—BLANCHE BATES THE RISING STAR.BELASCO AND DAVID WARFIELD:—THEIR FIRST MEETING.WARFIELD AND “THE AUCTIONEER.”IN THE GRIP OF THE OCTOPUS.—ANCIENT METHODS IN MODERN BUSINESS.TESTIMONY UNDER OATH:—BELASCO VERSUS ERLANGER.LAW VERSUS JUSTICE.A FAITHFUL FRIEND:—WARFIELD FOR BELASCO. THE END OF “THE AUCTIONEER.”TEMPERAMENTAL SYMPATHY.—EARLY READING: “THE LOW SUN MAKES THE COLOR.”GENESIS OF BELASCO’S DU BARRY.—CHARACTER OF THE HISTORIC ORIGINAL.A FANCIFUL FABRIC.—“DU BARRY” FIRST PRODUCED.RICHEPIN AND THE “DU BARRY” LAWSUIT.A GRACIOUS TRIBUTE:—“REMEMBER THAT WE LOVED YOU.”THE THEATRIC RICHMOND “LOOKS PROUDLY O’ER THE CROWN.”A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT.—ALTERING THE REPUBLIC.THE FIRST BELASCO THEATRE.“AFTER THIRTY YEARS OF LABOR.”—BELASCO IN HIS OWN THEATRE;—THE OPENING NIGHT.THE FIRST PROGRAMME.A STUPID DISPARAGEMENT.—INCEPTION OF “THE DARLING OF THE GODS.”THE PLAY AND THE PERFORMANCE OF “THE DARLING OF THE GODS.”THE CREATION OF DRAMATIC EFFECTS.—DIFFICULTIES WITH THE RIVER OF SOULS.AN OPERATIC PROJECT.—PETTY PERSECUTIONS.—AN ARREST FOR LIBEL.SECOND SEASON AT THE BELASCO.—A CONTEMPTIBLE OUTRAGE.HENRIETTA CROSMAN AND “SWEET KITTY BELLAIRS.”SIDE-LIGHT AND COMMENTARY ON “SWEET KITTY.”“THE DARLING” IN LONDON.—A HEARTY TRIBUTE.A STRENUOUS YEAR.WARFIELD IN “THE MUSIC MASTER.”—AN ANIMATED SPEECH.CONCERNING WARFIELD, JEFFERSON, THE ELDER SOTHERN, AND THE “ONE-PART” CUSTOM.—AN AMAZING RECORD.A SHEAF OF OLD LETTERS: IN THE MATTER OF THE THEATRICAL SYNDICATE.METHOD OF COLLABORATION.MRS. CARTER AND THE TRAGEDY OF “ADREA.”JUSTICE AND THEATRICAL ACHIEVEMENT.BELASCO’S UNIQUE SERVICE TO THE THEATRE.WHAT ARE WE DISCUSSING?THE SYNDICATE-INCUBUS DEFINED.SPECIOUS PRETENSIONS TO JUSTIFY THE INCUBUS.TENDENCY TO COMBINATION IN MODERN BUSINESS.CAUSES OF THEATRICAL PROGRESS.THE RIGHT PRINCIPLE.THE OBLIGATION OF INTELLECT.“THOSE SHALL TAKE WHO HAVE THE POWER.”DIVERGENT VIEWS OF THE SYNDICATE: GROUNDS FOR REASONABLE BELIEF.CONVERTING CONVENTION HALL:—“ADREA” IN WASHINGTON.EXIT MRS. CARTER.SIGNIFICANT MESSAGES.VARIOUS LETTERS AND INCIDENTS OF 1905.TRIBUTE TO IRVING.BLANCHE BATES AND “THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST.”A THRILLING STORY—AND A TRUE ONE.A MASTERPIECE OF STAGECRAFT: THE STORM IN “THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST.”THE PARTING OF BLANCHE BATES AND BELASCO.—“THE FIGHTING HOPE” AND “NOBODY’S WIDOW.”A GREAT NIGHT.—BELASCO AT THE METROPOLITAN.—A GENEROUS ACKNOWLEDGMENT.BELASCO AND THE MESSRS. SHUBERT.THE ADVENT OF FRANCES STARR.—BELASCO’S “THE ROSE OF THE RANCHO.”A NEW PROJECT:—THE SECOND BELASCO THEATRE.IN THE MATTER OF STAGE LIGHTING.OPENING OF BELASCO’S STUYVESANT THEATRE:—“A GRAND ARMY MAN.”A DEFEATED PLAN: “THE PASSING OF THE THIRD FLOOR BACK.”“THE WARRENS OF VIRGINIA.”“THE EASIEST WAY.”“WESTWARD, HO!”—THE SYNDICATE SURRENDERS.—INCIDENTS OF 1909.THE SEASON OF 1909-’10: “IS MATRIMONY A FAILURE?”—“THE LILY”—AND “JUST A WIFE.”A CHANGE OF NAMES.—THE FARCE OF “THE CONCERT.”LOSS AND GRIEF.—“NO MAN BEARS SORROW BETTER.”A DRAMA OF SPIRITUALISM. (Fragmentary Notes, Not Revised.)BELASCO’S “THE RETURN OF PETER GRIMM.”CONCERNING THE EUNUCHS OF CRITICASTERISM.“THE WOMAN”—AND MR. ABRAHAM GOLDKNOPF.“FOLLY LOVES THE MARTYRDOM OF FAME.”THE “TRICK” AS APPLIED.AN ANCIENT USAGE.CHARLES READE ON PLAGIARISM.“FOR THE DEFENDANT.”CONCERNING BENEFITS—REMEMBERED AND FORGOT.THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF DAVID BELASCO.WRITTEN BEFORE 1882-’83 (BELASCO’S NEW YORK CAREER BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER, 1882).WRITTEN SUBSEQUENT TO 1882-’83.PLAYS AS YET UNACTED.BELASCO AS A DRAMATIST:—A FRAGMENT.THE GOLDKNOPF TRIAL—A UNIQUE DEMONSTRATION.A DRAMA OF PSYCHOLOGY.—“THE CASE OF BECKY.”“A GOOD LITTLE DEVIL.”“THE SECRET.” “A secret and villanous contriver.”“MARIE-ODILE.”RECONCILIATION WITH CHARLES FROHMAN—AND JOINT PRESENTMENT OF “A CELEBRATED CASE.”LENORE ULRIC.—AND “THE HEART OF WETONA.”VARIOUS PRODUCTIONS—MISCELLANEOUS RECORD: “WHAT’S WRONG.”—“THE VANISHING BRIDE.”—“THE LOVE THOUGHT.”—“ALIAS.”“THE GOVERNOR’S LADY.”“YEARS OF DISCRETION.”“THE TEMPERAMENTAL JOURNEY.”A REVIVAL OF “THE AUCTIONEER.”A MANIAC’S PLAY—“THE MAN INSIDE.”BELASCO IN CHINATOWN.AN ADMONITION TO STAGE ASPIRANTS. (Belasco to a Recalcitrant Novice.)“THE PHANTOM RIVAL.”“THE BOOMERANG.”“SEVEN CHANCES.”“THE LITTLE LADY IN BLUE”: THE LAST PLAY EVER SEEN BY WILLIAM WINTER.“THE VERY MINUTE”—A MEMORANDUM.SUMMARY.A GREAT SHAKESPEAREAN PROJECT.CONCERNING SARAH BERNHARDT.BRIEF EXTRACTS FROM MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE OF BELASCO.“VAN DER DECKEN.”“POLLY WITH A PAST.”“TIGER ROSE.”CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF DAVID BELASCOINDEX TO VOLUME TWOPrevious chapter ←Volume 1 — WRITTEN SUBSEQUENT TO 1882-’83.Next chapter →Volume 1 — BELASCO AS A DRAMATIST:—A FRAGMENT.All chapters and sections (111)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsTHE LIFE OF DAVID BELASCOSections1Volume 1 · Other sections“UNDER TWO FLAGS.”—BLANCHE BATES THE RISING STAR.BELASCO AND DAVID WARFIELD:—THEIR FIRST MEETING.WARFIELD AND “THE AUCTIONEER.”IN THE GRIP OF THE OCTOPUS.—ANCIENT METHODS IN MODERN BUSINESS.TESTIMONY UNDER OATH:—BELASCO VERSUS ERLANGER.LAW VERSUS JUSTICE.A FAITHFUL FRIEND:—WARFIELD FOR BELASCO. THE END OF “THE AUCTIONEER.”TEMPERAMENTAL SYMPATHY.—EARLY READING: “THE LOW SUN MAKES THE COLOR.”GENESIS OF BELASCO’S DU BARRY.—CHARACTER OF THE HISTORIC ORIGINAL.A FANCIFUL FABRIC.—“DU BARRY” FIRST PRODUCED.RICHEPIN AND THE “DU BARRY” LAWSUIT.A GRACIOUS TRIBUTE:—“REMEMBER THAT WE LOVED YOU.”THE THEATRIC RICHMOND “LOOKS PROUDLY O’ER THE CROWN.”A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT.—ALTERING THE REPUBLIC.THE FIRST BELASCO THEATRE.“AFTER THIRTY YEARS OF LABOR.”—BELASCO IN HIS OWN THEATRE;—THE OPENING NIGHT.THE FIRST PROGRAMME.A STUPID DISPARAGEMENT.—INCEPTION OF “THE DARLING OF THE GODS.”THE PLAY AND THE PERFORMANCE OF “THE DARLING OF THE GODS.”THE CREATION OF DRAMATIC EFFECTS.—DIFFICULTIES WITH THE RIVER OF SOULS.AN OPERATIC PROJECT.—PETTY PERSECUTIONS.—AN ARREST FOR LIBEL.SECOND SEASON AT THE BELASCO.—A CONTEMPTIBLE OUTRAGE.HENRIETTA CROSMAN AND “SWEET KITTY BELLAIRS.”SIDE-LIGHT AND COMMENTARY ON “SWEET KITTY.”“THE DARLING” IN LONDON.—A HEARTY TRIBUTE.A STRENUOUS YEAR.WARFIELD IN “THE MUSIC MASTER.”—AN ANIMATED SPEECH.CONCERNING WARFIELD, JEFFERSON, THE ELDER SOTHERN, AND THE “ONE-PART” CUSTOM.—AN AMAZING RECORD.A SHEAF OF OLD LETTERS: IN THE MATTER OF THE THEATRICAL SYNDICATE.METHOD OF COLLABORATION.MRS. CARTER AND THE TRAGEDY OF “ADREA.”JUSTICE AND THEATRICAL ACHIEVEMENT.BELASCO’S UNIQUE SERVICE TO THE THEATRE.WHAT ARE WE DISCUSSING?THE SYNDICATE-INCUBUS DEFINED.SPECIOUS PRETENSIONS TO JUSTIFY THE INCUBUS.TENDENCY TO COMBINATION IN MODERN BUSINESS.CAUSES OF THEATRICAL PROGRESS.THE RIGHT PRINCIPLE.THE OBLIGATION OF INTELLECT.“THOSE SHALL TAKE WHO HAVE THE POWER.”DIVERGENT VIEWS OF THE SYNDICATE: GROUNDS FOR REASONABLE BELIEF.CONVERTING CONVENTION HALL:—“ADREA” IN WASHINGTON.EXIT MRS. CARTER.SIGNIFICANT MESSAGES.VARIOUS LETTERS AND INCIDENTS OF 1905.TRIBUTE TO IRVING.BLANCHE BATES AND “THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST.”A THRILLING STORY—AND A TRUE ONE.A MASTERPIECE OF STAGECRAFT: THE STORM IN “THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST.”THE PARTING OF BLANCHE BATES AND BELASCO.—“THE FIGHTING HOPE” AND “NOBODY’S WIDOW.”A GREAT NIGHT.—BELASCO AT THE METROPOLITAN.—A GENEROUS ACKNOWLEDGMENT.BELASCO AND THE MESSRS. SHUBERT.THE ADVENT OF FRANCES STARR.—BELASCO’S “THE ROSE OF THE RANCHO.”A NEW PROJECT:—THE SECOND BELASCO THEATRE.IN THE MATTER OF STAGE LIGHTING.OPENING OF BELASCO’S STUYVESANT THEATRE:—“A GRAND ARMY MAN.”A DEFEATED PLAN: “THE PASSING OF THE THIRD FLOOR BACK.”“THE WARRENS OF VIRGINIA.”“THE EASIEST WAY.”“WESTWARD, HO!”—THE SYNDICATE SURRENDERS.—INCIDENTS OF 1909.THE SEASON OF 1909-’10: “IS MATRIMONY A FAILURE?”—“THE LILY”—AND “JUST A WIFE.”A CHANGE OF NAMES.—THE FARCE OF “THE CONCERT.”LOSS AND GRIEF.—“NO MAN BEARS SORROW BETTER.”A DRAMA OF SPIRITUALISM. (Fragmentary Notes, Not Revised.)BELASCO’S “THE RETURN OF PETER GRIMM.”CONCERNING THE EUNUCHS OF CRITICASTERISM.“THE WOMAN”—AND MR. ABRAHAM GOLDKNOPF.“FOLLY LOVES THE MARTYRDOM OF FAME.”THE “TRICK” AS APPLIED.AN ANCIENT USAGE.CHARLES READE ON PLAGIARISM.“FOR THE DEFENDANT.”CONCERNING BENEFITS—REMEMBERED AND FORGOT.THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF DAVID BELASCO.WRITTEN BEFORE 1882-’83 (BELASCO’S NEW YORK CAREER BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER, 1882).WRITTEN SUBSEQUENT TO 1882-’83.PLAYS AS YET UNACTED.BELASCO AS A DRAMATIST:—A FRAGMENT.THE GOLDKNOPF TRIAL—A UNIQUE DEMONSTRATION.A DRAMA OF PSYCHOLOGY.—“THE CASE OF BECKY.”“A GOOD LITTLE DEVIL.”“THE SECRET.” “A secret and villanous contriver.”“MARIE-ODILE.”RECONCILIATION WITH CHARLES FROHMAN—AND JOINT PRESENTMENT OF “A CELEBRATED CASE.”LENORE ULRIC.—AND “THE HEART OF WETONA.”VARIOUS PRODUCTIONS—MISCELLANEOUS RECORD: “WHAT’S WRONG.”—“THE VANISHING BRIDE.”—“THE LOVE THOUGHT.”—“ALIAS.”“THE GOVERNOR’S LADY.”“YEARS OF DISCRETION.”“THE TEMPERAMENTAL JOURNEY.”A REVIVAL OF “THE AUCTIONEER.”A MANIAC’S PLAY—“THE MAN INSIDE.”BELASCO IN CHINATOWN.AN ADMONITION TO STAGE ASPIRANTS. (Belasco to a Recalcitrant Novice.)“THE PHANTOM RIVAL.”“THE BOOMERANG.”“SEVEN CHANCES.”“THE LITTLE LADY IN BLUE”: THE LAST PLAY EVER SEEN BY WILLIAM WINTER.“THE VERY MINUTE”—A MEMORANDUM.SUMMARY.A GREAT SHAKESPEAREAN PROJECT.CONCERNING SARAH BERNHARDT.BRIEF EXTRACTS FROM MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE OF BELASCO.“VAN DER DECKEN.”“POLLY WITH A PAST.”“TIGER ROSE.”CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF DAVID BELASCOSections2“Bubbles.”◇“Jennie.”◇“Jimsie, the Newsboy.”◇Opera Singer,” “The.◇“Repka Stroon.”◇← WRITTEN SUBSEQUENT TO 1882-’83.BELASCO AS A DRAMATIST:—A FRAGMENT. →