Augustus Thomas
Encyclopedia
Augustus Thomas was an American
playwright, born in St. Louis, Missouri
. The son of a doctor, he worked a number of jobs including a page in the 41st Congress, studying law and gaining some practical railway work experience before he turned to journalism and became editor of the Kansas City
Mirror in 1889. Thomas had been writing since his teens when he wrote plays and even organized a small theatrical touring company.
Thomas was hired to work as an assistant at Pope's Theatre in St. Louis. During this time, he wrote a one-act play based on a short story
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
called The Burglar. After touring in the play, he expanded the show to four acts and was able to get Maurice Barrymore
to play the title role. Subsequently, he was hired to succeed Dion Boucicault
adapting foreign plays for the Madison Square Theatre
.
His first original play, Alabama was produced in 1891 and its success allowed Thomas to write full time. Alabama is the story of an un-reconstructed Confederate. Notably, Thomas was one of the first playwrights to make use of American material. Other plays along the same lines include Arizona
(1899), In Mizzoura (1893), Colorado (1901) and Rio Grande (1916). Perhaps his most successful play was The Copperhead (1918) which made Lionel Barrymore
a star.
Thomas reached a high artistic level in Arizona and The Witching Hour. A novelization of the latter appeared in 1908. He was elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters
, was awarded the National Institute's gold medal in 1913, and in 1914 received an honorary A. M. degree from Williams College
. According to the Oxford Companion to the Theatre, his plays are "on the whole, not profound, and provided entertainment of a kind acceptable to his audiences."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
playwright, born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The son of a doctor, he worked a number of jobs including a page in the 41st Congress, studying law and gaining some practical railway work experience before he turned to journalism and became editor of the Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
Mirror in 1889. Thomas had been writing since his teens when he wrote plays and even organized a small theatrical touring company.
Thomas was hired to work as an assistant at Pope's Theatre in St. Louis. During this time, he wrote a one-act play based on a short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett was an English playwright and author. She is best known for her children's stories, in particular The Secret Garden , A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy.Born Frances Eliza Hodgson, she lived in Cheetham Hill, Manchester...
called The Burglar. After touring in the play, he expanded the show to four acts and was able to get Maurice Barrymore
Maurice Barrymore
Herbert Arthur Chamberlayne Blythe —stage name Maurice Barrymore — was the patriarch of the Barrymore acting family and great-grandfather of actress Drew Barrymore.-Early life:...
to play the title role. Subsequently, he was hired to succeed Dion Boucicault
Dion Boucicault
Dionysius Lardner Boursiquot , commonly known as Dion Boucicault, was an Irish actor and playwright famed for his melodramas. By the later part of the 19th century, Boucicault had become known on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the most successful actor-playwright-managers then in the...
adapting foreign plays for the Madison Square Theatre
Madison Square Garden (1890)
Madison Square Garden was an indoor arena in New York City, the second by that name, and the second to be located at 26th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan...
.
His first original play, Alabama was produced in 1891 and its success allowed Thomas to write full time. Alabama is the story of an un-reconstructed Confederate. Notably, Thomas was one of the first playwrights to make use of American material. Other plays along the same lines include Arizona
Arizona (play)
Arizona is a dramatic play written in 1899 by Augustus Thomas, and is noted for being one of his best.Arizona tells the story of the affection between a young cavalry man and a rancher's daughter. The young cavalryman is accused of theft, forced to resign, and then accused of murder...
(1899), In Mizzoura (1893), Colorado (1901) and Rio Grande (1916). Perhaps his most successful play was The Copperhead (1918) which made Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
a star.
Thomas reached a high artistic level in Arizona and The Witching Hour. A novelization of the latter appeared in 1908. He was elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters
The American Academy of Arts and Letters
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 250-member honor society; its goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, music, and art. Located in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan in New York, it shares Audubon Terrace, its Beaux Arts campus on...
, was awarded the National Institute's gold medal in 1913, and in 1914 received an honorary A. M. degree from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
. According to the Oxford Companion to the Theatre, his plays are "on the whole, not profound, and provided entertainment of a kind acceptable to his audiences."
Selected works
- The Man Upstairs
- Oliver Goldsmith (1899)
- ArizonaArizona (play)Arizona is a dramatic play written in 1899 by Augustus Thomas, and is noted for being one of his best.Arizona tells the story of the affection between a young cavalry man and a rancher's daughter. The young cavalryman is accused of theft, forced to resign, and then accused of murder...
(1899) - The Earl of Pawtucket (1903)
- The Other Girl
- Mrs. Leffingwell's Boots (1905)
- The Education of Mr. Pipp
- Jim Delancey
- The Embassy Ball
- The Witching Hour (1907)
- The Harvest Moon (1909)
- As a Man Thinks (published 1911)
- Indian Summer
Selected filmography
- The Family SecretThe Family Secret (1924 film)The Family Secret is a 1924 silent film featuring child star Baby Peggy. It is based on Editha's Burglar, a story by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1881 by St. Nicholas Magazine and adapted for the stage by Augustus E...
(19241924 in film-Events:* Entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
) - The Bonnie Brier BushThe Bonnie Brier BushThe Bonnie Brier Bush is a 1921 drama film directed by Donald Crisp. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is now lost.-Cast:* Donald Crisp - Lachlan Campbell* Mary Glynne - Flora Campbell* Alec Fraser - Lord Malcolm Hay...
(19211921 in film-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1921:U.S.A. unless stated*$10,000 Under a Pillow, silent film directed by Frank Moser*The Ace of Hearts, silent film directed by Wallace Worsley*Across the Divide, silent film directed by John Holloway...
)