Part 598: “Polly of the Circus”
In 1908, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “I started ‘Polly of the Circus’ for Fred Thompson. When completed I went to Troy, New York, to put it on. Everything was good. “
The “Washington Times” reported, “Frederick Thompson, who has recently branched out as a producer of plays and who is to present for the first time on any stage, ‘Polly of the Circus,’ at the National, December 9, was the manager of the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo. Mr. Thompson also founded and constructed the famous Luna Park, Coney Island, the most gigantic outdoor amusement place in America. He is thirty-two years of age” (Washington, D.C., 1 Dec. 1907, page 36).
Moses first mentions working for Thompson in 1901. That year, he wrote, “We had the contract for the ‘Trip to the Moon,’ a big amusement park novelty owned by Thompson and Dundy.” In 1902, Moses completed another project for Thompson, creating the attraction “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” his new amusement Park on Coney Island – Luna Park. Moses and his partner Will F. Hamilton were involved in both painting the scenery and engineering some of the scenic effects for this wildly popular ride.
By 1908, Thompson still sought out Moses to manufacture his theatrical vision for “Polly of the Circus.” Moses would have been a natural choice, especially in light of his recent work for Ringling Brothers’ circus spectacles. The scenic requirements for the production ranged from a Midwestern parson’s home to spectacular acts under the big top. On June 26, 1907, the “New York Times” reported, “Mabel Taliaferro, who is to appear next season in the leading role in “Polly of the Circus,” left yesterday for Albany with her husband, Frederick Thompson. The object of her trip is to get the proper ‘atmosphere’ for her part in the circus play. She will be the guest of John Ringling of the Ringling Brothers’ Circus” (page 7).
“Polly of the Circus” was written by Margaret Mayo as a novel. Transformed into a in three act play with two tableaux for the stage, the “Sandusky Star-Journal” reported, “The play is a strange but pleasing conglomeration of humor, pathos and melodrama, and spectacular stage business. It runs strongly to the pathetic, but the vein of humor is prominent enough to overshadow the tearful effects” (Sandusky, Ohio, 28, 1907, page 8).
“Polly of the Circus” tells the story of trapeze artist Polly Fisher who is hurt while performing her act, falling fifty fett. Taken to the house of nearby minister, John Hartley, The doctor advises against moving her, and as she recuperates, Polly and the minister fall in love and secretly marry. However, when their marriage is discovered, John’s congregation rebels at having a circus woman as their minister’s wife, and he is fired. Seeing how miserable her husband is, Polly goes to plead for the bishop’s help, but he remains unmoved. She is willing to give John up, but is told that a divorced minister is equally unacceptable. Polly sees only one way out – as a widower, John could return to the church. She pretends that she has tired of her husband and returns to the circus, planning to have a fatal “accident.” John discovers her plan and arrives at the circus in the nick of time.
The original play opened in New York on 23 December, 1907 at the Liberty Theatre, 234 W. 42nd St. and ran for 160 performances until May, 1908. Mabel Taliaferro played Polly. The rest of the cast included Herbert Ayling, Joseph Brennan, Mattie Ferguson, John Findlay, Guy Nichols, Elsie St. Leon and Malcolm Williams.
Wildly popular, a third “Polly of the Circus” company was organized with Fay Wallace in the title role. The “Evening Star,” reported, “Miss Wallace took Mabel Talliaferro’s part in the piece during the recent illness of the latter” (Evening Star, Washington, D.C., 13 Dec 1908, page 27). It is possible that this was the production that Moses worked on during 1908.
Of located a program from the production when it was performed at the Illinois Theatre in Chicago during September 1908. Mable Taliaferro starred in the leading role of Polly. Fred Thompson was credited with the design of all scenery and effects. The show was built a the Luna Park Studios and Shop.
Here is the synopsis of the scenes:
Act I – Scene 1: The Pastor’s Study. (Night.) Scene 2: Bedroom Above Study. (Next Morning.)
Act II-Rear Garden of Parsonage Eleven Months Later (Afternoon.)
Act II-Scene 1: Behind the Scenes Adjoining the Main Tent. Scene 2: The Circus Scene 3: Circus Lot After the Performance. (Night.)
PLACE-A Small Town in the Middle West
Interestingly, the “New York Times” reported, “The circus performance on the stage was omitted from the production of ‘Polly and the Circus’ at the Liberty Theatre last night. Fred Thompson, under whose management the piece is offered, explained that he omitted the scene purely as an experiment on the advise of friends, but the scene will henceforth be included. ‘I followed the advice of people who said that the scene had been ‘dragged in,’ said Mr. Thompson. ‘However, many people said the same thing of the ship scene in Brewster’s Millions.’ And one experiment has convinced me my original plan was correct” (25 Dec. 1907, page 7).
There were two film versions of “Polly of the Circus.” In 1917, the film starred Mae Marsh and Vernon Steel. The 1932 film starred Marion Daves and Clark Gable. Here is a short clip showing Polly during her recovery at the minister’s house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=et49CmRpycE
To be continued…
