#Theatrer Republic

[outoftowninac]

COMMON CLAY

1915

Common Clay is a three act play with prologue and epilogue by Cleves Kinkead. It was originally produced by A.H. Woods starring Jane Cowl and John Mason. The play was the recipient of the Harvard Prize in 1914. 

Kinkead considered nearly 20 titles, including Hush Money and Sauce for the Goose, before finally settling on Common Clay. 

THE STORY: Ellen Neal, a girl of ill-repute, has come to the home of the wealthy Richard Fullerton as a servant, with hopes of turning over a new leaf. At once, however, she meets a man who seduces her. The curtain falls on her in the arms of the agreeable young son of the house. 

Months pass. Fullerton Sr. comes to his friend, Judge Filson, in distress because Ellen is blaming his son with with the paternity of her child and asking for recognition. The father is resolved that the family name will not be tarnished. The Judge makes a personal plea for her fair treatment, relating a story of his own youth. Fullerton, however, will hear nothing of marriage. Her seducer’s evidence is to be used to weaken her case against the Fullertons, but his admission makes him liable to criminal prosecution. 

In court, Ellen tells her story. Her mother is called to testify and reveals the truth of Ellen's parentage. Inspired by her mother’s story, Ellen decides to let the man go free. The courtroom empties and Judge Filson offers to let her win the future of her dreams.

The play opened in Boston MA at the Castle Square Theatre on January 7, 1915. It was performed by the Craig Players (a stock company). 

At the end of March 1915, after more than 100 performances, it was reported that producer A.H. Woods had acquired the lay. Negotiations between Woods and the author in Boston were not without their amusing incident. Woods was sitting in a restaurant one night with Kinkead when actor Malcolm Williams stopped at their table 

WOODS: "Have you seen ‘Common Clay’?" WILLIAMS: “Yep.”  WOODS: "What do you think of it?”  WILLIAMS: "Great Scott! You're not over here to buy that terrible thing are you? That’s the rottenest play I ever saw in my life!”  WOODS: “Permit me to introduce you to Mr. Kinkead, the author.”

It is reported that Williams lost seven pounds in the next five minutes. After 20 weeks, the play closed on May 8, 1915, breaking all house records for the Castle Square Theatre. 

The A.H. Woods production of Common Clay opened in Atlantic City at Nixon’s Apollo Theatre on August 2, 1915. On August 9th the play was seen at the Savoy Theatre in Asbury Park and at the nearby Broadway in Long Branch on August 12th. On August 16th the production as seen at the Shubert New Haven. 

Common Clay opened on Broadway at the Theatre Republic (now the New Victory Theatre) on August 26, 1915. 

The first week in September 1915 the play was also seen in special engagement week of  performances in Boston at the Castle Square Theatre where it originated The production staged was not the same as the one presented on Broadway by Woods. 

“With all its faults, including frequent creakiness of the machinery, ‘Common Clay' is never-the-less an exceedingly interesting play which is well calculated to hold the attention of the New York public for some time to come. An especially good point in its favor is the excellent acting throughout.” ~ BROOKLYN LIFE

The Cohan Revue at Broadway’s Astor Theatre contained a parody of Common Clay’s courtroom scene. It performed from February through June 1916. 

Common Clay ran for 316 performances, closing on June 3, 1916. Cowl immediately went into a play titled Betty Behave, but promised to return to Common Clay for a short tour. The play set up shop in Chicago, where John Mason was replaced by Orme Caldara. 

In 1919, a silent film version was released starring Fannie Ward as Ellen. 

The film opened in Atlantic City at the Virginia Theatre on the Boardwalk on April 16, 1919. 

In 1930, a sound film was released starring Constance Bennett as Ellen. 

The film premiered in Atlantic City at the Warner Theatre on the Boardwalk on July 12, 1930. 

In 1936, a remake was titled Private Number with Loretta Young as Ellen. 

On May 29, 1936, Private Number premiered in Atlantic City at the Apollo Theatre on the Boardwalk, the very same venue that hosted the play Common Clay in 1915!