1923 MERTON OF THE MOVIES Harry Leon Wilson Deluxe Theater Edition Play Illust.

Description: MERTON OF THE MOVIES Written by Harry Leon Wilson. Published by Doubleday, Page & Company, New York. Copyright 1922; a later printing, 1923, and is the “De Luxe Theatre Edition.” It contains six full-page illustrations from the play. Each copy bearing facsimile autographs of Glenn Hunter and Florence Nash, who created the leading roles at the Cort Theatre production. This is the hilarious story of Merton Gill, who worked in a grocery store but dreamed of becoming a movie star. It became a successful play, produced at the Cort Theatre, and later was transformed into a Red Skelton vehicle for MGM. It is considered one of the best Hollywood novels of all time. From Wikipedia: Harry Leon Wilson was born in Oregon, Illinois, the son of Samuel and Adeline (née Kidder). Samuel was a newspaper publisher, and Harry learned to set type at an early age. He began work as a stenographer, after leaving home at sixteen. He worked his way west through Topeka, Omaha, Denver and eventually to California. He was a contributor to the histories of Hubert Howe Bancroft, and became the private secretary to Virgil Bogue. In December 1886, Wilson's story, The Elusive Dollar Bill was accepted by Puck magazine. He continued to contribute to Puck, and in 1892 became assistant editor. When Henry Cuyler Bunner died in 1896, Wilson replaced him as editor. The publication of The Spenders allowed Wilson to quit Puck in 1902, and devote himself full time to writing. “I had to live ten years in New York. It was then a simple town, with few street lights north of Forty-second street. Now the place is pretty terrible to me, perhaps the ugliest city in the world. I decided that the only way to get out of New York was to write a successful novel. So I tried with The Spenders and when I got a substantial advance from publishers, I quit my job and beat it for the high hills of Colorado.” Wilson would return to New York, where he met Booth Tarkington in 1904. Tarkington and Wilson would travel together to Europe in 1905. The two would complete the play, The Man at Home in 1906 in Paris. The play was a resounding success and was followed by more collaborations with Tarkington, but none would repeat the success of the first. Wilson was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1908. When Wilson returned from Europe, he settled in Carmel, California. Except for a few brief periods, he would remain there for the rest of his life. It was during this period that Wilson would write the books for which he is most well known. Bunker Bean was published in 1913. followed by Ruggles of Red Gap two years later. After a brief stint in Hollywood, he wrote Merton of the Movies in 1922. A severe auto accident in 1932 greatly affected his health during his remaining years. Wilson died of a brain hemorrhage on June, 28 1939 in Carmel. DESCRIPTION: 335 pages 7 5/8 x 5 1/8 inches Theatre edition hardcover CONDITION: This hard-cover book is in very good condition. Thee is no dust jacket. The reddish cloth hardcover is clean and shows only light wear at the corners and spine ends. There is an old inked name and phone number, some toning along the edge and a book-seller’s stamp on the front endpaper. The second page has facsimile signatures of the leading actors in the play of the same name at the Cort Theatre in 1923. The interior is excellent with no names, marks, underlining, tears or odor. The paper is slightly toned with age. The hinges and binding are excellent with no loose or missing pages and illustrations. BECAUSE MEDIA RATE SHIPPING IS FREE ON THE BOOKS I SELL, COMBINE THIS WITH OTHER ITEMS FROM MY EBAY STORE. I AM AN EXPERIENCED EBAY SELLER (23+ YEARS) AND SHIPPER WITH 100% (always!--since 1997!) FEEDBACK RATING. ALL ITEMS ARE CAREFULLY AND SECURELY PACKED TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE DANGER OF CRUSHING AND OR WATER/MOISTURE DAMAGE. ALL BOOKS ARE SHIPPED IN STURDY BOXES WITH TRACKING AND DELIVERY CONFIRMATION INCLUDED. I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE ALL OF THE BOOKS, AUTOGRAPHS AND SIGNATURES ON BOOKS I SELL.

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