Biography
Augustus Thomas (January 8, 1857 β August 12, 1934) was an American playwright. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and son of a medical doctor, Thomas worked a number of jobs including as 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 called Editha's Burglar, based on a short story by Frances Hodgson Burnett called The Burglar. After touring in the play, he expanded the show to four acts, renamed it The Burglar, 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 successful play, Alabama, was produced by Kirke La Shelle in 1891 and its financial reward 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 (1900), In Mizzoura (1893), Colorado (1900) and Rio Grande (1916). Perhaps his most successful play was The Copperhead (1918) which made Lionel Barrymore a star.
Thomas joined The Lambs theatrical club in 1889 and served as its president from 1907 to 1910.
He died in 1934 and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.
Filmography
all 24
Movies 24
Writer 19
Director 4
The Witching Hour (1934)
Arizona (1931)
The Family Secret (1924)
Thirty Days (1922)
The World's Champion (1922)
The Bonnie Brier Bush (1921)
The Witching Hour (1921)
Colorado (1921)
Rio Grande (1920)
The Copperhead (1920)
The Capitol (1919)
The Volcano (1919)
Arizona (1918)
Mrs. Leffingwell's Boots (1918)
Her Man (1918)
On the Quiet (1918)
The Witching Hour (1916)
Colorado (1915)
The Other Girl (1915)
The Earl of Pawtucket (1915)
The Nightingale (1914)
The Jungle (1914)
Paid in Full (1914)
Arizona (1913)
Ratings
Information
Known ForWriting
GenderMale
Birthday1857-01-08
Deathday1934-08-12 (77 years old)
Birth PlaceSt. Louis, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsAugustus Thomas
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
- Augustus E. Thomas
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