William James Hurlbut Explained

William James Hurlbut (1878 or July 13, 1883 – May 4, 1957)^[1] was a playwright, screenwriter, and artist.^{[2] [3]}

He was the grandson of Stephen Augustus Hurlbut. His father served as mayor of Belvidere, Illinois and invented an "instantaneous camera". William Hurlbut was involved in local theater productions and graduated from Belvidere High School.^[4] He traveled with his family to New York with a stop in Peru while the Panama Canal was being constructed.^[4] In 1896 he was listed as a student at Washington University's School of Fine Arts.^[5]

His plays had female leads.^[4] One of his plays was about tenement life. Another was about a girlfriend from Europe coming to a town in America.^[4]

He was sued for making alterations and subletting a New York City apartment.^[6] He never married and had no children.^[4]

Theater

• The Fighting Hope (1908),^[7] produced by David Belasco
• The Writing on the Wall (1909), produced by Olga Nethersole^{[8] [9]}
• New York (1910)^[4]
• The Strange Woman (1914)^[10]
• Saturday to Monday (1917)^[11]
• Bride of the Lamb (1926)^[12]
• Engaged; A Farcical Comedy in Three Acts (1926)^[13]
• On the Stars (1931)^[14]
• Recessional (1931)^[15]
• Lover for Two (1936), co-wrote^[16]
• Trimmed in Scarlet
• Half a Husband; A Comedy in Four Acts^[17]
• "Very Rich,";A Group Portrait Comedy^[18]
• Lady Bridget
• A Lincolnshire Idyll^[1]
• Lillies of the Field

Films

• The Fighting Hope (1915) based on his play
• The Dawn of Freedom (1916)
• The Writing in the Wall (1916)^[19]
• The Strange Woman (1918)^[20]
• Romance and Arabella (1919)
• Lillies on the Field (1924), based on his play
• The French Lady (1924)
• Lillies of the Field (1930), based on his play
• Good Sport (1931), screenplay
• Imitation of Life (1934 film) (1934), screenplay based on 1933 novel by Fannie Hurst
• Bride of Frankenstein (1935), co-wrote screenplay
• Adam Had Four Sons (1940), co-wrote screenplay adaptation of Charles Bonner's novel Legacy^[21]

External links

• Findagrave entry

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hurlbut, William J. (William James), 1883-1957 - Social Networks and Archival Context. snaccooperative.org.
2. Web site: William J. Hurlbut (Writer) | Playbill.
3. Web site: The Cosmopolitan. September 17, 1902. Schlicht & Field. Google Books.
4. https://www.rhsil.org/uploads/2/6/4/3/26435469/2012_-_vol_50_-_no_1.pdf
5. Book: A Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Washington University, for the Academic Year . 1896 . The University .
6. Web site: Supreme Court Appellate Division. Google Books.
7. Book: The Fighting Hope: A Play in Three Acts . 1908 .
8. News: OLGA NETHERSOLE APPEARS.; Produces "The Writing on the Wall," a New Play by Wm. J. Hurlbut. . The New York Times . January 12, 1909.
9. News: OLGA NETHERSOLE TO SAIL.; Coming to New York to Rehearse a New Play by W.J. Hurlburt.. The New York Times . November 15, 1908.
10. Book: The Strange Woman . 1914 . Syndicate Publishing Company .
11. Book: "Saturday to Monday." . 1917 .
12. Web site: Bride of the Lamb. William James. Hurlbut. September 17, 1926. Boni and Liveright. Google Books.
13. Book: Engaged: A Farcical Comedy in Three Acts . 1926 . Hurlbut . William James .
14. Book: On the Stairs: A Mystery Play in Three Acts . 1931 . S. French .
15. Book: Recessional . 1931 . S. Rose .
16. Book: Lover for Two: A Comedy with Music . 1936 . Hurlbut . William James . MacGregor . Edgar J. .
17. Book: Half a Husband: A Comedy in Four Acts . Hurlbut . William James .
18. Book: "Very Rich,": A Group Portrait; a Comedy . Hurlbut . William James .
19. Web site: William J. Hurlbut. tcm.com.
20. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/18236
21. Book: Legacy: Screenplay . 1940 .