"The Drag" Held As Offensive, New Britain Herald (Article, 1927)
Full Text
'THE DRAG' HELD AS OFFENSIVE
May Be Banned in N.Y.--Some of Troup Arrested
New York, Feb. 1 (UP)--Leading Broadway's theatrical producers were united today in their determination to prevent "The Drag." billed as "a homosexual comedy by the author of 'Sex.'" from being produced in New York. If the play gets into New York, actors and managers feared, censorship would be forced on the stage here.
Barred from Stamford, "The Drag." had its opening at Bridgeport, Conn., last night before a packed house, including many women.
Advance notices had been of such a character to cause police Commissioner McLaughlin of New York to send the police department secretary and a police officer to Bridgeport to see the play and recommend barring the play from New York rather than the closing of it after it had come here.
John Golden, producer, said he had not seen the play but from accounts of it he was convinced "that its invasion of New York would be the straw to break the camel's back."
Al E. Wood said if any theater owner permitted the play to be shown in his theater, "censorship of the strictest kind will be deserved."
The producers were trying to bring pressure on the owners of the theater to refuse to rent a theater to the producers of "The Drag."
A critic from a New York newspaper who saw the play said the offensiveness of "The Drag" consisted not so much in its theme as in its vulgar and insincere lines and bad construction. He said it had none of the sincerity or artistry of "The Captive."
The producers and dramatists have already chosen three members each and the actors will do likewise, to compose a committee of nine to decide what action should be done to prevent an almost certain censorship unless "The Drag" is headed off and other reforms are undertaken.
Some of Company Arrested
Bridgeport, Feb. 1 (UP) -- Two members of the company of "The Drag." homosexual play which opened here last night before an audience which included representatives of the New York police department, today were held in $250 bond each, charged with misconduct.
Edwin Elsner, 57, stage manager of the production, of 373 West 46th street, New York, and Beverly West, 23, sister of May West, the author, giving her address as 50 Jericho Turnpike, Floral Park, N.Y., were arrested in a local hotel this morning on the misconduct charge.
Elsner denied the allegations in police court today and the cases were continued until tomorrow.
The arrests were made on the complaint of the hotel clerk. It was alleged Elsner had registered under the name of Thomas Malone.
