Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1899 — Ben-Hur Dramatized. [ARTICLE]

Ben-Hur Dramatized.

A Whole Train of Cars Needed For Its Transportation.

Klaw & Erlanger, funny names, are preparing to put Gen. Wallace’s great book on the stage say that it will require a train as long as that used by Barnum to carry their camels, horses and paraphernalia, and, juding by the description of the preparation now being made for the grand opening performance in New York this fall, the managers are telling the truth. Ben-Hur dramatized, will be a great play and will advertise immensely the book itself. The managers have been importuning Gen. Wallace for ten years for the right to stage the book but he was afraid it could not be done satisfactorily. Managers all over the oountry asked for the right but were refused. Finally Klaw & Erlanger were given permission and say that Gen. Wallace was so indifferent about the financial part of the bargain, that he allowed them to settle on the royalty themselves, so absorbed was he in the play itself. He gave them much assistance in the dramatization of the story and that it Will make the great hit it deserves there is no doubt. —Crawfordsville Argus-News.