“Yes, but that’s Dickens; that’s novel writing; that’s different.”
“Oh, not so much, these are picture stories: not so different.”
So he went his lonely way and did it; did “After Many Years” contrary to all the old established rules of the game. The Biograph Company was very much worried—the picture was so unusual—how could it succeed?
It was the first picture to be recognized by foreign markets. When one recalls the high class of moving pictures that Pathé and Gaumont were then putting out, such as “The Assassination of the Duc de Guise,” this foreign recognition meant something.
“After Many Years” made a change in the studio. All “suggestions” now came directly to Mr. Dougherty’s office. He selected the doubtful ones and the sure bets and with Mr. Griffith read them over the second time. They threshed out their differences in friendly argument. So Lee Dougherty became the first scenario editor.
And of the sad letters and grateful ones his editing jobs brought him, this letter from a newspaper man on a Dayton, Ohio, paper, now dead, he prizes most highly:
L. E. Dougherty, Editor,
Kinemacolor Company,
Los Angeles, Calif.
Dear Sir:
Excuse me, but I can’t help it. When I cashed the $25 check for “Too Much Susette,” the scenario of mine which you accepted, I took $5 of the money and put it on “Just Red” who won at Louisville at the juicy price of 30 to 1. I hope the film will bring your company as much luck as the script has brought me.
Yours very truly,
George Groeber.