*Klaw & Erlanger's KISMET (1912) Souvenir Book Otis Skinner as Hajj the Beggar

Description

Vintage original 9.75 x 12.25 in. souvenir book
from the Broadway theatrical production of
KISMET
, presented by
Klaw & Erlanger
and produced and
managed by Harrison Grey Fiske
. Actor Otis Skinner receives top billing for his role as Hajj the Beggar. Presented at the Knickerbocker Theatre from December 25, 199 through June 12, this souvenir program consists of 24 pages featuring beautiful full-page sepia-tinted photographs depicting various scenes from the production as well as smaller photographic vignettes throughout depicting various cast members and snippets from other scenes. The front cover opens to reveal a small panel at the left that also unfolds to open even further.
It is complete in overall fine+ condition. The outer covers were bound with a piece of brown string that is present but has come loose, so the interior pages are not fully secured to the covers within. The front cover has a vertical crease down the center with several creases and signs of wear on the top let corner which repeats at the same location on the following 18 pages. There are also small creases and signs of wear along the edges of the front cover. The back cover exhibits a water stain (?) at the top and has corner creases, several creases in the center, and signs of wear around the edges.
Kismet
is a three-act play written in 1911 by Edward Knoblauch (who later anglicised his name to Edward Knoblock). The title means Fate or Destiny in Turkish and Urdu. The play ran for two years in London and later opened in the United States. It was subsequently revived and the story was later made into several films and the popular 1953 musical.
Kismet
was first produced by Oscar Asche at the Garrick Theatre, London, on 19 April 1911. Knoblock wrote the play for Asche, with the understanding that Asche could revise it. He shortened and partly re-wrote it and produced it with much success, playing Hajj, the leading man, with Lily Brayton as Marsinah, the leading lady. The costumes were designed by Percy Anderson and the music was composed by Christopher Wilson. The production was so popular that it ran for two years.
The play was then accepted by the Theatrical Syndicate and staged at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York, produced by Harrison Grey Fiske. It opened on Broadway on Christmas Day 1911, and the leading roles were then taken by Otis Skinner and Rita Jolivet. This production also gained considerable popularity.
Asche led a successful tour of the play in Australia in 1911–12, and upon his return to London, he revived
Kismet
. Asche and Brayton appeared in a 1914 film of the play. It was later filmed in 1920, 1930, and 1944 with Skinner playing Hajj in the 1920 and 1930 film versions. In 1953, the story was adapted into the famous musical by Robert Wright and George Forrest, with themes from the music of Alexander Borodin. The musical was, in turn, adapted into a 1955 film.