Hilliard Booth, Brevard, N.C., “picked money out of the air” when he tuned in on WLS Wednesday, February 17, and heard himself announced as the winner of the $200 cash prize offered by WLS, the Sears-Roebuck Agricultural Foundation station, and the Drama League of America in a nationwide radio drama contest.
Mr. Booth’s play, entitled “Back Stage,” was awarded second place out of more than 500 entries, the choice being made by George Arliss, now playing “Old English” in Chicago, James O’Donnell Bennett of the Chicago Tribune, for many years a drama critic, and Stuart Walker of New York, eminent editor and playwright. The play will be “staged” over WLS within the next few weeks.
The first prize of $500 and the Hoover Trophy cup was awarded to Levin Chambers Ballou of Buffalo, N.Y., and the winning play, “The Night Herd,” was produced in the WLS studio, Hotel Sherman, Chicago, and broadcast over WLS Wednesday evening, February 17, immediately following the announcement of the winners and presentation of the prizes. The third prize of $100 was awarded to J. Frank Davis, San Antonio, Texas, for his “Midnight.”
More than 500 plays were entertained in the contest from amateur and professional play writers in every state in the union, Canada and North Wales.
“Besides these three winners, we have 10 more plays which are worthy of production,” said Harry Dean Saddler, director of dramatic production for WLS. These will be produced during the next few months, and the authors will be paid the usual royalty.
From the front page of the Polk County News, Tryon, N.C., Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn94058241/1926-02-18/ed-1/seq-1/
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