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Bennett CerfBennett Cerf
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Session:         Page of 1029

He said, “All the things you say make sense, but I simply don't allow any plays to go into anthologies.”

I said, “Well, it certainly amazes me that a man like George Bernard Shaw has a set rule. Because he's never done it before, he won't do it once.” I said, “That's not very progressive.”

He said, “I'm too important to go into an anthology.”

I said, “We've got O'Neill in it and he didn't feel that way.”

He said, “But you publish O'Neill.” He knew; he knew!

I said, “Without you, Mr. Shaw, there'll be no book.”

He said, “Oh, nonsense.”

I said, “I'm quite serious. If we don't get your play, what's the good of doing a Theater Guild Anthology?" “St. Joan” was their great coup.

So suddenly he said, “Are you paying O'Neill more than the others?”

I said, “Yes, he and you are the most important play- wrights.”

Suddenly he proposed, “I'll give it to you if you pay me twice as much as you give O'Neill.”

I said, “Isn't that pretty babyish.”

He agreed, “All right, it's babyish. Do you want it or don't you? Twice as much.”

I said, “You know, I'd give you anything you asked. We have to have it. You mean you'll give it to me?”

He said, “You give me twice as much as you give O'Neill and you can have it.”





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