A brief history of the life and work of Maurine Watkins.
Copyright Search Information:
A copyright search was done for the Law Offices of Stephen P. Smith, Jr., Barnett National Bank Building, Jacksonville, Florida 32202, in 1971 or 1972. On February 11, 1972, a letter was sent from Calvin ("Bud") E. Hayden, Jr., partner with Stephen P. Smith, Jr., to Mr. C. R. Leonard, Trust Department, The Florida National Bank of Jacksonville, regarding "Maurine Watkins' Copyrights." As Mr. Hayden stated, the letter contained "a Search Report compiled for the Estate [of Maurine Watkins] by a researcher of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C."
Copyright of original play manuscript, 1926:
"CHICAGO, or, PLAY BALL. A satirical comedy in prologue and three acts. By Maurine Dallas Watkins. Registered in the name of Maurine Dallas Watkins, under D 74543, following the deposit of one copy February 26, 1926. Claim to renewal copyright received in the name of Maurine Dallas Watkins as author, on March 31, 1953."
Copyright of published script, 1927:
"CHICAGO, by Maurine Watkins. Registered in the name of M. Watkins, under A 972053 following publication March 18, 1927. Claim to renewal copyright registered under R 142547, upon application received in the name of Maurine Watkins as author, on January 10, 1955."
Note: This 1927 script is the only version that has been published. (The 1997 republication, Chicago: With the Chicago Tribune Articles that Inspired It by Thomas Pauly, contained a page-for-page re-copying of the original published script.) The 1926 version with the subtitle "Play Ball" was never published and is only available forviewing at the Library of Congress--with the proper permission.
The subtitle "Play Ball" does not appear in the name of this published script, nor did "Play Ball" ever appear in the advertising nor in any newspaper accounts of the play. Therefore, when contracting for production rights, there is no logical reason why "Play Ball" should be any part of the references to the play.
Copyright of Best Plays of 1926-27, 1927:
"THE BEST PLAYS OF 1926-27, AND THE YEAR BOOK OF THE DRAMA IN AMERICA; edited by Burns Mantle. Contents: CHICAGO by Maurine Watkins, and other works. Registered in the name of Dodd, mead and Co., Inc., under A 1013039 following publication October 28, 1927. Claim to renewal copyright registered under R 158222, upon an application received in the name of Lydia Sears Mantle as widow of the author, on October 27, 1955."
Copyright of the silent film, Chicago, 1928:
"CHICAGO. DeMille Pictures Corp. 1928. 9 reels. From the play by Maurine Watkins, produced by Sam H. Harris. Credits: Director, Frank Urson; screenplay, Leonore J. Coffee; film editor, Anne Bauchens. Registered in the name of Pathé Exchange, Inc., under L pub 24955 following publication February 6, 1928. No renewal found." [Though not specifically named, the implication here is that the play bears the same name as the silent film version of it.]
Copyright of film Roxie Hart, 1942:
"ROXIE HART. (Based on the play CHICAGO, by Maurine Watkins). By Nunnally Johnson and [Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.] (8 reels). Registered in the name of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., under A 11111 following publication February 20, 1942. Claim to renewal copyright registered under R 475966, upon an application received in the name of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. as proprietor of copyright in a work made for hire, on January 2, 1970."