GeezerVison

Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author, Theatre.

(1856-1924) UK playwright and author of the sf play, A Message from Mars: A Fantastic Comedy in Three Acts (performed 1899), which was first published in novelized form as A Message from Mars: A Story Founded on the Popular Play by Richard Ganthony (1912) by Lester Lurgan, and in something like its original form as A Message from Mars: A Fantastic Comedy in Three Acts (1923 chap), which was a revision of the original script. It was filmed twice, both times as A Message from Mars (1913 and 1921), the first version being presented in synopsis form as Mr Charles Hawtrey in a Cinematograph Version of A Message from Mars (1912 chap), as adapted by J Wallett Waller. The story is a kind of reenactment of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol (1843), the Scrooge character, in this case a mildly dissipated young gentleman, being subjected to visits from a superior being from Mars, who demonstrates to him various marvels as they walk through London. In the end, he awakens transformed from this vision. [JC]

Richard Ganthony

born Liverpool, England: 11 September 1856

died Richmond, Surrey: 29 April 1924

works

• A Message from Mars: A Story Founded on the Popular Play by Richard Ganthony (London: Greening and Co, 1912) by Lester Lurgan [novelization of the 1899 play: hb/]
• Mr Charles Hawtrey in a Cinematograph Version of A Message from Mars (London: The United Kingdom Films, 1912) adapted by J Wallett Waller [chap: synopsis of and stills from the film: pb/]
• A Message from Mars: A Fantastic Comedy in Three Acts (New York: Samuel French, 1923) [chap: rev of the original play from 1899: pb/]

links

• Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Picture Gallery

previous versions of this entry

• Internet Archive