Darkest Russia

• 1895

• Color litho depicting a scene from the play showing two bound captives at the feet of Imperial soldiers reacting to the arrival of the Courier. Caption at top left reads “By H. Graftan Donnelly, Sidney R. Ellis Manager”. At the bottom is the quote “The Imperial Courier of the Czar’s Timely Arrival at the Exiles Station on the Great Siberian Road.”
• Grattan (1850-1931), a prolific writer of science fiction, was a newspaperman who traveled widely abroad. His play sought to feed the growing interest and support of the anti-czarist forces in Russia, and indeed there are reports of protesters in Philadelphia claiming that the play was direct translation of the French "Le Czar Blanc" and arguing that it constituted a slander on the Russian government. Ellis is sometimes credited as co-author, and was certainly involved with the film treatment that resulted in the 1917 thriller directed by Frances Marion. Associated with the 14th Street Theatre, New York.