28 trhompson Indiana Libraries

Lew Wallace, Indiana author of Ben-Hur on the steps of his Crawfordsville study. Volume 7, Number 1 (1988) Thompson/ 29 Lew Wallace and Ben-Hur

Donald E. Thompson Head Librarian, Retired Wabash College, Crawfordsville

Since its publication in 1880, Lew the subject would admit of any number of Wallace's Ben-Hur was a best seller, illustrations, and might be acceptable to was produced as a play, and was made one of the magazines. into a mini-movie and two full-length So I wrote, commencing with the motion pictures. Probably no other meeting in the desert, numbering and single product from Crawfordsville has naming the three upon the authority of the created so much interest and publicity, dear old tradition-monger, Father Bede, and been so lucrative monetarily. and ending with the birth of the Child in How did a11 of this start? Here is what the cave by Bethlehem. W a11ace said: At that time, speaking candidly, I was How did I come to write Ben-Hur? The not in the least influenced by religious very beginning of the book lies in a sentiment. I had no convictions about God quotation from St. Matthew: or Christ. I neither believed nor disbe­ lieved in them. 'Now when Jesus was born in Bethle­ hem of Judea, in the days of Herod the The preacher had made no impression King, behold, there came wise men from upon me. My reading covered nearly every the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He other subject. Indifference is the word that is born King of the Jews? For we most perfectly desc1;ptive of my feelings have seen His star in the east, and are respecting the To-morrow of Death, as a come to worship Him.' French scientist has happily termed the succession oflife. Yet when the work was Far back as my memory goes of things fairly begun, I found myself \V1;ting rever­ read by or to me, those lines took a entially, and frequently with awe. hold on my imagination beyond every other passage of Scripture. How simple This was purely natural; for it is with they are! But analyze them, and behold me, presumably, as with every writer who creates as he goes. My characters are the points of wonder! essentially living persons. They arise and W a11ace describes the seen e in some sit, look, talk, and behave like themselves. detail and then goes on: In dealing with them I see them; when they speak I hear them. I know them by In 1875-the date is given from best recollection-when I was getting over the their features. They answer my ca11. restlessness due to years of service in the Some of them I detest. Such as I most affect become my familiars. In turn they War of Rebe11ion, it occurred to me to write ca11 me, and I recognize their voices. Such the conceptions which I had long carried in being the case, think of the society to my mind of the Wise Men. A serial upon which the serial directly admitted me! 30 trhompson Indiana Libraries With this idea in mind, Wallace ent American editions and was trans­ visited the Library of Congress and lated into many languages. In 1944 read a great deal about the Jews. Harper's estimated that more than Returning to Crawfordsville, he 2,500,000 ~opies had been sold. It still brought back many books and maps ranks among the top best sellers by and from much research the story American authors. In connection with developed. He first thought about the release of the 1959 motion picture, preparing a serial for Harper's several different editions were issued Monthly so he wrote a 20,000 word including deluxe, abridged for teen­ story, but this later became the first agers, children's classic, four paper­ part of the book. Most of the writing backs, comic book, coloring book, giant was done in Crawfordsville, but the fun-time book, and motion picture novel was completed in Santa Fe while souvenir book. he was serving as territorial governor. After publication in 1880 the book When the novel of two hundred was received with mixed reactions by thousand words was completed in literary critics and the public. Paul March, 1880, Wallace took it to Hamilton Hayne, a well known south­ Harper Brothers in New York City ern writer, wrote to Wallace: "It is .. . and it was published on November 12, a noble and very powerful prose poem 1880, at a dollar and a half. In the ... of course, in the ordinary sense of first seven months only 2,800 copies the term, Ben-Hur is not likely to were sold, but by 1886 sales were become popular, but by scholars and 4,500 copies per month. By 1911 sales thinkers of every conceivable grade had passed the million mark and in this singularly graphic performance 1913 Sears Roebuck ordered a million must be cherished." John Hay said copies at thirty-nine cents each. The Ben-Hur was one of "the finest novels book was published in several differ- of our time." A San Francisco newspa-

Wallace in his study at Crawfordsville. Volume 7, Number 1 (1988) Thompson/ 31 32 fl'hompson Indiana Libraries perman suggested that "Governor Lew said to the producers: "Boys, I'm Wallace is a 'Literary Feller,' chiefly afraid you're up against it; the Ameri­ given to writing novels of an uncertain can people will never stand for Christ sort. He is following up The Fair God and a horse race in the same show." with Ben-Hur, a Story of the Christ. I His remark rates as one of the bad protest, as a friend of Christ, that He guesses in theatrical history. Not only has been crucified enough already, did Americans like the combination, without having a territorial governor they loved it. Twenty million people after him." For the religious press, .saw the play which was performed The Baptist Quarterly Review said "In more than 6,000 times, and ran for all respects we gladly commend the twenty-one years and paid upwards of book" and The Catholic World found it ten million dollars for the privilege. It "a most pleasing story." Other literary was produced in hundreds of Ameri­ critics also had kind things to say but, can cities and abroad. The religious whatever the critics attitude, the and moral tone made the stage easier public liked the book as the sal~s to accept by many people who gener­ figures show. Selections of the book ally thought little good about the were included in anthologies and it Theatre. William Jennings Bryan inspired a large number of novels. said, "I have enjoyed Ben-Hur as the greatest play on stage when measured Soon after its publication, several by its religious and moral effect," and attempts were made to dramatize Ben Billy Sunday exclaimed, "I wish a -Hur. Leonard Barrett requested hundred million people could see the permission in 1882 but Wallace play." Stuart Holbrook, historian, refused because he thought the theme stated that "Ben-Hur rode that gilded was too sacred and the outdoor scenes chariot right through the front door to too large for a stage. Others tried enter the hornes of hard-shell Baptists without success but pantomime and and Methodists and other non-novel­ tableaux were permitted. Finally, in reading sects, and to an eager wel­ 1899, Abraham Erlanger and Marc come." There were many other re­ Klaw contracted with Wallace to marks and reviews, pro and con, with produce a play with William H. these as two examples: "The chief Farnum and William S. Hart. The value was a pictorial and spectacular first performance was held on Novem­ one. The producers were mistaken as ber 29, 1899. to the true function of the stage" and One of the real technical problems "the horses, camels, and dromedary was how to run the race .on the stage. involved enacted their roles with This was solved with the use of credit." treadmills which made such a noise The story was first filmed in 1907 in that the actors could not be heard. one reel and sixteen scenes and The New York World reported that advertised as "positively the most "wilder enthusiasm has seldom superb moving picture spectacle ever manifested itself in a theatre." When made in America." The producers Wallace saw the treadmills and other forgot to obtain permission so the elaborate scenery he exlaimed in publisher (Harper) and the Wallace amazement; "My God! Did I set all estate sued and were awarded $25,000 this in motion?" in damages. Years later the publisher Charles Frohman, a theatrical and the Wallace estate sold the rights impresario, spent three and one-half to a syndicate for $600,000, the hours at the dress rehearsal and then biggest deal of its kind of the time. The Syndicate in turn sold it to the Volume 7, Number 1 (1988) Thompson/ 33 Goldwyn Picture Corporation for fifty appear in the movie. Members of the percent of future earnings which aristocracy from Italy, Spain, Austria, eventually amounted to several Hungry, and Russia were included. A million dollars. special restaurant on the set could feed five thousand extras in twenty In 1926 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer minutes. Much of the film was made spent four million dollars and three at studios near Rome. More than yeas in Rome and Hollywood making three hundred sets were built from the first full-length motion picture of fifteen thousand sketches on one Ben-Hur, starring Ramon Navarro, hundred and forty-eight acres. A staff Francis X. Bushman, and May MacA­ of more than one hundred people voy. The movie ran on Broadway for a started making costumes in Rome a year which was something of a record, year before filming began. More than then and later. It was shown around two years of research preceded the the United States and abroad for writing of the music score. The several years and, revived with sound filming was done by six cameras, each in 1931, and is said to have made valued at one hundred thousand between nine and ten million dollars dollars. The stadium covered eighteen for both productions. acres and was the largest single movie Preparations were made on a grand set ever built. Seven thousand extras scale. It took a year and a half in an occupied it for the race with took three Italian shipyard to build the vessels months to film, cost one million for the navy. For the chariot race dollars and had two hundred miles of there were thousands of extras and runnin~ for the fifteen minutes on the nearly two hundred horses. For many screen. The movie starred Charlton of the sequences there were Heston, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, and Jack Hawkins. One M-G-M Shining coal-black beauties from the official said, ''There aren't more than illegal slave marts of the Sahara; grandly half of the Commandments you could limbed Nubians from the Nile Cataracts; really call interesting. We figure Syrians, Arabians, and Yemenites; a we've got a superior story." procession of camels from Tripoli; equine coursers from Transjordania; sheiks of Some traditions and legends were Iraq and Hedjaz; Jews, Greeks and built up over the play and film. There Romans, whose features reproduced the was the time the play was running in aquiline or straight-nose types of their Boston when Messala actually won the ancestors. 'Twas a veritable mart of the world, and here flowered forth the Roman treadmill race on the stage. During holiday; for all Rome made the big days of the filming of the sea battle off Italy in the filming festival events and poured out the 1926 picture, a Roman galley into the Campagna, thousands upon thou­ carrying smudge pots actually caught sands, headed by the Italian Deputies and on fire. Everyone in full battle dress Fascist chiefs, and kept back out of the went over the side and, in the melee, historic sequences by strong columns of three people came up missing. Two stout Bersaulieri ...." days later they showed up on a fishing boat that had rescued them and A new film, released in the fall of demanded new clothes. 1959, cost more than fifteen million dollars and ranked as the most expen­ Some other things happened during sive picture ever produced to that the 1959 filming. Responding to a time. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer opened a notice in Rome newspapers asking for casting office in Rome in 1958 to select men with beards, more than five the thousands of people who would thousand answered. There were two 34 fl'hompson Indiana Libraries doctors and two nurses on duty during of this great literary work, and that the citizens the filming of the chariot race, and a of Crawfordsville join with other admirers of General Lew Wallace in taking part in the twenty-bed infirmary was maintained. National observance of the publication of Ben­ Many Italian women furnished hair Hur-Nov. 11-by participating in Ben-Hur for beards and wigs and a blacksmith Day. had to be trained to care for the horses. During the filming in Italy the On the evening of November 13 a studios and sets were part of a sight­ Lew Wallace Forum was held at the seeing tour. An entire mountain Lilly Library at Wabash College. village became Nazareth and its three Walter Fertig, Wabash College, spoke hundred people were drafted as on "Lew Wallace, the Student": Hubert extras. Hawkins, Indiana Historical Society, spoke on "Lew Wallace, the Soldier": The premiere of the 1959 film was and Arthur Shumaker, DePauw held at Loew's State Theatre in New University, spoke on "Lew Wallace, York City on November 18, 1959. the Author." On the morning of During the rest of 1959, openings were November 14, there was a Ben-Hur held in ten other cities. The Indiana Day post office cancellation ceremony premiere was held in Indianapolis on and then a parade with officials' cars February 23, 1960. It was a formal and units from the American Legion, occasion and was attended by many schools, boy and girl scouts, and other. well-known people. Just before noon a special ceremony was held at the Wallace Study with Crawfordsville had its own celebra­ the presentation of foreign language tion on November 13-14, 1959 in editions of Ben-Hur to the Wallace recognition of the anniversary of Ben­ Study and a talk by Ted Gronert. The Hur's publication. On November 12, festivities ended with a luncheon at the Mayor issued a proclamation for Wabash College. There was a "Ben­ "Ben-Hur Day": Hur Anniversary Contest" for the WHEREAS, General Lew Wallace was Crawfordsville public schools. Copies an illustrious citizen of Crawfordsville; of Dr. Gronert's book Sugar Creek Saga were given for the best essays WHEREAS, General Lew Wallace wrote on ''The Moral and Religious Signifi­ of Ben-Hur at the Wallace Study in cance of Lew Wallace's Ben-Hur." Crawfordsville; Many dignitaries were invited to WHEREAS, Ben-Hur has been pub­ Ben-Hur day. Charlton Heston sent lished in more than 100 editions and 23 foreign languages and is currently being his regrets because he had to start republished at 14 leading publishers; rehearsing for a play. Others who signified their intention to attend were WHEREAS, M-G-M Pictures is plan­ newsmen, television personnel, a ning to launch a multimillion dollar color representative from Metro-Goldwyn­ road show entertainment spectacle of the Mayer, and government officials. An story; editorial in the Crawfordsville Jour­ WHEREAS, Civil War Round Tables, nal-Review for November 13, 1959 Historical Societies and other groups commented on the recognition for Lew are becoming interested in both Lew Wallace: Wallace's exploits and his literary achieve­ ments, It is comforting to learn that the idea of observing Ben-Hur Day on November 14, BE IT PROCLAIMED, That it behooves the to celebrate the first publication of Gen. citizens of Crawfordsville to have our city take Lew Wallace's world-respected novel, has its proper place in this international recognition attracted wide spread attention. It is Volume 7, Number 1 (1988) Thompson/ 35

BEN HUR is a story ofpeople . .. as human as any ) ou know today .... the rich) the poor) the crue0 the kind. The lovers and the lovec'1 the haters and the hated. Men of violence and men ofpeace .... people of every kinc'1 whose lives become entwined with that of the prince who became a slave.

Judah Ben-Hur Esther Prince of Judea, who challenged the evil might 111e Beautiful, whose love was stronger than of pagrm Rome. the bonds of slavery. CHARLTON HESTON, who was born in Evanston, HAYA HARAREET, who was born in Haifa, Pales­ Illinois, nnd is a graduate of Northwestern University. tine, and lived most of her life in Tel-Aviv. While He began his professional acting career in radio and serving the required two years in her country's armed made his Broadway debut with Katharine Cornell in forces, she began acting in service shows. Once out of "Antony and Cleopatra." Has starred in a number of uniform, she joined Tel-Aviv's Chambre Theatre and stage plays and television dramas. During the past I 0 acted in dozens of plays. Speaks five lnnguages Ouently years has appeared in twenty important motion pic­ and won the feminine lead in JJEN-HUR after William tures, including "The Greatest Show on Earth," 'The Wyler remembered having met her brieOy at the Big Country" and "The Ten Commandments," in which Cannes Film Pestival and ordered her tested. he portrayed Moses.

Dr:twins:s or D~ne/lur•s C :ul o! Chnr:tc tcrs !'I re thl· work of Jo•H.·ph J. Sn11th. 11 :1t l \'t: Ph ll.idd rih b n :rn d 1: r:u.Ju ntt" of ihc Pcnnsyhi:i nl:t Museum Sd1oot of ln<.l ustri:ll /\rt. ~fr . Smilh h:u become one o! tht.• most fa mous nrt i1 1s fn U oll)·wood. 36 !I'hompson Indiana Libraries about time that Indiana should pay sitting on the floor around a low coffee respect to its famous writers. There was a table talking with students. When her time when men ofletters gave the Hoosier manager reminded her that they were state its prime products, and we were running late and must leave she said: known as a state that nurtured and "I'm in no hurry. I'm having too much encouraged literature and the arts. How fun here." many of Indiana's renowned writers can you name? To celebrate Ben-Hur's lOOth All too seldom are men of the pen birthday a Ben-Hur Centennial was honored with special memorial celebra­ held in Crawfordsville during the first tions. Men of the sword are frequently week of November, 1980. There were paid tribute with anniversary observances. displays of Wallace memorabilia, Battles are memorialized and statues showings of the 1926 and 1959 films, a erected. Scientists and inventors often Cub Scout chariot race, and a Historic have their day in the sun. But Ben-Hur Landmarks walking tour. William Day will be the first widespread obser­ Nob le Wallace was the guest speaker vance in honor of a writer that we can at the annual dinner of the Montgom­ remember in a long, long time. ery County Historical Society. Six Ironically, Gen. Lew Wallace, who wrote Wallace scholars presented papers in of peace and saintly inspiration, was also a two symposia. Robert and Katharine man of the sword and his statue bears the Morsberger gave talks and auto­ inscription: "Soldier, Author, Diplomat," graphed copies of their newly-pub­ His monument in the Capitol's Hall of lished book Lew Wallace, Militant Statuary is one of two-out of the 80 or Romantic . The Crawfordsville more standing there-that won its place as Journal-Review published a special an author. The other writer so honored was Will Rogers. section and one issue of Montgomery Magazine was devoted to Wallace. Reports say that more than 1,500 libraries in 20 or more states are taking During the week of July 19-26, cognizance of Ben-Hur Day and ~hat even 1986, Lew Wallace and Ben-Hur were more schools are focusing on "Ben -Hur." again honored. For several years the Friends of Indiana Literature (spon­ The two-day celebration was sored by the Indiana State Museum extended by one day when Haya Society) has honored Indiana authors, Harareet decided to come to and Wallace was the 1986 honoree. In Crawfordsville to see the birthplace of Indianapolis there were lectures, Ben-Hur. Hasty arrangements were films, concerts, and other events. In made, including a reception by city Crawfordsville there was a tour of the authorities and a visit to Wabash Wallace Study, a visit.to Wallace's College. Perhaps the most enthusias­ grave, and lunch at the Crawfordsville tic welcome was given by Wabash Country Club (formerly Wallace's students. It was early on Sunday summer home.) afternoon and her appearance on the campus was not generally known. As Ben-Hur has had a lasting influ­ she walked into the Lilly Library word ence on American culture. Several got around quickly and students towns have been named after the appeared from everywhere. They novel, a Ben-Hur rose was developed, escorted her through the building and spices were marketed by Ben-Hur to the Campus Center for the recep­ Products, Inc., and toys, candy, cigars: tfrm. She datifuUy snook nancfs with and other products have carried the the dignitaries but her heart was not name. Ben-Hur carousels were in it. She seemed to be more at ease operated in the United States and Volume 7, Number 1 (1988) Thompson/ 37 38 /Thompson Indiana Libraries England; in 1978 a float in the Tour­ Lew Wallace would probably nament of Roses parade featured the appreciate being remembered. He chariot race; and there is a Lew said to his wife on two different Wallace high school in Gary, Indiana. occasions: "I shall look back on Ben­ Crawfordsville has a General Lew H ur as my best performance" and "I Wallace Motor Inn, a Ben-Hur drive-in am looking to you and Ben-Hur to theater, a Ben-Hur home, a Ben-Hur keep me unforgotten after the end of Sports Shop, Ben-Hur Stables, the life." Ben-Hur Life Association, and at one time a restaurant offered a Ben-Hur All photographs are courtesy of salad bowl and sandwiches called The Lilly Library, Wabash College, General and the Brigadier. Crawfordsville, IN.