Canada has no more talented son than Willard Mack, poet, author, playwright and
actor. Born in Morrisburg, Ontario, (his father was also born in Canada), he is
essentially a product of our Canada, although his greatest success was achieved in
the United States.
Scarcely a season passes in New York without a Willard Mack play, and very often two
or three plays. He has been associated with David Belasco for years. This versatile
Canadian author has had one success after another, his “Tiger Rose,” being one
of the phenomenal record runs on Broadway. Alberta was chosen as the scene of this
typically Canadian play. Now Mack is back again with us, “rooting” for more
material to show upon the stage and screen Canada “as is.” He comes back to us
with no head swollen by his successes abroad and in the States, but, like a truly big
man, simple, modest and making light of his own achievements, eager to learn from
others, and to give a helping shoulder.
Local Collaboration
It is notable that one of his first acts upon arrival in Calgary was to get in
touch with Calgary’s author, Ralph Kendal, with whom he is collaborating upon a
play of the North West Mounted Police. He will also do a play with another
Canadian author,
Mrs. Francis Reeve (Onoto
Watanna).
Mr. Mack knows this part of Canada well. To use his own recent phrase: “I speak
your language.” His father is a well known rancher of Rosebud, owner of the
“McC” ranch. Mr. Mack has pioneered and ranched himself; has been all over
the Peace River country and farther northwest. He has herded cattle and raised
crops in Alberta.
We are at present taking a sort of census of Canadian authors. For the first time,
under the inspiration of the recently formed Canadian Authors’ League, we are
“taking the number” of our own talent. The result of the research has been
proven fascinating and astonishing. We did not know we possessed such valuable and
brilliant material. We had come almost to believe that such luminaries as Basil
King, Arthur Stringer, Willard Mack and many others equally talented and
celebrated belonged to the U.S.A. We have in the past boomed our natural
resources, oil, iron, coal, agriculture. We have fought for tariffs to protect our
manufacturers, and out of the overwhelming generosity of the public heart we have
even patronized and conciliated the farmer; but how have we treated our authors
and artists? These, the very cream of our natural resources we have not attempted
to conserve; indeed we have in the past literally driven them into the open arms
of the U.S. Whenever a Canadian author attains eminence in the States, he is
instantly heralded there as an American product. We should not be filched of our
purest gold—our dreamers, who in all time, have been esteemed a nation’s pride.
They are as truly a country’s natural resources as are its minerals.
The purely Canadian Authors’ League is in a way a test that we are able to walk
without the crutch of the States. It should have the heart-felt support and
sympathy of all Canadians.
Here then is Willard Mack back in Canada, genial, big and friendly, and still
loving every inch of his native land. We cannot keep him with us, it is true, for
he is not merely a local celebrity, but we can show in some way that we are proud
of him and like him as much as he does us.
