1891-1940

Grandson of Martha Ellen Monnett Wright

Marion Daily Star September July 27, 1940

DEATH TAKES SAXON KLING

Marion Playwright and Former Broadway Actor Stricken Here

Death claimed Saxon Kling, playwright and former Broadway stage player, today at 6:30 a. m. at the home of his aunt, Mrs. George B. Scofield of 409 Bellefontaine avenue.

Seriously ill of a glandular ailment for the last 15 months, he kept going; motivated by a desire to see his latest play produced.  He submitted to a series of blood transfusions in an effort to build his strength, and several weeks ago underwent hospital treatment for a brief time.

Less than two months ago he motored to New York City to confer with producers of his play.  He made the return in a state of complete exhaustion.

PLAY READY FOR PRODUCTION

However, he maintained a constant correspondence with his producers and co-writer, Esther Forbes of Worcester, Mass., as to progress of the production plans, and only last week received word that the play, “America, 1685”, is slated for production early in August at Cape Cod, Mass.

According to plans, after the Cape Cod opening the play will be taken on a tour, probably of New England states, and then will go into New York.

The play is a revision of “What Every Woman Wants,” which Mr. Kling and Miss Forbes presented in Boston, Mass., and Philadelphia in the winter of 1939 and then took off the road because they felt that changes, including the title, would strengthen the vehicle before it was presented to critical New York audiences.

Received Favorable Notices 

Boston and Philadelphia critics gave the play gratifying notices and one Boston writer, James Gibbon Jr. of the Evening Transcript, devoted his column to an interview with Mr. Kling.

Gibbon wrote of Mr. Kling that “he is neat, compact, his working garb of slippers, open collared shirt and blue trousers giving him the appearance of a tennis player who could easily run through five sets on a July afternoon without absorbing a bit of dust.”  Mr. Kling impressed the writer as “scholarly.”

The play which now seems destined for Broadway and the goal of every playwright, required weeks of rehearsals before it was presented, first in New Haven and Hartford, Conn., and then in Boston and Philadelphia.

Miss Forbes, who has five successful novels dealing with early New England to her credit, collaborated chiefly in supplying the authentic early New England background.

In retitling (sic) the play, Mr. Kling described the finished product as “A comedy of and American family’s genesis during the 17^th Century.”

The theater was Mr. Kling’s life

As a boy he got his first taste of the legitimate stage and its glamour and the taste never staled.

After he graduated from Marion High school he entered Ohio State university, but the day-in, day-out routine of campus life palled and after two years he left the university suddenly and went to New York, hub of the theatrical world.

There he entered the Academy of Dramatic Arts, absorbed it’s training and was graduated.  About 1918 he went with the Washington Square Players, well-known play producing group.

Played Opposite Helen Hayes 

Helen Hayes, Ruth Chatterton and the late Alice Brady are among the well known actresses to whom he played leading man in some of their Broadway stage successes.  Others included Pauline Lord with whom he appeared in Ferenc Molnar’s “Launzi.”

With the Washington Square Players he played juvenile leads in plays with Margaret Anglin, Miss Chatterton and Henry Miller.

The May, 1918 issue of The Theater, carried a picture of him in the leading male role in George Bernard Shaw’s “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.”  He was with David Belasco for several seasons and also was associated at one time with the Shuberts, internationally known producers.

He was a close friend of the William Gillettes and Winifred Lenihan.  Miss Lenihan had the distinction of being the first American actress to portray the title role in Shaw’s “Joan of Arc.”

Writing plays always interested Mr. Kling and in his early days as an actor he kept trying his had at the playwright’s craft.

Wrote Series of Plays 

One of his first plays was written for Lady Violet Kemble Cooper and later he wrote a vehicle for Theresa Maxwell Conover who was appearing in a series of plays at the National theater.

His first success came in November of 1928 when his “Crashing Through,” a comedy, was presented.  Henrietta Corsman, known to motion picture fans, was one of the players.  His second play, “Tomorrow,” was presented at the Lyceum theater that same season.

His acting career covered Broadway and the road.  Marion friends and members of his family years ago journeyed to Chicago and Cincinnati to see him in stage productions.

Motion picture work claimed his attention for a short time, but after making several pictures about 20 years ago, he found that the motion picture studios held none of the excitement surrounding the stage and he returned to the legitimate field of entertainment.  Several of his early pictures were shown in Marion, at the then new Marion theater. 

Boosted Local Group 

About 10 years ago, during a vacation stay with his mother, the late Mrs. Gertrude Kling, he became interested in the activities of the Marion Mimes, amateur play-producing group here, and assisted in producing several of the plays.

Illness of his mother, who died last Sept. 1, kept him in Marion for months after his latest play was first produced and delayed his work of revision.  After his mother’s death he made his home with his aunt.

Mr. Kling was born in Paulding, O., in February of 1891, son of Arthur and Gertrude Wright Kling.  His fater, a first cousin of Mrs. Warren g. Hardin, was in the hardware business in Paulding and Marion.

Mr. Kling adopted the name Saxon after he entered the theatrical field.  His real name was George Monnett Kling. 

Last of Family

He was the last member of his immediate family, a brother Donald of Cleveland, having died a week after heir mother’s death.

Mr. Kling was a member of the Christian Science faith.

A private funeral will conducted Wednesday at 4 p. m. at the Schaffner-Denzer Co. funeral home on East Center street.  A Christian Science service will be read.  Burial will be made on the family lot in Marion cemetery.

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