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  • 1.  Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-12-2017 14:04
    Does anyone know if Charlie's Aunt is in the public domain? It was first performed in 1892 so it should be but Samuel French charges royalties for it.

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    Ray Karns
    Theatre Teacher
    Wakefield School
    The Plains VA
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  • 2.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-13-2017 07:17
    I believe the rule is one hundred years after the playwright's death, not one hundred years after the piece was written. (I did not look up this playwright's death date.)



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-13-2017 07:20
    I believe the rule is one hundred years after the playwright's death, not one hundred years after the play was written. (I did not look up this playwright's death date. )

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    Valerie Gargus
    Play & Thespian Troupe Director
    Northern Burlington County Reg HS
    Columbus, NJ
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-13-2017 10:44
    Charley's Aunt is still controlled by Samuel French. It is expensive as are all their plays.

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    Ellen Di Filippo
    Tracy CA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-13-2017 10:47
    I checked with our Business Affairs Department to get an official response:

    "under the original provisions of copyright statute in place during the life of this play, copyright protection commenced upon publication as opposed to performance.  Under the terms of the 1909 Copyright Act, the first 28 year period commenced in 1935, and the second term of this protection commenced in renewal in 1962."  CHARLEY'S AUNT will go into Public Domain on 1/1/2031."

    Hope this clarifies things for you!

    Abbie



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    Abbie Van Nostrand
    Director of Corporate Communications
    Samuel French, Inc.
    New York NY
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-13-2017 13:45
    Thank you all. Especially to the Samuel French rep. That does clarify it.

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    Ray Karns
    Theatre Teacher
    Wakefield School
    The Plains VA
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-14-2017 13:25
    You gotta pay to play with this title!

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    Garry Tiller
    Theatre Arts Teaching Artist
    Hawaii Independent Schools
    Honolulu, HI
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-13-2017 11:32
    A quick check of the title page shows the copyright was renewed in 1935 and 1962.

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    Billy Houck
    Theatre Teacher
    Sunnyvale CA
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Charlie's Aunt

    Posted 04-13-2017 20:17
    I just happen to have a copy of "Charley's Aunt" recently purchased from Samuel French. 

    The title page says "This Acting Edition is printed from the MSS by Brandon Thomas as first performed in 1892."

    The second page says, "Copyright 1935 by Jevan Roderick Brandon-Thomas and William Deane Barnes-Brand"

    It would seem that although the play was first performed in 1892, it wasn't copyrighted until 1935.

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    Paul Townsend
    Coronado High School
    Scottsdale AZ
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    Original Message


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