What Happened to Jones is an 1897 farce by George Broadhurst. It was his first successful play and remained popular for many years, and was also adapted into three silent films. What Happened to Jones was Broadhurst's second play to be staged, after the flop of his first play, The Speculator (1896). Broadhurst had to become his own producer, with funding from his brother Thomas, as he could find no one else to take it on. After four warmup performances in New Haven, Connecticut, the play debuted on Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre on August 30, 1897. It moved to the Bijou Theatre on October 4, playing thru November 13, and after a week off, played Thanksgiving week at the Grand Opera House. That total run was just under 100 performances. The company then took it on tour.
Adaptations (2)
What Happened to Jones has been adapted into 2 films, from 1915 to 1926.
What Happened to Jones1915 · film · 50 min · dir. Fred Mace · IMDb ↗Jones is a traveling salesman -- or drummer, as they were known in those days -- who peddles Bibles and playing cards at a discount. Along with Professor Goodly, he goes to a prize fight which is raided by the police. The two men wind up at a boarding school for young ladies where Jones is mistaken for the Bishop of Timbuctoo.
What Happened to Jones1926 · film · 70 min · dir. William A. Seiter · IMDb ↗IMDb6.6On the night before his wedding, a young man plays poker with friends. When the game is raided by the police, he escapes into a Turkish bath on ladies night, ending up disguised in drag and with difficult explanations to make.
