MAYER, EDWIN JUSTUS

(1897-1960)

The playwright and motion picture writer was born in New York City. He did freelance writing while working at various jobs, and published his autobiography,A Preface to Life(1923), when he was 25. He waspress agentfor Arthur Hopkins. His two major Broadway plays wereThe Firebrand(1924) andChildren of Darkness* (1930), both of which were later revived. He also wroteThe Last Love of Don Juan(1955).