WILLIAMS, JOHN D.

(1886-1941)

Born in Boston, John D. Williams worked for producersAbraham L. ErlangerandCharles Frohman. When Frohman died on the torpedoedLusitaniain 1915, Williams began producing plays on his own, includingJustice(1916),Our Betters(1917),The Copperhead(1918),Sleeping Partners(1918),Toby's Bow(1919), and the Broadway production of Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer PRizE-winning dramaBeyond the Horizon(1920). Subsequently, Williams produced O'Neill'sGold(1921), as well asThe Assumption of Hannele(1924),L'Aiglon(1927),A Man with Red Hair(1928), andPagan Lady(1930). Also a director, Williams scored his greatest success stagingRain(1922).