BELASCO, David, American dramatist: b. San Francisco, Cal., 25 July 1859. He was graduated at Lincoln College in 1875. In 1874 he made his stage debut at the Metropolitan, San Francisco, and for a time was stage man ager of the house and of Baldwin's Grand Opera. His success in adapting plays to the local needs of his community led him to devote himself exclusively to the latter work. In 1880 he produced 'Hearts of Oak' and toured the country in it with James A. Hearne. He be came stage manager of the Madison Square Theatre, New York, and later was connected with the Lyceum Theatre. He is now owner and manager of the Belasco Theatre, New York. Of late years he has devoted himself to the betterment of the mechanical details of the stage. Among Mr. Belasco's great successes have been 'The Wife' (1887) and 'The Charity Ball' (1889), written jointly with H. C. de Mille; 'Lord Chumley,) with E. H. Sothern in the title role (1888); 'The Girl I Left Behind Me,' jointly with F. Fyles (1893) ; 'The Heart
of Maryland,' with Mrs. Leslie Carter in the principal role (1895); 'Naughty Anthony' (1899). Among his other plays are 'Zaza' (1898); 'May Blossom' (1894) ; 'Men and Women' (1890) ; 'La Belle Russe' (1882); 'Valerie' (1886) ;
(1901) ; 'The Darling of the Gods' (1902 ; 'Sweet Kittie Bellairs' (1903) ; 'Adrea) (1 ) ; 'The Music Master' (1904); The Rose of the Rancho' : 905); 'The Girl of the Golden West' 1905); 'A Grand Army Man' (1907) ;