Copyright issue, 1930

COURT SEQUEL TO P.D.C.’s “HIS FIRST CAR”

In the Chancery Division before Mr. Justice Clauson, on Tuesday, Gavin Simonds, K.C., on behalf of Morris Laurence Metzenberg Samuelson, professionally known as Laurie Wylie, the playwright, moved ex parte for an injunction against Producers Distributing Company, Ltd., to restrain them from exhibiting or advertising any mechanical device which visually or acoustically reproduced Mr. Wylie’s literary work entitled “The New Car,” and from infringing in any other way his copyright in that work.

Counsel read an affidavit by Mr. Laurie Wylie which stated that during the summer of 1928 he wrote a sketch which was performed under the title of “The New Car.” In that year Harry Day produced it under licence from him as an item in the revue “Vogues and Vanities,” with George Clarke as leading comedian. Early in 1929, the revue having come to an end, Mr. Day under a further licence gave a performance of the sketch in various halls with Mr. Clarke as principal comedian.

It was given at the command performance at the Palladium on May 22nd, with great success. Mr. Wylie complained that though he had given no right to reproduce the sketch as a talking film or as a film, a cinema trade journal contained an advertisement of a “talkie” version of the sketch under the title of “His First Car.”

Mr. Justice Clauson: “Have the defendants been given notice that this motion was to be made?”

Mr. Simonds said that they had not, as the matter had only come to his client’s notice that morning and it was urgent for the motion to be made at once.

His lordship said he would give leave to serve notice of the motion upon the defendants for this (Wednesday) morning, and he would hear the matter then.

(The Bioscope, 28th May 1930)

Will of Lauri Wylie, 1951

Context Note: Lauri Wylie was a dramatic author and playwright most famously responsible for creating “Dinner for One”. His wife, called here Jane Louise Wallington Samuelson, appears from other documents to have gone by the nickname of Rosa (or Rosie) Wylie.

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In His Majesty’s High Court of Justice.

The District Probate Registry at Lewes

BE IT KNOWN that Morris Lawrence Metzenberg Samuelson otherwise Lauri Wylie of 8 Grand Avenue West Worthing Sussex formerly of Five Ways Kings End Ruislip Middlesex

died on the 28th day of June 1951 at The Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton Sussex

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) of the said deceased was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Lewes

and that Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Jane Louise Wallington Samuelson of 17 Walsingham Road Hove Sussex Widow the relict of the deceased the surviving executor named in the said Will

And it is hereby certified that an Affidavit for Inland Revenue has been delivered wherein it is shewn that the gross value of the said estate in Great Britain (exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a Trustee and not beneficially) amounts to £1822-4-6 and that the net value of the estate amounts to £420-0-9

Dated the 8th day of December 1951

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THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me MORRIS LAWRENCE METZENBERG SAMUELSON professionally known as Lauri Wylie of Five Ways King’s End Ruislip in the County of Middlesex Dramatic Author

I HEREBY REVOKE all former testamentary dispositions made by me

AND I APPOINT my wife JANE LOUISE WALLINGTON SAMUELSON and my Father-in-Law RICHARD EDWARDS of Wallington King’s End Ruislip aforesaid EXECUTRIX and EXECUTOR of this my Will

I GIVE all my property both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever to my dear wife absolutely

I DECLARE that if my said wife shall die in my lifetime without leaving issue then and in such case I GIVE all my property both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever unto my Mother-in-Law Adelaide Sarah Edwards absolutely or if she shall have predeceased my said wife to my Father-in-Law the said Richard Edwards absolutely or if both my said Mother-in-Law and Father-in-Law shall have predeceased my said wife then to my Sister-in-Law Elizabeth Mathilda Knopflemacher the wife of Jacques Knopflemacher of Vienna absolutely

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Twenty fifth day of June One thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven

M.L.M. SAMUELSON

(Professionally known as Lauri Wylie)

SIGNED by the said Morris Lawrence Metzenberg Samuelson as his last Will in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

Turberville Smith Uxbridge Solicitor

Sydney A Craven Clerk to Messrs. Turberville Smith & Co Solicitors Uxbridge

On the 8th day of December Probate of this Will was granted at LEWES

I certify this to be a true copy.

(Lewes Probate Registry, probate 8th December 1951)