Eleanor Gates

Poor Little Rich Girl Eleanor Gates

Adapted from her novel, Eleanor Gates' play "Poor Little Rich Girl" opened in New York to rave reviews with The New York Times claiming it "is as nearly a work of genius as our stage often sees." With its pungent criticism of social life, audiences found it one of the few intelligent plays for children and adults alike. Poor little rich Gwendolyn, who's wealthy father has no time for her, and her socialite mother hardly notices her, finds herself missing a real family. When her pitiless nurse over medicates her one night, Gwendolyn sinks into a fever dream of fact escaping into fancy. At the conclusion of its successful New York run, the play toured the country. In 1917 Mary Pickford starred in the first motion picture of the story. Later the property would be bought for a Shirley Temple version.