MR. DEEDS - The Algonquin Round Table

In the films, MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN and MR. DEEDS, Longfellow Deeds is taken to New York City to claim his new found inheritance. Being a simple man at heart, as well as a self proclaimed poet, Deeds wishes to rub elbows with men who share the 'same gift' of writing. In both versions, Deed's character, was taken to a restaurant where he interacts with men of the literati. In the original film, our hero eats at the restaurant, TULLIO'S. 

The remake, MR DEEDS, does not name a specific establishment. Instead, that scene begins inside an unnamed restaurant, that seems to bear a resemblance to NYC location, The Algonquin Hotel. 

Said the waiter to Deeds, "The famous poets are at the round table over there." The movie viewers (of both films) will see the reference that is being made, to the famous Algonquin Round Table situated in the  The Algonquin Hotel  

***I was fascinated by the concept of this reference to a table of writers, critics and 'what-nots'...

naturally, I needed to dig deeper to establish a legitimacy of historical reference. You're welcome!

They were nicknamed the 'vicious circle' and 'poison squad.'

In June of 1919, after World War I ended, a group of writers, critics and entertainers met for lunch at NYC's  Algonquin Hotel to supposedly, welcome the return of (then war correspondent) Alexander Woolcott. The lunch mates, knowing Alexander for his tendency to brag endlessly about his exploits, were planning to poke fun at his ceaseless boasting. The plan backfired, for Woolcott loved the attention that he was receiving. That single lunch event, turned into what is referred to as a "10 year lunch." The group met for lunch daily, *engaging in wisecracks, witticisms, pranks, jokes and childish humor, that were spread through the members' newspaper columns across the country. Their meetings, over the span of a decade, acquired national attention for its contribution to literature.   *wikipedia, biography.com

Caustic and highly critical, the group delighted in pranks, jokes and childish humor, which caused many people to refer to the group as the "vicious circle." Language and fierce wit were their swords, which they wielded on themselves and each other. And semi-regular and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edna Ferber also dubbed them the "poison squad" for their acid tongues.    "The Vicious Fun of America's Most Famous Literacy Circle," New York Times, July 2019

Some of the members of the Round Table pose for a photo.     Biography.com

The founding members of the Algonquin Round Table

The six women you didn't know were a member of the Alqonquin Round Table*

* The Huffington Post, Kevin Fitzpatrick, January 15, 2015

Margalo Gillmore - a young Broadway actress, appearing in early O'Neill dramas, whose parents were also actors. She worked in every medium from silent pictures to live television. Gillmore's father, Frank Gillmore, was a founder of Actor's Equity. She toured constantly, working as an actress for fifty years. In 1954, TV viewers saw Gillmore play Mrs. Darling in PETER PAN.

 Jane Grant, reporter - is referred to as a 'pioneer feminist and barrier breaker in print media.' She helped launch The New Yorker and was the first female reporter in the city room at The Times.  Grant was also the first Times woman to visit China, Russia and Nazi Germany. The Lucy Stone League, which was a forerunner to the Women's Liberation Movement, was founded alongside good friend, Ruth Hale. Sadly, being a writer for over thirty years, The Times buried her obituary on page forty four.

Ruth Hale, feminist - married to Heywood Broun, sports writer for the New York Tribune. Hale was a writer, columnist and critic. She and Heywood went to Paris as war correspondents. As co-founder of the Lucy Stone League, Hale brought attention to/directed efforts to support equal rights for women during the 1920's.

Beatrice Kaufman, editor - According to the Huffington Post, Kaufman was not a member of the Algonquin Round Table, because of her marriage to George S. Kaufman - apparently, the table 'didn't tolerate wives very much.' Beatrice carved a career on her own, as an editor for Harper's Bazaar.  She was close friends with the Marx Brothers, Moss Hart and the Gershwins. Her social standing gained her the job of script reader for Samuel Goldwyn, yet her best role was as her husband's sounding board and guardian.

Margaret Leech, double Pulitzer Prize winner -

Leech was a Vassar Grad, who began her career writing articles and stories for Conde' Nast publications. She married Ralph Pulitzer (son of Joseph Pulitzer, who established the Pulitzer Prize) in 1928. After her husband's death in 1939, Leech returned to writing, devoting her life to becoming a serious presidential historian. She was the first woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Reveille in Washington (1942), and the first to have won the prize twice in the same category In the Days of McKinley (1960).

Peggy Wood, actress - Her sixty year career in the acting profession began on Broadway in 1911. Wood was actively performing up until 1970, on stage (Blithe Spirit - Ruth), screen and television (Mama - Emmy Award). When she wasn't onstage, she was writing about it in newspapers, books and magazines. Musical theatre fans should recall her award winning, albeit final performance as Mother Abbess in 1965 The Sound of Music.

***The Algonquin Hotel in New York City was designated a Literary Landmark on July 5th, 1996. The hotel is located at 59 W. 44th Street in New York City. The Algonquin is still open for business and now offers theme suites dedicated to some of the famous authors that once frequented the hotel. ( I Love Libraries) 

I encourage you to continue your own research into this fascinating literary legacy. The list of the literati does not end here, for their 'stint' at the Algonquin Hotel spanned over ten years. 

For more reading on the  Algonquin Round Table members

Documentary of Interviews with former members - 55 minutes - but well worth the watch to gain a sense of the Round Table members, their writing and social interactions.

PBS Round Table Legacy, 2018  PBS Great American Read visits The Algonquin Hotel to learn about  the writers who sat at the Round Table.