John Van Alstyne Weaver

John Van Alstyne Weaver, Jr. (July 17, 1893 – June 14, 1938) was a poet, novelist and screenwriter whose poems attracted the approbation of H. L. Mencken, whose works were produced on stage and on film, and who had several screenwriting credits for work on properties where he was not the author of the original work.

John Van Alstyne Weaver, Jr.
Peggy Wood and Weaver at their wedding, January 1923
Born(1893-07-17)July 17, 1893
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
DiedJune 14, 1938(1938-06-14) (aged 44)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
NationalityAmerican
Occupationnovelist, poet, screenwriter
Spouse(s)Peggy Wood

Background

Weaver was born 17 July 1893 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the son of John Van Alstyne Weaver, Sr. and Anne Randolph Tate Weaver. He married American actress Peggy Wood[1] in 1924; the couple had one son. He died 15 June 1938 of tuberculosis in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[2] (See Tuberculosis treatment in Colorado Springs).

Weaver was educated at Hamilton College, graduating in 1914. His literary career began with employment at the Chicago Daily News in 1919 as a book editor, and continued with employment at the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. He ceased newspaper work around in 1924 to pursue a purely literary career. He moved to work for Paramount in 1928.[2]

Weaver attracted notice for his adaptation of American vernacular to iambic pentameter rhythms. His financial success came from successful adaptations of his work on stage and in films and, later, from screenwriting.[1]

Works
  • In American: poems (1921; also: John Van Alstyne Weaver, In American: the collected poems of John V. A. Weaver, ed. H. L. Mencken (1939)
  • "Bootleg", in Nonsensorship; sundry observations concerning prohibitions, inhibitions, and illegalities, by (edited by) Heywood Broun, G. P. Putnam's (1922)
  • Margey wins the game (1922)
  • Finders: more poems in American (1923)
  • "Love 'em and leave 'em"; a comedy in three acts (1926) (with George Abbott); adapted from a verse novel by Weaver; also done as a silent picture and later as a talking picture under the title The Saturday Night Kid in 1929.
  • Her knight comes riding (1928)
  • To youth (1928)
  • Turning Point (1930)
  • More "In American" poems (1930)
  • Trial balance, a sentimental inventory (1932)
  • Joy-girl (1932)
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References
  1. "Books: Artist in Hollywood". Time Magazine. Time. 6 June 1932.
  2. "John V. A. Weaver". Langsdale Library Special Collections. University of Baltimore. Archived from the original on 2011-06-17.
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