[1] Adapted by Blossom from his 1896 novel Checkers: A Hard Luck Story, the play was performed on Broadway in 1903 and again in 1904.
Checkers was originally conceived as a project to feature the talents of William Collier Sr.; an actor who had convinced the novelist to turn the work into a play for him.
[4][5] However, once completed, Collier backed out of the project and the part of "Checkers" went to a then relatively unknown Thomas W.
[4] Ross had tremendous success in the role, and it launched his career.
[3] Eustace Hale Ball and Lawrence McGill wrote the screenplay.