Packed houses, twice a day, and good reviews—enough to make an author's (or an actor's) head spin. However, it was a self-effacing Clemens who wrote to his friend and confidant, William Dean Howells, on September 20th, just four days after the triumphant opening night at the PARK THEATRE:I worked a month at my play, & launched it in New York last Wednesday. I believe it will go. The newspapers have been complimentary. It is simply a setting for the one character, Col. Sellers—as a play I guess it will not bear a critical assault in force. (6)
Despite the grand debut of The Gilded Age, problems soon arose. First, there was a problem with the play's title, which was jointly owned by Mr. Clemens and Mr. Warner. Warner, knowing that the stage production was drawn solely from Clemens' contributions to their book, did not lay claim to any of the proceeds, but it was agreed that the title was of their joint venture. So, in deference to this fact, later productions would be entitled Colonel Sellers. Indeed, the play script that Twain had copyrighted the previous July was titled COLONEL SELLERS: A Drama in Five Acts. It is certain that, although all succeeding New York productions were billed as Colonel Sellers, Raymond frequently used the title The Gilded Age for road engagements.
On September 28th, President Ulysses S. Grant attended the evening performance and was so pleased that he invited Raymond to his rooms afterwards.
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