Frank Craven's slight three-act comedy opened on 20 October 1920 for a remarkable run of 725 performances, produced by John Golden. Craven, remembered as the actor who originated the role of the Stage Manager in Thornton Wilder's* Our Town,* appeared as Tommy Tucker in The First Year. Tommy loves Grace Livingston, but lacks the good looks and fast charm of Dick Loring, who also courts Grace. With the help of Grace's sympathetic Uncle Myron, Tommy proposes to Grace and she accepts. Their marriage is threatened by Loring's continued presence and Tommy's struggle to put over a real estate deal. After a marital squabble, Grace goes home to her mother. Tommy's deal makes him wealthy, so he goes to see Grace. Loring is visiting when Tommy arrives and they get into a fight that ends only when Grace, attempting to aid Tommy, accidentally knocks him out with a vase. Uncle Myron's intercession (aided by news of Grace's pregnancy) reunites the couple. The First Year was made into a motion picture in 1926 and 1932, the latter version as a vehicle for Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor.
The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. James Fisher.