The Thirteenth Chair is play by the American writer Bayard Veiller which premiered in 1916.^[1] It enjoyed a lengthy run on Broadway initially at the 48th Street Theatre before later transferring to the Fulton Theatre. A mystery the action takes place entirely in the drawing room of a large, wealthy house in New York City. The author's English wife Margaret Wycherly played a prominent role in the original production which ran for 328 performances. Mrs Patrick Campbell took over the role when it debuted in London's West End the following year.^[2] In 1937 actor John Craven performed in it at Harold Lloyd's Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals before making his broadway debut.^[3]

The play has been adapted into films on three occasions: the 1919 silent film The Thirteenth Chair directed by Léonce Perret, a 1929 early sound remake The Thirteenth Chair directed by Tod Browning and starring Conrad Nagel and a final 1937 version The Thirteenth Chair directed by George B. Seitz and featuring Madge Evans and Elissa Landi.^[4] The latter films shifted the setting from New York to British India.