Charles Frohman was an American theater manager and producer, who discovered and promoted many stars of the American stage.
21 Facts About Charles Frohman
2.
In 1896, Charles Frohman co-founded the Theatrical Syndicate, a nationwide chain of theaters that dominated the American touring company business for more than two decades until the Shubert brothers grew strong enough to end its virtual monopoly.
3.
Charles Frohman partnered with English producers, including Seymour Hicks, with whom he produced a string of London hits prior to 1910, such as Quality Street, The Admirable Crichton, The Catch of the Season, The Beauty of Bath, and A Waltz Dream.
4.
At the height of his fame, Charles Frohman died in the 1915 sinking of the RMS Lusitania.
5.
Charles Frohman was born to a Jewish family in Sandusky, Ohio, the youngest of three Frohman brothers, including Daniel and Gustave.
6.
At the age of twelve, Charles Frohman started to work at night in the office of the New York Tribune, attending school by day.
7.
Charles Frohman next joined Haverly's United Mastodon Minstrels as manager, touring the US and Europe.
8.
Charles Frohman founded the Empire Theatre Stock Company to acquire his first Broadway theatre, the Empire, in 1892.
9.
Soon Charles Frohman acquired five other New York City theaters, including the Garrick and Criterion Theatres.
10.
In 1897, Charles Frohman leased the Duke of York's Theatre in London, introducing plays there as well as in the United States.
11.
In 1910, Charles Frohman attempted a repertory scheme of producing plays at the Duke of York's.
12.
The venture began tentatively, and while it might have proved successful, Charles Frohman canceled the scheme when London theatres closed at the death of King Edward VII in May 1910.
13.
Charles Frohman controlled five theaters in London, six in New York City, and over two hundred throughout the rest of the United States.
14.
Charles Frohman made his annual trip to Europe in May 1915 to oversee his London and Paris "play markets", sailing on the Cunard Line's RMS Lusitania.
15.
Charles Frohman entertained guests in his suite and later at his table.
16.
Charles Frohman was regaling them with tales of his life in the theater when, at 2:10 in the afternoon, within fourteen miles of the Old Head of Kinsale, with the coast of Ireland in sight, a torpedo from the German U-boat U-20 struck the Lusitania on the starboard side.
17.
Charles Frohman then went out onto the deck, where he was joined by actress Rita Jolivet, her brother-in-law George Vernon and Captain Alick Scott.
18.
Charles Frohman was eulogized by the French Academy of Authors in Paris.
19.
Charles Frohman was portrayed by Edwin Maxwell in The Great Ziegfeld and by Harry Hayden in the film Till the Clouds Roll By.
20.
Charles Frohman was played by William Hootkins in the BBC mini-series The Lost Boys in 1978.
21.
Charles Frohman was portrayed by Nehemiah Persoff in Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women in 1978 on television.