Daniel Frohman
Encyclopedia
Daniel Frohman was a Jewish American
theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer.
Frohman was born in Sandusky, Ohio
. In his younger days he worked as a clerk at the New York Tribune
, and while there witnessed the fatal shooting of the reporter Albert Deane Richardson by Daniel McFarland on November 25, 1869, and was a witness at McFarland's murder trial.
With his brothers Charles
and Gustave Frohman
, he helped to develop a system of road companies that would tour the nation while the show also played in New York City
. He was the producer
-manager of the old
and new Lyceum Theatres and the Lyceum stock company
from 1886 to 1909. During this period he launched careers for such actor
s as E. H. Sothern
, Henry Miller
, William Faversham
, Maude Adams
, Richard Mansfield
and James Keteltas Hackett
.
Frohman became involved in the motion picture business as a partner and producer
with Adolph Zukor
in the Famous Players Film Company
. He worked from offices on West 26th Street in New York City
, between 1913 and 1917 he was part of the production of more than seventy films.
On his passing in 1940, Frohman was buried in the Union Field Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York
near his brother Charles
who had died in 1915 in the sinking of the .
Daniel Frohman was at one time, 1903–1909, married to Broadway actress Margaret Illington
. Margaret later married Major Edward Bowes
.
ISBN 0-679-43398-8.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer.
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
. In his younger days he worked as a clerk at the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
, and while there witnessed the fatal shooting of the reporter Albert Deane Richardson by Daniel McFarland on November 25, 1869, and was a witness at McFarland's murder trial.
With his brothers Charles
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
and Gustave Frohman
Gustave Frohman
Gustave Frohman was a theatre producer and advance man. He was one of three Frohman brothers who entered show business and he worked for most of his career alongside his brother, Charles Frohman. These two financed a number of theatre productions, often featuring African American actors...
, he helped to develop a system of road companies that would tour the nation while the show also played in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was the producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
-manager of the old
Lyceum Theatre (New York, 1885-1902)
The Lyceum Theatre operated on Manhattan’s Fourth Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets, from 1885 to 1902, when it was torn down to make way for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower and replaced by the Lyceum Theatre on 45th Street...
and new Lyceum Theatres and the Lyceum stock company
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
from 1886 to 1909. During this period he launched careers for such actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s as E. H. Sothern
E. H. Sothern
Edward Hugh Sothern was an American actor who specialized in dashing, romantic leading roles and particularly in Shakespeare roles.-Biography:...
, Henry Miller
Henry Miller (actor)
Henry Miller was an English-born American actor, director, theatrical producer and manager.Born as John Pegge in London, Miller's parents immigrated to Canada where he started acting as a juvenile. He became the leading man in Charles Frohman's stock company in New York City's Empire Theatre in 1893...
, William Faversham
William Faversham
William Faversham was a legendary movie and stage actor from England who made his name on Broadway when he starred as Algernon in the original production of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895...
, Maude Adams
Maude Adams
Maude Ewing Kiskadden , known professionally as Maude Adams, was an American stage actress who achieved her greatest success as Peter Pan. Adams's personality appealed to a large audience and helped her become the most successful and highest-paid performer of her day, with a yearly income of more...
, Richard Mansfield
Richard Mansfield
Richard Mansfield was an English actor-manager best known for his performances in Shakespeare plays, Gilbert and Sullivan operas and for his portrayal of the dual title roles in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
and James Keteltas Hackett
James Keteltas Hackett
James Keteltas Hackett was an American actor and manager.-Life:He was the son of James Henry Hackett, a comedian and celebrated Falstaff. His elderly father died age 71 when Hackett was just two years old thus never living to see Hackett grow to an adult...
.
Frohman became involved in the motion picture business as a partner and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
with Adolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor , born Adolph Cukor, was a film mogul and founder of Paramount Pictures.-Early life:...
in the Famous Players Film Company
Famous Players Film Company
The Famous Players Film Company was founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor in partnership with the Frohman brothers, the powerful New York City theatre impresarios. The company advertised "Famous Players in Famous Plays" and its first release was the French film Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth starring...
. He worked from offices on West 26th Street in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, between 1913 and 1917 he was part of the production of more than seventy films.
On his passing in 1940, Frohman was buried in the Union Field Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York
Ridgewood, New York
Ridgewood, New York refers to different places:*Ridgewood, Queens, in the borough of Queens in New York City*Ridgewood, Niagara County, New York, a hamlet in Niagara County, New York...
near his brother Charles
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
who had died in 1915 in the sinking of the .
Daniel Frohman was at one time, 1903–1909, married to Broadway actress Margaret Illington
Margaret Illington
Margaret Illington ill-ing-ton was a stage actress popular in the first decade of the 20th century. She later made an attempt at silent film acting by making two films with Adolph Zukor's Famous Players-Lasky franchise...
. Margaret later married Major Edward Bowes
Edward Bowes
Edward Bowes was an American radio personality of the 1930s and 40s whose Major Bowes' Amateur Hour was the best-known amateur talent show in radio during its eighteen-year run on NBC Radio and CBS Radio.-Early life and radio career:Bowes made his first business success in real estate, until the...
.
Sources
- Thomas Allston Brown, A History of the New York Stage From the First Performance in 1732 to 1901, vol. III, (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903).
- George Cooper, Lost Love: A True Story of Passion, Murder, and Justice in Old New York (New York: Random House/Pantheon Books, 1994), illus.
ISBN 0-679-43398-8.