Frank Daniels
Encyclopedia
Frank Albert Daniels was a comedian, an actor on stage and in early black-and-white films, and a singer.
Frank Daniels was born on August 15, 1856 in Dayton, Ohio
to Balinda and Henry Daniels. He grew up in Boston
, where he attended business school before studying singing at the New England Conservatory of Music
. His first appearance was made when he was twenty years of age, at the old Gaiety Theatre in Boston, as the Judge in Trial by Jury
. He made his professional stage debut as the Sheriff in The Chimes of Normandy in 1879, then served a second apprenticeship with several light opera companies, including the McCaull Comic Opera Company
. Daniels first won major recognition in New York as Old Sport, the boxing fan drugstore clerk, in A Rag Baby (1884).
Other successes included the transformed father Packingham Giltedge in Little Puck (1888) (which was based on F. Anstey
's novel Vice Versa) the loyal lighthouse man Shrimps in Princess Bonnie (1895), and the title role in Victor Herbert
's The Wizard of the Nile
(1895). His success in the latter musical was so pronounced that Herbert immediately wrote two more vehicles especially for him: The Idol's Eye (1897) and The Ameer (1899). Miss Simplicity (1902), The Office Boy (1903), and Sergeant Bruce (1905) all depended on his antics for their popularity. Among his later credits were the tailor‐made vehicle The Tattooed Man (1907) by Herbert, The Belle of Brittany (1909), and a touring company of The Pink Lady (1911). He retired after performing in Joe Weber
and Lew Fields
's last double bill, Roly Poly and Without the Law (1912).
He was a major star for the pioneering Vitagraph Company
, for whom he developed popular characters such as Captain Jiggs, Kernel Nutt, and Mr. Jack
. He appeared in three films with Harold Lloyd
in 1919
; Count the Votes
, Pay Your Dues
and His Only Father
. His last film was Among Those Present
, in 1921.
He died on January 12, 1935, in West Palm Beach
, at the age of 78. He was survived by three children.
Frank Daniels was born on August 15, 1856 in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
to Balinda and Henry Daniels. He grew up in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where he attended business school before studying singing at the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
. His first appearance was made when he was twenty years of age, at the old Gaiety Theatre in Boston, as the Judge in Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury is a comic opera in one act, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was first produced on 25 March 1875, at London's Royalty Theatre, where it initially ran for 131 performances and was considered a hit, receiving critical praise and outrunning its...
. He made his professional stage debut as the Sheriff in The Chimes of Normandy in 1879, then served a second apprenticeship with several light opera companies, including the McCaull Comic Opera Company
McCaull Comic Opera Company
McCaull Comic Opera Company, sometimes called the McCaull Opera Comique Company, was founded by Colonel John A. McCaull in 1880. The company produced operetta, comic opera and musical theatre in New York City and on tour in the eastern and midwestern U.S. and Canada until McCaull's death in 1894...
. Daniels first won major recognition in New York as Old Sport, the boxing fan drugstore clerk, in A Rag Baby (1884).
Other successes included the transformed father Packingham Giltedge in Little Puck (1888) (which was based on F. Anstey
Thomas Anstey Guthrie
Thomas Anstey Guthrie , was an English novelist and journalist, who wrote his comic novels under the pseudonym F. Anstey....
's novel Vice Versa) the loyal lighthouse man Shrimps in Princess Bonnie (1895), and the title role in Victor Herbert
Victor Herbert
Victor August Herbert was an Irish-born, German-raised American composer, cellist and conductor. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is best known for composing many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway from the 1890s to World War I...
's The Wizard of the Nile
The Wizard of the Nile
The Wizard of the Nile was a burlesque operetta in three acts, composed by Victor Herbert to a libretto by Harry B. Smith.Herbert's second operetta after Prince Ananias, The Wizard of the Nile was his first real success...
(1895). His success in the latter musical was so pronounced that Herbert immediately wrote two more vehicles especially for him: The Idol's Eye (1897) and The Ameer (1899). Miss Simplicity (1902), The Office Boy (1903), and Sergeant Bruce (1905) all depended on his antics for their popularity. Among his later credits were the tailor‐made vehicle The Tattooed Man (1907) by Herbert, The Belle of Brittany (1909), and a touring company of The Pink Lady (1911). He retired after performing in Joe Weber
Joe Weber (vaudevillian)
Joe Weber born Joseph Morris Weber was a vaudevillian who, along with Lew Fields, formed the comedy team of Weber and Fields....
and Lew Fields
Lew Fields
Lew Fields , born as Moses Schoenfeld, was an American actor, comedian, vaudeville star, theatre manager and producer....
's last double bill, Roly Poly and Without the Law (1912).
He was a major star for the pioneering Vitagraph Company
Vitagraph Studios
American Vitagraph was a United States movie studio, founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York. By 1907 it was the most prolific American film production company, producing many famous silent films. It was bought by Warner Bros...
, for whom he developed popular characters such as Captain Jiggs, Kernel Nutt, and Mr. Jack
Mr. Jack
Mr. Jack was a "funny animal" comic strip by Jimmy Swinnerton which ran in William Randolph Hearst newspapers from about 1903 until 1935....
. He appeared in three films with Harold Lloyd
Harold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
in 1919
1919 in film
The year 1919 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 5 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists...
; Count the Votes
Count the Votes
Count the Votes is a 1919 short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.-Cast:* Harold Lloyd* Snub Pollard* Bebe Daniels* Sammy Brooks* Lige Conley - * Frank Daniels* Mark Jones* Gus Leonard* Marie Mosquini* Fred C. Newmeyer...
, Pay Your Dues
Pay Your Dues
Pay Your Dues is a 1919 short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.-Cast:* Harold Lloyd - The Boy* Snub Pollard* Bebe Daniels* Sammy Brooks* Lige Conley - * Frank Daniels* William Gillespie* Charles Inslee* Mark Jones* Dee Lampton...
and His Only Father
His Only Father
His Only Father is a 1919 short comedy film directed by Hal Roach and starring Harold Lloyd.-Cast:* Harold Lloyd* Snub Pollard* Bebe Daniels* Sammy Brooks* Lige Conley - * Frank Daniels* Charles Inslee* Mark Jones* Dee Lampton...
. His last film was Among Those Present
Among Those Present
Among Those Present is a 1921 short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis.-Cast:* Harold Lloyd - The Boy* Mildred Davis - The Girl* James T. Kelley - Mr. O'Brien, the Father* Aggie Herring - Mrs. O'Brien, the Mother...
, in 1921.
He died on January 12, 1935, in West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, at the age of 78. He was survived by three children.