Frederic Chapin
Encyclopedia
Frederic Chapin was an American composer and writer best known for his work with L. Frank Baum
on The Woggle-Bug
, a 1905 musical
based on Baum's novel, The Marvelous Land of Oz
. His popular work The Storks (1902) with Guy F. Steeley led to his work with Baum, as he was recommended by M. Witmark & Sons
, the publisher. He also wrote songs with lyricist Arthur Gillespie, two of which appeared, credited to Baum, in The Woggle-Bug.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio
, and died in Los Angeles, California
.
His other stage works include Pussy in a Corner (1904), The Forbidden Land (1904), The American Girl (1906), and The Maid and the Millionaire (1907). Chapin took up writing, having written the book and lyrics for The Maid and the Millionaire, and then produced a 1908 fantasy novel modeled on the Oz books titled Toodles of Treasure Town and her Snow Man, which he followed with Pinkey and the Plumed Knight (1909), both illustrated by Merle De Vore Johnson.
On November 11, 1912, he opened a four-act farce
called C.O.D. on Broadway
at the Gaiety Theatre
, which was fairly successful, in spite of many negative reviews such that one reviewer felt the need to quote reviews from The Sun and others, while The New York Times
found the play funny and well acted. The day before the play opened, he told the The Detroit New Tribune, "I wrote six plays--every one turned out to have a great theme, but all were faulty in the way it was developed." He claims to have completely rewritten C.O.D. prior to its production, claiming he threw the original script in the garbage and started from scratch after the fourth producer finally accepted it. Tefft Johnson
directed a film version of C.O.D. in 1914 with Harry Davenport, Hughie Mack
, and Charles Brown
in the title roles (men with the initials, C.O.D.).
From 1914-1932, Chapin worked as a scenarist in Hollywood. Chapin returned to composing with Unashamed, a 1938 nudist romance. He also appeared as a film stand-in
, for which he use the name "Fred Fuller." According to the Internet Movie Database
, "Fuller" played "Younger Dolittle" in Made for Each Other
and was a stand-in and had an undetermined role in Bachelor Mother
.
from 1925-1926 (the second of his four wives), and had a cameo role in Wings that was also seen in The Celluloid Closet
. William and Margery adopted a daughter, Gloria, who was the natural daughter of screenwriter Robert Emmett Tansey
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
on The Woggle-Bug
The Woggle-Bug (musical)
The Woggle-Bug is a musical based on The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum, with book and lyrics by the author and music by Frederic Chapin that opened June 18, 1905 at the Garrick Theatre in Chicago under the direction of Frank Smithson, a Shubert Organization employee. The musical was a...
, a 1905 musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
based on Baum's novel, The Marvelous Land of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, commonly shortened to The Land of Oz, published on July 5, 1904, is the second of L. Frank Baum's books set in the Land of Oz, and the sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This and the next...
. His popular work The Storks (1902) with Guy F. Steeley led to his work with Baum, as he was recommended by M. Witmark & Sons
Tams-Witmark
Tams-Witmark is an American company that provides to professional and amateur theaters license to Broadway musical scripts and scores. Among the many notable properties handled by the company are Kiss Me, Kate; My Fair Lady; Gypsy; Bye Bye Birdie; Hello, Dolly!; Oliver!; Cabaret; Man of La Mancha...
, the publisher. He also wrote songs with lyricist Arthur Gillespie, two of which appeared, credited to Baum, in The Woggle-Bug.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, and died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
His other stage works include Pussy in a Corner (1904), The Forbidden Land (1904), The American Girl (1906), and The Maid and the Millionaire (1907). Chapin took up writing, having written the book and lyrics for The Maid and the Millionaire, and then produced a 1908 fantasy novel modeled on the Oz books titled Toodles of Treasure Town and her Snow Man, which he followed with Pinkey and the Plumed Knight (1909), both illustrated by Merle De Vore Johnson.
On November 11, 1912, he opened a four-act farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
called C.O.D. on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Gaiety Theatre
Gaiety Theatre (New York)
The Gaiety Theatre was a Broadway theatre at 1547 Broadway in New York City from 1909 until 1982, when it was torn down.An office building above the theatre has been called the Black Tin Alley.It was designed by Herts & Tallant and owned by George M. Cohan...
, which was fairly successful, in spite of many negative reviews such that one reviewer felt the need to quote reviews from The Sun and others, while The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
found the play funny and well acted. The day before the play opened, he told the The Detroit New Tribune, "I wrote six plays--every one turned out to have a great theme, but all were faulty in the way it was developed." He claims to have completely rewritten C.O.D. prior to its production, claiming he threw the original script in the garbage and started from scratch after the fourth producer finally accepted it. Tefft Johnson
Tefft Johnson
Tefft Johnson , was an American actor, director and writer. He appeared in 131 films between 1909 and 1926. A heavy set actor he played in Vitagraph's 1911 version of "Vanity Fair" with John Bunny, Leo Delaney, Rose Tapley and Helen Gardner...
directed a film version of C.O.D. in 1914 with Harry Davenport, Hughie Mack
Hughie Mack
Hughie Mack was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 195 films between 1910 and 1928.He was born in Brooklyn, New York and died in Santa Monica, California.-Selected filmography:...
, and Charles Brown
Charles Brown
Charlie Brown is the principal character in the comic strip Peanuts.Charlie or Charles Brown may also refer to:-Athletes:* Charlie Brown from Dumfries who played for home town club Queen of the South...
in the title roles (men with the initials, C.O.D.).
From 1914-1932, Chapin worked as a scenarist in Hollywood. Chapin returned to composing with Unashamed, a 1938 nudist romance. He also appeared as a film stand-in
Stand-in
A stand-in for film and television is a person who substitutes for the actor before filming, for technical purposes such as lighting.Stand-ins are helpful in the initial processes of production. Lighting setup can be a slow and tedious process; during this time the actor will often be somewhere else...
, for which he use the name "Fred Fuller." According to the Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
, "Fuller" played "Younger Dolittle" in Made for Each Other
Made for Each Other (1939 film)
Made for Each Other is a 1939 drama film directed by John Cromwell and produced by David O. Selznick. It stars Carole Lombard and James Stewart as a couple who get married after only knowing each other very briefly.-Plot:...
and was a stand-in and had an undetermined role in Bachelor Mother
Bachelor Mother
Bachelor Mother is an American comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers , David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna based on a Academy Award nominated story by Felix Jackson...
.
Family
His son, James Chapin, became a director, but died in 1924 after making only six films. His daughter, Margery Chapin, was married to William A. WellmanWilliam A. Wellman
William Augustus Wellman was an American film director. Although Wellman began his film career as an actor, he worked on over 80 films, as director, producer and consultant but most often as a director, notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation...
from 1925-1926 (the second of his four wives), and had a cameo role in Wings that was also seen in The Celluloid Closet
The Celluloid Closet
The Celluloid Closet is a 1996 American documentary film directed and written by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. The film is based on the 1981 book of the same name written by Vito Russo, and on previous lecture and film clip presentations given in person by Russo 1972–82.Russo researched the...
. William and Margery adopted a daughter, Gloria, who was the natural daughter of screenwriter Robert Emmett Tansey