The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-10

The old saying, better to be born
lucky than rich never had d truer
exemplifcation than in the case Of I.
Daniel-better known as Tim Fraw-
ley. How this gentleman deserted east
ern dramatic pastures some years back
and devoted himself to the then
thought-to-b hopeless task of build
ing UP a high standard dramatic or
ganization in the west, is low history.
He succeeded beyond his own most
sanguine al.ticipations, and the name
Frawley came to be as well known and
as popular on the coast as that of Pal
mer once was in the east. But the
time came when he was called on to
play the inevitable penalty for his pros
perity. Actors and actresses who had
made their regulations as members OF
the FraWley organization, yearned to
test their wings in a broader horizon,
and Blanche Bates, Maxine Elliot,
Frank WoTthing, Gladys Wallis. ltar-
~ Corson Clarke and others in time
few away. Than came the most trying
part of Mir. Frawley's managerial ca
reer. the selection and securing of
coterie of players who should keep the
Frawlsv banner full high advanced,
play in a theatre and before a COM
munity where the names OF their pre-
decesSors were almost household words,
invite comparisons and be not afraid
of the consequences. Mr.. Frawley made
his pilgrimage to New York, selected
his people. and a few weeks ago IN
Vited critical San Francisco to pass
upon them. For some time the result
trembled in the balance. The first week
the papers were kind, but only kind.
One critic shook his head and said
alf 10 10
Bates;s another said Edward Bell was
not Frank Worthing: the public fortu-
nately attended in force as of old and
consented to withheld final judgment
till the new corners had been seen in
more than two or three plays. Then
came Mr.. FTawley's opportunity, and
he made the most of it. With a keen
appreciation of what the public taste
required in these martial times, he had
secured a dramatization of Captain
Charles Kings popular novel Fort
Frayne," by . stroke of fortune Cap
tain king-lately promoted to SEN
eralship-came to San Francisco for
heightened stay. Promptly Mr.. FraW-
ley put the military play in rehearsal,
end, on the opening night all San Fran
cisco, with big bedecOrated Populations
from the military camps, was IN eager
attendance. The play, under such aus
pieces, could scarcely fail to score 4
success. The author was called for and
made a happy speech, and several OF
the company scored individual tri-
unphS The whole town got TO talking
of Fort Frayne" and the consequence
was that MIR. Frawley put it UP for
second Weak'S run, though his motto
has always besn to change his bill
every Monday night. The second week
was as big as the first and now there
is talk of having a Fort Frayne' pro-
IN, e
Fort Frayne" company on the road,
all Of which will mean more money and
more fame to genial Tim, and illus
trates the truthfulness of what we be-
fore observed its better 10 be born
lucky than rich
The board of directors of the theatre
company during the past week, ordered
the disbursement of a dividend of 81
per share to the stockholders. Here's
hoping that their action may be but the
precursor OF several others when the
new season has fairly opened.
AS a preliminary to future profits
Manager Piper has made a numper of
excellent bookings during the past
week for the coming season. Among
them are 'Puddn head Wilson" with
Edwin z. Mayo, the son of his father,
in the leading role. The Girl l Left
Behind Me, The Parlor Match and
Mathews and Bulger" 1t is also
nearly settled that the Warde- Kidder-
James combination Will put in an en-
tire week during April conference 1899. |
Harold Russell and his wife, Ada
Dwyer Russell, who are summering
very happily in this Baden Baden of !
the west, have just concluded arrange |
ments for next seasons work. Mrs. |
F9r1SGall will h idnnti6a1 l. Ill
role in 'Pud6tkead Wilson," and win |
be seen when that company appears |
here; Mr.. Russell has accepted, after |
considerable negotiating, the place of |
leading man with Stuart Robson. He |
was wanted by Charles Coshlans for the !
lire of parts he assumed last season. /
but thinking there were wider artistic !
opportunities with Robson, he closed
with that actor manager on Wednes-