Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-11-20
Wells Hawks.


lthe-following account of his work:
Wells Hawks is not press agent. If
you are writer or an editor and hap
pened to want something concerning
the attraction of Mr. Charles Frohman
you will get that information from
Wells Hawks, but you will get it with
out adjectives or foolish waste of words.
With ten or twelve plays always run
ming IN New York. score of companies
| on the road, and bis enterprises abroad,
MI. Frohman is naturally much in the
public prints. So what Mr.. Frohman
wants is not man to advertise him, but
one in authority to speak concerning his
ventures. SO that they will be put before
the public right. This. therefore, is the
extent of the press work of Wells Hawks,
who is the general representative for Mr..
Frohman and the assistant to his general
Manager. Mr. Aft Hayman. Every
week Mr.. Hawks issues, for the con-
yenience of dramatic writers. bulletin
of what is going on in the Frohman off,
css. but it is. as matter Of fact, sketch
IN "Who's Who"
Before his theatrical work. Mr. Hawks
had enjoyed wide experience as a
newspaper man. When he began wash
ing rollers for the press ofcountry week
" and wound up with editor work on
big daily. his views are worth while.
| Mr.. Hawks was asked what, in his
opinion. IS essential to successful press
work.
Only two things count. he replied.
The personality of a man ard giving
to newspapers ouly that matter which is
| of value tothem. =
Mr.. Hawks knows thing or two
about the press agents trials and tri-
umphs, for before emharking on the
atrical career he had boosted" a num-
Der of home enterprises in the Ralti-
more papers. His first press work was
for Electric Park, urban, attraction
near Baltimore He looked after the
| publicity end of the dog shows and a
few other things that were mostly in
tents
At the Journalists Club in Baltimore
they are still telling of what Wells
Hawks did asa reporter. He covered
every kind of an assignment known in
the twelve years he was engaged in
newspaper work He saw service on
the staff of the Washington Post, on
The Baltimore Sun, on The Baltimore
News and The Baltimore Herald. But
no matter what department of the paper
was in his charge. whether he was read.
ing copy or writing editorials. he always
found time to look after the dramatic
column.
Mr.. Hawks is great believer in prep
aration. and man he detests- many
are of the opinion that nobody haa his
i'll willis the man who does not know
his business. AS boy in Charles Town
w, Va, Wells Hawks started in the
newspaper business by washing rollers
on the SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON and the
Virginia Free Press. He learned the
case and had brief experience as
compositor and proof reader. He work
ed for year for nothing on The Balti
morean to s.learu the business" before
applying for place on daily. Mean
while, he worked during the day as a
clerk under Mr.. Nicholas Murray, the
librarian of the John Hopkins University.
and while SO employed found time to at
ltend lectures And before this he had
started in the world for himself. first as a
bundle boy and then as clerk.
/ After several years as dramatic editor
Iof The Baltimore Herald. Mr.. Hawks
gave up newspaper work to become busi-
ness manager of the Academy of Mnsic
in his home city. While there he also
edited monthly periodical. The Archi-
tects' and Builders Journal. He was its
first editor and laid the foundation for
the success 1T nows enjoys.
Mr.. Frohmau decided that Maud Adj
ans first night in Lagoon should be IN
Baltimore During the rehearsals at the
Academy be noticed the work of Mr..
Hawks. On the eve Of his departure FOL
New York. Mr. Frohman turned to Mr.
Hawks and complimented him on his
press work for Miss Adams opening
The result was Mr.. Hawks resignation
of the Academy management and fare
well banquet from all the newspaper mer
| OF Baltimore. The interview with Mr.
Frohman had been very brief Hawks
iwent to New York and became bushes:
manager of the Criterion Theatre. follow
ing Charles Dillingham;.
III The season at the Criterion was a Yer,
busy one, but Wells Hawks had no idea
| Of devoting bis entire attention to The
! management of one theatre. He toune
! a multitude of other thingsto do and die
them without question. The end of th.
! wear found a new manager of the Otter
: ian. for Hawks had been called to th,
general offices in the Empire building a
the general press representative. Hi
desire for more work than was required 0
him was not difficult in satisfying ant
the result IS today the press work is onl
one of the many important branches Q
1.-THE Frohman organization under hi
supervision. Hawks has been abroa'
with Mr. Frohman as his Representative
and has thorough knowledge of tn
English and European theatrical business
Wells Hawks sleeps and eats for tn
same reason that fireman puts coal IN
y der a boiler-he has to. Otherwise. b
would be working twenty-four hour
ve every day in the year. and this is th
u reason that those who know him as
1. very busy man are constantly surprise