American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-09-21

following onicers. President, Lester Wallack:
sice-prosident. A. M. Palmer; secretary, Daniel
Frohman: treasurer. Theodore Moss. The board
OF trustees was: Lester Wallack, Edwin Booth.
Joseph Jefferson. N. II. Mallory. Lawrence Bar
rett. H. G. Miner. w. u. Sim. A. M. Palmer. Ed
ward Harrigan. william Henderson, John r.
Poole. r. 7. Barnum. W.. j. Florence. william
Birch, ]. X. Emmett and J. II. Haverly. The
counsel for the fund was A. J. Dittenhoefer.
The report Of the secretary for the first year
OF tho funds existence showed a disbursement OF
t11,S4s.07. Relief had been given to over four
hundred actors In different parts of the Union.
and thirty-two had becn buried In California,
Texas and other parts Of the country. Thus the
rund had prevented the sick and needy from
seeking charity, and had given respectable inter
ment to those who would otherwise have been
buried In pauper's graves.
Ono day In the spring of 1900 Louis Aidrich,
N actor. and Al. Hayman. a theatrical manager,
at In tho latter once in the Einpire Theater,
lsew York:
~The actors fund has at last passed rcsoiu-
uons approving my plan to build a home for old
actors" said Aldrich. you know that l have
been asdtating this scheme for years. with little
or NO encouragement nobody believes It feasible,
ON account Of the expense. ! believe now. us /
always have. that I can make a success Of II. II I
can only get a substantial sum to start my sub
scription. You've made a good deal OF money
out OF the theatrical business. Al: give me some
thing tangible for u starter"
How much viii you require. sltorether -. unv.
man asked.
1t WIN take about one hundred thousand dol
lars" was the reply.
How much do you think l ought to give,
oh. about ten thousand dollars"
Well" replied Hayman. TN give you ten
thousand dollars. II the dramatic profession will
raise ninety thousand"
Tn afraid we can't raise that much right
away" Aldrich said: but | believe we could
raise nifty thousand now. and the balance later"
All right" said Hayman. "Tll give you ten
thousand. II you1l raise nifty thousand"
That's . bargain" exclaimed Aldrich. Give
me your check. and II I don't raise the nfty
thousand. IN return It."
The check for ten thousand dollars was given
to Aidrich. and he took It to the editor of the
New York Herald, who agreed to hold the money
and receive further donations. The next cay
tns Herald announced that It had ten thousand
dollars a. q nucleus for a fund to build a home
for actors. and would receive subscriptions The
response was magic. Money poured in by mail,
express. telegraph and cable. In twenty days
tho subscription reached fifty five thousand dol
lars. besides the original ten thousand. and the
books were closed for the time being.
The matter was allowed to rest until the spring
OF 1901. when a number of benefit erformance
were given In New York. Philadelphia and Chit
cago to raise additional money needed to COM
piefe the work so auspiciously begun
The committee intrusted with the selection Of
. site Tor the home purchased "BeechIawn." he
estate of Richard Penn Smith ct
west brighton, Staten Island. The building was
finished, and on May 3. 1902, the Actors Fund
Home was opened and dedicated with imposing
The address Of the day was mada
BY Joseph Jefferson.
In reality. the dramatic profession owes m
LOuas AIdrfch more than It does to any single
person for the possession Of this beautiful home
H. talked Of the scheme for years. No one else