The Glenwood post., 1911-09-16

following officers: President Lester Waack;
vice-president, A. NJ. Palmer secretary, Daniel
Frohman; treasurer, Theodore Moss The board
of trustees Lester Wallack, Edwin Booth.
Joseph Jefferson NJ. H. Mallory, Lawrence Bar
rott, H. C. Miner, w. E. Sinn A. NJ. Palmer, Ed
ward Harrgan, William Henderson, John F.
Poole, P. T. Barnum. w. ]. Florence William
Birch, J. X. Emmett and ]. H. Havery. The
counsel for the fund A. j. Dttenhoefer.
The report of the secretary for the first year
of the funds existence showed disbursement of
S12,3ls.07. Relief had been given to four
hundred actors In different parts of the Union,
and thirytwo had been buried in California.
Texaa and other parts of the country. Thus the
fund had prevented the sick and needy from
seeking charity, and had given respectable inter
ment to those who would otherwise have been
buried in paupers graves.
One day in the spring of 1900 Louis A1drich,
an actor. and AL. Hayman. a theatrical manager.
sat in the latter once in the Empire Theater.
VOW York:
The actors fund has at last passed resolu-
tons approving my plan to build q home for old
Actors," said Aldrch. You know that l have
been ag1tating this scheme for years. with little
or NO encouragement; nobody believes 1t feasible,
on account Of the expense. believe now, as /
klvays have, that can make a success of It, II L
can only got substantial to start my sub,
scription- You've made good deal of money
out of the theatrical business, Al; give some
thing tangible for starter"
INV much will you require, altogether" Hay
'rt sill take about one hundred thousand dol
i.rs," vts the reply.
How much do you think ought to give!"
OBJ. about ten thousand dollars"
we'll" replied Hayman, "1l give you ten
thousand dollars, II the dramatic profession will
raise ninety thousand"
I'm afraid can't raise that much right
away Aldrich said; but | believe could
raise fifty thousand now, and the balance later"
"All right" said Hayman, III give you ten
thousand II you'll raise fifty thousand"
That's a bargain" exclaimed Adrich. Give
your check, and If l don't raise the fifty
thousand, III return it,
The check for ten thousand dollars given
&c Aldrich, and he took 1t to the editor of the
New York Herald, who agreed to hold tho money
and receive further donations. The next day
the Herald announced that 1t had ten thousand
dollars = nucleus for fund to build home
for actors. and would receive subscriptions The
response magic Money poured In by mail.
eIpress telegraph and cable In twenty days
the subscription reached hfty-fve thousand dol.
iars. besides the original ten thousand. and the
hooks were closed for the time being.
The matter was allowed to rest until the spring
of 1901, when q number of beneht performances
were given In New York. Philadelphia and Chi
caso to raise additional money needed to com
plete the work auspicfously begun.
The committee intrusted with the selection Of
. site for the homo purchased "Beechlawn" his
twenty acre estate of Richard Penn Smith at
West Brighton, Staten Island. The building was
finished and on May 8, 1907 the Actors Fund
ceremonies The address Of the day was made
by Joseph Jefferson.
In reality, the dramatic profession to
Louie Aldrich more than 1t does to any single
psssoa for the possession of this beautiful home
He tallsd Of the scheme for years. No one else