The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1911-09-22

following officers: President, Lester Wallack;
Hce-president. A. NJ. Palmer: secretary Daniel
Frohman. treasurer. Theodore Moss. The board
1f trustees was: Lester Wallack, Edwin Booth.
Joseph jefferson. NJ. II. Mallory. Lawrence Bar.
rett. II. g. Miner, W Il. Sim. A. NJ. Palmer. Ed.
ward Harrigan. william Henderson. John r.
Poole. =. T. Barnum, w. J. Florence william
Birch, j. X. Emmett and ]. II. Havery. The
counsel for tho fund was A. J. Dlttenhoefer.
Tho report OF the secretary FOR the first year
Of tho funds existence showed n disbursement Of
fl2,S9.O7. Relief had been given TO over four
hundred actors In different parts Of the Union.
and thirty.two had been buried in California.
Texas and other parts Of the country. Thus the
fund had prevented tho sick and needy from
seeking charity. and had given respectable inter.
ment TO those who would otherwise have been
buried In paupors grayes.
Ono day In the spring Of 1900 Louis Aldrloh.
n actor and Al Hayman. a theatrical manager.
ut In tho latter Office In tho EInplro Theater.
l,ew York:
THE actors fund has at last passed resolu.
lions approving my plan to build n home for old
actors" said Aldrch. You know that | have
been ngitating this scheme for years. with little
or no encouragement; nobody believes II feasible.
on account Of tho expense. | believe now, as
always have, that can make a success OF t. II
can only get substantial sum to start my sub
Sorption. You've made good deal OF money
out Of the theatrical business. Al; give mo some
thing tangible for a starter"
How much will you require altogether" Hay.
man asked.
1T will take about one hundred thousand dol
lars" was the reply.
How much do you think ought to gyeg"
"Oh. about ten thousand dollars"
Well" replied HaymRn. "ll give you ten
thousand dollars, II the dramatic profession will
raise ninety thousand"
I'm afraid We can't raise that much right
away" Aldrich said; but ! believe we could
] raiaa nfty tlOuaand IN baianra Int "
IAN right" said Hayman. 'l'll give you ten
thousand. II youll raise fifty thousand"
That's bargain" exclaimed Aldrlch Give
mo your check, and II ! don't raise the nifty
thousand, I'll return IT,"
Tho check for ten thousand dollars was given
to Aldrlch. and he took II TO the editor OF the
New York Herald who agreed to hold the money
and receive further donations The next day
| tina Herald announced that II had ten thousand
dollars as a nucleus for 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 nny.Hye thousand dol.
| lara besides the original ten thousand, and the
| books were closed for the time being
The matter was allowed to rcst until the Hprlng
\ o. 1901, when number Of benefit performances
we're given In New York, Philadelphia and Chi.
cnEo to raise additional money needed to com,
( pete the work 20 ausp'ciously begun
The committee intrusied VITA the selection OF
a site for the home purchased "Peechlawn" he
/ twentyncre estate Of Richard Penn smith 81
/ West Brighton Staten Island The building was
finished and on May s. 1909. the Actors Fund
Home was opened and dedicated with Imposing
| ceremonies The address OF the day was made
( by Joseph jefferson.
In reality. the dramatic profession owes To
I Louis Aldrich more than II does TO any single
person for the possession OF this beautiful home
He talked OF the scheme for years No one else