The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-07
FREDERIC THOMPSON
DIES In HOSPITAL
Noted Snowman, Founder of
Luna and Hippodrome, Sue
cumbs After Operation.
MADE AND LOST FORTUNE
Came to New York as Poor
Student-Mabel TaliaferrO
Once His Wife.

Frederic w. Thompson died yesterday
morning in St vincent's Hospital after
he had failed to rally from the last of
weakened his power of recuperation.
The heat of the last few days also had
a noticeably bad effect on him and for
the last two days he had been gradually
sinking.
His oheerfulness under the burden Of
suffering and constant anticipation of
more operations was the marvel of his
physicians. and they thought for a time
that his gameness alone would pull him
through. He went to the hospital for
the first time OF this series of operations
on December 2e, 1917. when he was
bothered by intestinal trouble. Since
then other minor operations had been
performed in preparation for this last
ono. which was performed on Monday
last. His family physician, DR.. George
d. Stewart, who. assisted by by other
surgeons. performed the operation, re-
ported that II had been successful, but
the hot weather was too much for Mr..
Thompson's endurance.
With him when he died were Mrs.
Thompson, his sister and his brother I'M
law. He was unconscious most Of the
night and did not recover sufficiently to
recognise his family.
The body was taken to the Chapel of
81. Bartholomew Church, Park avenue
and Fifty-hrst street, where 1t will lie
in state until 2 o'clock tomorrow after
noon, when funeral services will be held.
The Rev. DR.. Percy Gordon. assistant
rector Of st. Bartholomew, will offici-
ate.
At Mr.. Thompson's late residence, 360
West Fifty-fifth street. II was announced
last night that interrnent will be made at
woodlawn Cemetery, where Mr.. Thomp-
son will be buried beside his mother.
Mrs. Martha J. Thompson. At the grave
a Masonic service will be held by the
lodge of which Mr.. Thompson was a
member.
Born Forty-nve Years Ago.
Frederic Thompson, whose brain con-
ceived Luna Park and the Hippodrome.
was until recently one OF the dominant
factors in the show business In this
country. His daring and imagination
transformed the American amusement
park from a drab misnomer into a COM
munity of brilliant spectacles and
scenic effects.
He was born in Ironton, Ohio. forty
Ave years ago. While he was still a
youngster his parents moved to Nash
Vile. Tenn. where he eventually studied
electrical and civil engineering and
architecture.
With nothing but his nerve TO back
him he came to this city when he was
about 20 years old to round out his
technical education and to take a post
graduate course in architectural drafts
manship. He lived In a hall bedroom
OF traditional dimensions and cooked
his own meals. Sometimes his finances
were 50 low that he was unable to buy
the necessary drawing materials to con-
tinue his work. His grit carried him
through. however. and a few years later
he returned to Nashville and induced
some one to set him up in business as
a contractor and architect.
II was merely by chance that he turned
his efforts into the channel which even
tually brought him fame and fortune.
He designed the court OF honor for the
Nashville Exposition, and his work at
tracted so much attention that he was
encouraged to go into the show business
fer himself. In 1898 he secured a con-
cession in the Trans Mississippi EXPOSE
ton at Omaha and undertook the ex-
hibition OF his first show. Darkness
and Dawn" which had for its subtitle
Heaven and He'll"
In omaha Thompson first met Elmer
Scipio Dundy, who later became his
partner Dundy. who had just emerged
from the obscurity of a clerkship in the
United States Distric. Court in Omaha
also was taking his first ning at the
show business. having provided the
financial backing for II. Roltair's two
concessions, Havana and the Maine
and THE Mystic Garden"
In 1900 Dundy beat the exposition &c
Buffalo by a year. and here he and
Thompson were again rivals Dundy
stole a march on his future partner by
shagging Thompson's Darkness and