The sun., 1919-02-17
FRIARS TURN OUT TO
HONOR FRANK BACON
Dinner Given to "Lightnin's"
Star Just because He Looks
as if He Needs One"
SOME CONFESSIONS MADE
Chief Guest Was Stage Part
ner of Mr.. Liver Before He
Got to $40 a Week.

Frank Bacon. the veteran character
ector.. whose long stage career always
led him along rather obscure paths until
he and "Lightnin'" struck Broadway
with a resounding bang, came into HE
own last night, when his brother F'riars
gave his a dinner in the monastery on
West Forty-eighth street. Lieut-Gov.
Harry. c. Walker, Police Commissioner
Enrieht, Fire Commissioner brennan
and George VI. Cohan were only few Of
the celebrities permitted to bask in the
newly won limelight OF Mr.. Bacon. An
omlnous sign for Mr.. Bacon's new pros
perity, which he discussed with engag-
ing frankness, was the presence OF Col
lector Big Bill" Edwards.
Abbot George NJ Cohan struck what
his press agent called attention TO as
responsive note" when he declared
that the Friars had decided to give
Frank Bacon a dinner. for no other
reason than that they felt they ought
10 do so.
yes" asserted Mr.. Conan. "he ought
TO have a dinner. In fact" gazing at
the somewhat attepuated features of the
guest Of honor. me ought to get a
few breakfasts and suppers, too, be-
cause he's certainly the hungriest look
ing actor in New York"
George Conan to Enter New Line.
Head Waiter Joe Shenberg nearly
dropped a tray of refreshments he was
escorting to a return engagement at
the press table when Mr.. Conan an
nounced that he was to retire soon
from the theatrical business.
I'm going into the wholesale drug
business July l." explained the famous
Yankee Doodler.
Rennold wolf told the diners the
story of Bacons early life and struggles,
hut maintained that his subject could
not be considered a real actor.
Hes been married to the same wife
for thirty-two years. Wolf explained,
He has never paid dollars worth Of
alimony, which makes him ineligible for
membership in the-Lambs. hardly be-
lieved 1t possible. but when 1 asked his
wife about It she said that 1t was true,
only II seemed to her nearer 200 years
than thirty-two."
The speaker, after reviewing Bacon's
stage beginnings. which he said were
made in vaudeville as a member OF the
famous team of Liver and Bacon made
IL known that an expression that has
since come into wide use came into being
through the honor guest.
Origin of a Noted Expression.
when he was playing in stock in San
Francisco" Mr.. Wolf said, "he used to
go around to a certain saloon every
night after the performance and stay
there until a couple of his friends would
go around and pick him out from under
the table and take him home. Thus
came into being the expression. bringing
home the Bacon"
After relating that Mr.. Bacon was a
1ineal descen dant Of Sir Francis Bacon,
the party Of the first part In the Bacon
Shakespeare controversy. Mr. Wolf
finally got his subject to New York.
"Winchell Smith had written a play
that had as its central character a
monumental liar. One day he .met
Frank Bacon. and after hearing him
talk a few minutes engaged him on the
spot" was the Wolf version of how il
lad all happened.
Mr.. Bacon himself then took the stand
in his own defense and told of his long
years in stock in San Francisco where,
he said he would probably be yet IL the
earthquake had not wiped out the
'heafe'
Jumped From $40 to $50 a Week.
IT had come East and was playing in
small time vaudeville said Mr.. Bacon.
when Jimmy Montgomery. an old
friend OF mine, came to me and told me
Of a part that was built for me. Never
before had I made more than $40 a
week and lots of times l didn't get that
but set my price at $3.50 a week. They
finally met It. but I'll honestly admit
that when ! started out In The Fortune
Hunter I didn't expect actually TO get
it when payday came around.
II didn't think there was that much
money in the world. Nor was I reas-
sured, In the middle of my first week
when requested an advance OF S7E and
was asked II SIS wouldn't be enough.
However my fears, as you know, were
Rroundless. as events proved
Capt. J. J. Gleason, the Friars dean
was the POSTMASTER. George McFar-
lane. the barytone. came over from Phil
adelphia to sing THE Friars Song" and
a ditty speculative upon horrendous
eventualities to be expected after July /
next. There was also an extensive vaude-
willie programme, extending well into the
evening.