New-York tribune., 1922-11-20
Frank Bacon.
The Creator OF
'Iigyhnt1nin' Dies
End Comes in Chicago Fol-
lowing Breakdown Re-
sulting From Four Years.
Work in Popular Play

Frank Bacon, creator Of @Lightnin
Bill" Jones, Is dead.
"Lightnin'," the play that brought
a belated fame to him and lifted him
from theatrical mediocrity to theat-
ricai greatness at the age Of fifty.
four, proved to be the play that helped
to kill him. His death occurred yes
terday morning at the Hotel Del Prado,
Chicago, and resulted from a break
down which was brought about by the
unremitting grind of four and half
years. playing in one part without a
let-up.
Since the steaming night in August
1s1S-August 26, to be exact-that
"Lightnin'." which he helped to write,
opened at the Gaiety Theater they'd
been saying along Broadway that
Frank Bacon would have to go on play
ing Bill Jones to the end of his days.
For once, Broadway prophecy came
true. His last performance was given
in Chicago Saturday night a week ago.
When, at the advice of his wife and
physicians, he laid aside his faded blue
G. A. r. uniform and his crumpled felt
hat with its gold cord and consented
to go to bed for a few days, he in
sisted that he wasn't ill-just tired
He became weaker, however, and the
break in his voice became trifie more
real. On Saturday he suffered heart
attack and fell into coma from which
he never rallied. At $40 a. nj. yes
terday he died peacefully, and with
the record of 1000 performances as the
"Lightnin'." He had told his bee story
the last time.
Family at the Bedside
His wife, who married him in Cal
ifornia village thirty-seven years ago
and remained his loyal and steadfast
companion during the dreary days OF
transforming in the West, was at his
bedside when he died. His daughter
Mrs. Bessie Allen, was also there. His
body will be taken to Mountain View
Calf, his boyhood home. Mr.. Bacon
+ is survived also by son, Lloyd, OF
held in Chicago Wednesday.
The death of Frank Bacon came as a
shock to Broadway last night. AS vice.
president of the Actors Equity Asso-
citation and ex-president Of the Green
Room Club, and as a member of the
Lambs and Friars, he was part OF
Broadway's theatrical life, and was
held in affectionate esteem by all fire.
quenters of the street that brought him
fame-managers, actors, authors, corn.
posers, press agents and stage hands
The cheerful optimism that character.
ized the part Of "Lightin' Bill" Jones
in the play was a quality expected ane
found in Frank Bacon when he was oui
| of his character and away from tht
| theater. In sheer personal popularity
| in the profession he was perhaps ex-
celled by no one.
Thought 1t Visit to Chicago
| Broadway did not realize that af.
ternoon in August of last year wher
! it gave Bacon tumultuous send-of al
/ he departed for Chicago after 1,29l
conse ecutive performances in Light
! nin'n at the Gaiety that it was reall,
saying goodhy. And certainly Bacor
/ did not realize that he was saying good
| by to Broadway. To him Chicago wa!
| merely a visit. The ex-sheep herder
advertising solicitor, country printer
and California than" who had finall!
come into his own meant to come back
/ New York to him was nome. And al
until Saturday morning he was SUR
/ that he would come back.
1t took the San Francisco earthquake
to get Bacon out of the West. Fo
years ard years he barnstormed from
1 town to town with cheap repertoir'
1 company and ate meals cooked BY nj
! wife over an oil stove. 1t was har'
4 living. Somewhat easier living wa
/ found in San Francisco when he LANDED
alb at tie Alcazar T:eater. He st;icl
70 that Job sixteen years, and perhap
4 wemId have stsck to, il until the EN-
4 seaust6uaA en- vaee sNl