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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 457
Frohman and this again recalled the fact that he AVIIS one of the most
noted native Sanduskians. Born in the house at 507 Lawrence Street,
Avhich is still standing, on June 17, 1860, he Avent to New York with
his parents at the age of thirteen, joining his older brother, Daniel,
Avho was then a reporter on the New York Tribune. He attended the
public school and Avorked evenings in a neAvspaper office.
At the age of seventeen he organized a minstrel SIIOAV. Later he sold
tickets at Holey's Theater, in Brooklyn. In 1880 he went to Minnesota
to join the Chicago Dramatic Company, and shortly aftenvards toured
the United States and Europe as treasurer of Haverly's Forty Minstrels.
The real beginning of his theatrical career was when, in 1887, he
obtained control of Bronson Howard's play, "Shenandoah." Then,
with his brother, Daniel Frohman, he began to organize road companies
under a HCAV system. Within a feAV years he organized four minstrel
companies, took the Lester Wallaek Company on tour and sent his .Madison
Square Theater plays on the road.
He took up "Shenandoah" Avhen no other manager saAV any possibilities
in it and it ran all Avinter M)i New York and for tAventy-five Avccks
in Chicago, and three or four 1 companies Avere playing it at the same
time. His next play, "All the Comforts of Home," transplanted from
the German by Gillette, ran for thirteen Aveeks at the Boston Museum
and for a long time in NCAV York. Then he organized a company of his
OAvn which was at Proctor's for three years. Aftenvards he organized a
light comedy company and sent it out on the road with "Wilkinson's
WidoAvs." When he was ready to open the Charles Frohman Theater
at Broiuhvay and Fortieth Street, be gave Sardou $8,000 to Avrite a play.
While in Europe he made contracts for other pjays, all of Avhich Avere
successes.
Frohman's wealth was estimated at from $500,000 to $2,000,000. lie
spent half his time in NCAV York and half in London.
He was proprietor and manager of the Empire, Criterion, Lyceum,
Carrick, Savoy and Knickerbocker theaters in NCAV York and the Duke
of York, Comedy, Globe and Adelphi theaters in London.
He Avas interested in nearly 100 theaters in the United States, with
playhouses featuring his productions in the principal cities.
Besides several star actors in England, Mr. Frohman had under his
direction sixteen stars in America. He referred to them ahvays as "iny
people," and kept framed pliotographs of them above his desk. "They
are my people Avho haA'e made me," he Avould tell his friends. The stars,
in turn, invariably referred to Mr. Frohman as "C. F."
These stars included Maude Adams, John DrcAV, Ethel Barrymore,
Billie Burke, Blanche Bates, William Gillette and'Otis Skinner. His
belief in the star system and his loyalty to the older school of English
dramatics AA'ere his distinguishing traits as a producer.
"Peter Pan" and "Chantecleer," tAvo of his most famous productions.
Avere by foreign authors.
Of his personality the public kneAV little. His characteristic modesty
was respected by his admirers among his associates and the audiences