"I don't expect to make any," replied Frohman, "but I want the American people to see this fine and worthy thing." The play drew small audiences for some time. Then, becoming the talk of the town, it went on tour and repaid him with a profit on his early loss. * * * One of the happiest of Charles Frohman's theatrical associations now developed. In 1903, when the famous Weber and Fields organization seemed to be headed toward dissolution, Charles Dillingham suggested to Willie Collier that he go under the Frohman management. Collier went to the Empire Theater and was ushered into Frohman's office. "It took you a long time to get up here," said the magnate. "How would you like to go under my management?" "Well," replied Collier, with his usual humor, "I didn't come up here to buy a new hat." The result was that Collier became a Frohman star and remained one for eleven years. He and Frohman were constantly exchanging witty telegrams and letters. Frohman sent Collier to Australia. At San Francisco the star encountered the famous earthquake. He wired Frohman: "San Francisco has just had the biggest opening in its history." Whereupon Frohman, who had not yet learned the full extent of the calamity, wired back: "Don't like openings with so many 'dead-heads.'" * * * All the while, William Gillette had been thriving as a Frohman star. Like many other serious actors, he had an ambition to play _Hamlet_. With Frohman the wishes of his favorite stars were commands, so he proceeded to make ready a production. Suddenly Barrie's remarkable play "The Admirable Crichton" fell into his hands. He sent for Gillette and said: "Gillette, I am perfectly willing that you should play _Hamlet_, but I have just got from Barrie the ideal play for you." When Gillette read "The Admirable Crichton," he agreed with Frohman, and out of it developed one of his biggest successes. "Hamlet," with its elaborate production, still awaits Gillette. * * * In presenting Clara Bloodgood as star in Clyde Fitch's play "The Girl with the Green Eyes," Frohman achieved another one of his many sensations. The smart, charming girl who had made her debut under sensational circumstances in "The Conquerors," now saw her name up in electric lights for the first time. Frohman's confidence in her, as in many of his proteges, was more than fulfilled. * * * Charles Frohman, who loved to dazzle the world with his Napoleonic coups, launched what was up to this time, and which will long remain, the most spectacular of theatrical deals. He greatly admired E. H. Sothern, who had been associated with him in some of his early ventures. The years that Julia Marlowe had played under his joint management had endeared her to him. One day he had an inspiration. There had been no big Shakespearian revival for some time, so he said: "Why not unite Sothern and Marlowe and tour the country in a series of magnificent Shakespearian productions?"