Charles Frohman: Manager and ManMarcosson, Isaac Frederick
General
Charles Frohman: Manager and Man
Marcosson, Isaac Frederick
Frohman, Charles, 1860-1915; Theater -- United States
Charles Frohman made every possible capitalization of this change. Among
other things he issued a broadside, announcing the removal to new
offices, and making the following characteristic statement:
_Our agency, we are pleased to state, has been an established
success from the very start. We now represent every important
theater in the United States and Canada, as an inspection of our
list will show, and we will always keep up the high standard of
attractions that have been booked through this office, and we want
the business of no others. Mr. E. E. Rice, the well-known manager
and author, will have adjoining offices with us, and his
attractions will be booked through our offices. We transact a
general theatrical business (excepting that pertaining to a
dramatic or actor's agency), and are in competition with no other
exchange, booking agency, or dramatic concern. Neither do we have
any desk-room to let, reserving all the space of our office for our
own use._
Attached to this announcement was a list of theaters that he
represented, which was a foot long. He was also representing Archibald
Clavering Gunter, who had followed up "A Wall Street Bandit" with
"Prince Karl," and Robert Buchanan, author of "Lady Clare" and "Alone in
London."
Frohman and Randall stayed at 1267 Broadway for a year. Shortly before
the next change Randall, who had become extensively interested in
outside enterprises, retired from the firm. His successor as close
associate with Charles Frohman was Harry Rockwood, ablest of the early
Frohman lieutenants.
Rockwood was a distinguished-looking man and a tireless worker. The way
he came to be associated with Charles Frohman was interesting. His real
name was H. Rockwood Hewitt, and he was related to ex-Mayor Abram S.
Hewitt of New York. He had had some experience in Wall Street, but
became infected with the theatrical virus.
One day in 1888 a well-groomed young man approached Gustave Frohman at
the Fourteenth Street Theater. He introduced himself as Harry Hewitt.
He said to Frohman:
"My name is Hewitt. I would like to get into the theatrical business."
Gustave invited him to come around to the Madison Square Theater the
next day, and asked him what he would like to do.
"Oh, I should like to do anything."
Frohman then gave him an imaginary house to "count up."
Rockwood, who was an expert accountant, did the job with amazing
swiftness. Whereupon Gustave Frohman telephoned to Charles Frohman as
follows:
"I've got the greatest treasurer in the world for you. Send for him."
Charles engaged him for a Madison Square Company, and in this way
Rockwood's theatrical career started. It was the fashion of many people
of that time interested in the theatrical business to change their
names, so he became Harry Rockwood. In the same way Harry Hayman,
brother of Al and Alf Hayman, changed his name to Harry Mann.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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