The Frohman brothers were American theatre owners, including on Broadway, and theatrical producers who also owned and operated motion picture production companies. The brothers were: *

Daniel Frohman Daniel Frohman (August 22, 1851 – December 26, 1940) was an American theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer. Biography Frohman was born to a American Jews, Jewish family in Sandusky, Ohio. His parents were Henry (1826&nda ...

(1851–1940) *

Gustave Frohman Gustave Frohman (c. 1854 – August 16, 1930) was a theatre producer and advance man. He was one of three Frohman brothers who entered show business and he worked for most of his career alongside his brother, Charles Frohman. These two financ ...

(1854–1930) *

Charles Frohman Charles Frohman (July 15, 1856 – May 7, 1915) was an American theater manager and producer, who discovered and promoted many stars of the American stage. Notably, he produced ''Peter Pan'', both in London and the US, the latter production ...

(1856–1915)

History

Born to a

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

family from

Sandusky, Ohio Sandusky ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Erie County, Ohio, Erie County, Ohio, United States. Situated along the shores of Lake Erie in the northern part of the state, Sandusky is located roughly midway between Toledo, Ohio, Toledo ( wes ...

, the Frohman brothers developed a system of touring theatrical companies that would perform in various parts of the United States. They eventually made their way to New York City in the 1880s where they set up offices that managed bookings for a chain of Western theaters whose operations extended through to California. Charles Frohman became the representative partner in the

Theatrical Syndicate Starting in 1896, the Theatrical Syndicate was an organisation that in the United States that controlled the majority of bookings in the country's leading theatrical attractions. The six-man group was in charge of theatres and bookings. Beginnin ...

which created a monopoly in 1896 that controlled almost every aspect of theatre contracts and bookings for the next twenty years.

Film production

Daniel Frohman led the brothers business interests into a 1912 partnership with filmmaker

Adolph Zukor Adolph Zukor (; hu, Zukor Adolf; January 7, 1873 – June 10, 1976) was a Hungarian-American film producer best known as one of the three founders of Paramount Pictures.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'' (June 16, 1976), p. 76. He produ ...

named the

Famous Players Film Company The Famous Players Film Company was a film company founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor in partnership with the Frohman brothers, powerful New York City theatre impresario. History Discussions to form the company were held at The Lambs, a famous th ...

. The new film production company made its first film in 1913, ''

The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in order ...

'' and the Frohmans remained involved until 1918 when they parted ways with Zukor after having been part of seventy-four Famous Players productions. Texas Guinan

In 1915 the brothers created Frohman Amusement Corp to be used primarily as a vehicle to make motion pictures from theatrical plays on which they held the rights. A few months after the film company was set up, Charles Frohman died in the sinking of the

RMS Lusitania RMS ''Lusitania'' (named after the Roman province in Western Europe corresponding to modern Portugal) was a British ocean liner that was launched by the Cunard Line in 1906 and that held the Blue Riband appellation for the fastest Atlanti ...

. Brothers Gustave and Daniel assumed control of the theatre operations plus the management of the film production company. Between its startup in 1915 and 1917, all of the company's films were directed by George Irving. Ambrose's Day Off (1919) - Ad 1

Until its dissolution in 1920, their film company produced twenty-one motion pictures. William L. Sherrill was a partner is the company. They made more than two dozen two-reel Western films with

Texas Guinan Mary Louise Cecilia "Texas" Guinan (January 12, 1884 – November 5, 1933) was an American actress, producer and entrepreneur. Born in Texas to Irish immigrant parents, Guinan decided at an early age to become an entertainer. After becoming a st ...

in 1918 including '' The Boss of the Rancho'' and '' The Heart of Texas''.

Filmography

*'' Body and Soul'' (1915) * ''

The Conquest of Canaan ''The Conquest of Canaan'' is a 1921 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It starred Thomas Meighan and Doris Kenyon and was directed by Roy William Neill. It was filmed in Ashevi ...

'' (1916) *''

Then I'll Come Back to You ''Then I'll Come Back to You'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by George Irving and starring Alice Brady, Jack Sherrill and Eric Blind. It is based on the novel of the same title by Larry Evans.Goble p.148 Cast * Alice Brady ...

'' (1916) from the novel by Larry Evans (novelist) starring

Alice Brady Alice Brady (born Mary Rose Brady; November 2, 1892 – October 28, 1939) was an American actress who began her career in the silent film era and survived the transition into talkies. She worked until six months before her death from cancer in ...

with Jack Sherrill in a supporting role *'' God's Man'' (1917) *''

Once to Every Man Once means a one-time occurrence. Once may refer to: Music * ''Once'' (Pearl Jam song), a 1991 song from the album ''Ten'' * ''Once'' (Roy Harper album), a 1990 album by Roy Harper * ''Once'' (The Tyde album), a 2001 debut album by The Tyd ...

'' (1918)

*'' The Boss of the Rancho'' (1919) *'' Ambrose's Day Off'' (1919) starring

Mack Swain Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain; February 16, 1876 – August 25, 1935) was an early American film actor, who appeared in many of Mack Sennett’s comedies at Keystone Studios, including the Keystone Cops series. He also appeared in major fea ...

and

bathing beauties Bathing is the act of washing the body, usually with water, or the immersion of the body in water. It may be practiced for personal hygiene, religious ritual or therapeutic purposes. By analogy, especially as a recreational activity, the term i ...

*'' Daddy Ambrose'' (1919) starring Mack Swain *'' The Girl of Hell's Agony'' (1919) The Invisible Ray (1920) - 3

*''

The Invisible Ray (1920 serial) ''The Invisible Ray'' is a 1920 American science fiction film, science fiction film serial directed by Harry A. Pollard. Early press accounts cited the "scientific foundation of the plot. In this respect the production differs from other seria ...

'' science fiction serial (1920)

Final years

Gustave and Daniel Frohman continued producing theatrical plays until the early part of the 1930s. They also managed their theatres until Daniel, the last surviving brother, died in 1940.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frohman Brothers American theatre managers and producers American film producers Sibling filmmakers American entertainment industry businesspeople Frohman family