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 (1851–1940) * Gustave Frohman (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. Frohman produced over 700 shows, and among his biggest hits was '' Peter Pan'', both ...

(1856–1915)

History

Born to a

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

family from

Sandusky, Ohio Sandusky ( ) is a city in Erie County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, Sandusky is located roughly midway between Toledo, Ohio, Toledo ( west) and Cleveland ( east). At the 2020 United Stat ...

, 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 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 (; ; 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 produced one of Ameri ...

named the Famous Players Film Company. 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 o ...

'' 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'' was a United Kingdom, British ocean liner launched by the Cunard Line in 1906. The Royal Mail Ship, the world's largest passenger ship until the completion of her sister three months later, in 1907 regained for Britain the ...

. 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. Until its dissolution in 1920, their film company produced twenty-one motion pictures. William L. Sherrill was a partner in 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 s ...

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

Filmography

*'' Body and Soul'' (1915) * '' The Conquest of Canaan'' (1916) *'' Then I'll Come Back to You'' (1916) from the novel by Larry Evans (novelist) starring Alice Brady with Jack Sherrill in a supporting role *'' God's Man'' (1917) *'' Once to Every Man'' (1918) Texas Guinan 1919

*'' 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 a prolific early United States, American film actor, who appeared in many of Mack Sennett’s comedies at Keystone Studios, including the Keystone Cops series. He also ...

and bathing beauties *'' Daddy Ambrose'' (1919) starring Mack Swain *'' The Girl of Hell's Agony'' (1919) *'' The Invisible Ray (1920 serial)'' 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 Film producers from Ohio Sibling filmmakers American entertainment industry businesspeople Frohman family