Frank Bacon (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Bacon
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| Born |
Frank Wilford Bacon
January 16, 1864 near Yuba City, California, U.S.
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| Died | November 19, 1922 (aged 58) |
| Occupation | Actor-Playwright |
| Spouse(s) | Jennie Weidman |
| Children | Lloyd Bacon |
Frank Bacon (born January 16, 1864 – died November 19, 1922) was an American actor and writer. He was known for playing unique and interesting characters. After many years of working without much fame, he became very successful later in his career. His most famous work was the play Lightnin', which he helped write and also starred in. This play broke a Broadway record with 1,291 performances. It was still very popular on tour when Frank Bacon had to stop performing because he was too tired. He passed away a week later from a heart attack.
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Early Life and First Jobs
Frank Bacon was born on his parents' farm near Yuba City, California. His parents, Lehella Jane McGrew and Lyddall Bacon, were from Kentucky.
He grew up in San Jose. Frank left school when he was a teenager to work on a sheep ranch nearby. Around age 17, he started learning to be a photographer. He even opened his own photography studio in San Jose with his brother. After a few years, he stopped photography and began working for newspapers. He sold advertisements for the San Jose Mercury. Later, he bought a newspaper called The Napa Reporter and then started another one, The Mountain View Register.
Becoming a Stage Actor
Frank Bacon eventually decided to try acting. He joined an acting group in San Jose. By 1894, he was part of a drama company. He often played the villain in their shows. Later, he started his own small acting group with his wife and other actors. They traveled around California, performing in many places. A famous actor named Roscoe Arbuckle even made his first stage appearance with Bacon's company when he was only eight years old.
Bacon acted at the Alcazar Theatre for many years. He left after the theatre was damaged in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. After that, he became a popular comedian in Oakland. He also toured with different theatre and vaudeville groups. Frank Bacon first performed on Broadway in New York City in December 1912. He played Papa Carr in a comedy called Stop Thief. He continued to have successful roles in other plays, like The Miracle Man and The Cinderella Man.
The Hit Play: Lightnin'
Lightnin’ was a comedy play that Frank Bacon had worked on for a long time. It finally opened on Broadway in August 1918. The play was originally called A House Divided. It is about a character named Lightnin’ Bill Jones. He is a kind, older man who is known for being a bit slow and telling tall tales.
The play first started as short one-act shows after the San Francisco earthquake. Frank Bacon kept changing and improving the play. He got help from another writer named Winchell Smith. Bacon had sold the rights to make Lightnin' into a movie, but Smith saw how good the play could be. He told Bacon to buy the rights back. They became partners and worked together on the play for almost two years.
The finished play ran on Broadway for three years! This was almost twice as long as any other play at that time. Frank Bacon was very dedicated to the play's success. He even spent his days off watching his understudy perform the role. People loved his calm and natural acting style.
When Lightnin' finished its record-breaking run, President Harding sent a letter of congratulations to the writers. The next day, as the play prepared for its long tour, Mayor Hylan and the New York City Police Band, led by composer Victor Herbert, went with the cast to the train station. There, Bernard Baruch gave Bacon and Smith a special award for their success in playwriting.
Frank Bacon in Movies
Lightnin' was made into a silent film in 1925. Later, in 1930, it was made into an early "talkie" (a movie with sound). In this version, Will Rogers played Lightnin' Bill Jones.
Between 1915 and 1916, Frank Bacon also appeared in four other movies. These included The Silent Voice, Rosemary, Her Debt of Honor, and A Corner in Cotton.
Family Life
On June 27, 1885, Frank Bacon married actress Jennie Weidman. They had known each other since they were in grammar school. Their daughter, Bessie Bacon Allen (1886–1952), became an actress and writer. Their son, Lloyd Bacon, became a famous Hollywood director.
Death
Frank Bacon passed away at the Hotel Del Prado in Chicago. He had gone there after his last performance of Lightnin' to be cared for by his friend, Dr. Robert A. Black.
He was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery. His funeral was a simple service, and the people who carried his coffin were from the cast of Lightnin'.
