Paramount and Artcraft Press Books (1918)

William Faversham, Famous Stage Star Player Who Appears in the Big Paramount-Artcraft Special Picture, The Si N. WILLIAM FAVERSHAM, for thirty years one of the most conspicuous figures of the American stage, was engaged by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation to star in the production of “The Silver King,” one of the greatest successes in the history of the English-speaking stage. This splendid old melodrama by Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herman in itself should prove a big attraction and with Mr. Faversham in the leading role, produced on an elaborate scale, the picture is expected to more than prove itself worthy as a ParamountArtcraft Special, one of the nine to be released during the current year. Prominently known both as a producer and actor in the world of the spoken drama, Mr. Faversham has also appeared on the screen with considerable success. He was born in Warwickshire, England, in 1868, and following the completion of his education at Essex and Hillmartin College, he served for a brief period in a Warwickshire regiment in India. Returning to London he began a course of preparation for the stage under Charlotte LeClerq, and November 19, 1885, appeared as Sugden in “Retained for the Defense.” After a short tour of the provinces he came to New York and appeared at the Union Square theatre, January 17th, 1887, as Dick in “Pen and Ink.” Later in the same season he appeared with E. H. Sothern at the Lyceum in “The Highest Bidder.” Following succeeding appearances in “A Sad Conquest,” “She,” “The Wife,” “Sweet Lavender,” “All the Comforts of Home” and other plays, he joined the Pitou Stock Company at the Union Square theatre, playing in repertoire. King,” Has Notable William Faversham A season with Mrs. Fiske was followed by his appearance in Bronson Howard’s “Aristocracy.” Then he joined Charles Frohman’s Empire Stock Company, with which he was prominently identified for eight years. Noteworthy productions in which he appeared during that period were “The Younger Son,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “The Councillor’s Wife,” “The Conquerors,” “Lord and Lady Algy,” “Romeo and Juliet,” in which he played Romeo to Maude Adams’ Juliet; “Brother Officers,” “Diplomacy,” and other plays. Mr. Faversham made his debut as a star at the Criterion Theatre in August, 1901, as Don Caesar in “A Royal Rival.” This was followed by stellar appearances in “Imprudence,” “Mr. Sheridan,” a revival of “Lord and Lady Algy,” “Letty,” “The Squaw Man” and “In Old California.” He then toured for two seasons in “The Squaw Man,” returning to New York to appear at Daly’s in “The World and His Wife.” Career. With the staging of “The Barber of New Orleans” in October, 1908, in which he enacted the title role, Mr. Faversham embarked on his producing and managerial career and ever since then he has appeared for the most part under his own management. The productions of “Herod,” “Julius Caesar,” “The Fawn,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Othello,” “The Hawk” and Bernard Shaw’s “Getting Married,” in the last named of which he toured the country with Henrietta Crossman. Since then he has appeared in another revival of “Lord and Lady Algy.” Last season he produced Bernard Shaw’s “Misalliance” with an all-star cast and with Maxine Elliott he recently produced “Allegiance” at the Maxine Elliott Theatre. In the meantime, he found time to do two pictures, “The Right of Way,” and “A Million Dollars.” In “The Silver King,” which will be produced at the theatre next , Mr. Faversham plays the part made famous by Wilson Barrett in the original production at the Princess Theatre, London, in 1882. Barbara Castleton has been chosen for the feminine lead. Miss Castleton is widely known for her work in the Frohman productions, “God’s Man,” “For the Freedom of the World,” “Empty Pockets,” “Sins of Ambition,” and other big pictures. Warburton Gamble has been cast as “The Spider,” the part which won fame for E. S. Willard in the original production, while Daniel Pennell, well known as a Famous Players-Lasky assistant director, plays the part of Samuel Baxter, a Scotland Yard detective. Others in the cast include John Sunderland, William O’Day and John Sutherland. 3