Pauline Frederick : on and off the stage (1940)

42 Pauline Frederick and charm were undeniable, and no one received more homage and attention than she at this time. She had already received many proposals of marriage but had accepted none. William Brady remembered the beautiful woman who had brought him luck at the tables, and when he cast his next production in New York, he offered her the lead. Considering their method of meeting, the title seems most appropriate — " The Dollar Mark." At the dress rehearsal Pauline's career almost came to an abrupt end. In the play there is a yachting scene, with Pauline reclining on a divan and the other players assembled around her. All of a sudden everyone began to shout and the players flew to all parts of the stage. Pauline in her recumbent position could not see what was happening and an uncanny intuition warned her to remain where she was. To this intuition she owed her life, for a heavy iron stanchion came crashing down on to the couch and fortunately only grazed her forehead. The blow stunned her for a moment and managers, stage hands, actors and others all came rushing on to the stage, terrified that she had been killed. After a few minutes, however, she recovered from the blow and insisted that they finish the rehearsal. It was while playing in " The Dollar Mark " that she met the man who was to become her first husband.