John Frazee

Pair of Sixes, A (1914), a farce by Edward Peple. [Longacre Theatre, 207 perf.] George H. Nettleton ( George Parson) and T. Boggs Johns ( Hale Hamilton) are partners in a pharmaceutical business that has made a fortune with a “pill [that] will fill the bill.” But their success has not kept them from constantly feuding. So their lawyer, Thomas J. Vanderholt ( Fritz Williams), arranges for them to play a game of poker, with the loser forfeiting his say in the business for a whole year and serving during that time as the winner's butler. Vanderholt's ploy is not entirely disinterested, since he is Johns's rival for the affections of Florence Cole ( Ann Murdock), so he contrives to have Johns lose. Since Johns will have to give up entirely his share of the company if he fails to keep his part of the bargain, all sorts of obstacles are thrown in the way, including Nettleton's aging, amorous maid, Coddles ( Maude Eburne). In the end, however, Johns proves he is a very good loser indeed. Producer H. H. Frazee's rollicking, fast‐paced farce was turned into the musical hit QUEEN HIGH (1926), featuring Charles Ruggles as Johns, Frank McIntyre as Nettleton, and Luella Gear as Florence, with book by Laurence Schwab and B. G. De Sylva, lyrics by De Sylva, and music by Lewis Gensler. The show's hit tune was “Cross Your Heart.”

John Frazee , 1790-1852, American pioneer sculptor, b. Rahway, N.J. Without formal instruction, he advanced from tombstone cutting to portrait busts, including those of Daniel Webster, John Marshall, and other notables. The portrait of John Wells (1824; St. Paul's Church, New York City) is said to be the first marble bust executed in this country by a Native American. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts owns the original cast of a self-portrait.