#Fredric L. Frye

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Emperor scorpion drinking from a water dish By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Dwight Frye’s Broadway Years (1922-1929)

Before Dwight was tragically typecast and only offered supporting roles and bit parts in Hollywood, he had a fulfilling career as a critically acclaimed stage actor. Dwight found success in Broadway portraying a variety of character roles for several types of plays in the Roaring Twenties up until the Great Depression.

Dwight was discovered by famed Broadway producer, Brock Pemberton and Dwight collaborated with him in several of his early plays. He had the opportunity to act alongside notable actors and actresses in this period, like his future Dracula co-star Bela Lugosi. 

SELECTED ROLES

-Six Characters in Search of an Author (Oct 30, 1922 - Feb 1923) as The Son w/ Florence Eldridge

Note: A revival for this play was in Feb 1924 for 17 performances and Dwight reprised his role.

-Rita Coventry (Feb 19, 1923 - Mar 1923) as Patrick Delaney

Note: This role gave him the honor of being placed in the Top 10 of 1922/23’s midseason performances.

-Sitting Pretty (Apr 08, 1924 - Jun 28, 1924) as Horace w/ Queenie Smith

Note: Dwight got to sing and dance in this musical comedy.

-So this is Politics (Strange Bedfellows) (Jun 16, 1924 - Oct 1924) as Willie Marsden

-Puppets (Mar 09, 1925 - Apr 1925) as Frank Mohacz w/ Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, & C. Gordon Henry

Note: Here, he got to play a juicy part in a villainous role. Likewise with Rita Coventry, he showed off his talents as a pianist in this melodrama.

-A Man’s Man (Oct 13, 1925 - Jan 1926) as Melville Tuttle w/ Josephine Hutchinson & Robert Gleckler

Note: He portrayed the leading protagonist and used method acting for this play. The role of Melville Tuttle was Dwight’s personal favorite.

-The Goat Song (Jan 25, 1926 - Mar 1926) as Mirko w/ Lynn Fontanne, Edward G. Robinson, & Zita Johann

-Devil in the Cheese (Dec 29, 1926 - May 1927) as Dr. Pointell Jones w/ Fredric March & Bela Lugosi

Note: Bela and Dwight's first collaboration before 1931’s Dracula film.

-The Queen’s Husband (Jan 25, 1928 - May 1928) as Prince William

-Mima (Dec 12, 1928 - May 1929) as Alfons w/ Lenore Ulrich, Sidney Blackmer, & Alan Hale Sr.

Note: It could be seen as a presage to Dwight’s coming notoriety in horror film.

Dwight Frye’s biography, "Dwight Frye’s Last Laugh" details his stage career in stock theatre and in Broadway leading to his tenure in Hollywood. I truly recommend the book for anyone who is a fan of his work.

The three bottom photos L to R are from Sitting Pretty, A Man's Man, & Mima.

-The full list of his Broadway credits can be found here.-

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Crickets By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Mulberry silkworms By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Mulberry silkmoths mating By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Praying mantis By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Black widow with egg sac By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Garden spider By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates: A Guide to Their Biology and Husbandry 1992

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House centipede By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Garden spider By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates: A Guide to Their Biology and Husbandry 1992

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Goliath tarantula drinking from a water dish By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Crab spider By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates: A Guide to Their Biology and Husbandry 1992

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Brown recluse By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Mating snails By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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How to handle a hermit crab By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992

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Giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) ovipositing By: Fredric L. Frye From: Captive Invertebrates 1992