West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 20 February 1933, page 9


MR. J. B. FAGAN DEAD.

Playwright and Producer.

LOS ANGELES. Feb. 17.— Mr. James Bernard Fagan, the noted English playwright and actor-producer, died to-day at his home in Hollywood from a ' sudden

heart attack, following a relapse after a bout of. influenza. Born in 1873, James Bernard Fagan studied for the Bar and, for a time was in the Indian Civil Service. He made his first appearance on the stage in 1895 and from 1897 to 1899 played with Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree at Her Majesty's Theatre. He appeared with success in 'Katherine and Petruchio,' 'JuliuH Ceasar,' 'The Three Musketeere,' and other plays. He gave up the stage until 1913, when he toured with success in his own play 'The Earth.' In 1917, he produced 'Damaged Goods,' at the St. Martin's Theatre, and in the same year produced Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Wonder Tales' at the Ambassadors Theatre. In 1918 he took over the management of the Court Theatre and, in it produced Shakespearian and oth«r plays for several years. Extending his operations to New York, he produced several plays in different theatres, also playing in some of the pieces. In 1928 he opened the Oxford Playhouse and in 1929, became a director of the Festival Theatre, Cambridge. Mr. Fagan was the author of many plays, including 'The Rebels,' 'Under Which King,' 'Shakespeare versue Shaw.' 'Hawthorne, U.S.A.,' 'The Earth,' 'A Merry Devil,' 'Treasure Island (adapted from Stevenson), 'The Wheel,' and others.