Ford's Theatre Museum

[L Verge]

The last photo is of Frankie Hewitt, the first executive director of the Ford's Theatre Society (the theatrical end of Ford's as a continuing theater). She was quite a dictator in her day (now deceased) and had the money and power to enforce her will - former wife of Don Hewitt of NBC hierarchy. She caused quite a few headaches among NPS staff during the 1970s and 80s and was not a friend to those interested in the Lincoln assassination history.

I believe that I'm correct that she allowed only one production that had anything to do with Lincoln during her reign. That was a one-man performance by Roy Dotrice as Mr. Lincoln. I was able to attend that and started crying at the beginning. Mr. Dotrice walked out on the stage, turned to the Presidential Box, took off his stovepipe hat and bowed his head for about fifteen seconds and then began his monologue. Talk about goosebumps!