PAYTON, CORSE

(1867-1934)

Despite his semi-serious billing as "The World's Best Bad Actor," Centreville, Iowa, native Corse Payton managed his own successful theatre in Brooklyn, New York, for two decades after long stints touring the western half of the United States with his family. The secret to his success was a stock company of bright young talents, including Fay Bainter, Richard Bennett,DorothyandLillian Gish, andErnest Truex, and keeping ticket prices between a dime and 30 cents.