Gave Mary Pickford her stage name. Her real name, Gladys Marie Smith, wasn't
right for the stage. Gladys didn't suit her, Smith was too common,
Marie wasn't common enough. "Marie" became "Mary". Pickford was her
mother's maiden name.
March 18, 1873 - made his stage debut at the Metropolitan Theatre
playing Emperor Norton in the play "The Gold Demon". It is this role
which earned him his nicknames: Governor, and The Bishop of Broadway.
Famous Broadway playwright, producer, director and impresario.
Composer Giacomo Puccini based two of his most successful operas,
"Madama Butterfly" and "La Fanciulla del West", on two of Belasco's
plays.