Richard M. Hotaling
American actor, playwright (1868–1925)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard M. Hotaling (November 27, 1868 – November 14, 1925), commonly known as Dick Hotaling, was an American clubman, stage actor, playwright, and politician. He was from a pioneering family in San Francisco, California and the son of Anson Parsons Hotaling, a noted businessman and one of the richest people in California by 1900.[1][2]
Richard M. Hotaling | |
|---|---|
Richard M. Hotaling (1915) | |
| San Francisco Board of Supervisors | |
| In office 1900–1901 | |
| Succeeded by | Fred N. Bent |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 27, 1868 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 14, 1925 (aged 56) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cypress Lawn Memorial Park |
| Parent |
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| Occupation | Stage actor, clubman, playwright, politician, insurance executive |
Life and career
Richard M. Hotaling was born on November 27, 1868, in San Francisco, California. His parents were Lavinia Johnson (née Linen) and Anson Parsons "A.P." Hotaling.[2]
For more than 20 years, Hotaling led an acting company and produced Shakespeare's dramas on stage.[2] He was also a prominent member of the Bohemian Club, where he was active in their stage productions.[2]
He served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1900–1901 under Mayor James D. Phelan.[3][4]
His father A.P. Hotaling died in 1900 without will, and his wife Lavinia and son Richard battled in court for many years over the estate, worth an estimated US $5 million.[5][6]
His father A.P. Hotaling had owned 1,900 acres (770 ha) of land in Marin County, California.[7] After his father's death, Richard built and lived at Hotaling Mansion (1900) in Sleepy Hollow, Marin County, California.[7] The house was designed for entertaining, and he maintained a herd of Holstein cattle from Holland there.[7][8] In 1925 the Hotaling family sold the property and he moved back to San Francisco.[7] After the sale the Hotaling Mansion was used as the clubhouse for Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, and later changed hands before it burned down in 1957 from suspected arson.[7]
In February 1925, Hotaling was accused of murder-for-hire, allegedly to murder his mother Lavinia and his sister in-law Myrtle Fitzwater Hotaling, who was married to his brother Frederick.[9][10][11] The case was in national news, and was brought before a grand jury.[11] In March 1925, the grand jury rejected the evidence as "worthless" and the case was dismissed.[12]
Death
Hotaling died from leucocythemia (now known as acute myeloid leukemia) on November 14, 1925, in San Francisco.[2] He had never married.[2][13] He was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma.[2]
Publications
- Hotaling, Richard M. (1918). The Twilight Of The Kings; A Mask Of Democracy (play). Wallace A. Sabin (music), George Sterling (lyrics, excepting Song of love). San Francisco, California: Bohemian Club.
