Like all his other stars, William Collier had no contract with Charles, merely a verbal understanding extending over a period of years. After this agreement expired and another year and a half had gone by, Collier one day asked Frohman if he realized that their original agreement had run out. Frohman looked up with a start and said:
"Is that so? Well, it's all right, Willie, you know."
"Of course," said Collier, and that ended it.
The next Saturday when Collier got his pay-envelope he found inside a very charming letter from Frohman, which said:
I'm sorry that I overlooked the expiration of our agreement. I hope that you will find a little increase in your salary satisfactory.
There was an advance of one hundred dollars a week.
Frohman literally loved the word "star," and he delighted in the so-called "all-star casts." He had great respect for the big names of the profession; for those who had achieved success. He liked to do business with them.
In speaking about "all-star casts," he once said to his brother:
"I have to look after so many enterprises that I have no time to conduct a theatrical kindergarten in developing actors or playwrights save where the play of the unknown author or the exceptional talents of the unknown actor or actress appeal to me strongly. There is an element of safety in considering work by experts, because the theaters I represent need quick results."
In reply to the oft-repeated question as to why he took his American stars to London when they could play to larger audiences and make more money at home, he said: