Alexandru P. Mavrodi (December 7, 1881â€"September 24, 1934) was a
Romanian journalist, theater figure and politician.Born in Dorohoi, he
studied dramatic arts at the Iași Conservatory. He then earned two
doctorates, in Law from Paris and in Philosophy from Bonn. He entered
journalism in 1898, writing for several Iași newspapers: Opinia,
Evenimentul, Ordinea and Gazeta Moldovei, where he became editor. In
1903, he became a “second-rate†actor at the Iași National
Theatre. Initially unpaid, his roles were minor but demanded stage
presence; the young actor was tall, spoke clearly and looked well in
formal costume. Likely due to the insignificance of his roles, Mavrodi
emerged as a malcontent, ready to defend perceived victims of
injustice, particularly actresses “insulted†by directors. He
would respond to personal slights by recruiting seconds and asking for
a duel. After leaving Iași, he went to Paris, where he studied
journalism for two years on a scholarship.Returning to Romania and
moving to Bucharest, he briefly worked as a political reporter at
Adevărul and Dimineața. He was chief editor and later manager of the
official National Liberal journal Viitorul. There, he wrote about
politics and reviewed plays under the pen name Alexandru Fronda (a
character in Haralamb Lecca’s play Câinii). While at Viitorul, he
became embroiled in a scandal regarding the re-election of Duiliu
Zamfirescu as President of the Chamber of Deputies. The newspaper’s
constant attacks on Zamfirescu prompted him to challenge Mavrodi to a
duel, sending seconds to the editor’s office. Mavrodi also chose
seconds, but they were unable to agree to terms.In 1915, he became
director of the National Theater Bucharest and general director of
theaters. He was brought in to save an institution in chaos and on the
verge of bankruptcy; unlike his predecessors, he was an insider. He
held this position until 1918, again in 1922-1923 and finally from
1931. He was head of the Radio Society and of the journalists’
union.
Romanian journalist, theater figure and politician.Born in Dorohoi, he
studied dramatic arts at the Iași Conservatory. He then earned two
doctorates, in Law from Paris and in Philosophy from Bonn. He entered
journalism in 1898, writing for several Iași newspapers: Opinia,
Evenimentul, Ordinea and Gazeta Moldovei, where he became editor. In
1903, he became a “second-rate†actor at the Iași National
Theatre. Initially unpaid, his roles were minor but demanded stage
presence; the young actor was tall, spoke clearly and looked well in
formal costume. Likely due to the insignificance of his roles, Mavrodi
emerged as a malcontent, ready to defend perceived victims of
injustice, particularly actresses “insulted†by directors. He
would respond to personal slights by recruiting seconds and asking for
a duel. After leaving Iași, he went to Paris, where he studied
journalism for two years on a scholarship.Returning to Romania and
moving to Bucharest, he briefly worked as a political reporter at
Adevărul and Dimineața. He was chief editor and later manager of the
official National Liberal journal Viitorul. There, he wrote about
politics and reviewed plays under the pen name Alexandru Fronda (a
character in Haralamb Lecca’s play Câinii). While at Viitorul, he
became embroiled in a scandal regarding the re-election of Duiliu
Zamfirescu as President of the Chamber of Deputies. The newspaper’s
constant attacks on Zamfirescu prompted him to challenge Mavrodi to a
duel, sending seconds to the editor’s office. Mavrodi also chose
seconds, but they were unable to agree to terms.In 1915, he became
director of the National Theater Bucharest and general director of
theaters. He was brought in to save an institution in chaos and on the
verge of bankruptcy; unlike his predecessors, he was an insider. He
held this position until 1918, again in 1922-1923 and finally from
1931. He was head of the Radio Society and of the journalists’
union.
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