Dennis F. O’Brien was born in 1876 in North Brookfield, Massachusetts to Charles and Ellen (Driscoll) O’Brien, the only boy in a family of four children. Times were difficult and his mother helped in the struggle by taking in boarders. When he was quite young Dennis became very ill and the doctor told his mother that he would probably never walk again. Determined that it would be otherwise, as he recovered she sent him running on numerous errands to strengthen his legs. He eventually became a track star, holding the record in one school event.

During the summer months, the family of George M. Cohan vacationed in the Brookfield vicinity. Dennis was captain of the local baseball team and when “little Georgie Cohan” wanted to play, Dennis urged his teammates to include him. Dennis received the nickname “Cap” that was his for life and formed a lasting friendship with George Cohan who would be godfather to Dennis’ daughter, Denise.

In the late 19th century in North Brookfield, it was expected that upon graduation from high school boys would go to work in the local shoe factory. Dennis, however, had made an impression on an English teacher and through her influence he won a track scholarship to Brown University. while at Brown, Dennis earned extra money running in various events and won several medals. Upon graduation in 1898 he entered Georgetown Law School where he earned his LLB in 1901.

In 1904 Dennis married Mary Rita Brennan whose father had helped build Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and who had built the San Remo Hotel. Dennis opened a law office in Providence, Rhode Island but there were problems with his partner. When his old friend George Cohan visited and invited him to New York, Dennis was ready to make a move. George promised Dennis a large photograph to put in his office, showing the theatrical world that Dennis O’Brien was his lawyer. The year was 1906 and the office was at 152 West 42nd Street.

In 1913 Moses Malevinsky became a partner and O’Brien’s nephew, Arthur Driscoll, joined the firm; O’Brien, Malevinsky and Driscoll were affectionately known on Broadway as “the Kosher sandwich.” Dennis became general’counsel and Vice President of Douglas Fairbanks Pictures Corporation, The Pickford Corporation, Mary Pickford Company, United Artists Corporation, United Artists Theater Circuit, Inc., George M. Cohan Productions, and Samuel H. Harris Theatrical Enterprises. He also counted among his clients Jack Dempsey, Charles Coburn, Richard Barthelmess, Irving Berlin and Mike Todd.

The family moved to the Park Hill section of Yonkers in the early part of this century where the family continued to live until the late 1%0’s. why they chose to live in Yonkers is unclear, but Mrs. O’Brien’s sister, Margaret Brennan Lawler, lived nearby on Van Cortlandt Park Avenue; Owen Davis, the playwright and client of Dennis, was a resident; Irvin S. Cobb, humorist and author, lived on Edgecliff Terrace, and Richard Bennett, matinee idol and father of the actresses, Joan and Constance, had home on Park Hill Avenue. Park Hill was an enclave of creative people.

Mr. O’Brien died on October 2, 1946 in his home in Park Hill. Among his pallbearers were Walter Brennan, Connie Mack, Irving Berlin, Charles Coburn, Jack Dempsey, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Alfred W. McCann, Jr. and, of course, George M. Cohan. Jr.

—Rosalie Flynn

EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer thanks Mrs. O’Brien’s son and daughter–in–law, Bud and Peg O’Brien, for their assistance with this article.