After returning to San Francisco , Coxen continued his education at the University of California , Berkeley campus and after graduating in the early 1900s he embarked upon a commercial career working for his father and uncle John at Coxen Bros . However , this did not appeal to him , and he set about attempting to make his fortune firstly by prospecting for gold and then by moving into work in civil engineering . Finally , he entered the profession he yearned for most , acting , and spoke his first lines as a professional actor on the stage of the Majestic Theatre , San Francisco at the age of 26 early in 1906 . The San Francisco earthquake and fires of 18 April 1906 followed soon after his debut , so he moved to a theater across the bay in Oakland where he appeared in '' Ye Liberty '' , '' Balasco 's Alcazar '' , and many other popular plays . The earthquake of 1906 and San Francisco 's big fire had a serious and detrimental impact on the business of Coxen Bros. and they moved south permanently to Los Angeles
San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Edward Coxen