The Age of Innocence (1929)

Although he appeared in several plays before it, The Age of Innocence is often reported as Franchot's New York stage debut.  The successful play ran for 207 performances between November 1928 and May 1929 at the Empire Theatre. Located at 1430 Broadway, the Empire Theatre was built in 1893 and demolished in 1953.

Setting from Age of Innocence. Source: Billy Rose Theatre Division,
     The New York Public Library. "Stage and the hall."
         The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1928.
       http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47db-e2d8-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Based on Edith Wharton's novel, the play was written by Margaret Ayer Barnes and produced by Gilbert Miller. Katharine Cornell, dubbed the "First Lady of Theatre", starred as Ellen Olenska. Highly respected for her dedication to the theatre and starring roles in compelling stage dramas, Cornell was also a successful writer and producer.

Katharine Cornell. Source: Billy Rose Theatre Division,
     The New York Public Library. "Katharine Cornell as Countess Ellen
Olenska in The Age of Innocence. N.Y., Empire Theatre."
         The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1928.
       http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47db-e335-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Indicating that many years have passed, Franchot enters at the end of the play as Newland Archer, Jr., the product of a marriage between Newland Archer and May Van Der Luyden. Although married to his mother, Jr.'s father has always been in love with Countess Olenska and made many an attempt to leave May to be with Ellen. Earlier in the play, it is May's announcement that she is pregnant (with Newland Archer Jr.) that seals the separation between Archer and Countess Olenska permanently.

At twenty-three years old when the play first began, Franchot was called a "disciple of the new emancipation" and a "member of our chucking generation" by the New York Times (the chucking comment is based on his line, "My generation chucks that." in the play). The Age of Innocence cast was praised for its acting being "eloquent even when it was hushed".

Original playbill from my collection

Original playbill from my collection

Original playbill from my collection

Sources:

http://www.ibdb.com/Production/View/10792

More or Less in the Times Square Spotlight: Miss Vale of "Let Us Be ... New York Times (1923-Current file); Mar 31, 1929; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times pg. 104

The Play by J. Brooks Atkinson. New York Times (1923-Current file); Nov 28, 1928; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times pg. 33