Frances Dee by Modest Stein for PICTURE PLAY, 1932

Born in Russia in 1871, Modest Stein left for the US when he was 17 to pursue a career in art. He became a successful artist for newspapers, books & pulp magazines & did many covers of Hollywood stars for PICTURE PLAY magazine

Stein had followed his cousin Alexander Berkman to NYC. They & their lover Emma Goldman lived together & joined an anarchist group. In 1892 hearing about & to support the steelworkers strike in Pittsburgh they plotted to assassinate anti-union industrialist Henry Clay Frick

Berkman was to carry out the plan, with Stein as back-up. The attempt failed & Berkman arrested. In a bizarre piece of luck, while on his way, Stein saw a leaked newspaper headline about himself & managed to escape. The police tried but found no evidence to link Stein or Goldman

Berkman served 14 yrs in prison. He & Goldman ended up living in France. He killed himself in 1936. Goldman died in 1940. Stein became a successful painter & contributed to his friends financially until their deaths. He died in 1958