Baron of Broadway: The George Ade Story

Mike Davis’s connection to Hazelden began shortly after college when his employer encouraged him to visit George Ade’s former home. As a Sigma Chi member, he knew of Ade’s famous Creed, but a visit to the estate sparked a much deeper interest in Ade’s life and legacy.

Soon after, Mike joined the board and became one of its youngest members. His appreciation for Ade as a writer, playwright, philanthropist and public servant grew as he became more involved in preserving the historic property.

In 1995, Mike became board president and helped lead efforts to restore and promote Hazelden. The board raised funds and awareness through events and public readings of Ade’s Fables in Slang.

Today, Mike remains proud of the ongoing work to preserve Hazelden as a vibrant destination that honors George Ade’s legacy and reflects his belief that, “It doesn’t matter where you are from; it’s what you do with it that counts”.

Steven is a filmmaker and director with more than 15 years of experience — a storyteller deeply specialized in the technical craft behind cinema.

On Baron of Broadway: The George Ade Story, Steven played a central role in shaping the film’s visual identity from beginning to end. Serving as Director of Photography, Editor, VFX Lead, and Colorist, he guided the project from on-set capture through post-production with a meticulous attention to detail.

He also oversaw the film’s score, helping create the cohesive, period-driven atmosphere that defines the documentary’s look and feel.

For Steven, storytelling is built as much in the technical process as it is in the narrative itself — where every frame, texture, and sound works together to bring history back to life.

Before she became a New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, Pamela Suarez was a journalist on the crime beat — chasing the truth through small-town Kansas courtrooms and police logs. It was there she mastered the art of the deep dive, a skill that would lead to her most compelling investigation yet.

In 2016, Pamela joined forces with William C. Ade, the great-great-nephew of legendary American humorist and playwright George Ade, on a mission to uncover the story of a fading literary giant.

Together, they sifted through archives, manuscripts, letters, photographs, and family lore — piecing together a legacy nearly lost to time.

What they uncovered was more than history. It was treasure.

Their collaboration led to three books — Plays Worth Remembering (Volumes I & II), George Ade’s Common-Sense Advice, and A Pioneer in the Fullest Sense — and ultimately laid the foundation for Baron of Broadway: The George Ade Story.

I've been working alongside William C. Ade, George's great-great-nephew, since 2016 with the goal of reviving George's memory. To further that mission, I helped Will create three books: Plays Worth Remembering Volumes I and II, A Pioneer In the Fullest Sense, and George Ade's Common Sense Advice; as well as the new documentary, Baron of Broadway: The George Ade Story. 

Biography and Photographs

William C. Ade is the executive producer of the 2026 feature-length documentary Baron of Broadway: The George Ade Story. 

Will was born and raised on a small family farm in Indiana. The great-great nephew of George Ade, “Indiana’s Warm-hearted Satirist”, Will grew up hearing family tales about his Uncle George, whose wit, tenacity and good humor inspired him in every aspect of his life. Before producing Baron of Broadway, Will devoted more than a decade to reviving George's memory by publishing multiple books: Plays Worth Remembering: A Veritable Feast of George Ade’s Greatest Hits (Vols. I and II), George Ade’s Common-Sense Advice, and A Pioneer in the Fullest Sense: The Wit and Wisdom of George Ade’s Father. Profits from Will's books are donated to various non-profits preserving and promoting George's legacy.

As a young man, Will worked his way through Ball State University earning a B.S. in geology, an M.S. in physics and geology, and an MBA. Over the course of his career as an independent geologist specializing in international new ventures across the energy sector (oil, gas, geothermal, wind and solar) and generating “wildcat exploration” prospects, mostly in Asia, he has found commercial oil and gas with an estimated recovery of over 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent. He is a founding partner of R360 Global .

Kristine Wright grew up just three miles from the historic Hazelden Estate and developed a lifelong connection to the legacy of Indiana author and humorist George Ade. She currently serves as Director of the Brook Iroquois Washington Public Library and has been President of the George Ade Historic Preservation Commission since its establishment in 2018. Through her leadership in preservation and restoration efforts at Hazelden, Kristine has become a passionate advocate for sharing Ade’s story and preserving the estate’s rich history. She was interviewed for the documentary and also contributed historical facts, research, and access to artifacts that helped bring the film to life.

Biography and Photographs

Meet Carlos Suarez — the artist who risked everything for the freedom to create.

Trained at Havana’s prestigious San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts, Carlos’s talent was forged in rebellion against the Cuban government — a rebellion the Castro regime refused to ignore. His exhibitions were censored. When he attempted to escape Cuba, he carried only his art diploma sealed in a waterproof tube around his neck. He was caught, imprisoned, and silenced — but never broken.

In 2001, Carlos arrived in the United States after being granted political asylum, bringing with him a perspective shaped by sacrifice, resilience, and freedom.

For Baron of Broadway, Carlos faced one of the most unique artistic challenges of his career: visually bringing the world of George Ade to life.

To do it, he immersed himself in the work of Ade’s closest friend, legendary cartoonist John T. McCutcheon. Using a traditional dip pen and India ink, Carlos hand-drew 37 original illustrations for the film — channeling McCutcheon’s style while honoring Ade’s spirit.

Today, alongside his illustration work, Carlos creates heirloom-quality oil portraits that blend classical technique with a deeply personal story of perseverance.

His art is more than craftsmanship. It is proof that creativity can survive even the harshest attempts to suppress it.