[2][3] While Frank's family, including sister Elizabeth, remained there, he was sent to Prague for schooling.

After six years at the Mozart Dramatic College, he joined the military, rising to the rank of lieutenant in the 7th Hussars.

He interrupted his acting career to travel to South America as part of a gold prospecting expedition.

[4][5] However, he lost that money over the next two years in unsuccessful prospecting efforts in California and subsequently returned to film.

[5] Erlanger worked for many of the studios of the silent film era, including Universal, Kinemacolor, Essanay, Majestic, and the California Motion Picture Corporation, but he received his greatest fame with the Balboa Amusement Producing Company.