The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-15
FIGHT ON HANDS.
Prominent American Actors and
Theatrical Managers
Form an Organization to Com
bat the Trust.
STARTS WITH s HOUSES
Help From the Independents Is
Looked For.
viii Play Bernhardt, Mrs. Fiske
and Ada Rehan.

New York, July 15.-Announcement
OF a new combination of actors in
America against what is known as the
theatrical trust is made by Lee Sf1u-
pert. The leading companies in the
new combination are those headed by
David Belasco and Mrs. Minnie Madden
Fiske. Lee Shubert will manage the
line of theaters which will be placed
at the disposal of Mr.. Belasco, Mrs.
Fiske and others.
The new combine will back Is COM
panies on the road and such actors as
Sarah Bernhardt, Ada Rehan, Jefferson
DeAngelis, Henry Miller. Lillian Rus
sell, David Warf1eld, Blanche Bates,
Bertha Gallan, Robert Hilliard, Mrs.
Fiske, Bertha Kalisch and Mrs. Leslie
Carter. The actors under the new
management expect within another
theaters on their own circuit in Amer
lea and England to play in the year
round. Mr.. Hubert announced that his
company now controls IA playhouses
under control including theaters in
New York. Chicago, st. Louis and Lon
don, Eng, and that he would within a
week be able to open half a dozen more
theaterS to his attractions, among them
house in Boston. Beside these places
the new combination is counting on the
support of Independent houses all over
the country. The amendment by the
theatrical syndicate managers of a con-
tract which. Lee Shubert said he made
with them in agreeing to pay 25 per
cent of the profits on all of the syndi-
Gates attractions booked at his thea
ters, was the cause OF his break from
the trust ranks. His friendliness toward
David Belasco during the last two
months he said, was a further cause OF
trouble.
1.-TWO years ago. said Mr.. Shubert,
in explaining the origin of the dispute,
I'VE signed a contract with the theatri-
cal syndicate which is headed by
Messrs. KIaw and Esrlanger, agreeing
that the syndicate could book their at
fractions in our houses for 25 per cent
of the profits for a period of five years
After we had signed the contract let
ter was. sent to us by the syndicate
asking US to amend the. contract by
agreeing not to add any more theaters
to our own circuit
Mr.. Shubert says at this point he had
only eight theaters in his own circuit
and did not feel strong enough to make
| a fight against the syndicate.
when L asked,' Mr.. Shubert con.
| tinued, why this new amendment was
| required, / was told our company ha6
violated its contract with the syndi
| cate by refusing to accept some ol
| their attractions which they had book
| ed at our houses. They said this was
| a violation of our contract with them
| though L0aC document cOAldLllSu LIZ
| provision that the syndicate were at al
| times subject to our order. After this
| conversation the matter was allowed tt
rest for time.
| meanwhile the Lyric Theater com
| pany was extending its own circuit ane
! acquiring new attractions. When oul
| company was building the Garrick thea
| ter in st. Louis the syndicate told Us
/ we would not be allowed to book oul
| own attractions in our own house i
| we pursued our policy. And at theil
| convenience they always filed theil
| theaters with our attractions.
| ION my return from Europe last Jun'
| I was met by Mr.. Erlanger and had {
| chat with him about patching up ou
| difficulties He told me that if l die
| not book BeIasco in any of our theater;
| [ could have anything I wanted. Be
| cause I booked Belasco in one of ou
| houses, the Garriek in st. Louis, h
| said that the tours of The Royal Chef
and of 'Fantana,' already booked wer'
| off.
LET me say that in the present NOV
we are not attempting to fight the syn
dicate but merely, in self protection
trying to find place for our own at
/