The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-13
EAIR IRUSI.
Most Gigantic Amusement Syn
dictate in Process of Formation.
New Combination Will Own
PIaywrights as Sidelines.
CAPITAL 100 MILLIONS.
Authors Who DO Not Like
Prices offered May Retire.
Shuberts Are Still Independent
of New Organization.
100 MILLIONS.

dictate now in. existence will be but
part, is in the process of formation
here. The new combination is to in
clude $50 of the most important thea
ters in the United States will be rep
resented IN every city from New York
to San Francisco and from Portland
to New Orleans. will dictate matters of
bookings. tours of ali big companies,
and, in a word, be the theatrical bust
ness of the United States, if not the
world.
The combine intends to control with
out reserve the men who make cos
tunes and the concerns which build
scenery for all plays. 1t intends to
make playwriters paid servants, who
will either accept the prices offered
them or else go into some other busi-
ness.
Although the combination still is in
the process of formation. the following
interests are slated as those to go
into it:
Klaw & Erlanger.
Daniel Frohman.
Charles Frohnnan.
Al Hayman.
Nixon & Zimmerman.
Rich & Harris.
Orpheon circuit.
It is estimated by. some of the man
ayers who expect to go into the new
combination that the properties con-
trolled by the corporation will value
sibly SIS. 900. According to pres
ent plans new corporation will be
formed, probably under the laws Of H.
linols. It's capital stock will be placed
somewhere between $5O,O00,00D and
500, 900. 900 The owners of the thea
tiers will be given blocks of stock ac-
cording to the value of the properties
contributed" to the general roundup.
Hitch About the Price.
And it is right there a hitch has oc-
CURED that has baked the most en-
thusiastic promoters of the plan. 1t
was nearly six months ago that the
idea OF forming a combination of all of
the big interests in the country first
was preached in New York and Bos-
ton. The Frohman people are said to
have been the first to agree to the
proposition. The matter ran along
Erlanger people are said to have en-
gagged the services OF Levy Mayer to
represent them in the windup of affairs
under the old trust and assist them
into the new under .7avoraable 3 condf-
But the plans were not destined to
run along as smoothly. One of the
biggest interests IN the proposed.
merger is said to have stood back for
a higher price=a bigger block of stock
in the new corporation. 1t was said
yesterday that this objector was Klaw
& Erlanger. For four months the
work of endeavOring to bring all par
ties together has been going on and 1t
is not yet completed. 1t is even said
that there is still possibility of all
falling through because of a persistent
effort of some to shave" the weaker
interests in the final organization.
ZAP Hayman the Originator.
Al Hayman. at present the president
of the theatrical trust" is credited
with being the originator of the coiOs-
sal venture. This seems strange to
many outside managers who remem-
Der his threat to withdraw from the
old syndicate five years ago. 1t really
is an OutgroWth of the difficulties that
he had with the other syndicate man.
ayers at that time, however, that the
present combination has resulted.
The agreement under which the
members of the old syndicate now are
working comes to an end in a few
weeks-some time before January l.
crystallized within a short time or the
theatrical business once more will be
made up of only independent man
ayers.
Shuberts Not in the Deal.
The only big concern that will not
+ be a part of the new "trust''s as now
planned will be the Sam S. and Lee
i Shubert houses The Shuberts already
/ occupy the anomalous position of be-
ing an Independent trust. When they
T fell out with the old syndicate in New
York early in 1901 the Shuberts de-
clared that they would fight the COM
/ bination on its own ground. They have
done so, apparently, so successfully
I that the new organization refuses to
make any advances to them in Working
out the new trust The Shuberts
1 control fifty-five first class theaters
scattered from New York to San Fran
cisco and sixty first class stars and at
fractions and are adding more daily.
THE Shuberts have as much chance
of getting in with US as a camel has Of
/ passing through a needles eye-to
/ twist a Biblical quotation" said one
/ of the leading lights of the proposed
trust in discussing the matter in the
evening. ~ on can bank on It that
we're agin en- and will remain So
When the old syndicate refused to
book Shubert's attractions in houses
/ under their control about five years
ago, the Shuberts already owned twelve
houses in various parts OF the country
( Nothing daunted by the opposition OF
/ the trust" they purchased nearly a
score of houses, reorganized under the
] laws of New York, and issued S1,4OO,-
/ 600 in capital stock. Those who are
! interested in it and, consequently, viii
continue the fight the new trust" are
Lee Shubert, Jacob Shubert, Joseph w
/ Jacobs. Charles A. Bird, Sol Man
heifner and William Klein David
| Belasco also is engaged with the lesser
concern in its fight against the big
combination
Although it is expected that the only
Chicago theaters to go into the new
combine will be the six named, the
hackers of the big organization hope
eventually to get every theater in th'
Fl downtown district into 1t, leaving the
Shubert house=the Garrick-to fighi
its battles alone.
Eject on the Public.
The effect on the general public of al
these changes Is not made clear. One
of the managers who was reached yes
terday said that there would be n'
changes Of any kind made in the prices
OF seats. The public would benefit h
declared. in better ATTRACTIONS tina
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