Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-04


the theater. Those Of the local
citizenship who are really attached to the
stage and enjoy artistic performances have
congratulated themselves many times dur
ing the winter that the Burwood is in sx-
lstence; for the standard at the stock house
mas been Kept high. and the performances
nave been of uniformly excellent grade,
with only the best Of plays offered The
February bookings for the BOYD promise
much better than recent experience and
VIII probably redeem the season at this
house for much of the dullness noted so
far. At the Krug the attractions run along
about the same, with a steady patronage.
while the Orpheum is deservedly pros
porous
Conditions surrounding the business
management of the theaters of the United
states are taking on phase that sug-
gests recasting of control great
change has been wrought in the relations
OF managers during the last two years. and
1t Is not wild guess that greater may
be looked for within even shorter time.
The opposition to the so-called "syndi-
cato" has grown since the detection of the
"Shuberts' at a rate that is making the
big bosses sit up and take notice, and the
experience Of the present season has given
look about and see just where they are at.
The "Shuberts' have developed unexpected
financial strength and have backed their
words with, deeds to an extent that was
not thought possible. II Is this that is maxi
ing the other fellows think. Working with
persistence that is suggestive of
limited capital the "Shuberts" are now in
all but actual control of a chain of thea
ters across the continent. At Kansas City
and Denver new theaters are being built
to close two OF the gaps These theaters
are not called for by the actual business
requirements of these cities, for at Kansas
City six theaters are open every evening
during the season and at Denver five
houses invite the public to come in and be
shown. Hold on these figures are not
actly correct. In both Denver and Kansas
City is a first-class theater that is in much
the same fix as the frst-cass theater In
Omaha. Their doors are open when an at
traction may be obtained. This season has
proved that a great many nights are dark
and often when the doors are open the at
fractions are far from being hrst-class.
.
But the "Shuberts" could not get into
Kansas City unless they hired Convention
Hall, and at Denver they were shut out
completely. When they talked of building
their heads and said, SHOW me-" Well,
they have Showed" for work is already
under way on the Kansas City house and
1t is to be the finest theater in the west,
and at Denver site has been secured at
Eighteenth and Broadway, just a step
from the present location of the Broadway
theater the first-class trust" house of
the town, and the plans for the new house
have been decided upon. This is the answer
to the trust" and is a most significant
move in the game that is being played.
Omaha is yet on the outside. but Sarah
Bernhard is to play here under Shubert di-
rection, taking the Auditorium for thea
ter one night and this is undoubtedly but
an opening. It is known that the "Shu-
berts" are willing to come to Omaha II in
duoements are offered and ii is also known
that some tentative steps towards making
It an object for them to come have been
made,
This campaign is but indicative Of what
has been going on in all the larger cities
of the country, and 1t surely spells disaster
for somebody. Even the "Shuberts'' will not
insist that a city of Omaha's present size
can support two first-class theaters, with
three running at popular prices The men
who are putting up the money must see
where it is coming back, and thus is ex-
cited some wonderment on part OF those
who are engaged in the show business. 1t
is surmised that Klaw & Erlanger, who
are the visible head of the Syndicate"
are involved to about as great an extent
they care to be just at present. They
own two theaters in New York. built most
eXtravagantly, representing an investment
of nearly three millions, and are into the
Colonial in Chicago, which was disas-
.aa-lvu 81. a.,
tune of nearly a million more. This, with
ventures in the way of costly productions
has tied up a lot of money for them, and
practically ends their activity along the
line of building. In the meantime, they and
their associates have contracts which give
them an extensive prestige among the
ATTRACTIONS" of the country and. with the
arrangement with local managers, what
was all but fun control of the theaters in
the larger cities, Chicago, Cincinnati and
St. Louis in the middle west, and San
Francisco and Los Angeles on the coast
afforded the only independent" theaters
Now, the "Shuberts'' are breaking into
the preserves of the syndicate" and it
looks to the outsider IL settlement
would have to be made.
The wisdom of the original plan of the
syndicate has never been disputed. The
arrangement whereby managers of the
theaters throughout the country and the
managers of the different companies that
went on the road could be protected and
by which the business of routing a tour
and booking attractions for local theater
could be dispatched with expedition and
little friction, was admirable. The plan
worked like a charm til disposition TO
dominate the whole business, TO dictate
terms that were distasteful to rivals, and
TO rule with autocratic power the business
of the amusement world became apparent.
Since that time more or less OF rebellion
has existed. Il broke out strong two years
ago when David Belaseo disagreed with
his partners, Messrs. klaw a ETlanEeT,
with regard 70 the division of monies.
SINCE then the "Shuberts" have joined the
recacitrants, and with Colonel Harrison
Grey Fiske, who was already outside the
syndicate" fold, have formed the new
crowd that is SO successfully assailing the
intrenchments OF the trust" Another
thing that has been noticed. Within the
last two or three years the trust has in
creased the number OF playhouses In New
York ana otheF eastern centers, In which
its leading spirits are more or less d.
rectly interested until It is no longer pos