The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-13

NEW YORK, Aug. I3.-Through an
agreement now entered into permanent
~ IN this city, all the theatrical bust
ness Of the United States. with certain
exceptions. is bound together in a work
ing unit
This huge elimination takes in every
form Of theatrical amusement and every
kind Of playhouse, barring a number
unafhllated. It includes not only hrst-
class houses, which were generally con-
solidatd long ago. but 0opular-price
theaters and those devoted to vaEde-
VILE and even TO burlesque. While
David Belasco and Harrison Grey Fisks
were not directly represented at the
meeting In the New Amsterdam Thea
ter. where the union was accomplished.
they are held in its grip through their
Shubert affiliations. which are in full
sympathy with the new order Of things
IN the dramatic realm.
Outside the breastworks and excluded
from the benefits of the combination
Will fall the ambitious projects OF Felix
Isman, William Morris and others. who
lately invaded the vaudeville, burlescue,
and legitimate fields with the Broad
way, American, and Circle Theaters IN
this city. and who expected 20 furnish
attractions for a contemplated new the
alter IN Washington.
Hose IN Gotham.
The New York, Circle Theater already
has passed into the control OF KIaw &
Erlanger. Ismans American Theater in
this city is still dark. with the plan 70
play William Morris attractions hung
high in the air. while it is stated that
the Isman lease Of the Broadway Thea
ter Will revert to its present lessee.
Alexander W. Dingwan
Present at the final meeting in the
f-IC5 : DZl@w & ErlangeF were Marc
Klaw and Abraham L. Erlanger. repre-
sentlng their owl interests and those of
Charles FrOhmaDi +. +. Keith, OF Bos-
ton, Z f. Proctor and +. +. AlDee. OF
New York, representing the Keith &
Proctor vaudeville circuit; John H Hav-
lin, of Stair * Havlin, owners Of pop
ular price theaters all over the coun-
try; Z. i. Kohl, representing many
theaters IN Chicago: Martin Beck, rep
.resenting the fifteen Orpheum theaters
Of the West: i. B. Chase, owner OF
Chase's Theater. Washington. d C +:
Percy @. Williams. Loe ShubeTt, and
Al Hayman, Of New Y0rk: George 3.
Cox and NJ. c. Anderson, Of Cincinnati
s. 4 Poll, Of New England. Samuel F..
Nixon or Pnlladelpnla5 samuel L.
Scribner and =. Weber, for the Eastern
wheel of burlesque houses. and Herman
Fehr, of Milwaukee, for the Western
wheel.
The permanent organization was
placed ia the hands OF the following
Marc Klaw f F. Albse. Lee Shubert,
Percy G. Williams, Samuel Scribner,
Martin Beck, J. II. Havlin. J. J. Muir
dock, n c. Anderson, and II. Febr.
To CurtliI Theaters
One Of the subjects which took up
considerable time was the fact that
new Jneaters were constantly being
erected, for which there were no suit
able attractions TO fill the time. and
the further fact that. as legitimate
theatrical managers did not IeeI war
ranted In leasing these additional
houses. these theaters usually fell into
the hands of overnight spectators,
who had no permanent or serious inter
est in theaTicals and whose tendency
in no way contributed 10 the general
welfare of the theatrical situation
Primarily. the object is 10 stop the
OVerbuilding OF theateTs and the over
supply of attractions. II there is bust
ness enough ~ q certain town for three
theaters. and not for four, the man
who wants 20 build the fourth house