The Washington herald., 1908-08-13
ALL IN SHOW TRUST
Managers Form a Universal
Amusement Combine.
oVERPRoDUCTIGN TIE CAUSE
Combination VIII Attempt TO Drive
Out Inferior Houses that Menace
Chicago Being the Chief Annoy
ance-Many Managers Present.

New York. Aug Through an agree
ment ent ed into recently IN New York
city all the theatrical business Of the
United States was bound together IN an
effective working unit.
This huge combination takes in every
form OF theatrical amusement and every
kind OF playhouse. It Includes not only
first-class houses. which were generally
consolidated long ago. but pOpUlar-D-tce
theaters. and those devoted 10 vaudeville.
and even 10 burlesque- While David Be
lasco and Harrison Grey Fiske were not
directly represented at the meeting in
the New Amsterdam Theater. where the
union was accomplished. they are held
in its grip through their ShubeTt affilia-
tons. wkich are in fun sympathy with
the new order Of things in the dramatic
realm
Outside the breastwori1s. and excluded
[ from the combination. viii fan the project
Of Felix Isman. William Morris. and 9TH
ers who lately invaded the vaudeville.
burlesque. and legitimate fields with the
I Broadway. American. and Circle Thea
tiers in New York city and who expected
10 furnish attractions for d contemplated
new the-ter IN Washington The New
I York Circle already has passed into the
I control of Klaw & Erlanger. Isman' s
{ American. in New York Is stiu dark
F with the plan 70 play William Morris
/ attractions hung high IN the afr. while II
1 is stated that the Ismau lease Of the
I Broadway Thezter. New York VIII re-
/ vert TO its present lessee, Alexander ".
3 DinEwalL
Attendance Was Large.
Present az the meeting IN The Office OF
4 Klaw & Erlanger were;
Mare K-z,~ and Abraham T. E-laarsr. represent
ing their 0gn Interests and those q Charles FT1h-
man: B. T. Keith q Boston and F. r Pru-far
and L F. AIbee. . New YcTs r-prsssrti1g the
Z keith & Proc-cr vaudeville circuit. John H Har-
I In. q stair & HaEIu. owners q p1p-lsr yrlce
{ rhsaters 81 over TIE cJ1utry, C. Z. Kohl repre-
scn-i-g n.a-- -heaters in Chiaco. Martin Beck.
EerrescEtiuE he Lfr-.n OTpheum thezters Il the
, West, ? B. Chase. owner q Cases rheatsr.
Washington. d c. Fsrry G. Williams. Lee Sau-
herl. aud Al Hlymsn. u New YORK. George 2. Cox
1 and A. e. Andersen. q Ciocianati. : 4. Pol q
Nev E1g2nd. samuel F. Nixon. a Philadelphia.
samuel Sc--tae- and L Wsbsr- q The "E4stera
Vice." = huri=ssus h--ses. snd Herman Fehr.
/ oi 3Iii~lukee. for The 'Wcsren Whee--"
The permanent organization has been
placed In the hands q the following:
Marc KIav. Z. F. AIbee. Lee ShuherL
/ Percy c. Williams, Samuel ScrIb1er. Mar
tin Beck. ! Il HavIin. J. 7 AIurdock.
{ II c. Anderson. and H Fehr.
One OF the subjects. which took up con
siderable time. vas the fact that new
tEeaters were constantly being erected.
. for which there were no suitable attrac-
tons 10 fiji the time. and the further
fact that a. legitimate theatrical man
/ ayers did not feel warranted IN leasing
these additional houses. these theaters
. usually feU into the hands of SPECTATORS
who had no permanent or serious interest
IN theacricaIs. and whose tendency in no
way contributed 10 the general welfare
OF the theatrical situation
Primarily. the object is 20 stop the over
building Of theaters and the over-supply
OF attractions II there is business
enough tn q certain town for three the
aters. and not for four. the man who
wants 10 build the fourth house VIII fnG
himself I'd against the proposition o1
getting attractions 70 keep II going. II
he cannot get them ouside the couibina-
ton, he VIII not build the theater.
700 Many Thesters.
/ Chicago Is pointed TO as one Of the cities
where there are too many theaters, re-
suIting in conditions damaging TO the
theatrical business as a whole and cal
culated 10 disgust the pIay-going public
Possibly the shame viii work itself on;
that where there are too many theaters
10 give all Of them a fair living some OF
Z them VIII have to close up.
Another advantage 10 the makers 0f the
agreement is that Il viii put an end 70
wars which have been waged with no re-
sulting benefits TO the playgOers. and with
heavy losses TO the promoters One OF
these was the long vaudeville fight be
tween Keith and Proctor. which at last
led TO a merger Of those interests. Then
followed the Invasion OF Percy G. VII
liams. and a battle lasting many years
before surrender and harmony.
In the resent attempt Of Klaw & En-
Ianser 70 break into the vaudeville field.
which lasted a year, they are said 10 have
sunk S1-0900o5- At the present time the
.burlesque people are sJiu engaged IN q
fight among themselves. which has dissi-
pated the handsome profits formerly
J gained IN that branch Of amusement
These two warrfng factions have come
into new agreement.
I All close observers Of events have been
looking forward for a year TO the logical
completion Of the project first begun with
the Klaw & Erlanger booking scheme,
I and rUrnors Of the sweeping and powerful
union now accomplished have been abroad
for several days