The sun., 1908-08-22
ISMAN AMUSES HANMERSTEIN
BY SAYING OSCAR KEEPS
STOCK or WILD ANIMALS.
These Beasts In the Roof Garden. which
Oyeriaps Belsseo Property. Which Phil
adelphian says He's Bought. Said to
he Pretext for Breaking . Lease.


adelphisn Says He's Bought. Said to
he Pretext for Breaking Lease.
The land on which stands the Belasco
Thestre. on Forty second street near Sew
enth avenue, has been bought by the firm
Of Felix Isman, Incorporated. just why
Mr.. Isman wanted the property could not be
explained last night in theatrical circles.
Oscar Hammerstein has lease for the
land which still has sixteen years to run
and has aa option Oh the lease for an addi-
'tional term Of twehty-one years.
E. Pidgeon, general representative here
for Mr.. Isman, who is In Philadelphia, said
last night that Mr.. Ismans company had
purchased the site. but at what cost he
didn't know. It was bought from the
Davidson estate. Mr.. Isman told him. Mr..
Pidgeon said, that Mr.. Hammerstein had
violated the terms OF the lease in several
ways and that the new owners propose
to bring immediate suit to break the lease.
The adjoining property, occupied by
Hammerstein's Victoria Theatre. belongs
to Elbridge T. Gerry. Mr.. Gerry's agent
said yesterday that no sale OF the property
had been made TO Mr.. Isman. The only
way In which 1t could be affected by the
sale, II was explained. was because the
Viotoria roof garden extends over both
theatres. Mr.. Hammerstein's lease to the
Victoria site has sixteen years more to run.
In what manner Hammerstein had Uo-
lated the terms Of his lease Mr.. Pidgeon
didn't know. but Mr.. Isman had assured him
that he had enough to break the lease. all
right. Mr.. Isman hadn't told him what
he expected TO do with the site II he got
possession Of II. He couldn't even tell II
he expected to build new theatre.
Mr.. Hammerstein last night issued a
statement, In greater part scintillating as
follows:
For the last four months the representa-
tive of Mrs Davidson has pestered me to
purchase the ground OF the Belasco Theatre
and the original ground lease OF the Victoria
Theatre. 1 have positively refused to pur.
chase for various reasons: even threats OF
a contemplated sale to certain parties who
would take the risk to attempt to break my
leases for mysterious reasons couid not
change my purposes.
Last Friday the representative OF one
Isman notified me that he had bought the
ground OF the Belasco and also the leased
right of the ground of the Victoria Theatre.
He informed me that Mr.. Isman had dis
covered that my ground leases contained
a clause whereby II is prohibited to exhibit
or keep wild animals on the premises ana
that having violated this clause he would
proceed to have my leases declared null and
void and take possession Of the property
unless aided him In conjunction with Mr..
Belasco (my tenant) TO get "square- with the
theatrical syndicate In general and A. L.
Erlanger IN particular. 80 r~
II being avefy hot night and tbs repre-
aentative failing to state when this svecua-
ton process was likely to take place. or at
what hour / wss to hand over my theatres.
costing a million dollars exclusive OF the
ground, merely promised my prospective,
hard hearted and relentless landlord to fur
nIsh him with particulars OF the status OF the
wild animal clause. Sc
These wild animals are located on the
roof garden Of the Victoria Theatre during
the summer for the purpose OF lowering the
Thermometer in hot weather They consist
Of the following:
tiI modern cow attached during the In
termission to q dairy maid. swindling her
1.-THE cow) out Of q supply Of milk by force
and coercion.
(i) jackass, grown gray in the service
Of his country, frightening the mosquitoes
on the roof By his wonderful vocal abilities.
ti) diristble turkey.
(il male rooster, shadowinG.
(O female hens with q stormy past and
q peaceful future in boiling water.
IN large but near sighted monkey. an
illeGitimats child OF Mrs. Baboon.
tO peanut monkeys with complicated
taiis-sslome dancers.
(O ducklings associated In business
with
IA Duck. Esa.