New-York tribune., 1908-08-22
ISMAN STIRS UP OSCAR
BUYS BEL4SCO SITE.
Hammerstein Says He's Ready to
Turn OUer Monkey Cages.

last night that he had acquired the site Of the
Felssoo Theatre, but had not yet come into the
actual possession OF the site, on which Hammer
.reins Victoria Theatre is built Earlier IN the day
q was runored that MIR. Isnan had acquired the
s-ttre parcel a Seventh avenue and 42d street
announcement 10 that effect brought forth denial
,raua agents Of the property and q peculiarly
0scaresuue from Oscar Hammerstein. That
--ouerry IS owned by the Davidson estate The
--0pertys which Mr.. said TO have bought
vas owned by the Gerry estate. Mr.. Belasco has
zen years lease IT from Mr.. Hammerstein. and
xr Hammerstein contends that his lease will for
sixteen years. There is no doubt that there Will be
g lively If Afr ISrnan IS the the
site the Bessco Indeed. his representatives said
.as1 night that action would be taken once to
init Hsmuersteins roof garden TO he top of his
theatre
Belasco and Victoria theatres. Mr.. Hammerstein
said last night:
q have never seen such a deliberate attempt to
deceive the newspapers and the public as this one.
! the sub-lessee Of the land upon which I
erected the Victoria paying monthly bonus TO a
Mrs Davidson who is the original owner Of the
lease This lease has unexpired term of sixteen
years The ground owned by the Gerry estate:
they havo not sold inch OF this ground TO Mr..
Isman or TO anybody else, so his claim of pur-
chase is deliberate lie.
Z also the lessee Of the land upon which
erected the Belasce Theatre; this lease has
expired of thirty-six years
Beth the Victoria Theatre and the Belasoo Thea
Ire are my exclusive property with hardly any in
cunnbrances- The ground OF the Belasco Theatre
is owned by Mrs Davidson, of Saratoga. N Y
For the past four months the representative Of
this Mrs Davidson has pestered to purchase
The ground Of Belasco Theatre and the original
ground lease the Victoria Theatre 1 have posi-
fiveIv refused TO purchase for various reasons;
even threats Of contemplated sale TO certain par
ties who would take the risk to attempt TO break
nv leases for mysterious could not change
nv purpose
notified me that he had bought the ground OF the
Belasce and also the leased right OF the ground Of
ne Victoria Theatre He informed me that MI
lsrnan had discovered that ground leases con-
tained clause whereby ii is prohibited TO exhibit
o. keep wild animals the premises, and that
having violated this clause. he would proceed 10
have my leases declared null and void, and take
possession OF the property. unless I aided him, in
conjunction with Mr.. Belasco (Tny tenanO. TO get
square with the theatrical syndicate IN general
end A L ErlangeT In particular.
IT being very hot night and the Representative
falling 10 state when this evacuation process was
likely 10 take place. at what hour was to hand
over my theatres. costing million dollars, exclu-
sfve Of the ground merely promised my pro-
spective hard hearted and relentless landlord to
furnish him with particulars Of the status OF the
wild animal clause.
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:
.'One modern COW. attached during the internis-
son 10 dairy maid. swindling her Ghe cow out
OF supply Of milk BY force and coercion
"one jackass. frightening the mosquitoes of the
roof by his wonderful vocal aointleS-
One dirigible turke..
One male rooster
-Four female hens
lone large but near-sghted monkey
NTH .-raT1 7Trz cd
Baloune dancers
Tour ducklngs-
-One duck. esq
That's all
= have notified Mr- Isman that IN oe1eTence 10
his desire for evacuation will begin to dspossess
The r,onkevs from their cage and allow him TO
occupy il al once
what M Isnnan viii do with the site of the
Belasco is not known. He and MI Beiasco are
-ssss n be quite friendly but Mr.. Belasco had no
.nti-,a-for that the property be turned over
10 Isrnan If Is1llan could have Hannmerstelns en-
tire lease on the property made Told' ne "ouIo
r-ohs b3v make some sensational move lhaI "oUlu
.se. the theatrical world. Under the present cir
zrnstances II is quite clear what his object IS
in acquiring real estate which theatre Is Duf
and the manager OF which has q lease that VIII
.--ln for ten years at least
Pr, Foeder who says things for David Be-
5asco was not alarmed yesterday when he heard
OF Isunans latest in the theatrical world II
has been fntirated that Mr.. Isnnan and David Be
Isscn are working hand in hand, but Mr. Roeder
said he was not aware Of any such a1la1lce- ne
said also that the men were friendly
The lease is another affair.". he added we
have lease TOO. 1t doesn't expire Tor ten years
y don't think we will vacate for few days, al
1eas-~
NJ Israsu came 70 Nev York with the sole pur-
pose Of giving the so-csIed theatrical syndicate a
iolt that would make some stir. The regulars
replied nv getting closer together. Every legitimate
epd va-ietv manager OF any consequence IN the
T-nfe5 States has seat IN the secret conclaVe OF
TIE new organization. As soon as the managers got
together they agreed TO arrange some a1alrs OF
Fs,olinr etc in such q fashion that Isu1an would
have li1te opportunity 10 exhibit his legfnnnaoe
actors and william Morris still less 70 permit ms
variety performers TO anuse the pubic isiiidN
would appear 10 have retaliateo-
Since ne began 10 operate here he came into pos
session Of the Broadway Theatre, and stil later OF
The New Circle He control OF the latter e re-"
i.reels arm He now conducts the American ano the
Broadway theatres. Recently ne aldeo "l4Ia.i
Morris IN his effort get control OF the Lincoln
asousre Theatre. It is be conducted as variety
house.