The San Francisco call., 1909-04-01
Shuberts and Theatrical Trust
Magnates in Grapple for
Supremacy
American and Another New
Playhouse Will Produce the
''Ontlaw" Attractions
Each Side Backed BY Millions
of Dollars to Garry on
Warfare
j. PierpOnt Morgan Said to Be
j. Pierpont Morgan Said to Be
Behind the Anti Trust
Forces
By WALTER ANTHONY

HE fight OF the thsaters IS coming
west. Klaw & Erlanger.- syn
dicate kings. viii met rebsuious
]. ]. and Lee shubert in San francisco
in a great struggle. The shuberts are
already negotiating with Abe Cohn OF
the American theater for the use OF
that playhouse to produce their musical
comedies and are ngurtng with him on
occupying a new theater to be but1t
near the Orpheum- II Is said that j.
Pierpont Morgan is backing the Shu-
berts' struggle.
Cohn has just returned from New
York, where he visited the trust bust
ers," and as result OF the resotia-
tions he is now favorably considering
proposition to represent the shuberts
in their fight with the syndicate In the
west.
Backed by $z0,0O0,O0o
A sum of not less than s20-o00,0O0 is
backing the western campaign against
/ the allied interests. and the shuberts
declare they viii build theatsrs in.
| every city OF Importance in the west
in order to house the attractions which
they control
The first move on the theatrical
chess board is to be made in this city
Manager Cohn OF the American theater
took plans and specifications for
| new tneater to be located in the heart
of the former theater and cafe district
and showed them to the Shuberts in
| New York.
His arrival there was timely. The
Shuberts had just grappled with Klaw
& Erlanger on the question OF the in
justice done to Actor William Faver-
sham. who was not permitted by the
| reigning powers to appear in any trust
theater-that is almost to say. any
| where.
lConfers With Shuberts
At the time OF Coins arrival in New
York the fight between the Shuberts
and the syndicate was just beginning
to wax warm. and Cohn could point
the way to an extension Of the rebels
line OF combat. He had theater-the
Ameriean-and he had plans for new
playhouse as well. The ShubertS
listened to him and the result OF tht
conference, according to Manage
Cohn. is an agreement. which is all ou
signed. whereby he will assume th'
duties of western representative 70
the Shuberts and win book their at
! fractions at his houses.
Look said Cohn last night. ~at tn
list Of attractions which the Shubert
will take with them. Maxine Elliot
Nine. Nazirnova. Julia MarIowe. Mar
guerite Clark, Eddie Toy. Bertha Gal
land. Lew Fields. Lulu Glsxer, Mar
Mannering, E. H. Sotnern. Louise Cur
ming. De Wolf Hopper. John Maso'
Sam Bernard. James T. Powers. not
mention William Favershan. In who's
behalf this fight is largely wagsd- A
OF these stars and others are tied
tight with the Shuberts. Many OF II i.
biggest eastern play successes are all
on the Shubert list. as for instance tt
Blue Mouse Girls The Wolf I'll
Girl Behind the Counter Nile Nj
chief Mimic World The Return
Eve.' Havana The Vampire. T.
witching Hour The Gamblers az
others. The Shu6erts are involved
an investment OF millions in New Yol
alone and they are wiring to spend
big sum in this effort to achieve ind
Ipendence."
i J. j. Shubert Is on his way to s.
Francisco. He comes west for the pu
pose OF extending his line OF attad
On his reaching this city he will. IT
presumed. close with Cohn OF
American theater and then will
firmly intrenched by the Golden ga
Manager Cohn was reticent last nisI
and would not say that a contract n
been signed The Shuberts are col
ing to San Francisco" said he.
Is certain. and 1 think they viii p1
their pieces in the American theab
and In the new playhouse which
TO manage. j. ]. shubert win ART
here by the end OF the week and 7
remain in San Francisco for th-
weeks. The conclusion OF the neF
tiatfons will then be reached
From the Shuberts. Harrison Gf
. Fisks and David Belasco comes
only successful opposition to the trt
outside OF this trinity OF producersl
one dares to oppose Klaw e Erlanf