The San Francisco call., 1909-04-13
HAVE BIG
PLAYHOUSE IN
SANFRANCISCO
Shuberts Secure American The
alter Until Their Own Build
ing Can Be Constructed
j. j. Shubert Arrives in This
City and Talks Freely About
Campaign in the West

q Lee Saubert. Inc. arrived in san
francisco yesterday and fired the first
shot into the camp Of the theatrical
syndicate. He took over the American
theater as the temporary home of the
shubert attractions until a Shubert
thester can be built in this city. He
comes from Los Angeles, where ar
rangements have been concluded for
The construction of Il s25o.0o0 play
house for the Shubert. shows, and
within a week he will leave for Port
land 70 ada another link to the chain
- .theaUicaI Independence Still an
ether link viii then be added in Ia
Coma. another in Seattle, still another
IN Spokane. and then. with the addi-
ton of Denver house. J. J. Shuberfs
western trip viii be completed. and
by 1s1o the Shuberts viii have com
penng. houses in every city of impor-
taRee in the United States The "one
man. rule viii then, according TO J. j.
Sk1bert, be ended.
hEI OF THE WESTERN SITUATION
The theatrical interests of the west
have been waiting with. great concern
the arrival of J. J. Shubert in san
Francisco This ety is the key of the
western situation. If the Shuberts To-
cate here in opposition-or. as J. J.
snuoert prefers-in independence of
tne klaW & Erlanger forces II means
tilat the entire Pacific coast viii have
competition in theatricals and that
east and west viii be freed from the
shadow Of the powerful and hitherto
IL
Abraham Erlanger.
Shubert reached this city yesterday
morning Almost Immediately he went
into conference with Cohn & Homans
Of the american theater- At the con-
clusion OF A lengthy session Shubert
announced that his firm had assumed
control OF the American playhouse and
would enter il with the first Of the
opposition attractions next September
The Willingness Of the American
tneater management 10 take chance
WITH the Independents is explained on
the basis of the fact that John Cort
who is allied with the trust has been
unable to keep the theater supplied
with good attractions and that when
2 kick was made the answer was
What are you going TO do about it?'
Il was case Of taking what they
could get as all theaters do under
the present regime.
WHAT COMPETITION MEANS
With opposition and competition this
situation, il is said. viii be altered
and San Francisco will get not only
the stars who have made eastern hits
but. u VIII get the companies which
contributed 10 that success. Hitherto
1ew New York productions have
reached the coast with the cast that
originally contributed 10 their success.
Shubert refused TO discuss the back
ing which his firm is getting. He
said the Shuberts are backing the
Shuberts-' Rumor. well authenticated.
d has il, however. that the same power
ful forces that. put the Shuberts at
the head Of the National theater in
New York. namely. the Vanderbilts.
Morgan and other multimiIlionafres.
are concerned in this widespread de-
fection Of the Shuberts from the wing
Of the theatrical trust
FINE THEATER FOR THIS CITY
we viii build" said Shubert yes
terday. ~one Of the finest theaters in
san Francisco Although the site has
not yet been determined upon-I only
reached this city today-it Will be 1
am safe in saying, within Z radius
OF I'VE blocks from the new Orpheum
theater, Perhaps we viii build our
selves and perhaps We VIII lease. 7
can not say yet which we will do In
some cities we own our theaters and
in others we merely lease. 1t is prob
able, however, that in San Francisco
We viii erect our own playhouse on
our own ground.
1T has been said" continued Shu-
bert, that we could not command
enough attractions to set up for our
selves. It isn't the easiest thing Won
know. to keep a theater filled in San
Francisco with first class attractions.
But our enemies forget the fact that
we control now so productions; in fact.
more than all the other New York pro-
ducersi combined We have u thea
ters in New York alone, including the
Hippodrome and the Maxine Elliott. in
which latter playhouse we are equally
interested with Miss Elliott In every
city OF consequence in the east we are
firmly established and with the compile
fIon Of the continental circuit for
which am now making arrangements.
we viii be in position to play our
own stars in our own enterprises in
our own houses.
A PRODUCING CENTER
san Francisco is bound to become a
producing center There is room for
two here Klaw & Erlanger win
probably flourish as heretofore We
will get the business II we give the
public the shows This we intend to
do IT viii not be before 1910 however.
that we VIII De able 10 route all OF our
attractions direct, though by next Sep
tember we VIII be started here
we viii jump our plays direct from
Omaha TO San Francisco. thus elimi-
mating the source of complaint which
actors make against doing one night
stands at great intervals on the way
10 san Francisco and the coast. This
travel necessarily interferes with the
perfection Of the productions you get
here. The scenery is injured. the costum-
cry is wilted and worn and the players
are wearied by the fatigue of the tour
That condition keeps many of the best
eastern ayers-eScept stars-from the
rigors of western trip We viii
obziate that by a long jump to the
coast. When here We will play Los
Angeles. where we are ready and about
TO build; San Francisco. Portland, Ta-
coma. Seattle and Spokane.
BELASCo AND FIsKE
In addition 10 our own attractions
we will buckle up with David Belasco
and Pfske. who have been Independents
for. some time. We VIII produce their
pieces and carry their stars over our
circuit and give cities, which hereto
fore have been unable TO see them. a
- chance to witness the art of a War
7F~e .T~5cLe nr the skill 4uC