The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

I1E pIODdDll1lL tlhL Ile SnLDeEtS
will invade san Francisco in their
fight against the syndicate is ex-
citing much comment. That com
petition Will be a good thing for the
drama can not be doubted. although
the Klaw & Erlanger interests point
with pardonable pride to the fact that
since the syndicate became a fact
actors and actresses have been bet
ter off than ever before: that salaries
for players have been advanced, and
that the business OF play producing
has been reduced to a system equaling
in detail adjustment the methods OF =
department store It is certainly true
that Klaw Erlanger have been re-
sponsible for corrected conditions i'm
the industrial end OF the theatrical
business, but it is also certainly true
that initiative and original work have
been hindered by the arbitrary methods
that grow. naturally, from complete
control and monopoly.
So the rise Of the Shuberts takes on
interest regardless of theatrical aftilia-
tfons and the fact that there is =
f
rebels and their erstwhiIe lords is an
entertaining truth which suggests an
account recently given in an eastern
paper. OF the rapid rise of the ShUbertS
in the theatrical world"
This is the story. eOpiously cut
Nothing is more remarkable in any
branch Of industry than the success
OF the Shuberts in the theatrical busi-
ness Starting as poor boys. scarcely
a dozen years ago. they have swiftly
climbed the ladder of success in the
world OF dramatic productions
The Shuberts' interests are now
vested in two corporations: sam :. and
Lee shubert and the Shubert theatrical
company. Lee Shubert is president and
his brother. Jacob J.. is vice president
The originator of the firm was the late
Fl Samuel s. Shubert 1 first met him i3
or Ia years ago. 1 think. when he was
the treasurer Of the Wieting opera
house, Syracuse, n Y, where all the
boys were born He was little wiry
fellow. and I remember well my hrse
meeting with him. He was perched upon
a high stool in the box Office of the
Wieting opera house and / laughed az
him as he glibIy ratified off how he was
going to become a metropolitan man
ager and control theaters in New York
and attractions on the road. sam
proved that he was not building ar
from friends In his native town he hrSC
launched Hoyt-s well remembered farce
comedy a Texas Steer. This was
long after this piece was supposed 10
have worn out it's usefulness. Nobody
but Sam wanted TO revive it. It went
out and to the surprise OF every one u
made money.
sam laid his plans wisely and we'll
He got control OF the Grand opera
house. Syracuse. and the Baker theateg.
\ Rochester, and launched out for bigger
things The Belle Of New York" was
next secured. More success. Then by
a quick and shrewd move the New
York Casino was leased, which landed
him in New York. as he had predicted,
a metropolitan manager. The Herald
Square and Lyric theaters were added
TO the list and the name OF ShuRert
4 was becoming a trade mark to cOniure
with. shortly after his first start 10
took his brothers in with him. Lee be-
coming first the manager Of the Grand
opera house, Syracuse, and j. J. going
to Rochester TO look after their Baker
theater there
shortly after acquiring the Lyric
theater in New York. which was buiir
for the Shuberts by Reginald de Noven.
the well known composer two unfoTe-
/ seen and important events occurred
First came the breach with Klaw 4
Erlanger. the theatrical syndicate, and
the death Of Sam Shubert- Mr.. Shu-
| bert was on his way to Pittsburg TO
see Lillian Russell. who was under the
Shubert mana cement at this time. open
l thepe. when the Pennsylvania train he
[ was aboard was run into BY a freight
train and wrecked near HARRISBURG
Pa. Shubert was badly injured and
died a couple OF days after this un-
/ fortunate occurrence. His brother. Lee.
was in London AZ this time, and he
came back to America as quickly as Ia
could TO take up the active work with
the firm made vacant by Sans un-
fortunate demise.
Lee Shubert has always maintained
\ that he has been carrying out Sam 9
plans in the conduct of this now gi-
gantic theatrical firm The Shuberts
have on tour and in New York this
season no less than 35 companies and
/ manage ana control some Is theaters in
New York. Chicago, Philadelphia. BOs-
\ ton and elsewhere Among the stars
that the firm is handling may be men
/ toned e H. Sothern, Julia MarIowe:
Mary Mannering. who has Just signed
five year contract De Wolf Hopper
who appears in his new musical fan
tasy. What Happened Them: Eddie
Foy in his new play, Mr.. Hamlet 90
Broadway; Lew Fields in The Girl
Behind the Counter sam Bernard in
a
famous Russian actress Lulu Chaser in
Mile. Mischief; JEFF de Angels Ca
mile dsArville. and Emma CarlIs in
The GAY White Way" John Mason in
The Witching Hour" Minnie Dupree
in The Road to Yesterday and several
others
Among the theaters controlled by the
Shuberts is the Sam s. Shubert theater
Kansas City. No. built as a memorial
to the brother. The management and
direction Of this business Is divided
between Lee and j. J. Shubert. the
latter having rapidly forged TO the
front in the last three years. The
Shubert business is directed from the
third floor of the Shubert building
Broadway and Thirty ninth street. New
York city, where they have IS sep
arate offices. handled By high salarIea
men in every Departments. ]. ". Jacobs.
who has been associated with the
Shuberts since their Syracuse begin