The New York herald., 1922-06-20
A. L. Erlanger and
Lee Shubert Head
Americas Managers
Producers of U. s. and Canada
Elect Them as President
and Vice e-President.

A. l.. Erlanger and Lee Shubert now
head the organized theatrical managers
and producers of the United States and
Canada, and together WELD more power,
officially and in connection with their
business holdings, than any other two
theatrical men on this continent. AT the
first annual convention of the Interna-
tional Theatrical Association. Inc, at
the Hotel Pennsylvania yesterday a sur
prise was sprung in the retirement OF
the leading officers who had served since
the inception of the new organization
last August and the election of Mr..
Erlanger as president and Mr.. Shubert
as vice-president.
These two, formerly bitter rivals, have
in the last year ceased to oppose each
other and have made a joint booking
agreement. Through this arrangement
and their position at the head of the as
sociation, which embraces all the man
ayers of the United States and Canada
in virtually every branch of the amuse-
ment industry, including legitimate.
vaudeville, burlesque and motion pic
lures, Mr. Erlanger and Mr.. Shubert
are regarded in theatrical circles as ar
biters of the destinies of the American
theater Their election, which is for
the ensuing year. was unanimous. as
was all the balloting.
Two new offices were created by the
association, to which the former leaders
of the organization were elected on their
retirement. These were chairman of the
board of governors. to which Walter
Vincent. the ex-president. was chosen
and vice-chairman of the board, to
which w II. Rapley retiring vice-presi-
dent was named. Alfred +. Aarons and
Winthrop Ames were reelected as sec
retary and treasurer respectively Other
officers who were not affected by the
election were Lee NJ. Boda, Columbus,
Ohio, managing director. and Ligon
johnson. general counsel.
The elevation of AIR. Erlanger and Mr..
Shubert to the top rank in the organiza-
ton is not considered to have settled yet
the proposal of picking a "will H. Hays
of the theater" Officials of the associa-
tion denied yesterday that they were
contemplating an invitation to another
member of President Harding's Cabinet
to join them. The name of Secretary OF
Labor Davis had previously been men
toned in this connection.
Aside from the election. the business
of the days sessions. which were execu-
tive. were largely of a routine nature, 1t
was announced Mr.. Ames was made
chairman of the convention committee in
charge of the schedule of proceedings.
Reports of officers of the committees
were submitted 1t was decided that con-
sideration was to be given only TO
problems of general interest 60 the
theatrical industry" and that questions
of actors salaries or cheaper theater
tickets were TO be eliminated.
The ground to be gone over, 1t was
agreed. would concern censorship, rail-
road rates and transfer rates for bag
gage in cities. While the association
has as vet taken no formal stand on
censorship. it was considered that this
was one of the most important questions
to be discussed. and individual mem
bers expressed off the record their OPP
position to the spread of political CEN
sorship" similar to that invoked in
Boston.