The Shubert Organization Explained

The Shubert Organization
Type:Organization
Foundation:1900
Founder:Sam S., Jacob J. and Lee Shubert
Industry:Theatre
Owner:Shubert Foundation

The Shubert Organization is a theatrical producing organization and a major owner of theatres based in Manhattan, New York City. It was founded by the three Shubert brothers — Lee, Sam, and Jacob J. Shubert — in the late 19th century. They steadily expanded, owning many theaters in New York and across the United States. Since then it has gone through changes of ownership, but it is still a major theater chain.

History

The Shubert Organization was founded by the Shubert brothers, Sam S. Shubert, Lee Shubert, and Jacob J. Shubert of Syracuse, New York – colloquially and collectively known as "The Shuberts" – in the late 19th century in upstate New York, entering into New York City productions in 1900. The organization produced a large number of shows and began acquiring theaters. Sam Shubert died in 1905; by 1916 the two remaining brothers had become powerful theater moguls with a nationwide presence.

In 1907, the Shuberts tried to enter vaudeville with the United States Amusement Co. In the spring of 1920 they made another attempt, establishing the Shubert Advanced Vaudeville with Lee Shubert as President and playing two shows per day in Boston, Dayton, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia and in September 1921 opening in New York.

In April 1922, the Shuberts teamed with Isidore Herk and E. Thomas Beatty formed the Affiliated Theatres Corporation, which would book shows for the chain. Faced with fierce competition from the B. F. Keith Circuit, the Shuberts closed their vaudeville operation in February 1923.[1]

By 1929, the Shubert Theatre chain included Broadway's most important venues, the Winter Garden, the Sam S. Shubert, and the Imperial theaters, and owned, managed, operated, or booked nearly a thousand theaters nationwide. The company continued to produce stage productions in New York until the 1940s, returning to producing Broadway productions in the 1970s after a hiatus.

The company was reorganized in 1973, and as of 2016 owned or operated seventeen Broadway theaters in New York City, two off-Broadway theaters — Stage 42 and New World Stages — and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia.[2] It leases Boston's Shubert Theatre to the Citi Performing Arts Center.[3] Shubert Ticketing, which includes Telecharge, handles tickets for 70 theaters.

Several former Shubert-owned theaters across the United States are still referred to by the Shubert name. One of the most famous is the New Haven Shubert, the second theater ever built by the Shubert Organization. Until the 1970s, major Broadway producers often premiered shows there before opening in New York. It was immortalized in many mid-20th century films, such as All About Eve.

Another important regional theater was the Shubert in Chicago, Illinois, located within the Majestic Building at 22 West Monroe Street. Originally known as the Majestic Theatre, the Shubert Organization purchased it in 1945 and rechristened it the "Sam Shubert Theatre". The Shuberts sold the theatre to the Nederlander Organization in 1991 and is now known as the CIBC Theatre.

In 2016, it sold its longtime headquarters at 1700 Broadway to Ruben Cos for $280 million.[4]

Theatres

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Regional

Former theatres

Broadway

Subway Circuit

Regional

London

See also

References

NotesFurther reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Slide, Anthony . 465–466 . The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville . 2014-05-24 . 2012 . University Press of Mississippi . 978-1-61703-250-9.
  2. Web site: Our Theatres. Shubert Organization. 2013-08-23. February 1, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130201055554/http://www.shubertorganization.com/theatres/default.asp. dead.
  3. News: Wang Center Expected To Take Over Theater. Bangor Daily News. 16 February 1996. Associated Press. 2013-08-23.
  4. This Week's NY Deal Sheet. February 9, 2016. Ryan. Boysen. Bisnow Media.
  5. Klaw Theatre. Playbill Vault. 2013-09-03.
  6. Forrest Theatre. Playbill Vault. 2013-09-03.
  7. 49th Street Theatre. Playbill Vault. 2013-09-03.
  8. Book: Hirsch, Foster. Southern Illinois University Press. 0809321564. The boys from Syracuse: the Shuberts' theatrical empire. Carbondale. 20 November 1998.
  9. 22. 2. 3–6. Fletcher. Regan. 1900–1910. The Passing Show. 2002.
  10. Web site: Daily News from New York, New York . February 6, 1927 .
  11. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=X8GqBndVPZYC&dq=%22Muldoon’s+Picnic%22+%22Grand+Opera+House%22&pg=PA185. Grand Opera House. The Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I: Adams Street to Lorimer Street. Cezar Del Valle. 2010. 9780982772409. Theatre Talks, LLC.
  12. Web site: Riviera Theatre. Cinema Treasures. Jean.
  13. Web site: Columbia Theatre in Boston, MA. Cinema Treasures. 2014-06-10.
  14. Web site: History of the Cutler Majestic Theatre. CutlerMajestic.org. 2013-08-30.
  15. News: Shubert Consents to Break Up Chain. 18 February 1956. Ranzal. Edward. The New York Times. 2013-08-26.
  16. Web site: Garrick Theatre in Chicago, IL. Cinema Treasures. 2014-06-10.
  17. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=gZgZDgAAQBAJ&dq=Grand+Opera+House+Chicago+Hamlin&pg=PA50. Downtown Chicago's Historic Movie Theatres. 1875 Coliseum/ 1878 Hamlin's Theatre/ 1880 Grand Opera House / 1912 George M. Cohan's Grand Opera /House / 1926 Four Cohans / 1942 RKO Grand Theatre. 50–56. Konrad Schiecke. 2011. 9780786488650. McFarland & Company.
  18. News: Death of John Shubert Provokes Speculation on Theater Empire. 19 November 1962. Zolotow. Sam. The New York Times. 2013-08-30.
  19. Web site: Fearing. Heidi . Colonial Theatre. Cleveland Historical. 2014-06-10.
  20. Web site: Cass Theatre. Austin. Dan. HistoricDetroit.org. 2013-08-28.
  21. News: The Great Theater Duel and How It Affects Broadway. Kakutani. Michiko. 14 September 1980. The New York Times. 2013-08-28.
  22. Web site: Sam S. Shubert Theatre in Kansas City, MO – Cinema Treasures. 2019-03-24.
  23. Web site: Folly Theater in Kansas City, MO – Cinema Treasures. 2019-03-24.
  24. News: New Haven Theatre Sold. 2 August 1941. The New York Times. 2013-08-30.
  25. News: Locust Theatre Let. 25 August 1957. The New York Times. 2013-08-30.
  26. News: Shuberts Sell Theatre. 5 December 1957. The New York Times. 2013-08-26.
  27. News: Who Owns the Theatres?. 20 November 1927. The New York Times. 2013-08-23.
  28. XVI. 3. McKelvey. Blake. The Theater in Rochester During Its First Nine Decades. Rochester History .
  29. Web site: Garrick Theatre in St. Louis, MO. Cinema Treasures. 2014-06-10 .
  30. Web site: Loew's Mid City Theatre in St. Louis, MO. Cinema Treasures. 2014-06-10.
  31. News: Capitol Theater Soon To House Legitimate Plays. The Toledo Blade. 18 April 1945. 2013-08-23.
  32. News: Capitol Gets a New Name. Woodbury. Mike. 7 June 1945. The Toledo Blade. 2013-08-23.
  33. News: Burlesque is Back on Town Hall Stage. 4 September 1953. The Toledo Blade. 2013-08-23.
  34. Web site: Shubert Theatre in Washington, DC – Cinema Treasures. 2019-03-24.
  35. Web site: Shubert-Garrick Theater in Washington, DC – Cinema Treasures. 2019-03-24.
  36. News: Shubert Wins Management Case. 14 June 1980. The New York Times. 2013-08-23.
  37. News: New bookers for D.C. National. Variety. 20 September 2012. Harris. Paul. 2013-08-23.

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