The Shubert Organization

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 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.

The Shubert Organization
TypeOrganization
IndustryTheatre
Founded1900
FounderSam S., Jacob J. and Lee Shubert
Key people
The Shuberts
OwnerShubert Foundation
Websiteshubert.nyc

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 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

Notes

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

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