The Shubert family was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district, in New York City, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States. They dominated the legitimate theater and vaudeville in the first half of the 20th century, promoting entertainment attuned to popular taste.
History
The family's American history began when Duvvid Schubart (transliterated to "Shubert") and his wife Katrina (Gitel) Helwitz left their native town Vladislavov in the Russian Empire (now Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania) with their eight children, two of whom died after the journey. They arrived in New York City from Hamburg, via England, on June 12, 1881 on the s/s Spain. They then settled in Syracuse, New York.
The three Shubert sons (Lee Shubert, Sam S. Shubert, and Jacob J. Shubert) had to give up much of their formal education and instead work when they were very young. After being introduced to the world of theatre, the three brothers broke the monopoly on the theatre-management industry (represented by the Theatrical Syndicate under Abe Erlanger and Mark Klaw) in the foundation of a rival agency, the Shubert Organization.
Among the organization's Manhattan holdings are the renowned Winter Garden Theatre (at 1634 Broadway), the Sam S. Shubert (at 221 West 44th Street), and the Imperial Theatres. By 1924, they had 86 theatres in the United States. By 1953, they had produced 600 shows under their credits and had booked 1,000 shows into their numerous theatres. By the 1920s, they owned, operated, managed, or booked over 1,000 theatres nationwide.
In 1942, they owned, leased, or managed 20 of New York City's approximately 40 legitimate theatres and controlled some 15 in other cities. As of 2009, the Shubert Organization owns seventeen Broadway theatres in New York City, as well as the Shubert Theatre in Boston, the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, and manages the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. The organization also owns and operates the 5-stage Off-Broadway facility, New World Stages.
Jerry Stagg identifies Lee Shubert as the key creative partner, showing how he built the most successful theatrical empire in history. Stagg characterizes the trio as vulgar and uneducated but acknowledges that they made a personal monopoly amassing millions of profits in the process. They opened new theater districts in many major American cities, employing thousands over the years. Entertainment and popular taste were the goals, rather than the dramatic arts. By 1924, they controlled 75 percent of all American theaters, producing 25 percent of all plays. Their actors in response created Actor's Equity as a labor union to counterbalance their power. When the Great Depression caused the bankruptcy of their corporate empire in 1933, they could have retired wealthy. Instead, they kept the theater alive pouring their own money into the gamble. Almost alone they kept legitimate theater alive in America. The federal government called them a monopoly, and in 1950 they were taken to court by the federal government. In 1955, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling ruled that they were subject to antitrust laws, so they sold 12 theaters in six cities and gave up the booking business, the heart of their enterprise.
Notable productions
Musical comedies
Chinese Honeymoon (1902) Winsome Winnie (1903) The Babes and the Baron (1905) The Dancing Duchess (1914)
Revues
Pioneer Days (1906) featuring Indians, cavalry, baby elephants, and chorus girls, directed by Lee Shubert The Passing Show (1912–24), annual musical revue, rivaling Florenz Ziegfeld's Follies.
Operettas
The Blue Paradise (1915), and other Sigmund Romberg musicals
Family
The Shubert children: Lee Shubert (1871–1953), theatre owner/operator, producer. Married to Marcella Swanson (1900-1973). No children. Fannie Shubert (1868-1928). From her first marriage to Isaac Isaacs, she had three sons: Jesse Isaacs (1893-1904), Larry Shubert (1894-1965), and Milton Isaacs Shubert (1901-1967). Her second husband was William Weissager. Sarah Shubert (1870–1934). Married to Edward Davidow. No children. Sam S. Shubert (1874–1905), producer, writer, director, and theatre owner/operator; died in a Pennsylvania train accident Jacob J. Shubert (1876–1963), producer, director, and theatre owner/operator. From his first marriage to Catherine Dealy, he had a son John Jason Shubert (1908-1962). Dora (Debora) Shubert (1880–1951). From her marriage to Milton Wolf (1881-1955), she had a daughter Sylvia Wolf Golde (1910–1981)
