{{Short description|Theatrical producer and theatre owner}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use American English|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = The Shubert Organization | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | vector_logo = | type = Organization | genre = | foundation = 1900 | founder = Sam S., Jacob J. and Lee Shubert | origins = | key_people = {{Unbulleted list|The Shuberts (Founders)|Robert E. Wankel (Chairman and CEO), 2020–}} | area_served = | industry = Theatre | num_employees = | owner = Shubert Foundation | homepage = {{URL|shubert.nyc}} }}
'''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.<ref name=slide>{{cite book |pages=465–466 |last=Slide |first=Anthony |title=The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hu3nNSmRjZ0C&pg=PA466|access-date=2014-05-24 |year=2012 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=978-1-61703-250-9}}</ref>
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.<ref name="shubert">{{cite web| url=http://www.shubertorganization.com/theatres/default.asp| title=Our Theatres| publisher=Shubert Organization| access-date=2013-08-23| archive-date=February 1, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201055554/http://www.shubertorganization.com/theatres/default.asp| url-status=dead}}</ref> It leases Boston's Shubert Theatre to the Citi Performing Arts Center.<ref name="wang">{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W6dJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GA4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1520,177263| title=Wang Center Expected To Take Over Theater| work=Bangor Daily News| date=16 February 1996| agency=Associated Press| access-date=2013-08-23}}</ref>
{{anchor|Telecharge}}The organization's Shubert Ticketing division, which includes the Telecharge service, 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.<ref>{{cite web| title=This Week's NY Deal Sheet| date=February 9, 2016| first= Ryan| last=Boysen| url=https://www.bisnow.com/new-york/news/deal-sheet/this-weeks-ny-deal-sheet-55702| publisher=Bisnow Media}}</ref>
==Theatres== ===Broadway=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Ambassador Theatre * Ethel Barrymore Theatre * Belasco Theatre * Booth Theatre * Broadhurst Theatre * Broadway Theatre * John Golden Theatre * Imperial Theatre * Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre * James Earl Jones Theatre * Longacre Theatre * Lyceum Theatre * Majestic Theatre * Music Box Theatre * Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre * Shubert Theatre * Winter Garden Theatre {{div col end}}
===Off-Broadway=== * Stage 42 * New World Stages
===Regional=== * Forrest Theatre (Philadelphia) * Shubert Theatre (Boston)
==Former theatres== ===Broadway=== {{Div col|colwidth=20em}} * Avon Theatre<ref name="who owns"/><ref name="klaw">{{cite magazine| url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Theatre/Detail/223/Klaw-Theatre| title=Klaw Theatre| magazine=Playbill Vault| access-date=2013-09-03}}</ref> * Adelphi Theatre (1944–1970) * Bijou Theatre<ref name="who owns"/> * Casino Theatre (from 1903)<ref name="who owns"/> * Central Theatre (1918–1988) * Century Theatre<ref name="who owns"/> ** Century Theatre Roof * Comedy Theatre (1909–1931)<ref name="who owns"/> * Cosmopolitan Theatre<ref name="who owns"/> * Maxine Elliott Theatre (1906–1956)<ref name="who owns"/> * Forrest Theatre (1925–1945)<ref name="forrest">{{cite magazine| url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Theatre/Detail/143/Forrest-Theatre| title=Forrest Theatre| magazine=Playbill Vault| access-date=2013-09-03}}</ref> * 44th Street Theatre (1912–1945) ** Nora Bayes Theatre (on roof) * 49th Street Theatre<ref name="who owns"/><ref name="49th">{{cite magazine| url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Theatre/Detail/11/49th-Street-Theatre| title=49th Street Theatre| magazine=Playbill Vault| access-date=2013-09-03}}</ref> * 46th Street Theatre (1935–1945) * Sam H. Harris Theatre<ref name="who owns"/> * Herald Square Theatre (1900–?)<ref name="hirsch">{{cite book| publisher=Southern Illinois University Press| isbn=0809321564 | last=Hirsch| first=Foster| title=The boys from Syracuse: the Shuberts' theatrical empire| location=Carbondale| date=20 November 1998| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ztR4-YPOg2kC}}</ref> * Hippodrome Theatre (1906-1915)<ref name="hirsch"/><ref name="fletcher00"/> * Jolson's 59th Street Theatre<ref name="who owns"/> * Lyric Theatre (1903–?)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Madison Square Theatre<ref name="fletcher00">{{cite journal| volume= 22| issue=2| pages=3–6| last=Fletcher| first=Regan| title=1900–1910| journal=The Passing Show| date= 2002}}</ref> * Majestic Theatre (Columbus Circle)<ref name="who owns"/> * Manhattan Center (1911–1922) * Morosco Theatre * National Theatre (?-1956) * New Century Theatre * Princess Theatre (29th St) (1902–1907)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Ritz Theatre (1921–1956) * St. James Theatre (1941–1957) * {{anchor|Waldorf Theatre (Broadway)}}Waldorf Theatre<ref name="who owns"/> (Fiftieth Street, East of Broadway<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/411579460/ | title=Daily News from New York, New York | date=February 6, 1927 }}</ref>) {{Div col end}}
===Subway Circuit=== * Bronx Opera House, Bronx<ref name="who owns"/> * Grand Opera House, Brooklyn<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X8GqBndVPZYC&dq=%22Muldoon's+Picnic%22+%22Grand+Opera+House%22&pg=PA185|chapter=Grand Opera House|title=The Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I: Adams Street to Lorimer Street|author=Cezar Del Valle|year=2010|isbn=9780982772409|publisher=Theatre Talks, LLC}}</ref> * Riviera Theatre, Manhattan <ref name="rivera">{{cite web| url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3353| publisher=Cinema Treasures| title=Riviera Theatre| author=Jean}}</ref> * Shubert Majestic Theatre, Brooklyn<ref name="who owns"/> * Teller's Shubert Theatre, Brooklyn<ref name="who owns"/>
===Regional=== {{Div col|colwidth=20em}} * Harmanus Bleecker Hall (Albany)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Capitol Theatre (Albany)<ref name="who owns"/> * Auditorium Theatre (Baltimore)<ref name="who owns"/> * Boston Opera House (Boston) * Colonial Theatre (Boston) (?-1957)<ref name="McKnight"/> * Columbia Theatre (Boston) (1903–1904)<ref name=columbia>{{cite web| title=Columbia Theatre in Boston, MA| publisher=Cinema Treasures| access-date= 2014-06-10| url= http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/12260}}</ref> * Majestic Theatre (Boston) (1903–1956)<ref name="cutler">{{cite web| title=History of the Cutler Majestic Theatre| url=https://cutlermajestic.org/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=DF02D28E-2EBF-488D-B868-1BBDD2018599&menu_id=7719D2D4-BB34-469C-A24C-85464248A748&sToken=1%2Cd83887bb%2C5220faa1%2C25BC78FE-EDF0-432C-9CAB-FE841584BDC1%2CmOm0lxLk7P1i1MiAiaB%2BRNze6n8%3D| publisher=CutlerMajestic.org| access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref> * Plymouth Theatre (Boston) (1927–1957) * Wilbur Theatre (Boston)<ref name="ranzal">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1956/02/18/archives/shubert-consents-to-break-up-chain-decree-calls-for-sale-of-12.html| title=Shubert Consents to Break Up Chain| date=18 February 1956| last=Ranzal| first=Edward| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-26}}</ref> * Teck Theatre (Buffalo)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Blackstone Theatre (Chicago) (1948–1989) * Erlanger Theatre (Chicago)<ref name="ranzal"/> * Garrick Theater (Chicago) (1903–?)<ref name="hirsch"/><ref name=chigarrick>{{cite web| title= Garrick Theatre in Chicago, IL| publisher=Cinema Treasures| access-date= 2014-06-10| url= http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1016 }}</ref> * Great Northern Theatre (Chicago)<ref name="ranzal"/> * Olympic Theatre (Chicago)<ref name="who owns"/> * Princess Theatre (Chicago)<ref name="who owns"/> * Grand Opera House (Chicago)<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZgZDgAAQBAJ&dq=Grand+Opera+House+Chicago+Hamlin&pg=PA50|title=Downtown Chicago's Historic Movie Theatres|chapter=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|pages=50–56|author= Konrad Schiecke|year= 2011|isbn=9780786488650|publisher=McFarland & Company}}</ref> * Shubert Theatre (Chicago) (1945–1991) * Cox Theatre (Cincinnati)<ref name="ranzal"/> * Shubert Theatre (Cincinnati)<ref name="ranzal"/><ref name=zolotow2>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/11/19/archives/death-of-john-shubert-provokes-speculation-on-theater-empire.html| title=Death of John Shubert Provokes Speculation on Theater Empire| date=19 November 1962| last=Zolotow| first=Sam| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref> * Colonial Theatre (Cleveland)<ref name="hirsch"/><ref name=fearing>{{cite web| last=Fearing| first=Heidi | title=Colonial Theatre| work=Cleveland Historical| access-date= 2014-06-10| url=http://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/461#.U5aJECgn-Q4}}</ref> * Hanna Theatre (Cleveland)<ref name="who owns"/> * Cass Theatre (Detroit) (1926–1962)<ref name="cass">{{cite web| url=http://historicdetroit.org/building/cass-theatre/| title=Cass Theatre| last=Austin| first=Dan| publisher=HistoricDetroit.org| access-date=2013-08-28}}</ref> * Garrick Theatre (Detroit)<ref name="who owns"/> * Shubert-Lafayette Theatre (Detroit) (1925–1957)<ref name="cass"/><ref name="kakutani">{{cite news| title=The Great Theater Duel and How It Affects Broadway| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/09/14/archives/the-great-theater-duel-and-how-itaffects-broadway-how-the-theater.html| last=Kakutani| first=Michiko| date=14 September 1980| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-28}}</ref> * Parsons Theatre (Hartford)<ref name="who owns"/> * Murat Theatre (Indianapolis)<ref name="who owns"/> * Shubert Theatre (Kansas City)<ref>{{Cite web| title = Sam S. Shubert Theatre in Kansas City, MO – Cinema Treasures| access-date = 2019-03-24| url = http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1435}}</ref> * Shubert's Missouri Theatre (Kansas City)<ref>{{Cite web| title = Folly Theater in Kansas City, MO – Cinema Treasures| access-date = 2019-03-24| url = http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1439}}</ref> * Shubert Theatre (Los Angeles) (1972–2002) * Shubert Theatre (Milwaukee) * Shubert Theatre (Newark)<ref name="who owns"/> * Shubert Theatre (New Haven) (1914–1941)<ref name="newhaven">{{cite news| title=New Haven Theatre Sold| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1941/08/02/archives/new-haven-theatre-sold-yorkhaven-enterprises-gain-control-of.html| date=2 August 1941| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref> * Adelphi Theatre (Philadelphia)<ref name="who owns"/> * Chestnut Street Opera House (Philadelphia)<ref name="who owns"/> * Locust Theatre (Philadelphia) (?-1956)<ref name="locust">{{cite news| title=Locust Theatre Let| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/08/25/archives/locust-theatre-let-philadelphia-house-yielded-by-shuberts-taken-by.html| date=25 August 1957| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref> * Lyric Theatre (Philadelphia)<ref name="who owns"/> * Shubert Theatre (Philadelphia) (1918–1957)<ref name="McKnight">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/12/05/archives/shuberts-sell-theatre-philadelphia-play-house-bought-by-st-paul.html| title=Shuberts Sell Theatre| date=5 December 1957| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-26}}</ref> * Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia) (1941–1969) * Providence Opera House (Providence)<ref name="who owns"/> * Shubert Theater (Saint Paul) (1910–1933) * Alvin Theatre (Pittsburgh)<ref name="who owns">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/11/20/archives/who-owns-the-theatres-who-owns-the-theatres.html| title=Who Owns the Theatres?| date=20 November 1927| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-23}}</ref> * Duquesne Theatre (Pittsburgh)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Pitt Theatre (Pittsburgh)<ref name="who owns"/> * Baker Theatre (Rochester) (1899–?)<ref name="hirsch"/><ref name=mckelvey>{{cite journal| volume= XVI| issue= 3| last= McKelvey| first= Blake| title=The Theater in Rochester During Its First Nine Decades| journal= Rochester History }}</ref> * Cook Opera House (Rochester) (1898–1899)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Curran Theatre (San Francisco)<ref name="who owns"/> * Garrick Theatre (St. Louis)<ref name="hirsch"/><ref name=garrickstl>{{cite web| title= Garrick Theatre in St. Louis, MO| publisher=Cinema Treasures| access-date= 2014-06-10 | url= http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5436}}</ref> * Shubert Theatre (St. Louis)<ref name=loewsstl>{{cite web| title= Loew's Mid City Theatre in St. Louis, MO| publisher=Cinema Treasures| access-date=2014-06-10| url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4307}}</ref> * Bastable Theatre (Syracuse) (1897–?)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Grand Opera House (Syracuse)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Wieting Opera House (Syracuse)<ref name="who owns"/> * Town Hall Theatre (Toledo) (1945–1953)<ref name="capitol">{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A-xYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yv8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6556,2218712| title=Capitol Theater Soon To House Legitimate Plays| work=The Toledo Blade| date=18 April 1945| access-date=2013-08-23}}</ref><ref name="woodbury">{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7eNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xv8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6779,895262| title=Capitol Gets a New Name| last=Woodbury| first=Mike| date=7 June 1945| work=The Toledo Blade| access-date=2013-08-23}}</ref><ref name="burlesque">{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bulOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dAAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3752,1527555| title=Burlesque is Back on Town Hall Stage| date=4 September 1953| work=The Toledo Blade| access-date=2013-08-23}}</ref> * Royal Alexandra Theatre (Toronto)<ref name="who owns"/> * Rand Opera House (Troy, New York)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Majestic Theatre (Utica)<ref name="hirsch"/> * Belasco Theatre (Washington, D.C.)<ref name="who owns"/> * Poli's Theatre (Washington, D.C.)<ref name="who owns"/> * Shubert Theatre (Washington, D.C.)<ref>{{Cite web| title = Shubert Theatre in Washington, DC – Cinema Treasures| access-date = 2019-03-24| url = http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7617}}</ref> * Shubert-Garrick Theater (Washington, D.C.)<ref>{{Cite web| title = Shubert-Garrick Theater in Washington, DC – Cinema Treasures| access-date = 2019-03-24| url = http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/58452}}</ref> * National Theatre (Washington, D.C.) (1980–2012)<ref name="management">{{cite news| title=Shubert Wins Management Case| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/14/archives/shubert-wins-management-case.html| date=14 June 1980| work=The New York Times| access-date=2013-08-23}}</ref><ref name="variety">{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2012/legit/news/new-bookers-for-d-c-national-1118059489/| title=New bookers for D.C. National| work=Variety| date=20 September 2012| last=Harris| first=Paul| access-date=2013-08-23}}</ref> * Playhouse Theatre (Wilmington, Delaware)<ref name="who owns"/> {{Div col end}}
===London=== * Waldorf Theatre (1905–1909)<ref name="hirsch"/>
== See also == * Shubert family
==References== '''Notes''' {{Reflist}} '''Further reading''' * {{Cite book | publisher = Southern Illinois University Press | isbn = 978-0815411031 | last = Hirsch | first = Foster | title = The boys from Syracuse: the Shuberts' theatrical empire | location = Carbondale | date = 1998 }} * {{Cite news | issn = 0362-4331 | last = Kleinfield | first = N. R. | title = How a Shubert Fund Produces and Directs | work = The New York Times | access-date = 2014-06-12 | date = 1994-07-10 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/10/us/how-a-shubert-fund-produces-and-directs.html }} * {{Cite news | issn = 0362-4331 | last = Kleinfield | first = N. R. | title = I.R.S. Ruling Wrote Script For the Shubert Tax Break | work = The New York Times | access-date = 2014-06-12 | date = 1994-07-11 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/11/us/irs-ruling-wrote-script-for-the-shubert-tax-break.html }}
==External links== {{Commons category|Shubert Organization}} * [http://www.shubert.nyc/ Official website] * [http://www.shubertfoundation.org/about/organization.asp Shubert Foundation website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609014059/http://www.shubertfoundation.org/about/organization.asp |date=June 9, 2019 }} * [http://www.shubertarchive.org/index_flash.htm Shubert Archive website]{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://archives.nypl.org/the/18690 Shubert Theatre Organization materials, 1977–1997], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
{{Broadway theatres}} {{Special Tony Award}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shubert Organization, The}} Category:Shubert Organization Category:Theatre-owning companies Category:American theatre managers and producers Category:Entertainment companies based in New York City Category:Mass media companies based in New York City Category:Special Tony Award recipients Category:Broadway theatre