A.L. Erlanger
Encyclopedia
Abraham Lincoln Erlanger (May 4, 1859 – March 7, 1930) was an American theatrical producer
, director, designer, theatre owner, and a leading figure of the Theatrical Syndicate
.
Born in Buffalo, New York
, Erlanger and his partner, a Kentucky
lawyer
named Marc Klaw
, started out as a theatrical booking agency in New York City
in 1886. Immensely successful, together they built a large chain of theatres and vaudeville
playhouses. In 1896 they joined with theatre operators Al Hayman
, Charles Frohman
, Samuel F. Nixon, and Fred Zimmerman to form the Theatrical Syndicate. Their organization known as "Klaw & Erlanger
" established systemized booking networks throughout the United States and created a monopoly
that controlled every aspect of contracts and bookings until the late 1910s when the Shubert brothers broke their stranglehold on the industry.
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The operations of Klaw & Erlanger produced dozens of Broadway
shows during the first three decades of the 20th century, including Dracula
, Ben-Hur
, and The Jazz Singer. They were responsible for opening the rooftop "Jardin de Paris" where the first Ziegfeld Follies
was staged. They also built some of Broadway's most outstanding theaters such as the art nouveau
New Amsterdam Theatre
in 1903 and in 1927 Erlanger's Theatre
(renamed the St. James) plus the new Forrest Theatre
in Philadelphia. In addition to playhouses, he and his partner owned the "Klaw & Erlanger Opera Company" and "Klaw and Erlanger's Costume Company."
Erlanger's cold disdain and ruthless tactics helped bring about his own downfall. He made a bitter enemy of the Shubert brothers after Sam Shubert died in a train wreck
when he is said to have refused to abide by any legal agreements "with a dead man." The enraged Shuberts began an all out campaign to wrestle power in the industry away from him. In 1919, after he dismissed out of hand the demands of the Actors' Equity Association
, the labor union launched a strike that eventually shut down all the theatres in New York city, Chicago
, and Boston
. In the end, Erlanger suffered large financial losses and had no choice but to accede to union demands.
The strike spelled the demise of his once powerful organization and the partnership of Klaw & Erlanger made their last Broadway production in September 1924. Abe Erlanger continued to produce on Broadway until his death in 1930. He is interred at Beth El Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York
.
, when Erlanger approached Gen. Lew Wallace
about acquiring the stage rights to his epic novel Ben-Hur, Wallace asked him fiercely, "Do you believe in our lord, Jesus Christ?" Erlanger responded, "Frankly, I don't. My partner Klaw does—but he's up in Boston!"
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
, director, designer, theatre owner, and a leading figure of the Theatrical Syndicate
Theatrical Syndicate
-Beginnings:One day, early in the year 1896, six men gathered for lunch at the Holland House in New York City. These men were Charles Frohman, Al Hayman, A.L. Erlanger, Marc Klaw, Samuel F. Nirdlinger, and Frederick Zimmerman...
.
Born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Erlanger and his partner, a Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
named Marc Klaw
Marcus Klaw
Marc Alonzo Klaw was an American lawyer, theatrical producer, theatre owner, and a leading figure of the Theatrical Syndicate....
, started out as a theatrical booking agency in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1886. Immensely successful, together they built a large chain of theatres and vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
playhouses. In 1896 they joined with theatre operators Al Hayman
Al Hayman
Al Hayman, also known as Raphael Hayman, was the business partner of the better-known Charles Frohman who together with others established the Theatrical Syndicate in 1896 and as theater impresarios and booking agents helped develop the theater district in New York at the turn of the 20th...
, Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
, Samuel F. Nixon, and Fred Zimmerman to form the Theatrical Syndicate. Their organization known as "Klaw & Erlanger
Klaw & Erlanger
Klaw & Erlanger was the New York City based theatrical production partnership of entrepreneur A.L. Erlanger and lawyer Marcus Klaw. The two began as a theatrical booking agency in 1886 before expanding into producing plays. In 1896, Klaw & Erlanger joined with Al Hayman, Charles Frohman, Samuel F...
" established systemized booking networks throughout the United States and created a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
that controlled every aspect of contracts and bookings until the late 1910s when the Shubert brothers broke their stranglehold on the industry.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows during the first three decades of the 20th century, including Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
, Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur (play)
Ben Hur was an 1899 dramatization of the 1880 novel Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace. It was dramatized by William W. Young and produced by Marc Klaw and A. L. Erlanger. Inspired by the popular equestrian dramas of nineteenth century London, the production was notable for its elaborate...
, and The Jazz Singer. They were responsible for opening the rooftop "Jardin de Paris" where the first Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
was staged. They also built some of Broadway's most outstanding theaters such as the art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
New Amsterdam Theatre
New Amsterdam Theatre
The New Amsterdam Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 214 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Theatre District of Manhattan, New York City, off of Times Square...
in 1903 and in 1927 Erlanger's Theatre
St. James Theatre
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St. Broadway, New York City, New York. It was built by Abraham L. Erlanger, theatrical producer and a founding member of the Theatrical Syndicate, on the site of the original Sardi's restaurant. It opened in 1927 as The Erlanger...
(renamed the St. James) plus the new Forrest Theatre
Forrest Theatre
The Forrest Theatre is a live theatre venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is managed by The Shubert Organization.The Forrest Theatre was built in 1927. It was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp and has a seating capacity of 1,851. It was named after the 19th century actor Edwin Forrest, who...
in Philadelphia. In addition to playhouses, he and his partner owned the "Klaw & Erlanger Opera Company" and "Klaw and Erlanger's Costume Company."
Erlanger's cold disdain and ruthless tactics helped bring about his own downfall. He made a bitter enemy of the Shubert brothers after Sam Shubert died in a train wreck
Train wreck
A train wreck or train crash is a type of disaster involving one or more trains. Train wrecks often occur as a result of miscommunication, as when a moving train meets another train on the same track; or an accident, such as when a train wheel jumps off a track in a derailment; or when a boiler...
when he is said to have refused to abide by any legal agreements "with a dead man." The enraged Shuberts began an all out campaign to wrestle power in the industry away from him. In 1919, after he dismissed out of hand the demands of the Actors' Equity Association
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
, the labor union launched a strike that eventually shut down all the theatres in New York city, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. In the end, Erlanger suffered large financial losses and had no choice but to accede to union demands.
The strike spelled the demise of his once powerful organization and the partnership of Klaw & Erlanger made their last Broadway production in September 1924. Abe Erlanger continued to produce on Broadway until his death in 1930. He is interred at Beth El Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York
Ridgewood, New York
Ridgewood, New York refers to different places:*Ridgewood, Queens, in the borough of Queens in New York City*Ridgewood, Niagara County, New York, a hamlet in Niagara County, New York...
.
Anecdotes
According to Groucho MarxGroucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
, when Erlanger approached Gen. Lew Wallace
Lew Wallace
Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author...
about acquiring the stage rights to his epic novel Ben-Hur, Wallace asked him fiercely, "Do you believe in our lord, Jesus Christ?" Erlanger responded, "Frankly, I don't. My partner Klaw does—but he's up in Boston!"