Jacob J. Shubert
Encyclopedia
Jacob J. Shubert was naturalized American
theatre owner/operator and producer and a member of the famous theatrical Shubert family
.
Born in Neustadt, Poland (now Kudirkos Naumiestis
, Lithuania
), (according to this obituary, he was born in Syracuse
) he was the sixth child and third son of Duvvid Schubart and Katrina Helwitz, a Jewish couple. Jacob was still a small child when the family emigrated in 1882 to the United States
, settling in Syracuse, New York
where a number of Jewish families from their hometown were already living.
His father's alcoholism
kept the family in difficult financial circumstances and both he and his older brothers received little in the way of education and had no choice but to go to work at a young age. With borrowed money, he and brothers Sam and Lee Shubert
eventually embarked on a business venture that led to them becoming the successful operators of several theatre houses in upstate New York.
The Shubert brothers decided to expand their theatrical operations and in 1900 Sam and Lee Shubert moved to New York City
leaving Jacob at home to manage their existing theatres. In New York, the elder Shuberts laid the foundations for what was to become the largest theatre empire in the 20th century including Broadway's
Winter Garden
and Shubert Theatre
s. However, in 1905 Sam Shubert was traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
on business when the passenger train he was on collided with several freight cars and he died as a result of injuries sustained in the train wreck
. His death changed the brother's business dynamics and Jacob assumed a much larger role.
Together, although often feuding, Jacob and Lee Shubert overcame the stranglehold on the industry by the Theatrical Syndicate's
monopoly under Abe Erlanger and Mark Klaw to build the largest theatre empire in the 20th century.
Jacob Shubert's son, John, took over as head of the operations in the 1950s but died unexpectedly on November 17, 1962 and a year later, Jacob died around age 84. He was divorced from his wife, Katherine, in 1917, but was married to Muriel at the time of his death. He was interred in the family plot in the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatre owner/operator and producer and a member of the famous theatrical Shubert family
Shubert family
The Shubert family of New York City, New York was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district, in New York City, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States...
.
Born in Neustadt, Poland (now Kudirkos Naumiestis
Kudirkos Naumiestis
Kudirkos Naumiestis is in the Šakiai district municipality, Lithuania. It is located south-west of Šakiai.The settlement was first mentioned in 1561 as a village called Duoliebaičiai. In 1639 the town was renamed Vladislavovas by Cecilia Renata of Austria after her husband Władysław IV Vasa. He...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
), (according to this obituary, he was born in Syracuse
) he was the sixth child and third son of Duvvid Schubart and Katrina Helwitz, a Jewish couple. Jacob was still a small child when the family emigrated in 1882 to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, settling in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
where a number of Jewish families from their hometown were already living.
His father's alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
kept the family in difficult financial circumstances and both he and his older brothers received little in the way of education and had no choice but to go to work at a young age. With borrowed money, he and brothers Sam and Lee Shubert
Lee Shubert
Levi "Lee" Shubert was a Polish-born American theatre owner/operator and producer and the oldest of seven siblings of the theatrical Shubert family....
eventually embarked on a business venture that led to them becoming the successful operators of several theatre houses in upstate New York.
The Shubert brothers decided to expand their theatrical operations and in 1900 Sam and Lee Shubert moved to 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...
leaving Jacob at home to manage their existing theatres. In New York, the elder Shuberts laid the foundations for what was to become the largest theatre empire in the 20th century including Broadway's
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...
Winter Garden
Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown Manhattan.-History:The structure was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
and Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre or Shubert Theater may refer to:Theatres*Shubert Theatre , New York City, built in 1913.*Shubert Theatre , Connecticut, built in 1914.*Shubert Theatre , California, demolished in 2002....
s. However, in 1905 Sam Shubert was traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
on business when the passenger train he was on collided with several freight cars and he died as a result of injuries sustained in the 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...
. His death changed the brother's business dynamics and Jacob assumed a much larger role.
Together, although often feuding, Jacob and Lee Shubert overcame the stranglehold on the industry by the Theatrical Syndicate's
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...
monopoly under Abe Erlanger and Mark Klaw to build the largest theatre empire in the 20th century.
Jacob Shubert's son, John, took over as head of the operations in the 1950s but died unexpectedly on November 17, 1962 and a year later, Jacob died around age 84. He was divorced from his wife, Katherine, in 1917, but was married to Muriel at the time of his death. He was interred in the family plot in the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.