Jacob J. Shubert (c. 1879 – December 26, 1963) was an American theatre owner/operator and producer and a member of the famous theatrical Shubert family.
Born in Vladislavov, in the Suwałki Governorate of Congress Poland, a part of the Russian Empire (present-day Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania), (according to his obituary, he was born in Syracuse[1]) 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 1881 to the United States,[2] 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.[2]
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.[2] In New York, the elder Shuberts laid the foundations for what was to become the largest theatre empire in the 20th century including Broadway'sWinter Garden and Shubert Theatres. In 1905 Sam Shubert was traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on business when the passenger train he was on collided with several freight cars. Shubert died as a result of the injuries he sustained. His death changed the brothers' business dynamics and Jacob assumed a much larger role.[2]
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.[2]
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.[3] Jacob apparently was not made aware of his son's death.[4] He was divorced from his wife, Katherine, in 1917, but was married to Muriel at the time of his death.[1][5] He was interred in the family plot in the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
He left a substantial portion of his assets to the Shubert Foundation, and by 1972, the assets of his estate totalled $60 million.[4]
References
^ ab"The Curtain Falls for J. J. Shubert,"St. Petersburg Times, December 27, 1963.
^ abcde"Shubert Brothers pbs.org, accessed June 7, 2009
^"Noted Theatrical Producer, Jacob Shubert, Dies",Rome News-Tribune, December 26, 1963
^ abGreen, Abel (December 13, 1972). "Accounting of J. J. Shubert's $60-Mil Estate Key To Foundation Grants". Variety. p. 1.
^"Divorce for Mrs. Shubert,"The New York Times, February 11, 1917
Further reading
Jonas Westover (2017). The Shuberts and Their Passing Shows: The Untold Tale of Ziegfeld's Rivals, Oxford University Press
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jacob J. Shubert.
"Who's Who in Musicals", John Kenrick, musicals101.com
Official websiteShubert Organization
Official websiteShubert Foundation biography
March 21, 2023
jacob, shubert, 1879, december, 1963, american, theatre, owner, operator, producer, member, famous, theatrical, shubert, family, shubert, contents, biography, references, further, reading, external, linksbiography, editborn, vladislavov, suwałki, governorate, . Jacob J Shubert c 1879 December 26 1963 was an American theatre owner operator and producer and a member of the famous theatrical Shubert family J J Shubert Contents 1 Biography 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksBiography EditBorn in Vladislavov in the Suwalki Governorate of Congress Poland a part of the Russian Empire present day Kudirkos Naumiestis Lithuania according to his obituary he was born in Syracuse 1 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 1881 to the United States 2 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 2 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 2 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 Theatres In 1905 Sam Shubert was traveling to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on business when the passenger train he was on collided with several freight cars Shubert died as a result of the injuries he sustained His death changed the brothers business dynamics and Jacob assumed a much larger role 2 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 2 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 3 Jacob apparently was not made aware of his son s death 4 He was divorced from his wife Katherine in 1917 but was married to Muriel at the time of his death 1 5 He was interred in the family plot in the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn New York He left a substantial portion of his assets to the Shubert Foundation and by 1972 the assets of his estate totalled 60 million 4 References Edit a b The Curtain Falls for J J Shubert St Petersburg Times December 27 1963 a b c d e Shubert Brothers pbs org accessed June 7 2009 Noted Theatrical Producer Jacob Shubert Dies Rome News Tribune December 26 1963 a b Green Abel December 13 1972 Accounting of J J Shubert s 60 Mil Estate Key To Foundation Grants Variety p 1 Divorce for Mrs Shubert The New York Times February 11 1917Further reading EditJonas Westover 2017 The Shuberts and Their Passing Shows The Untold Tale of Ziegfeld s Rivals Oxford University PressExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jacob J Shubert Jacob J Shubert at Find a Grave Who s Who in Musicals John Kenrick musicals101 com Official website Shubert Organization Official website Shubert Foundation biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jacob J Shubert amp oldid 1142004623, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
