Author: Hirsch, Foster
Hardback; Book; 24 Illustrations
448 pages
Published: June 1998
Southern Illinois University Press
ISBN: 0809321564

From 1905 to the crash of 1929, Sam Shubert (1874-1905) and his brothers Lee (1874-1953) and J.J. (1878-1963), despite poor beginnings and near-illiteracy, created a theater monopoly unrivaled in history. Their ruthless business tactics and showmanship made 42nd Street the heart of American popular theater and won them the most sought after stars of the day, including Al Jolson, Carmen Miranda, Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, Mae West and Fred Astaire.The sons of a religious fanatic, the Shubert brothers and their heirs have exercised a power over Broadway and the road. During their heyday from 1905 to the crash of 1929, they presented a dozen or more shows each season. Their story is a tale of business success and family shenanigans.