Chatterton, Heiman, and Shubert
The parade of management at the Illinois Theatre began soon after the new theatre opened. Just weeks following the grand opening, an article in The Champaign Daily Gazette of 26 May 1908 announced that George W. Chatterton, who had signed a long-term lease before the house opened, had sub-let the Illinois to Marcus Heiman, who was the current lessee of the Walker Opera House. Mr. Heiman’s lease would take effect with the beginning of the theatrical season in the fall. Samuel Kahl, who had been the local manager of the Walker for the past two seasons, would become the local manager of the Illinois. 1
In mid-June 1908, George W. Chatterton was still actively planning for the Illinois. He had signed a 5-year contract with William Jones for baggage handling. Local manager, E. E. Rea, had received a letter from Mr. Chatterton on the 15th that informed him that the season would open August 31, with a repertoire company for fair week. 2
The management change had been denied by Mr. Chatterton when reported in May by the Gazette. It was formally announced to the public in a story in The Champaign Daily Gazette of 28 August 1908, that officially confirmed that Marcus Heiman had leased the Illinois Theatre and Samuel Kahl was now resident manager of the Illinois. This story also reported that Allen J. Duncan, stage manager at the Walker since Marcus Heiman had taken control, would then become stage manager at the Illinois. 3
Local manager Samuel Kahl and stage manager Allen Duncan were hard at work with final preparations in the days leading up to the Morris-Thurston company’s week-long stay at the Illinois which began August 31, coinciding with fair week. 4
The stockholders of the Illinois Theatre Company held their annual meeting on Monday, 1 March 1909, in Busey’s bank according to a Champaign Daily Gazette story. More than 300 of the 360 outstanding shares were represented and they were all quite pleased with their investment. They decided to pay a dividend of a little more than 6 per cent. Directors elected were George M. Bennett, C. N. Clark (who would serve as president), T. B. Thornburn (vice-resident), M. W. Busey (secretary), and George W. Busey (treasurer). 5
The Champaign Daily Gazette reported on Wednesday, July 28, 1909, that Marcus Heiman, who had leased the Illinois the prior year, and was the current lessee of the Walker and the Crescent theatres, was down from Chicago conferring with his local manager, Samuel Kahl. Mr. Heiman said "we are going to get ready to give Champaign the best … theatrical attractions the coming season the city has ever enjoyed, regardless of the cost. We are going to completely rebuild the Crescent and change its name to the Orpheum. We will take out the seating now used there and replace it with all opera chairs. We are also going to remove the boxes which were put in last season, will redecorate the house, make the ventilation complete, put in retiring rooms for both sexes, equip the stage with an entirely new outfit of scenery and in fact do the dozens of things which are necessary to be done to make this one of the best vaudeville houses in the state." 6
A story in The Champaign Daily Gazette of 20 September 1909, filled in the public on what was happening at the Illinois that season by announcing that the Shubert Brothers had leased all the houses controlled by George W. Chatterton and would take over management of them beginning October 4. That included opera houses in Springfield, Danville, Urbana, Bloomington, and Lincoln. They would all be under the direct supervision of Herbert E. Duce, manager of the Garrick theatre, Chicago, who had charge of the Schubert’s western interests. 7
C. N. Clark, representing The Illinois Theatre Company, on October 19, 1909, distributed a total of nearly $1,000 in dividends to the various stockholders. The rapidly growing financial strength of the company was noted. 8
From the 24 March 1910 issue of The Urbana Daily Courier: “Harry Chapelle, until recently the manager of “The Honeymoon Trail” company, will take the management of the Illinois theater in this city and the Grand theatre in Danville next season. J. Earl Moor will be retained as local manager of the Illinois and will also have charge of the bookings in Danville. A letter from H.C. Duce, manager of the Garrick theatre in Chicago, who has charge of all western Schubert houses, assures Mr. Moor that no local changes will be made.” Fifty big attractions were to be at the Illinois during the winter and Manager Moor thought prospects for the next season were bright. 9
There were more management issues reported in September 1910. George W. Chatterton sub-leased the Illinois to The Comstock Amusement Company of New York, which were acting on behalf of the Shuberts, and notified local manager J. Earl Moor to turn the house over to the Comstocks. He was to turn over his books to the manager of the Grand Opera House at Danville, the nearest representative of the Comstocks. In effect, the Shuberts surrendered their lease on the Illinois that was to have run until July 13, 1913. 10
Here’s the backstory: Chatterton had gone to New York some time ago and persuaded the Shuberts to take over leases on his theatres in Urbana, Danville, Bloomington, and Springfield. He had tried to convince them to also take his house in Lincoln, but they declined as it wasn’t making any money. Soon after the deal had been struck, the Grand Opera House in Bloomington was destroyed by fire. Chatterton didn’t have the money to rebuild so he could make good on his contract with them. He was able to get a little help from the Shuberts, but did get the financing he needed from a syndicate, and Chatterton turned over the new house to them under a separate contract. The Shuberts then unsuccessfully sued for possession of the new theatre. The Shuberts claim Chatterton violated his contract and canceled their contract on the Illinois. 11
“The Comstock company is backed by the Shubert Booking Co. of New York. As soon as Manager Moor was apprised of the cancellation of the lease, he wired the Shubert Booking Co. asking advice regarding his leasing the Illinois theatre in his own name. He received a wire stating that there would be no change in the season’s bookings and that the company would book other first-class productions here.” In response to inquiries from managers of companies about their bookings, Mr. Moor advised them to send in their contract to be signed. 12
The Champaign Daily Gazette reported on a lawsuit in its December 1, 1911 edition: “Through its attorney, H.I. Green, the Illinois Theatre company has commenced suit against George W. Chatterton, et al for $10,000, in a suit just filed in the circuit court for the January term of court. Only the praecipe for summons has been filed. It is understood the stockholders are holding Chatterton for about $4,600 rent due. The affair is a mix-up between the Shuberts and Chatterton, their troubles now being aired in the district court in Springfield. The Shuberts claim Chatterton "double crossed" them in leasing the house to other parties and Chatterton claims he was double crossed because the Shuberts did not retain he and his son as managers of his properties.” 13
The Urbana Daily Courier updated readers on the lawsuit on January 6, 1912: “In The $10,000 assumpsit suit of the Illinois Theatre company against Geo. W. Chatterton, sr., George W. Chatterton, jr., Margaret L. Chatterton, the Sam S. Shubert Booking Agency and the Comstock Amusement Co., Judge Philbrick, in circuit court, late Friday afternoon, set aside the order allowing a petition for removal to a federal court, filed by the S.S. Shubert Co., and the suit was dismissed to that corporation.” 14
“A trial by jury followed and a verdict was returned assessing the theatre company’s damages at $6,016.48. Judgement nil dieit against the Comstock Amusement Co. and the Chattertons was rendered, all having defaulted. This case is not to be confused with that of the Chattertons against Shubert and Comstock companies, which on Thursday was removed to the federal court.” 15