In the late 19th century, New York was witness to the emergence of the Shubert Organization, founded by three brothers from Syracuse – Sam S. Shubert, Lee Shubert and Jacob J. Shubert. Starting with 1900, the organization started producing shows and later on it proceeded to acquiring some of the most important theaters. The company had a hiatus between the 1940s and the 1970s, and in 1972 Gerald Schoenfeld occupied the position of chairman of the Shubert Organization. Schoenfeld was a lawyer by formation, yet he had the Shubert Organization as a client.

Because his position was such a prestigious one, he and Bernard Jacobs have been two of the most influential people when it comes to the world of theater. The two are the ones we have to thank for today’s full-fledged Broadway industry, as they had single-handedly rescued theater from the clutches of oblivion.

Early this morning, the theater mogul was found dead in his Manhattan home, at the age of 84. It seems that Schoenfeld died instantly, and a cause of death hasn’t yet been released to the public. At the time of his death, the Shubert organization, which he had ran since 1972, owned or ran 17 theatres, out of the 39 on Broadway.

Among the plays produced by the Shubert Organization are”Pippin”, “A Chorus Line” or “Les Miserables”. Of the most recent plays, we mention the musical “Billy Elliot” and the controversial “Equus”, starring Daniel Radcliffe.

The chairman of the Shubert Organization was also chairman of the Shubert Foundation, which is the largest theatrical philanthropy.