Erlanger, A. L.

(1860-1930)

   In Cleveland, Abraham Lincoln Erlanger began his theatrical association by selling opera glasses at Ellsler's Academy of Music. Mark Hanna bought the theatre and hired Erlanger as treasurer, instructing the young man in ruthless business practices. Erlanger later joined Marc Klaw in what would become a long, profitable producing partnership. They set up the Klaw & Erlanger Exchange in New York, an agency representing stage stars including Joseph Jefferson III, Effie Ellsler, and Fanny Davenport. The chaotic booking practices that existed for touring companies in the 1890s impelled Klaw & Erlanger to join with other producers to organize the Theatrical Syndicate or Trust. The Syndicate became virtually all-powerful, able to effectively blacklist rebellious performers or producers by preventing their use of Syndicate-owned theatres. With the advent of motion pictures, Klaw & Erlanger's control declined significantly.

   Loathed by many in the theatrical profession, Erlanger had defenders, including George M. Cohan, Charles Dillingham, and Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., for whom he bankrolled the first Ziegfeld Follies in 1907. Erlanger produced many plays in his own name and quietly financed others, including The Great Metropolis (1890), Ben-Hur (1899), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1910), Kismet (1911), and numerous musicals, including Cohan's Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway (1906). Despite his harsh business tendencies, Erlanger was a lover of culture who traveled frequently and was obsessed with collecting memorabilia and art about Napoleon. Erlanger sold off most of his theatrical interests by 1921, but he continued to produce plays until his death.