Beautiful certificate from the United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc issued in 1957. This historic document was printed by American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it. This item has the printed signatures of the Company's Vice-President and Secretary and is over 50 years old. The certificate was issued to and handsigned on the reverse by Jacob J. Shurbert. 
Jacob J. Shubert's signature Shubert, family of American theatrical producers and theater owners who were brothers: Lee Shubert (1875-1953), Sam S. Shubert (1876-1905), and Jacob J. Shubert (1880-1963). The brothers, all born in Syracuse, New York, moved to New York City in 1900, where they leased the Herald Square Theater, the first of an empire that at its height included more than 60 theaters throughout the United States. Beginning as theater owners and operators, the Shuberts soon became producers of plays and managers of performers as well. They produced more than 500 plays, including many operettas by Sigmund Romberg and Victor Herbert. Among the performers they managed were entertainers Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor and the French actor Sarah Bernhardt. Their offices in the Shubert Theater in New York City were alongside an open passage-way now known as Shubert Alley, in the heart of the Broadway theater district. Jacob J. Shubert (circa 1879 - December 26, 1963) was naturalized American theatre owner/operator and producer and a member of the famous theatrical Shubert family. Born in Neustadt, Poland (now Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania), he was the sixth child and third son of Duvvid Schubart and Katrina Helwitz. Jacob was still a small child when the family emigrated to the United States, 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. 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. 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. However, in 1905 Sam Shubert was traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on business when the passenger train he was on collided with several freight cars and he died as a result of injuries sustained in the train wreck. His death changed the brother's business dynamics and Jacob assumed a much larger role. 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. Jacob Shubert's son, John, took over as head of the operations in the 1950s but died unexpectedly in 1962 and a year later, Jacob died around age 84. He was interred in the family plot in the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. History from Wikipedia and OldCompanyResearch.com (old stock certificate research service).
History from Old Company Research (Oldcompany.com): UNITED ARTISTS THEATRE CIRCUIT, INC.: Incorporated under laws of Maryland, May 22, 1926, to acquire motion picture theatres. Has ten-year preferential contract with United Artists Corp.(founded by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks) to exhibit pictures produced by latter corporation. Operates a chain of 16 theatres located in Baltimore (4), Chicago (1), Columbus, 0. (2), Detroit (1), Hollywood (1), Los Angeles (1), New York (2), Pittsburgh (2), Portland, Ore. (1) and Louisville (1). United Artists Theatres of California, Ltd. is a subsidiary owning theatres in various sections of California. MANAGEMENT: OFFICERS: J. M. Schenck, Chairman and Pres.; Lee Shubert, D. F. O'Brien, Vice-Pres.; H. D. Buckley, Vice-Pres. and Gen. Mgr.; B. S. Nayfack, Sec. and Treas.; A. M. Georger, Compt. DIRECTORS: J. M. Schenck, Los Angeles; H. D. Buckley, D. F. O'Brien, W. P. Philips, Lee Shubert, New York; B. S. Nayfack, Brooklyn, N. Y.; A. H. Frisch, Nathan Burkan, J. H. Moskowitz. GENERAL AUDITORS: Haskins & Sells. ANNUAL MEETING: Fourth Monday in Nov. at Baltimore. STATUTORY OFFICH: Baltimore, Md, EXECUTIVE OFFICE: 729 Seventh Ave., New York, In 1919, an era when most women didn't even work, Mary Pickford cofounded United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, his friend Charlie Chaplain, and her old boss D.W. Griffith. United Artists Theatre Circuit was never part of United Artists Corporation. It was planned as such by Joseph Schenck, CEO of United Artists at the time it was founded, but UA's owners (including Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin) were against becoming involved in exhibition. They gave Schenck permission to use the name United Artists, but it was an entirely separate company, with Schenck as its largest stockholder. United Artists Corporation was not a party to the Federal Anti-Trust Decree, which applied only to the "Big Five" that did own both theatres and studios--Loew's, Inc., Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, Warner Brothers, and RKO. United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc is owned by the Regal Entertainment Group who is the largest motion picture exhibitor in the world. The Company's theatre circuit, comprising Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres and Edwards Theatres, operates 6,463 screens in 555 locations in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Regal operates approximately 18% of all indoor screens in the United States including theatres in 43 of the top 50 U.S. markets and growing suburban areas.
Jacob J. Shubert's signature
History from Old Company Research (Oldcompany.com): UNITED ARTISTS THEATRE CIRCUIT, INC.: Incorporated under laws of Maryland, May 22, 1926, to acquire motion picture theatres. Has ten-year preferential contract with United Artists Corp.(founded by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks) to exhibit pictures produced by latter corporation. Operates a chain of 16 theatres located in Baltimore (4), Chicago (1), Columbus, 0. (2), Detroit (1), Hollywood (1), Los Angeles (1), New York (2), Pittsburgh (2), Portland, Ore. (1) and Louisville (1). United Artists Theatres of California, Ltd. is a subsidiary owning theatres in various sections of California. MANAGEMENT: OFFICERS: J. M. Schenck, Chairman and Pres.; Lee Shubert, D. F. O'Brien, Vice-Pres.; H. D. Buckley, Vice-Pres. and Gen. Mgr.; B. S. Nayfack, Sec. and Treas.; A. M. Georger, Compt. DIRECTORS: J. M. Schenck, Los Angeles; H. D. Buckley, D. F. O'Brien, W. P. Philips, Lee Shubert, New York; B. S. Nayfack, Brooklyn, N. Y.; A. H. Frisch, Nathan Burkan, J. H. Moskowitz. GENERAL AUDITORS: Haskins & Sells. ANNUAL MEETING: Fourth Monday in Nov. at Baltimore. STATUTORY OFFICH: Baltimore, Md, EXECUTIVE OFFICE: 729 Seventh Ave., New York, In 1919, an era when most women didn't even work, Mary Pickford cofounded United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, his friend Charlie Chaplain, and her old boss D.W. Griffith. United Artists Theatre Circuit was never part of United Artists Corporation. It was planned as such by Joseph Schenck, CEO of United Artists at the time it was founded, but UA's owners (including Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin) were against becoming involved in exhibition. They gave Schenck permission to use the name United Artists, but it was an entirely separate company, with Schenck as its largest stockholder. United Artists Corporation was not a party to the Federal Anti-Trust Decree, which applied only to the "Big Five" that did own both theatres and studios--Loew's, Inc., Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, Warner Brothers, and RKO. United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc is owned by the Regal Entertainment Group who is the largest motion picture exhibitor in the world. The Company's theatre circuit, comprising Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres and Edwards Theatres, operates 6,463 screens in 555 locations in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Regal operates approximately 18% of all indoor screens in the United States including theatres in 43 of the top 50 U.S. markets and growing suburban areas.
