Encyclopedia Dubuque
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ROSENTHAL, Jacob "Jake"
ROSENTHAL, Jacob Joseph "Jake." (Chicago, IL, Apr. 16, 1871--Waterloo, IA, Sept. 22, 1936). The second son of Harry and Rose Rosenthal, Jacob became the primary source of income for the family when he was ten years of age. He was married to actress Kathryn Osterman with whom he had a son, the comedian Jack Osterman. (1) His career as a theatrical manager spanned entertainment from road shows to MOTION PICTURES. He spent twenty-three years in Dubuque as the manager of the BIJOU THEATER, NEW BIJOU THEATRE, and the MAJESTIC THEATRE. (2) He was also the manager of vaudeville programs at UNION PARK. (3) Rosenthal has been credited with promoting the careers of Harry Houdini, later the famous magician, and Elsie Janis, an entertainer. (4) When he moved to Waterloo, Iowa, he presented motion pictures and occasional vaudeville acts.
Rosenthal entered the theatrical business after working two years as a police reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer. He worked as the press agent for John H. Havlin and R.J. Miles, managers of the Havlin Theatre and Grand Theatre for two years until his advertising expertise led to bigger opportunities. John R. McClean, owner of the Enquirer, had boasted that no one had enough money to buy an advertisement on the front page of his paper. Bested his former employer by stamping in red ink on the front page the announcement of Effie Ellaler in "Hazel Kirke." McLean's anger may to Rosenthal's firing, but gave him enough publicity to land him in New York City as a leading advance man and press agent. (5)
At the age of nineteen, Rosenthal began working with vaudeville. Gus Walters, the founder of the Orpheum circuit which consisted of theaters in Los Angeles and San Francisco, hired Rosenthal as one of his aides. Theaters at the time were large barn-like building. Patrons sat at tables as they smoked and drank. Performers worked from a raised platform or platform at one end of the building. Because of the noise, entertainment had to be enjoyed above the noise. Popular acts involved acrobatics, dancing and singing. Orpheum productions were so popular that people returning to the cities cabled ahead for reservations.
Walters learned of the Creighton Theater in Omaha and purchased the lease. He appointed Rosenthal as the new manager of the renamed Creaghton-Orpheum. The theater, under new management, saw its first vaudeville performance on December 4, 1898. It was in Omaha that Harry Houdini, the famed magician, was given his first professional engagement earning $70 per week but on his way to commanding one of the highest salaries in the theater business. Rosenthal soon listed among his friends,the Barrymores, James Francis ("Frank") KEENAN and Sarah Bernhardt. Rosenthal remained in Omaha for five years before joining a road show as its manager. His interest, however, returned to vaudeville and he came to Dubuque as the manager of the Majestic. (6)
Rosenthal created the "White City" at the DUBUQUE SHOOTING PARK and then turned his attention to Union Park. Performers first appeared under the trees at the Rustic Bandstand. Later acts were performed in the park's theater. (7) Rosenthal booked a variety of performers. For a week in June 1913, The Payne Children performed an "oddity" which they called "Fun on a Tight Wire" as well as some "stunts that are real thrillers." Lewis, Griffin and Lewis entertained with music and comedy. Every performance also included two reels of pictures. During a week in July 1914, Scanlon and Press, a male and female team, performed a vaudeville. The Harrahs "sailed around on roller skates, executing every step in a manner quite perfect." The Liechti Quartette sang "a number of standard selections in a manner which leave no opening for untoward criticism." Marr and Wills, "a pair of acrobatically included gentlemen," manage to "infuse a lot of fun into their clowning."
Interested in providing Dubuque with the newest attractions, Rosenthal promoted the construction of the AIRDOME. In late July, 1913 he brought the Edison Talking Moving Pictures to Dubuque. His efforts led to his nickname-- Dubuque's "Amusement King." (8)
In 1926 Jacob and several relatives formed the Rosenthal Theatre Corporation in Dubuque. The notice of the organization's beginnings stated that the general nature of the business was to operate and conduct theatres, dance halls, recreation halls and other places of amusement, moving picture theatres, firm exchanges, athletic exhibitions and carnivals, a hotel, and restaurant. An exchange would be established to buy, hold, sell, and convey personal property and real estate necessary for the corporation. An authorization for $100,000 in stock was made with 850 shares of preferred stock at $100 per share and 15,000 shares of common stock at a par value of $1.00 per share was announced. The board of directors included Jake Rosenthal, Lew Rosenthal, Nathan Rosenthal, Harry P. Munns, and Juella M. Dunn. The officers would be Jake Rosenthal, president; Lew Rosenthal, vice-president; and Nathan Rosenthal, secretary and treasurer. (9)
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Source:
1. Jacob Joseph “J.J.” Rosenthal, "Find-a-Grave.com". https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103284347/jacob-joseph-rosenthal
2. The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), September 27, 1936
3. "New Vaudeville Show at the Park," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 22, 1913, p. 10
4. Jacob Rosenthal obituary, The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), September 22, 1936, p. 2
5. "This Free Ad Brought Some Good Results". Fourth Estate. November 10, 1917. p. 29 Online: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Fourth_Estate/LyI9AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=J.J.+Rosenthal+bronx+opera+house&pg=RA16-PA29&printsec=frontcover
6. "Taps" Sounded for Famous Old Omaha Theatre and "Echo" is Provided Here by Jake Rosenthal," Telegraph-Herald, April 25, 1926, p. 28
7. "Mr. Jake Rosenthal, Amusement Magnate, Eight Years in Dubuque," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 27, 1913, p. 8
8. Ibid.
9. "Notice," Telegraph-Herald, December 13, 1926, p. 16