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New York Times
Oct. 23, 1913
BENJAMIN STEVENS DEAD
General Manager for Klaw and Erlanger a Victim of Apoplexy
Benjamin Stevens, General Manager for Klaw and Erlanger, and one of the best-known men in the theatrical world, died suddenly late yesterday afternoon in his home, 265 Central Park West. His death was due to apoplexy following a threatened attack of pneumonia last week.
Mr. Stevens was at his office in the New Amsterdam Theatre building attending to business at 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon and remained there an hour as he had done each day since recovering from his illness. At 4 o'clock he went for an automobile ride, but returned home shortly after 5 o'clock and complained of feeling ill. At 6:15 he collapsed.
Mr. Stevens had been connected with Klaw and Erlanger for many years, but was better known to the general public perhaps as a manager for Richard Mansfield, "San Toy" McCall Opera Company, De Wolf Hopper when that comedian appeared in "Wang" and the late Jerome Sykes's productions Mr. Stevens had an interest.
"Ben" Stevens was born in Bridgewater, Conn in 1851. In Philadelphia he married Miss Edna Brown of that city who survives him, as does a daughter.
Mr. Stevens's body will be taken to Philadelphia Saturday for burial.
Apoplexy: n : a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain [syn: stroke, cerebrovascular accident, CVA]
**Producers Sam Nixon and Fred Zimmerman of Philadelphia, Charles Frohman, Al Hayman, Marc Klaw and Abraham Erlanger of New York formed an organization in order to control and stabilize American Theatre. Due to unscrupulous business practices, the group became known as The Syndicate. They arranged for theatre managers to deal with one agent as opposed to hundreds of touring group managers and producers. Managers who refused to deal with the Syndicate were eliminated through ruthless tactics. They would build rival theatres next to their competition; book first rate shows at reduced prices until the rival went under. New York producers who refused to cooperate were denied bookings and actors were "blackballed." By 1900, the Syndicate won effective control. Their choice of plays was usually very commercial in order to have mass appeal.
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