The Shubert Theater opened in Kansas City, Oct. 1, 1906, and for 30 years furnished this area the finest legitimate theater to be had in America. The theater was built by Leo N. Leslie after a series of personal conferences here with Lee S. Shubert, who selected the site on the north side of 10th just west of Baltimore. (Today the site is occupied by the parking facility of the First National Bank.) The three Shubert brothers, Lee S., J. J., and Sam, operated theatrical enterprises at one time conservatively estimated to be worth $400 million. The first show in the Kansas City Shubert was The Earl and The Girl starring Eddie Foy. In the years to follow most of the great personalities of the legitimate theater in this century appeared on the Shubert's stage, many of them later to win popularity on screen, radio and television. Well remembered by many were the beautiful and famous Lillian Russell, who appeared at the theater in 1913; Jeanne Eagels in Rain, 1925; Fred Stone in Jack O'Lantern; George Jessel, the young star who headed his own company before he was 30, in The Jazz Singer, 1927, and the Marx Brothers in The Coconuts, 1927 musical comedy. Before it closed the Shubert ran motion pictures, and as a prologue to the showing of Covered Wagon, 26 representatives of early-day Kansas City families appeared on the stage. The performance was a benefit for the Harris House restoration. Among the families represented were Wornall, Reed, McCoy, Scarritt, Ridge, Ward, Barton and Lovejoy. The theater closed its doors in 1935 and the building was razed in 1936. Kansas City Times, January 22, 1972.
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