A theater observer presents a grand history of the producers, directors, actors, and critics battling for creative and financial control of Broadway.

The ice age -- The phantom -- Mr. Lee and Mr. J. J. -- While there is death there is hope -- Bastards, criminals, and drunks -- Changing of the guard -- New York, New York, a helluva mess -- The coup -- Rotten to the core -- Horsing around -- The paintman cometh -- The jockey -- The one -- The interloper -- I love New York, especially in the evening -- The coiled cobra -- The Bernie and Jerry show -- The jockey and the godfather -- Civil war -- And the winner is... -- CAT$ -- Mesmerizing temptation -- End of the line -- The British are coming! The British are coming! -- Pick-a-little, talk-a-little -- Nothing matters -- Exit music.