Arthur Hammerstein Oscar Hammerstein II. Arthur produced almost 30 musicals in 40 years in show business. During a performance of "Tickle Me" in 1920, Hammerstein was arrested for possessing what was thought to be whiskey during the Prohibition era, which later turned out to be iced tea. In 1930 Hammerstein was accused by a dance director George Haskell for assault but the charges were later dropped and the two reconciled. To search for better business opportunities, Hammerstein went to Hollywood to produce his one and only film "The Lottery Bride", which was a failure and he returned to Broadway again. Hammerstein's last
Oscar Hammerstein I (1896). While it was positively received by "The New York Times", Hammerstein's personal experience was less than peaceful, with the production being plagued by monetary issues with the cast and stage set. In the end, Hammerstein had profited only one-tenth of the costs that were put into the "Santa Maria" production. Nine years later, Longacre Square was renamed Times Square, and the area had become, through his efforts, a thriving theater district. Hammerstein built three more theaters there, the Victoria Theatre (1899), which turned to vaudeville presentation in 1904 and was managed by his son, Willie Hammerstein before closing in