Willie Hammerstein Sullivan and Percy G. Williams. Later the Keith-Albee circuit booking office gave Hammerstein a monopoly on big-time vaudeville in Times Square. Willie's father was much more interested in grand opera, and in 1906 opened the Manhattan Opera House. Revenue from the Victoria kept the opera house running. At one point Oscar Hammerstein, always short of money, moved to sell the Victoria to the Shubert family. Willie and his brother Arthur, who produced shows, blocked the attempt. In March 1913 Keith and Albee paid Oscar Hamilton a reported $225,000 to give up his monopoly. They opened the Palace Theatre at 47th
Mike Hammerstein yards lost. At the end of the 1985 season, Hammerstein was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1985 Michigan team. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of the 1985 Fiesta Bowl (a 27-23 win over Nebraska) in which he registered two quarterback sacks. He was also recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 1985, after receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, United Press International, and the American Football Coaches Association. Hammerstein finished his career as the third highest in Michigan football history in career tackles for loss with 37 for 116 yards. Hammerstein was selected