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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 43 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 43

 Honoring the important contributions to the Nation of the Academy of 
     Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on its 150th Anniversary.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 25, 2007

    Mr. Specter (for himself and Mr. Casey) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Honoring the important contributions to the Nation of the Academy of 
     Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on its 150th Anniversary.

Whereas the Academy of Music opened in 1857 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 
        quickly became the most prestigious opera house in the United States;
Whereas the Academy of Music is the oldest grand opera house in the United 
        States that is still used for its original purpose;
Whereas, in 1963, the Academy of Music was designated a National Historic 
        Landmark;
Whereas, over the years, the Academy of Music served not only as a venue for the 
        performing arts community, but has also hosted many graduation 
        ceremonies, along with several Presidential conventions and other 
        important public events;
Whereas the Academy of Music served as the Philadelphia Orchestra's main concert 
        hall for more than a century, and the Orchestra purchased the Academy in 
        1957 and performs each year for the Academy's anniversary;
Whereas the Academy of Music has had a host of legendary artists grace its 
        stage, from the disciplines of classical to popular music, dance, and 
        drama, including Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Marian Anderson, Frank 
        Sinatra, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Anna Pavlova, Ruth St. Denis, 
        Ted Shawn, and Margot Fonteyn;
Whereas the Academy of Music has also hosted several sporting events, was turned 
        into an indoor skating rink in 1866, had a wooden floor installed over 
        the parquet level in 1889 to create space for an indoor football game 
        between the University of Pennsylvania and the Riverton Club of 
        Princeton, and had a wooden floor installed again in 1892 for the 
        University of Pennsylvania for a track meet; and
Whereas the Academy of Music has also been a part of other historical and 
        cultural events, such as a demonstration of the telephone by Alexander 
        Graham Bell in 1877, the first ever concert in stereophonic sound in 
        1933 performed by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the 
        filming of ``One Hundred Men and a Girl'' in 1937, and the recording of 
        the soundtrack of the Disney classic ``Fantasia'' by the Philadelphia 
        Orchestra in 1939: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, 
        Pennsylvania, on its 150th anniversary;
            (2) honors the important contributions of the Academy of 
        Music to the Nation; and
            (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy 
        of this resolution to the Academy of Music.
                                 <all>
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