Evening journal., 1888-10-12
MUSIC HALL PROPOSED.
An srpeal 70 sTilnip-son rTusicihns ane
Their Frlsnds.


70 the Editor 81 EgrNfNu JOURNAL
Ii ever it is intended that Wilmington
shall have a Music Hail. now is the tim,
for action BY Music Hall | mean ,
place suitable for large concerts. re
hearsing room for our local musical SO
cieties, and one especially adapted for tho
atrical purposes Of all kinds-a building
that can be changed into q BAH room or
place suitable for holding fairs, in fact !
building tilted for all popular entertain
ing purposes. There has always been
feeling among our musicians favorable tc
q move Of this kind. We are now forced
to do something on account nf both Of ON
amusement houses being ia the hands oi
one combination who evidently have nC
interest in our city other than "a desire 10
get an they can cut oft These manager
seem 70 lack the Judgment necessary
1 properly 10 conduct their business with
ont ineurring the enmily Of those citizens
from whom they might rightly expect
support AT the time the report was
current that the directors Of tho Opera
4 House were about 20 lease the house 60
Proctor and Soulier, The managers Of the
4 Academy of Music, strong objection
was made BY the public based on the
/ fact that il was certainly not to the best
4 interests Of Wilmington TO have both
1 Opera Houses controlled by one combina-
! tion, foreign TO the city, who We're bent
GA monopolizing the amusement field
4 The directors, Of course, had right to
| do as they pleased, and the change was
consummated What is the result2 Our
/ two local musical societies, the Tuesday
and Choral clubs, sent committees to
Manager Souier to obtain rates Of rental.
and We're temporarily paralyzed by the un-
reasonable price demanded The offer
made TO me by this gentleman last spring
was 50 unreasonable as to be simply rid
iculous. Mr Soulier on gaining control
Of both houses probably argued to himself
that the members of these societies were
green at this business, which was fact.
rs we never had occasion. TO study the
intrigues Of the theatrical business hav
ing had the pleasure of dealing with
managers and proprietors in whom we
mad confidence and who we felt had some
interest in home affairs. The situation
Of the two societies is simply this. They
must pay the price demanded. give their
performances in an open lot or disband,
unless they rise up and provide for them
selves. The Board of Directors of both clubs
condemn the action Of the Opera House
managers, but ask what are we to dor
The Tuesday and Choral clubs repre-
sent the controlling musical power ia the
city. Their object is the cultivation of
the talents of their members. the amuse
ment Of themselves and friends and the
advancement of musical taste in the city
and entire community The members Of
these societies do not derive any income
from the public entertainment given and
not only devote their Time talents and
any amount Of personal labor
to the cause, but pay the largest
portion Of the running expenses
of the clubs by voluntary subscriptions.
Even with these contributions the ex
penses Of running the clubs and giving
public performances are so great that it
is only BY the most strenuous efforts OF
the members that the clubs comfortably
clear expenses. One of these societies
opens the season Of 6s with 0i cents in
the treasury, but lots Of pluck. viii the
public blame us for kicking against
these parties being paid the lions share
Of the protity | think not But then
again the question arises: "What are
we to dor
Suppose for instance that two dozen Of |
our most prominent and oldest musicians
We're to meet and investigate this ques
tion and then issue call to Wilmington |
musicians TO assemble on certain night |
TO help consider it, What would be the |
resultg Music Hall or Academy Of |
Music would be provided suitable for ali |
desirable purposes, filling long felt |
want and serving as a monument to the |
pluck and enterpris Of Wilmington |
singers. Stop for moment and consider /
What amount is paid annually by the two l
'inbs for rental of rehearsing rooms and
lire Of hall for concert purposes. The
Tuesday Club now pays $3.50 annually for
renl OF rehearsing room and the Choral
Club could easily do it, Here is 1900
Each club would no doubt gladly pay 81 a
night for rent Of a hall in which
hey were so much interested. The
Tuesday Club calculates to use it twice
y season and the Choral Club four
lines Here is 5000, and with the price
II rental paid makes 5000. which is or
would be expended by these clubs towards
paying the running expenses Of the new
lali II little band Of thirty men. com
'osing the Biggs Battery, the new mill.
AIRY organization, can buy rink valued
y SllUO0, what could be done by the 250
members of these two societies. the
fingers not represented in these clubs
ma the friends of alp
a strong substantial building and one
.dapted for this purpose is the rink at
Fourth and Washington streets. have
consulted with MIR T. L. Rice. architect
n reference to this building being turned
nto musical hall and he thinks it can
le fitted mp for this purpose. II is his
'plnon without having thoroughly ex-
tnined the building that stare 6Oxg0
Get considerably larger than the Opers
House stage can be erected. 3 600 saats
arranged as comfortably as those IA the
lew Grand Opera House in PHILADELPHIA
ND still have plenty Of room left for
'ther necessary purposes. My reference to
ms building il merely suggestion
ina the matter might assume al entirely
Inherent aspect after the people had
thoroughly discussed the idea. A build |
ng oi TINS kind would also open the wav
or some Of the best attractions. even IL
my Two month, that are now denied (
'uf people on account Of having no place
u which TO give their performances.
VIII make strenuous efforts 10 effect (
meeting Of musicians Co discuss this (
natter and on accomplishing that win {
axe back seat, prepared To do ANYTHING I
a my power 10 further this scheme. sub.
ect 70 the orders Of those who may he ]
ppointed to control the movement Con (
ider well, and with united action and de.
effort, all obstacles win ran
Respectfully yours,
49,, n. DusuAyE CLowARD.
Wilmington October 70. 1883.