Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-14
TO UTILIZE THE EXPO.
Popular Concerts Could be
Handily Instituted.
OFFICIALS TALK IN FAVOR
OF Having Both Winter and Summer
y Concerts.
PUBLIC OPINION ALL POWERFUL.

Down on the river front stands huge
building which, with shut doors and frown-
ing exterior, marks the spot where Pitts
burg's first Exposition was made bowling
success BY the earnest efforts of her best
citizens. The main building was closed on
October IL and bids fair to remain so until
the fourth of next September, when the
second Exposition is 20 open.
THE DISPATCH believes that that grand
and roomy edifce is but poorly subserving
a distinct purpose in the advancement of a
great community like this when its period
Of use by the public is 40 days out Of S65.
There stands a naked building; now to
clothe il with an idea of usefulness to de-
wise some plan whereby the public can get
some distinct and decided good out of so
spacious hall.
Popular Concerts" are the happy thought
under the circumstances. Music is an edu-
Gator, and upon no project can rich and poor
meet upon common ground so happily and
with results so productive of GOOD to the
many.
With the above plan as a somewhat vague
basis-vague as to the possibility of whether
the concerts can be summer or winter-a
number of gentlemen have been sought out
and requested to outline their opinions. The
distinctly favorable views entertained lndl-
cate popular Endorsement of the plan. And
the columns of THE DISPATCH are open to
those who have any suggestions to offer.
WHAT PRESIDENT MARVIN SAYS.
President S. S. Marvin, of the Exposition
Society, was seen. When The DISPATCH
reporter announced his mission, Mr.. Marvin
said: 81 think that the idea of popular con-
oertslfor the benefit of the masses is an excel
lent one and a most laudable enterprise.
The only bar to it now is the fact that there
is no means of heating the building. 1t
would cost considerable money to put in
heating apparatus, probably about 5000.
NV idea would be to heat the building by
steam cOiIed pipes. We could not put in
enough 11I-lnch pipe to make the place
comfortable for less than Sc, 600. There is
no reason why we should not have popular
concerts in the building. When the Expo
sition plan was proposed, it was stated that
when not being used as an Exposition it was
to be a music hall. There is no reason now
why we should not utilize the place instead
of allowing the building to stand idle. The
1000 members of the society are expecting
something in the music line, and they will
get it very shortly think.
Would you confne the concerts to local
tslent?"
"No, sir. would not, unless the local
talent is the best in the world. would
constitute the concerts Of the very best talent
obtainable. The attractions 1 would get
would be the best that money could procure.
At popular prices which would surely draw
big crowds the scheme would pay hand
somely. The acoustics of the building are
everything that could be desired.
THE PROPER THING TO DO.
'I think the proper thing, however, to do
is the agitation of the erection of music
hall in connection with the exposition
building. The hall could be used during
the 20 days of the Exposition for Exposition
purposes. The balance of the time it could
ee used fo- concerts, meetings, etc.
1--WE verY seldom get any good music here.
The large opera companies start out at New
York. After playing an engagement there
the -~ILies sometimes split up. One
sectiea 9-lg go to Boston and New England
and then westward without touching Pitts
burg. Another crowd will come to this city
after playing in Philadelphia. A third
section will 90 to Baltimore and take in
Cincinnati and St. Louis. They all come
together in Chicago, and the people there
are given frst-class festival. If we had a
good hall here this city would be a hallway
stopping place for all the large companies
going from New York to Chicago and re-
turn. When they came they would
stay at least q week and we would get some
thing in the music line worth listening to,
Instead of that we now get everything piece
meal. If we could get the ground from the
city this would be an incentive to erect
building with all appurtenances, etc. The
building would cost with fixtures, ETC.,
about $500, ,OOO.''
POPULAR PRICES ADVOCATED.
''What should be the price of admission
to the concerts, in your opinion?"
81 would not charge more than 25 cents
This would give everybody chance to hear
week with vocal and the next instrumental
music, or perhaps combined occasionally.
We wouldshave a season of good local tai
ent and then give frst-class festival.
I'VE are now on the eve of State Con-
vention. If we had the music hall built
the convention could be secured for this
city. There is not hall in the State that
would hold as many people as the one we
propose to build. 1t would be an induce
ment for the people of Ohio to hold their
State Convention in Pittsburg. We are
nearer to great many counties in Ohio than
Cincinnati is. Look at the present music
hall over the market house. The idea of
sitting over beef steaks takes the flavor from
the music. Think of those straight stairs.
Every time get in the place 1 am afraid
that some accident may happen and the
people viii be unable to get out of
the building. The only route is BY
the stairs, and should a panic ever take
place there we would witness a repetition of
the recent Johnstown horror. The idea of
local popular concerts has the sympathy and
support of every member of the Board of
Directors of the Exposition Society, who
will continue to doeverything in their power
to elevate the tastes of the people of the
city,
FRANZ LoHMAE IN SYMPATHY.
Prof F. LohmAn, the able musical d.
rector, said: 81 do not think the present
Exposition building would answer the pur-
pose. think the idea is a good one, and
will have the support of everybody who
loves music. 1 do not think, however, that
the concerts can be given successfully until
a music hall is erected. was the first man
In the city to agitste the concert idea in the
hofo