The record-union., 1891-04-28
SUMMER NIGHTS MUSIC.
A New Element Comes Into the
0pen-Air Concert Subject.
One Of the Local Bands Engaged to
Play at Oak Park on
Sunday Nights,

The warm weather of the last two days
has had the effect of setting people to talk
ing about Open-air concerts. 1t was about
the middle of May last year when COM
mittees were formed to set the bail in mo-
ton, and the first concert of the season
was given about the 1st of June. But as
it takes several weeks to get the thing un-
der way and to collect the necessary
funds, many of those who take an inter
est in the open-air musical events think
it is about time to talk the matter up.
A few citizens were yesterday inter-
viewed by RECORD UNION reporter as
to the prospect of these summer concerts
the coming season. General J. G.. Mar
tine, who was quite active the last two
seasons in promoting the concerts, said
he was ready to lend his aid again as
soon as it was deemed desirable for action
to be taken.
But" he said, 81 think the best thing
to be done is to have one concert q week
in one of the parks, but it should be a fine
one. You see the Central Electric Railway
Company has already secured the service
of one of the local bands for every Sunday
evening during the summer at Oak Park,
where open-air concerts will be given,
and most people viii prefer the ride and
the country air to staying in the city.''
THAT is settled upon, is it?''
1t IS, and the company intends to see
to it that the most perfect order is pre-
served, so that ladies and children shall
not be annoyed by hOodlums. There has
been great deal of prejudice engendered
against Sunday concerts in the city, many
good people believing that they tend to
increase the patronage of saloons, and
especially those with side-entrances for
women.
''Now," continued Mr. MARITIME, "while
[ do not, and have not, shared in this
belief, have no doubt that Sunday even
ing concerts, properly conducted, would
create less opposition if given at place
like Oak Park, where the music would
not offend any person, but could be en-
joyed by those who might see fit to go and
hear it. 1t would, too, solve the much
mooted problem as to whether or not
Sunday evening concerts do actually pro-
mote the trade of side-entrance saloons.
Moreover, the concerts at Oak Park
will be on the grounds of the company,
and it will be to its interest to see that
there shall be no drunkenness nor unbe-
coming conduct of any kind If it were
to permit anything of the kind the better
class of people would not go there. Now.
as these Oak Park concerts are fixed
fact, it seems to me that one weekday
concert each week would be enough in
the city. That is my idea, but doubtless
there are many who think otherwise. At
all events, stir the matter up and let us
see what the public sentiment is on the
subject"
WANTS THEM SUNDAY NIGHTS.
The reporter next called on Charles 7.
Barton, who took a prominent part last
year in inaugurating the season of con-
certS, and found him just as desirous of
having them this summer as he was last.
why, they are the most popular
things city could have" said Mr.. Bar
ton, ''and l tell you they give visitors
who happen in Sacramento for short time
good impression of our city. I don't be-
Heve we need pay any attention to the
concerts which the Electric Railway Conn
pany is going to give at Oak Park every
Sunday. We can go right ahead and
have our two concerts week, and there
will be no question but that the people
will turn out in great numbers. I don't
believe there will be any difficulty in
getting our citizens to subscribe enough
money to defray the expense of a season
of successful concerts"
EVENLY DIVIDED.
A couple of other citizens were uues-
toned on the subject, and others were
sought but could not be found. One OF
those seen land neither wished to have
his name mentioned5 indorsed the posi-
ton taken by Mr.. Barton. He took no
stock, he said, in the arguments that some
people have advanced against Sunday
evening concerts, and did not believe
their tendency was toward evil. He re-
garded them as really elevating agents, as
they kept young people away from the
saloons and evil companionship. And,
SO believing, he favored the giving of two
concerts week-one on weekday even
ing and one on each Sunday evening-in
the plaza and Capitol Park
The other gentleman thought that Sun
day evening concerts might as well be dis
pensed with, as they We're disagreeable to
large element of the community. Still,
if some people must have them, he
thought it would be better to have them
out in the suburbs than in the heart OF
the city