The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-20
L. S. AYRES & co.
Agents for Butterck Patterns
POPULAR SUMMER CONCERTS.
An Association to BE Formed to Give
Them in the Parks.

Popular concerts, form of entertainment
which has done much toward inspiring and
fostering popular musical sentiment in
Boston, New York and other Eastern cit
les, are likely to become a permanent in
stitution in this city as a result Of move
ment inaugurated at a meeting held in the
Commercial Club assembly room last night.
The meeting resulted in preliminary or
ganization of what is to be known as the
indianapolis Concert Association" 1t is
the purpose to give free public concerts
in the parks or other public places during
the summer and grand concerts in the
theaters during the winter. A society is
to be organized on a permanent and per-
petual basis. It's membership will be linn
tied to one hundred public spirited men,
This summer three concerts will be given
each week during a ten weeks season. 1t
is estimated that each concert will cost
a competent director, or $500 for the sea-
son. Each member of the association will
be expected to contribute SIS toward guar
antee fund to meet the expenses that will
be incurred this year.
A number of representative business men
responded to the call for the meeting,
among them M. B. Wilson, l. S. Gordon,
William c. Bobbs Bement Lyman, William
Scott, Emil Wulschner, George Merritt,
John M. Shaw and Evans Woollen. Mr.
William c. Bobbs temporary secretary 1t
was Mr.. BobbSs idea to form permanent
association of one hundred members and on
motion OF Mr.. Scott 1t was determined to
carry out this plan. A committee consisting
of M. b. Wilson, William c. Bobbs, Emil
Wulschner, Evans Woollen and Bement
Lyman, was appointed to solicit prominent
business men to become members. They
Will meet at noon to-day to organize and
begin work. Circular letters will be sent out
offering an opportunity to one hundred men
TO become members. 1t was the consensus
last night that there would be
but little trouble in organizing the as
ISOLATION and comparatively easy
thing to start the movement The idea is
to have the concert season begin about the
middle of June and continue until Septem-
Der.
Some of the difficulties likely to be en-
couptered were discussed at length Some
doubt was expressed as to whether the
Board of Park Commissioners would per-
nit Military Park, University and ST. Clair
squares to be used for concerts, as the
presence of large crowds that would nat
urally be attracted would injure the grass
shrubs and flowers Mr.. Woollen. however
spoke of an interview he had with Mayor
Taggart yesterday, who regretted that he
could not be present, but sent word that
the movement met with his hearty approval
and he assured Mr.. Woollen that so far
as he had the power 10 control things the
administration would support and cooper
ate in the movement This was regarded
as encouraging and the belief expressed
that the committee would find no difficulty
in this direction.
I. S. Gordon was rather inclined to be-
lieve that an organization of this char
acter was not necessary and that the end
in view could be accomplished by a commit
tee from the commercial organizations. To
this the objection was raised that a COM
mittee of organization could not give the
movement the permanency that is desired
It might do very we'll in the way of raising
money for this summer but that would
be the end of ii, it was argued.
There was some talk of appealing tc the
Council for an appropriation, but ii was
decided that this was useless for this year
at any rate, and that the expense would
have to be paid out of the private funds
of public spirited men who have the edu-
catienal and artistic needs of the city at
heart. There seemed to be a belief that
after the plan was once tried it might be
possible 10 receive public help in the flu
ture, every one present expressing the be-
lief that the citizens would come to look
upon public concerts as a necessity, after
once enjoying the benefit of them.
Several names for the society were
suggested. Mr.. Lyman spoke of hearing of
similar concerts in Boston and suggest
ed that indianapolis was coming to the
place where that form of entertainment
would be part of the city life After con-
siderable discussion the name indianapolis
Concert Association" was chosen as being
short and expressive of the purposes it
has in view and was unanimously adopted
After the roll of members has been COM
pleted meeting will be called for per-
fecting the organization by the election Of
officers and determining on details of the
enterprise.