The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-19
Commercial Club Planning For
an Elaborate Entertainment.
WANT MELBA TO SING.
Effort Will Be Made to Get
Other Great Singers.
Chorus of 1000 Voices to Be
Organized.
Letters Being Sent to Local
Musical Organizations.

President Holman and Secretary An
derson, of the Commercial club, have
taken the initiative towards an enter
tainnent for the purpose of raising
funds to seat the new auditorium. It is
their idea to give the entertainment as
soon as the auditorium is completed and
dedicate the new building at the same
time.
They have been talking the matter
over with various parties who are in
terested in the matter. and the most
feasible suggestion which has been
made so far is to make the entertain-
ment grand concert on an immense
scale. This plan meets with the apDrOY-
al of both Major Anderson and Presi-
dent Holman, and a meeting of the
musicians of the city will be held in a
short time to consider it.
1T would be my idea" said President
Holman today in discussing the matter
Ito get some of the best talent in
America here to participate in the en-
tertainment. L would get Melba and
some other singers of the same rank.
OF course, it would cost money, but it
would also pay. and it would also give
people a chance to hear some of the
finest music ever produced in America.
ana II was to make such things possi-
BILE that the auditorium was built.
Then think we should employ some
famous orchestra of 40 or SO pieces, and
lA4lS Will lue ldIlOuS singers WOulU
draw crowds from all over the west.
In addition to this we should organ
ize our home musicians, and / would
hope to get up a chorus of a thousand
voices. The programme for the enter
ta1nment should be made UP largely OF
popular music to please the masses.
IF it would be convenient it would
be good thing to have the dedication
come at the same time as the fall fes-
tivities, and perhaps give a series of
concerts. This would add to the at
tractiveneSS of the fall festival for the
people of the west, and would at the
same time give us a larger profit TO be
applied towards seating the building
The contract made by the city coun-
ell for the erection of the auditorium
does not include the seating That viii
have to be done separately, and the
Commercial club several months ago
offered to undertake the job. At that
time country circus was talked of to
raise the necessary means. but for var
ious reasons the project fell through,
! and the concert proposed by Major An
derson and President Holman is in
tended to take it's place and also serve
as the dedicatory exercises for the
building.
If the musicians of the city can be
| persuaded to take hold of the propo-
sition and work in harmony to make
the concert an immense success the
Commercial Club will probably take
hold of the financial end ard push the
project, and if the Commercial Club
should take hold of it an effort would
be made to make it the biggest musical
| jubilee ever held in the west
In order to get the matter before the
musicians of the city. Secretary Ander-
son is sending out the following letter
/ to the various musical organizations Of
the city, signed by himself and Presi-
dent Holman:
The city council has made no provi-
sion for seating and furnishing the new
auditorium, not having any available
funds for that purpose.
''The Commercial Club has under
/ taken to seat and furnish tie building
in a style worthy of the capital city.
In order to provide the necessary
funds it is proposed to dedicate the
building with a musical programme, to
be participated in by some of the most
noted singers of America.
Topeka ought to furnish a chorus OF
| 1 900 voices, and it is sought to interest
every musician and singer in the city.
In order to inaugurate the move
| ment, organize and determine the
| character of the entertainment, the va
rious musical organizations, church
| choirs, orchestras and bands of the
| city are requested and urged to send
| delegates to a meeting to be held in the
rooms of the Commercial. Club, 627
| Kansas avenue on Wednesday even
| ing, January 81, at s o'clock.
| At this meeting the subject viii be
| presented by President Holman. ard
/ the ideas of the leaders in. Topeka uiu-
| steal circles as to just what the en-
| tertainment ought to be will be ascer-
| tanned, and also if the musicians of the
! city are willing to take hold of 1t.
n0 nFRTalR