The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-25

May q, When Wuet ~ nkto ~ " sA.S ~ -
musical festival In the South viii be
opened in Atlanta. This new audito-
RUM IL strictly up-to-dats In every
respect. II has . seating capacity OF
$500 besides which there are vartous
assembly rooms connected with the NJ"
nall, which can acco.nn3 late insEy
more people. It was in one 81 these
side halls that President Tafs was en-
tertained at the famous 'possnm Nan
quet last winter.
There are q number Of novel fea-
lures about the Atlanta auditorium.
The balconies are approached by m
ciined walks instead of stairs. whicn'
1t IL believed. will reduce the danger
from fire panics. The door II pcrtapie
and may be taken up In sections, 80
that the building can be used for the
annual horse show. There - . stage
accommodating 600 people, and pig
band stand at the other end OF the
building. The building also contains
the armory OF the 5th Georgia Hcat-
msnt, including q shooting gallery dr'ii
hall and gymnasium and stables.
The Atlanta auditorium cost 52b0,eoo
and eighteen months was reouireo 70
build 1t. The money was raised
through q stock company. which later
sold the property to the city Tne
several hundred State and national an
nual conventions of whien Atlanta mas
boosted in the past are expec.ed to
be multiplied several times when the
new auditorium IL available. The new
auditorium, IL present plans are car
ried out. will be equipped with fine
pipe organ, such as has made salt Lske
City famous. The box office receipts OF
the music festival will ba Devoted to
that purpose. A number OF prominent
grand opera singers and other artists
and chorus Of 500 voices will partio-
ipate In five concerts which conclude
May 8. 1t Is proposed to make the
Atlanta musical festival q permanent
annual event. which viii rival those
held at Cincinnati :, and Worcester.
Mass, and thus IL possible, bring the
South to the front rank In the music
world Of America.
The auditorium idea Is taking hold
Of the people OF the entire country.
Each year sees one or more cities add
ed to the number of those which have
large auditoriums. Many millions of
dollars are invested in these great halls
and the fact that more are constantly
being built indicates that they are re-
garded as paying investments. Many
own auditoriums and II
they do not actually get dividends In
money from them. the good results to
local industries and trade from con-
ventions and other great gatherings
Is very tangible.
The movement for auditorium con-
struetion is probably an outgrowth of
the old town haIl idea. Almost ever
since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth
Rock every New England town and VIII
age has had a town hall, where the
gather from time to time
TO discuss the state of the nation. or
local political and government cues
lions, TO see see some show or to be
otherwise entertained. The effect Of
such gatherings IL wholesome. With
The expansion OF the country and the
enormous increase In the population of
is cities, the town hall idea has grown.
Washington. the national capital. il
,ne of the most backward cities In this
For many years there has
,een a demand for great auditorium
n Washington, but up to date the need
has not been supplied. Present indica-
ions, however, are that q movement
-ecently set on foot by public spirited
business men will be successful Their
project Is most ambitious. A total of
lbout $l7S,000 has already been sub
Jcribed to carry 1t out. and consider
IDLY moro Nfunds are, said to be In
sight. 1t is estimated that at least
half a million dollars are required to
carry out. the present plans. Much of
'hisacaNpe borFnnsH i is asaasafter
en- tatiysiy seleefed. Yadjoining the Corr
.oran Art Gallery IN seventeenth
street. is an entire city block with an
lrea OF four acres.
1t is proposed TO have a building big
enough to accommodate a national po-
itical convention and seating $4,000
n 10000 people. IT would have ad-
Unstable walls, so that a smaller space
,ould be provided for grand opera. con-
.erfs etc. TO provide accommodations
or the uuadrenniai inaugural ball Is
me of the principal objects OF the
auditorium promoters
is a natural convention
.ity and already scores of such gather
ngs, great and small, are held In the
.apital city every year. IT IL asserted
hat IL suitable auditorium were pro-
vided twenty conventions would pc
held In washington where only one
now meets.
: Besides catering TO conventions, Il Is
planned that the Washington audito-t
-iurn shall have stage large enough
,or a three-rfng circus. IL such
,how were permitted in the building,
however, oscar Hammerstein. the cell
sbrated New York impressario, threat
ans that his grand opera troupe Will
lever he permitted to appear after such
10 have exclusive control over the au-
Iitorium. but it's promoters decnneo
WITH thanks. The organization OF
symphony orchestra hiHsss
-, tha nroyision of proper acoustic
properties In the proposed structure
Professor Heinrich Hammer. eeieDas
ID musician. who has started MY
symphony orchestras all over the 49, .s
e han,xina this scheme. IL Is also sus
1900 that the new building should
erovide Tor an armory, riding esao-
-, and suitable arena TOT inoooi
smy anu ,eats subscriptions aggre-
= large amount will depend up
an provision for these features
Two NJ the newest auditoriums IN
- ITr,ted states are located at 81
o,,ts ana St. Paul. The coliseum
81 Louis was occupied one OF .he
times nv Mr.. Taft in adoressins ..
audience of 10000 last year. Inc
Paul auditorium. seatlns lV,vvV
Die and costing $46O.oeo' Is saiu "
~ - tha most modern in the coun-
49,, - mas a movable wall, stage ana
nroscenium arch, so that the hall may
oa T,,ade large or small, according to-
THE Democrtic party is a sort OF
oromoter of auditorium construction.
give years ago a fine auditorium was
built at Kansas City to accommodate
the National Democratic Convention
$4,000 persons, this building
has an automatic sprinkler system for
Are protection purposes, being the
only building of the sort so equipped
II is claimed. AS a result OF the IN
stallation of that Improvement, 1t Is
said that the Kansas city auditorium
will pay for itself in reduced insur-
- ss4hin ave years Again. last