Omaha daily bee., 1913-11-07


iurn situation" but I wish 20 say that II
was the best and most sensible discus
sion OF the Auditorium problem and the
general situation in Omaha that have
read in many a day. I have refrained
from saying much in print about the Au-
ditorium OF late because | have felt that
some people would be inclined to think
that l. being manager ot the building
might have a one sided view OF the mat
ter. believe, however that the time has
arrived when owe II 10 the enterprislng
business men OF Omaha, as we'll as to
myself. to offer a few suggestions.
Before discussing the proposed sale to
the city I wish 10 take up some OF the
burdens and unjust criticisms that have
been heaped upon the Auditorium during
the past ten years by misguided people
and sensational newspapers. l am Ia
rniIiar with the Auditorium problems In
dozen Of the largest cities and throughout
the middle west, and l can say. with a
great mass OF facts to back me up, that
no town has treated its Auditorium prob
lem and the business men who have sup
ported Il so shabbily and so unjusuy az
Omaha In the first place the Auditorium
property. has been heavily taxed during
most Of the time sincs It was opened In
1904 Three years ago the county COM
mssioners reduced the valuation TO
nominal figure. realizing that the ouilo-
ing was Of a seml-publie nature ana
should not be burdened with taxation but
the very neot assessment. that OF TWO
years ago for some unaccountabls rea-
son. was boosted 20 $4,000. making
the taxes for last year on this property
u bout s6.oo.
Taxes LnrEe.
The taxes on the Omaha Auditorium
since Il was opened in 1904 foot up over
$4,000. In fact, tho building has been
taxed 20 death notwithstanding the fact
that the substantial, cnterprising business
men OF Omaha have had 70 20 down IN
their pockets to keep the building open
and available for the general good OF the
city. Can any one imagine more fool
ssh or unjust policy on the part OF pub
lie officials than this.
Kansas city Convention hall, valued at
about $4,000 and owned by a stock COM
pany similar to ours. pays about $500
year in taxes. Nearly all OF the Auditor
fums throughout the country pay only
nominal taxes, while the Omaha Audi
torlum has been taxed. at least a part
OF the time. TO the very limit and then
some.
There has also been complaint at Vari-
Gus times during the past ten years that
prices for high class entertainments. such
as grand operas, concerts and the IKE
have not been reduced TO point withih
the reach OF the poor. wish to say that
the prices at the Auditorium, while not
as low an we have desired they should be,
have been lower than they would have
been had these high class concerts been
held In theaters The prices which will
prevail for the Melba concert in January
and for the Chicago grand opera next
.pring, u these attractions appear VIII
undoubtedly be much lower than they
~ssuid be II these entertainments were TO
b. given in a theater, but II will not be
uossibio to sell tickets for grand opera or
for Melba for Is cents. Such companies
as the Metropolitan Opera company. the
Kew York Hlppodrome. which have ap-
peared In the Omaha Auditorium. could
not come 10 Omaha at all II we had no
Auditorium. Prices would have 20 be 80
EtEn IN OIutE 70 NttAhN 0ARtn'Nst NheN ~
one could afford TO attend
In Regard 90 Prices.
II often happens that the manager OF
a building IKE the Auditorium has prae-
ticaily nothing to say with regard TO the
scale OF prices. The great travelling or
sanisations such as the Chicago Grand
opera company or the New York Hippo
drome simply rents the building and they
have a perfect right to sell the tickets
at whatever price they deem most ad'
N4sable. Even where the engagement Il
on a percentage basis. the house may re
ceive only one-thlrd or one-fourth Of this
total receipts. and In this case the man
aser OF the attraction necessarily hal
more to say with rega-d TO the scal'
Of prices than the manager OF the house
The prices for high class entertainment
at the Auditorium during the last tel
years have been. however, as low and Il
many cases lower than In other larg'
stiles.
Another criticism which has been FIRE
ouently offered Is that the acoustics Il
the Auditorium are bad. 1 admit tina
the acoustics In the Auditorium are no
perfect by any means. but l have beel
in nearly all Of the great buildings o
this kind In the middle west and ] know
that there Is not one OF them any bet
ter than ours with the exception OF IN
salt Lake Tabernacle. In short, be
iieve that II our Auoitorium had cell
ing put IN IL. as originally intended an
which could be done AZ an expense Q
about s2Ooo. We would have a better ha
for both music and speaking than any G
the large cities In the middle west.
Mr.. Evans. the wonderful leader Q
the Salt Lake choir and Mr McCie
land the famous orgsnist OF the sa
Lake Tabernacle. were both delighte
with the Omaha Auditorium when the
save their fine concert in our buildin
two years ago this fall. Madame Meibi
who sang in o.. Auditorium IN 100
spoke in high praise OF the acoustics
the building Mr. Stock, director OF n
Thomas orchestra. has repeatedly praise
our Auditorium as a concert hall IL r
mains for the critics and the knockers
Omaha to fina fault with the aeousti
Of our Auditorium.
what Has Been Done
Now I wish TO call attention TO son
Of the things that the Auditorium HI
done Tor this city. Il has enablef Us
ho.d four very successful horse show
which advertised Omaha all over q
United States and In Europe. II has e
abled us 10 hold great corn shows lal