The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-25
For the Good of
 The Community

HQ D hearing some of the greatest artists and organizations in the musical world, IF she will provide adequate auditorium facilities
 The Chicago Grand Opera Company only day or two ago wired that they would come here in January, 1921 IF we have an auditorium ready by that time.
 Galli- -Curc who was in Montgomery week ago; Zita Ruffo, Emmy Destinn, Mary Garden, Mischa Elman, the Chicago Grand Opera Com pany and other great artists and musical organ izations say they will come here if and when we have a theatre or an auditorium of sufficient seating capacity to guarantee large attendance and reasonable prices.
 To prong any of these stars or organizations here under existing conditions would be suicidal to those attempting it. Their prices range from S25O0to 5000 for each engagement. The largest theatrein Birmingham seats only about 1500. In addition to the artists charge, the advertising, theatre rental programmes and other expenses would have to be paid.
 For the cheapest artist the cost would be something like $3500 and with a maximum at- tendance of 1900, that would mean an average of about S235 seat galleries included, without al- lowing the promoters anything for their serv- ices That is simply prohibitive.
 For the higher priced artists the tickets would have to sell at an average of about S5 to pay the actual expenses Of bringing them here.
 Mrs. Richard F. Johnston and Mrs. Orline Shipman, two of Birminghams music loving and enterprising women, have in the face of a prob able financial loss, engaged Frieda Hempel for concert here on February IT, and other artists to come later. Whether they sell ticket or not they must hand over Miss Hempel, before she sings note, the amount they agreed to pay her, and it is no small sum- even in these times of high prices. 4,.as ~~.n
 Later on, as part of their "all-star concert" programme, they will bring Margaret Romaine the American prima donna of the Metropolitan Opera Company; Angelo Cortesi, harpist; Rosa Ponselle of the Metropolitan Opera Company. and others These artists come high. They have attained great regulations as vocalists or musicians
 Next spring Mrs Johnston and Mrs Shpman will bring the Chicago Grand Opera Company Birmingham for series of performances IF auditorium is built meantime Includ the Metropolitan Opera Company such artists as Mary Garden, Evelyn Herbert Florence Macbeth Rosa Raa Margaret Namara Tta Ruffo Edward Johnson Maguenat fere Gaeff George Baklanoff others of worldwide
 They have also been offered of the greatest of the orchesras, with the IF, for next season.
 The committee raised by the civic bodies spring to take charge o the auditorium building has been silent long time Its chairman in talk at one of the uncheons early last gave his guarantee that Birmingham would auditorium by January 1920. few days ago. another luncheon he assured his hearers that would have by
 to hoped he and his committee will good the last prediction
 Atlanta grand opera every year, New Orleans for many has had grand opera Nashville Jacksonville Memphis and other cities larger than Birmingham have their by best artists prices the reach of the age person. Montgomery with about oneour the popu laon of Birmingham able to by great artists
 All of these places have audorms theatres that seat
 Birmingham going stay class to herself in this respect
 Birmingham, few years ago was rated musical center