The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-25
ENLARGEMENT OF
OPERA FOR 1921
PLANNED ALREADY
Success Attending Recent Sea-
son With Backing of Cham
Der of Commerce Indicative
of Assured Growth.
BY GEORGE WILLIAMSON.

Now that the opera season for Mem
phis is over. aud 1t proved mere sue
cessful than even it's most ardent sup
rortors hoped for plans are being start
cd for an enlargement for next year.
The public lent its support in Il whole
hearted manner, and manifesty APP
proved the character and quality Of the
entertainment. Granu opera was taken
more seriously than ever, here, attest o
ing 10 deVeiopW cnt in music Of the bet
ter sort, and 1t seems assured that the
city can easily support a longer season
Tor another year. and when the big
public auditorium Is finished, which
ats friends believe will be in time for
the season OF 1919, there can be an
even longer eugagen' or perhaps two
periods OF a week each.
The not proceeds OF the four perform
ances by the SCotu OGpra company last
week weere approximately $1,000, which
goes TO the Chamber OF Commerto fund
Tor promotion of musical development
In city schools. Something over 5000
people attended the operas, which was
about the capacity of the Lyric, the
only time the house WIS not completely
filled being the matinee, when few
seats were vacant, II is undeniable that
nearly every person who heard tile COM
pany left satisfied, for it was the best
opera aggregation ever heard here, and
gave only high-class performances,
Two individuals deserve tho lions
share of credit for making possible this
engagement. and to them Las beer giyea
much praise already. They are h, K.
Barrow, chairman ofthe music commit
tee OF the Chamber Of Commerce, and
o. X Houck, member Of this same COM
mittee, and well known as one OF the
heartiest supporters Of musical develop
ment In this part Of the United States
being the founder Of the 0. X. Houck
musical foundation, endowed for help
ing worthy musical enterprises. II was
the personal underwriting OF these two
men which enabled the company TO
book Memphis Tor four operas, and
they gave literally OF their time and
services In making the whole affair a
success That they received the co
operation OF the public generally, here
End in tho contiguous territory, enCour-
aged them TO announce before the COM
pany left for st. Louis, that 1t was their
Intention TO bring Mr. Scottl and his
artists back next season for at least
one week.
II has been proven that tho Cham
her OF Commerce, through Its commit
tee on music. is the logical medium
for undertaking an enterprise of this
proven its ability to do IT, Second.
Ii is more easily possible TO avoid lit
tie chickering's and jealousles that nat
urally arise when other than a city
vide civic organization gets behind
movement. and the past two years have
witnessed more progress toward har-
mony OF action than attained in years
before the chamber lent its efforts to-
ward such desired end
Still another reason. well worthy OF
consideration is that II is possible. and
legitimately so. TO save the public the
10 per cent war tax on admission, as
the government does not undertake to
collect such when the prime object of
such entertainment is 20 promote edu.
cational development The item thus
saved during the recent opera, season
was about 50 900. which would have
been added to the cost II the manage.
ment had been In the hands Of private
individuals, or even II the net funds