El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-02
LET LIBERTY HALL CONTINUE To-
BE WHAT ITS NAME SIGNIFIES

FORTUNATELY e Paso has a state senator, r. n Dud-
ley who believes function Of state senator is to
the public interest BE demonstrates this once more
the attitude he toward the proposal to close Lib
erty hall to public amusement organizations.
The county judge z. B. McClntocl who is custodian
OF the ha part Of the county court house. less
emphatic, and the commissioners unit IN the deter
nation 20 continue to the hall for public entertain
msnts.
If there be any provision Of law which may seem to
sustain the contention Of those who would ike to close the
han far its public entertainments is concerned,
senator Dudley promises 10 secure the enactment Of law
that VIII specifically provide Tor such use OF county prop
ery; such law should embrace city property If necessary
the city charter should be amended to provide for such
contingency, whenever opportunity arises
It nooneevabe that any court would entertain such
petition the proprietor Of the Crawford theater is said
be preparing But technical law point may arise
cloud the It VIII be best to have all doubt
moved and the issue should be decided right now.
As 10 such enterprise as the grand opera would
be necessary to multiply the ticket prices by more than
five to get the amount OF money out Of the Craw
ford as Of Liberty hall which would prices for
each performance running from S. each for the best seats
down to $3.50 for general admission, compared with
Liberty hall prices for the grand opera running from $50
the best seats down to SOC for general admission
the season ticket basis.
The stage Liberty hail is being Temporarily enlarged
to take Of the opera and other performances As
possible It should be permanently reaanged senator
Dudley suggests to provide the conTsnnces Of modern
theatsr and opera house. The cost VII be unanimously
approved ~ taxpayers It IS necessary FL Paso is to
have the entertainments to which the city is entitled and
which the people VIII patronize generously
Mary Garden Caruso and many other noted artists are
appearing Texas cities this season, but do not hear
them; there Is why should not except that
have not been OF the possibility Of offer
ing the required large guarantees with ticket prices high
they must De disable seating capacity Of about 500
But using the seating capacity of Liberty hall about 1900
it VIII be possible = put the prices for seats down within
reach Of everybody and there VIII be 10 risk in making the
guarantees required.
The thing would apply to big travelling shows,
dramatic and musical, that might come our way If we
could large patronage and coespoudngy good
oeipts The way do it put the prices for seats
and IN the house Tor every performance This would
suit encouraging people to get the habit and with every
recorded would become easier get others
come 70 FL Paso though the Jump" from the next
important city be q long one
e Paso Is getting big, and the surrounding country
is contributing largely and regularly to the transient
nopuaon that It necessary TO figure the seating
capacity Of amusement han in thousands and not IN
hundreds when really big attractions come along. Condi
tons such that il highly unlikely that private capital
VII care TO engage il the construction and operation Of
rge and suitable auditorium for dramatic and musical
entertainments.
FL Paso very much needs suitable downtown music
han With moderate seating capacity hall off the main
With regard for quiet enjoyment and acoustic quail
ines. This VII come some day, and It VIII be useful fer
many forms Of entertainment. IF private capital does not
supply this need, the community must But this VIII wait
while.
We already have Liberty hall and at no heavy expendi
tire It be reodeled sufficiently to make it in every
way suitable to the production Of grand opera, dramatic
entertainments large scale and orchestral concerts
All these forms OF entertainment demand large seating
capacity to make them possible financially, and to bring
help to solve the increasing difficulty of providing
adequate first class entertainment for the growing popu
alton
Of course there would be nothing to prevent M Craw