The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-14
John MCCORMACK
CONCERT WILL Be
GIVEN AS PLANNED
City Commission viii Not OPP
pose Appearance of Noted
Singer Here Sunday-No
Violation of Law

VIOt0blOlb VI Law
The city commission will not inter
fere with the appearance of John Nc
Cormack in this city Sunday after
noon, according to statement made
yesterday afternoon by d. e. McLen-
don, president of the city commission,
at meeting held in the council cham
Der.
This statement was made following
the formal protest against any flu
ture concerts or musicals on Sunday,
where an admission is charged, which
was filed by Hugh Ellis, who headed
a delegation from the Norwood Meth
odist church. Mr.. Ellis stated that
he had been appointed a committee of
one to look into the matter to ascer-
tain whether there was a state law
against such concerts. but was sorry
to say that the city code legalizes
concerts and prohibits everything else
on Sunday. He asked that the ordi-
nance providing that high grade
musical concerts be revoked and that
in future no concerts be allowed in
this city on Sunday. The only ques-
ton involved. he declared, Is whether
or not 1t is right to commeroialize the
Sabbath by holding concerts for
mercenary purposes.
Mr.. Ellis stated there was nothing
personal in the matter and the dele
cation was not attacking the women
who are promoting it. This concert
is being held at prohibitive prices
portunity of hearing him." Mr. Ellis
sal id. In Savannah he sang at a max
mum charge of SO, in Memphis $3.50
and in Montgomery 81, If have been
informed correctly. but here in Biz
mingham the maximum charge is So.
If you are going to allow concerts on
Sunday for the rich then you cannot
say TO the poor people that they can
not have moving pictures on Sunday
This Is not a personal matter and
have no interest in it, neither has my
church any interest in it, but we want
10 take the right stand on this mat
ter.
AS the promoters had already
made contract with Mccormack we do
not ask that you revoke the ordinance
and prohibit this concert, but that in
future you do not allow such con-
certs where an admission price is
charged"
Rev. w. f. Price. pastor of the
Norwood church, made brief talk
indorsing the request of Mr.. Ellis.
Mr.. McLendon told the delegation
he was glad they did not ask that
this concert be cancelled, as 1t could
not be done, as it would work hard"
ship on the women who are promot-
ing it.
Mrs. Johnston Replies to Opposition
Mrs. Richard F. Johnston, one OF
the promoters who was member or
a delegation appearing from the
League of Women Voters, asked to
be allowed to make few remarks
in reply to Mr.. Ellis.
when we contracted with McCor-
mack we were promised an audi
torium for our concerts this sea-
son." said Mrs. Johnston, and we
thought we were doing something
that the city would appreciate and
thank us for bringing the worlds
greatest singer to this city so that the
people would have an opportunity OF
hearing him. His singing can STIR
your soul as few ministers can, ana
we are bringing him here because we
thought the people would be CRATE
full to us for it.
Eyes, Mr.. Mccormack appeared In
Montgomery Monday night with a
seat charge of 81 and Savannah has
charged less than here, but both
have auditoriums with seating ca
pacity of $500 and 5000, respectively.
Chattanooga has an auditorium with
seating capacity of $500 and SO was
charged to the forty-fifth row. Bir-
mingham is charging SO for the
eighth row.
II appreciate the position of the
commission, but l think we are do
ing something for the young people,
many of whom would probably go
| over in Shelby county or out in the
woods to spend Sunday as you know
hundreds do. l am in favor of Sun
day observance and, Mr.. President
and members of the commission, II
you will give us an auditorium we
will bring not two or three of the
worlds greatest musical attractions
to Birmingham, but enough of them
/ at reasonable prices to give every
music hungry soul here chance to
see and hear them"
Auditorium Assured
Mr.. McLendon assured Mrs. john
ston that Birmingham would be given
an auditorium.
In speaking of the situation last
night Mrs. Johnston said:
ut has never been the intention of
| the management of the All-Star Con-
certs to give concerts on Sunday aft
ernoon as has been proved in the past
| two seasons when all of our concerts
have been given at the Jefferson on
week days, but the circumstances
| surrounding the John Mccormack en-
gagement required his presentation
on Sunday.
That Sunday concerts are not in
violation of the law was proved last
season when the Cincinnati SYM
phony Orchestra was presented on
Sunday afternoon and Maggie Teyte,
the winter before, was presented on
Sunday afternoon. and Jacob Rosen-
blatt. the worl dfamous Cantor sing
er, the same season was presented on
Sunday night.
in presenting a singer of the type
of John Mccormack the All-Star Con-
certs know that the organization is
not violating legal obligation and
feels that it is not violating a moral
one. as his singing is of the highest
order and no church choir or sacred
concert ever presented more beauti-
full or more elevating music than the
program which Mr.. Mccormack win