The Lakeland evening telegram., 1922-08-26
Purpose of Donor Is To
Give Masses the High
est Form of Enter
tainnent

Rochester, N. Y, Aug. 26.-The
Eastman theatre, George Eastman's
81, 100000 gift to the University of
Rochester as an integral part of the
Eastman School of Music, will be
opened early in September. The play
house was conceived by Mr.. Eastman
as a means to educate the masses in
the love of music. He purposes to
draw them to good concerts by the
use of motion pictures.
The theatre has been described as
one of the most unusual structures in
the world. 1t contains every kind of
musical instrument, including the
largest organ in any playhouse in the
world; it is wonderfully well venti-
lated and lighted, and it is adorned
with paintings worth several hundred
thousand dollars. 1t seats S,400 peo-
pie.
The idea was conceived by Mr..
Eastman from altruistic motives.
There will be sought a solution to
the problems confronting the puryey
ors of low-priced entertainment, so
that the character of the entertain
ment offered the masses may be i'm
proved, refined, and undergo an evo-
luton that will establish good music
as an every day need.
1T is necessary for people to have
an interest in life outside of their
occupation said Mr.. Eastman, in
commenting upon the enterprise. 81
believe that working hours are going
to be shortened in order that people
may live fuller and happier lives.
What is going to be done with the
leisure thus obtained? 1 am not at
all of the opinion that people have
been ground down by industry. Leis-
ure is unfruitful because We do not
know how to use it productivity. Do
not imagine from what ( say that l
am a reformer-far from that. l am
interested in music personally, and l
am led thereby to want to share my
pleaure with others.
For many years / have been con-
nected with musical organizations in
Rochester. / have come to see that
what we need is body Of trained
listeners quite as much as body of
trained performers. Without appre-
citation, without the presence of a
large body of people who understand
music and who get JOY cut of it, any
attempt to develop the musical re-
sources of any city Is doomed to fail
ure. Because in Rochester we realize
this, we have undertaken a scheme
for building musical capacity on a
large scale from childhood.
81 do not imagine that music is go
ing to occupy all of the leisure inter-
ests of people. l know that my own
interests are varied. / am fond Of
athletics. All sorts of sports, recrea-
tions and diversions must be devel-
oped If we are to make full use of
our leisure. In this field certainly it
is not case of righting old wrongs,
but of crceating something entirely
new. Interests must be built up if
we are to get the happiest use Of
leisure. Incidentally, in the pursu-
ance of this ideal should like TO see
Rochester become a great musical
center, known throughout the entire
world.
Entrance to the theatre is by way
Of a commodious lobby finished in
rich marble and bronze. The. massive
auditorium abounds in exquisite mar
bles, sculptured reliefs and rich hang
ings. The decorative scheme is ,Ital-
ian renaissance. Venetian in treat
ment.
When the playhouse opens 1t will
mark the end. of motion picture pre-
sentation in the dark. according tc
the experts associated with its con-
struction. Through the lighting sys-