The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-28
To lnstil Love Of Music
Purpose of George Eastman

Rochester, N. Y, Aug. 25,-The
Eastman Theater, George Eastuan's
%, 100000 gift to the univsrsity of
Rochester as an iptaarN part of thu
Eastman School Of Ausic, WIN be
opened early In 6sptsmhss. The
playhouse waa- nonceiysd by ME, East,
man as means to- educate The. mass
es la the love Of music. He purposes
to draw them to good concarta. by the
use Of motion pictures.
The theater has been described as
one of the most unusual structures in
the world. It contains every kind Of
musical instrument, including the
largest organ in any playhouse in the
world; it is wonderfully we'll venti-
lated and lighted, and it is adorned
with paintings worth several hun
dred thousand dollars. 1t seats 6,4OO
people.
fhe idea was conceived by Mr..
Eastman from altsuistic motives.
There will be sought solution tn
the problems confronting the pur-
veyors of low-phced entertainment,
so that the character Of the enter.
tainment offered the masses. may be
improved, refined and undergo an
evolution 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? I am not al
all of the opinion that people have
been ground down by industry.
Leisure is unfruitful because we do
not know how to use it productivity.
Do not imagine from what say tha.
| am reformer-far from that.
am interested in music personally,
and l am led thereby to want to
share my pleasure with others.
"For many. years l have been con-
| nected with musical organizations in
| Rochester. l have come to see that
what we need is body of trained
listeners quite as much as a body o.
trained performers. Without appre.
iation, without the presence of
large body of people who understand
>:usic and who get joy out of it, any
attempt 20 develop the musical re-
icN' IS q" any city is doomed to fail
urc. Bee ,use in Rochester we realize
his, We have undertaken scheme
for building musical capacity on a
~.lg2 seal. from childhood.
Il do not imagine that music is
yoing 10 occupy ali Of thu leisure in
terests of people. l know that my
own interests are varied I am fond
Of athletics. AL sorts of sports, re-
creations and diversions must be de.
veloped if we are to make full use Of
our leisure. In this field certainly it
is not a case of righting old wrongs.
but of creating something entirely
/ now. interests ntnst be built up If
we are to get the happiest use Of
leisure. Incidentally, in the pursu-
ance- of this ideal I should IKE to
zee Rochester become a great mn-
steal center, known throughout the
,ntire world"
| Entrance to the theater is by way
Of commodious lobby finished in
"ich marble and bronze. The mas
sive auditorium abounds in exquisite
marbles, sculptural reliefs and rich
hangings. The decorative scheme is
Italian renaissance. Venetian in
treatment.
| When the playhouse opens it will
mark the end of motion picture pre-
sentation in the dark, according to
the experts associated with it's con-
struction. Through the lighting sys-
tenn, the hazard of gloomy audi
torium will be eliminated. The thea
ter will be sufficiently we'll illumin-
ated so that patrons may read with
out any visionary effort.
The theater will serve also as a
medium of expression for the hun
dreds of pupils of the Eastman