The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-17


 public) or invitation (free), s1oO per night.
 ".te) Athletic Events s15O per
 70 Lodge Meetings or Private Clubs-(Not open to public), $10O per day. Dancing extra).
 "(S) Public Mass Meetings-(a) Daytime until 6 o'clock, $50; (b) night, after 6 o'clock, $75.
 "(9) Dances-(a) Any dance con. ducted by reputable club or organiza. tion, $2OO per day; (b) invitation dance conducted by reputable club or organization, $150 per day.
 "(10) Moving Pictures-Ten per cent of gross receipts, provided that a mini. mum charge of $150 per day shall be paid.
 "(1D Civic Entertainment-Free tc the public, $75 per performance.
 Section 2. That the foregoins schedule of rates can be changed only by the city commission; but the use of the auditorium for purposes not in. cluded in the above schedule may be had by special agreement with the commis. sioner of public buildings, subject to the approval of the city commission: that special arrangements may be made with the commissioners of public buildings by managers promoting series of con. certs or theatrical performances, sub. Ject to the approval of the commission. ,
 Hsrrison's Statement
 Commissioner Harrison's statement, issued on behalf of the entire commis. sion, follows:
 The city commission in fixing this scheduled of prices governing the opera tion of the auditorium and the varied uses it will serve have taken into ac. count various prices according to classi- fication as fixed by other cities in the operation of their municipal audito- riums and also the estimated operating cost of the auditorium to the city.
 There is no municipal auditorium operated in any city where a rental price is not charged covering the cost of operation.
 '"This auditorium will not be operated for profit. The commission feels that fair rental charge should be made covering the cost of operation in line "Ath PAaCtACC OIHCI ClLlCSs It VIII of course take several months operation before we will be able to determine fi- nally just exactly what rental prices should be permanently established. It is within the power of the city com mission to change the prices when con- ditions warrant it or to fix a price as new conditions may require.
 Tt is our purpose to operate it in the interest of the public and to reflect all the benefits and advantages to the public in it's operation possible.
 "In comparison with the prices fixed by other cities our classified schedule is lower on the average than any other city, which we have information on.
 "In the Denver auditorium. conven- tions are $50: exhibitors, $100, and concerts and theatricals, $4OO.
 Kansas City, conventions, $200 and $25O; exhibitions, $1OO, and concerts $250; theatricals, $500; schools and charity, 25 per cent of gross receipts : dances, $500, and charity balls, $4O0.
 Atlanta, conventions. $65; exhibi- tions and auto shows, $100 per week ; fashion shows, $100; concerts and the atricals, $150.
 Chattanooga, conventions, $50; ex- hibitions, 10 per cent of gross receipts concerts an dtheatricals, $500 and $70O
 san Francisco, conventions, $250 and $500.
 Milwaukee: While we have not got ten their schedule of prices, they in- form us that they charge q rental for every use of their auditorium. That their income from operation was $177,- 951 .9S and for their operating expenses, $115, ,8S1. .02; repairs and depreciation of building not charged.
 These prices and figures give some idea of the basis of operation for mu. nicipal auditorium and we find in most municipal auditoriums that the cost of operation is a great deal more than the income. We do not expect that the prices we have fixed will now cover the cost of operation but we expect to keep it as near that figure as prae- tical."
 The executive board of the Axis club, composed of a large number of Bir- the following resolution relative to the conduct of the new city auditorium:
 "The executive board of the Axis club protests against the city audito- rum being used as a money-making proposition, feeling that it should be used for a recreational center for the people of Birmingham, and not as a music agency, but a music center for the masses, at a nominal fee to defray necessary expenses, thereby affording all classes the privileges to which they are entitled"