The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-20
Times Readers Voice Vices

The name and address Of the author
must accompany every contribution. but
on request win not be published. L T.
ters not exceeding 200 words will receive
preference.
Editor Times-On behalf of the
organized musicians Of Indianapolis,
am addressing you to set forth an
interesting and significant view of a
recent development in the field of
entertainment-the introduction of
the talking motion picture.
I think that it may be allowed
that the motion picture has come
to occupy such a position Of dom
nance in the field of entertainment
and in our community life that any,
thing affecting the movie theater
program may be said to be of pub
lie moment.
The American Federation of Mu-
sicians, embracing in its member
ship $4,000 members, or practically
all professional instrumental must
clans IN the United States and Can
ada, is not opposed to progress. We
welcome the talking movie as a po-
tential improvement in the dramatic
form, but we are opposed to the
substitution Of mechanical music,
synchronized to screen action, for
the personal appearance of musi-
clans.
Now, we have no desire to sail
under false colors, so we admit read
lily that our peculiar interest in OPP
posing such a substitution is that it
might cost some of us our jobs. We
see a further reason for protest,
however, which is of greater public
concern: Substitution of mechanical
music inevitably means a debase-
ment Of the art of music.
The movie business has done
much to foster appreciation of good
music by providing better music
than usually is offered to the pub
lie, thus improving the public taste.
Now it is prosposed to take a step
that would destroy this musical adj
vance. For mechanical music never
can be more than a base counterfeit
Of the genuine performance. You
cannot Mechanic an art.
We are not foolish enough to pro-
pose that the public should be de-
MED what it wants. If the public
wants its music in this form, it will
get it. We are concerned only to
prevent something being slipped
over" on the theater patron.
He may enjoy the synchronization
plan as new toy, but if he is not
alert to the consequences he later
may find that the toy has become
the substitute for good music. It is
a creeping adulteration" of music
that we are warning against.
Looking little further into the
future, we foresee that the quality
OF our national music will be seri-
ously affected if canned music"
displaces other forms and reduces
the musicians opportunities of en-
ployment.
1t is well known that any art
depends for its progress upon the
number and enthusiasm of it's de-
voted executants. Where will the
young musician of the future gain
the incentive to perfect his art if
mere handful of recording artists
are supplying all the music needed?
From a community viewpoint, is
it not preferable to have resident
artists drawing and spending their
salaries here to having the money
sent out Of town? There has as yet
been no proposal to share the econ
omy of canned music" with theater
patrons in the form of a reduced
admission charge.
We musicians are making no plea
for sympathy, but we invite the
public to look upon synchronized
music in the movies with its eyes
open to future possibilities. Hence