Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
Music in the Theaters
Position of Musicians in Present Controversy With
Opmers of Picture Houses Given by
Secretary of Union.

has never heretofore been and cannot
logically now be denied. An made
quate orchestra is unpleasing 10 the
public, improbable to the tlleater own,
er. and a source Of modification ana
humiliation to the musicians playing
therein. Economically, the salary oil
each member of an orchestra and the
number of men to be employed IN an
orchestra bear most intimate rela-
ton, as will be readily seen when IL is
understood that an expenditure OF
81 900 per week will pay fairly large
orchestra of 20 men, II the salary Is
$50 per week per man, while this same
81 900 would only pay small orchestra
of 10 men if the salary Is $500 per
week per man.
In the article referred to, the status
of negotiations is inexcuSably misrepre-
sented. 1t is stated, The best propo-
sition that has been received from the
musical union is a reduction OF APP
proximately 5 per cent in the number
Of men employed, form of relief which
did not reach the smaller theaters ano
meant little to the larger organlza-
tons" The facts are as follows: In
the case of the Fox Theater, which
employs So musicians at present (this
number having been agreed to at the
time the last contract was written), our
association has offered to reduce the
requirements by 10 men (about 80 per
cent?, and left the matter open to stu
further negotiation. In the case OF the
neighborhood houses, all OF whlcn oy
the requirements of the late contract
employed a principal organist and re-
lief organist, we have offered to ellml-
nate the relief organist. In the case
of every other theater, concession OF
at least one man has been offered, ana
all of this is admittedly open to further
negotiation.
In one of the two theaters where the
CORPORATIONS have expressed a willing
ness to tolerate orchestras while needed
for stage presentations, the Summer
minimum provided by the present con-
tract is lower than the actual require
ments admitted by the management
vet still smaller orchestra is being de-
manded by the owning corporation In
the case of this theater.
Fine Symphony Concert"
Elsewhere in the article referred to,
It is stated that Several attempts have
been made to give fine symphony con-
certs in connection with pictures, with
out extra charge. On the last attempt
made in October, 1929, at the Earle
Theater. the musicians on the stage
outnumbered the audience. The nne
symphony concert" on the occasion In
question, was a group Of jazz tunes
PLAYED by a local dance orchestra OF
10 or IL men. But the statement that
thev outnumbered the audience trans
sends the bounds of poetic license.
The article f1atters us with the asser-
ton that the prevailing rate for must
clans playing for film recordings In
Hollywood is S45 per man per hour. The
actual rate is $40 per hour for single
engagements. and about So per hour
when the men are engaged by the week
But the wage scale in Hollywood is no
more in dispute than is the wage scale
in Washington, so why was THIS
dragged in?
that article concerning the economic
effect upon our city of the discharge,
by the fiat of these New York interests,
of a group of local men who spend
their large aggregate earnings with
local business people or deposit them
in local banking institutions. OF course,
If the service of these men is 'unneeded
and unwanted." they have no. right to
receive this money. But If perchance
there is both need and want Of this
service. are we still to understand that
it is the American right OF these
CORPORATIONS to contribute wantonly TO
the present unemployment situation?
Or can it be that at time when even
the efforts of the President of the
United States are being addressed TO
the alienation OF this outstanding ma
tional economic disaster, that the cor
porations in question are permitting
their avarice to outweigh their pa
triotism?
Understanding Essential.
We might continue at much greater
length in our endeavor TO dispel the
clouds of fiction with which the article
on behalf of the corporation is shrouded,
and to inject the sunlight of true facts,
which it lacks But it is more essential
that the main issue in this controversy
be thoroughly understood, and not
obscured with collateral matters, how
ever interesting they may be.
The whole question is, does Wash
ington need and want living music in
its theaters? The theater owners say
no. They would have done with 1t all.
We say yes. We believe it should be
continued.
II the Washington public does need
and want living music in the theaters,
then the stand OF the Musicians Pro-
tective Union is correct, and it cannot
be asSailed through the befogging OF the
issue with miSstatements or irrelevant
theories.