Thursday, March 13, 1947
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Page 5
Cultural Assets
Vital for Cities,
Sanroma Savs
Discusses Duly
Of Music Critic
BY SAM WARREN.
Touring on a concert schedule
that has taken him this season
thru 32 performances with 16
different orchestras, pianist Jesus-
Maria Sanroma (he disowns the
name "Jules" by which he was
billed here) told reporters yes
terday that aside from an art mu
seum, a symphony orchestra is
"the cultural mainstay of any
community."
Size of the United States, and
lack of financial appropriations,
and not its relative newness as a
country, are responsible for the
lack of municipal music organiza
tions that mark the cultural
foundation of Europe, he believos
"B. H. (before Hitler), there was
practically no German town with
out its own opera, and Berlin
alone supported three first-class
opera houses, with Bruno Wal
ter, Otto Klcmpcrer and Erich
Klcibcr as conductors.
Artists Important.
"Spiritual and artistic food was
as important to them as any
other," Sanroma continued, "and
already the three Berlin houses
are again going strong." Realiz
ing that Americans have a reluc
tance to initiate a federally-fi
nanced educational or cultural
program, he holds that it can and
i '
i 111 I
I -J
w
K 11'
r
JESUS-MARIA SANROMA
ought to be a locally-supported
program. "If they have taxes for
other needs, why not have half
a cent levy to maintain their own
symphony orchestra?"
It is money, and not native tal
ent that is lacking to keep such
cultural programs going all over
the country, he points out. "We
know well enough from operatic
experience in this country that
we have a wealth of American
talent." He cited the Denver
Symphony (with whom he played
earlier this week) as the ideal
American development.
Backed by city and state funds,
It has become what Sanrom.-v calls
a "regional" orchestra, traveling
throughout Colorado towns. "They
ought to call it the Colorado
Symphony, not the Denver. The
people are back of it one hundred
percent, and they have not spared
money."
"Contrast this with the Port
land, Ore., orchestra, which gets
together once a year! Portland, is
a rich city and could be known
for its fine orchestra. But what
is it known for? Henry Kaiser!"
As Sanroma sees it, civic pride is
the basis on which local orches
tras must be built.
Sympathetic.
Unlike some artists who resent
adverse newspaper criticism, San
roma gives critics his complete
sympathy. "A reviewer has his
opinion and prejudice" like all of
us, and it's his duty to put down
on paper what he feels." Having
been invited to exchange places
with a Boston critic who was giv
ing a recital the same day that
Sanroma was performing, the
Puerto Rican pianist pities a critic
for one thing having to chase to
a typewriter after a performance
and therefore not getting in on
the after-concert parties!
A critic has the duty, though,
to foster local talent by not judg
ing natives performances in the
light of those by visiting virtu
osos. "They must weigh the dif
ference." Disagreeing with a com
mon notion that critics are just
disappointed performers, he thinks
being a critic or orchestra man
ager ought not to exclude one
from "participating in the arts,"
Shakespeare's "Henry V"
To Open in City Thursday
"Henry V," the Theatre Guild
United Artists technicolor film
hit, starring Laurence Oliver,
which is now playing a series of
selected engagements in a few key
cities, will play one week at the
Nebraska theater, beginning
Thursday evening, March 20.
The widely heralded film will
be seen here at two performances
each day, 2:30 and 8:30 with all
seats reserved. The price scale,
conforming to nation-wide pat
tern will be $2.40 and $1.80 for
evening showings, and $1.80 and
$1.20 for the matinee.
Mail orders will be accepted
immediately for first choice of
seats. Checks and money orders
should be made payable to the
Nebraska theater and stamped,
self-addressed envelopes should
be included.
"Henry V" is the first film
ever to be presented by the The
atre Guild, famous Broadway
producers' organization.
Awarded top acting honors by
the New York Film Critics Cir
cle, "Henry V" has been included
in every poll in the ten top films
of 1946, as the first successful
translation of Shakespeare into
modern screen entertainment.
Set as a play taking place on
the stage of the Globe Theatre in
England, Circa 1600 the "photo
graphed play" is a stage perfor
mance," in celluloid until the
camera helps the mind to "piece
out imperfections," and breaks
through the limitations of the
playing platforms to bring to the
screen the medieval 'invasion of
France, the exciting charge of the
knights at Agincourt, and love
scenes between Henry and Prin
cess Kate.
Laurence Oliver, whose recent
appearence on Broadway as a
leading members of the "Old Vic"
company have catapulted him in
to the first rank as an actor, not
only has the starring role in
"Henry V" but he is also the pro
ducer and director.
Suppo-" him are some of
Englai popular stars, in-
cludir t Newton as
"Pisto. Aylmer as "Arch
bishop wanterbury," Renee
Asherson as "Katherine," and
Leslie Banks as "Chorus."
Special student discount cou
pons, good for either matinee or
evening performances, will be av
ailable this week for all univer
sity studens. Admission by theater
party in groups of 15 or more or
individual student discount slips
will be at the special rate of $1.00
per person, tax included. This will
entitle the bearer to reguler $1.20
or $1.80 seats in orchestra or balcony.
Personalities Sparkle
In Radio's Workshop
BY GENENE MITCHELL
"Get in your places. Start at 60.
Watch for the signal". Is this the
filming of an epic movie or the
timing of a bombing mission? No,
it's the signal that the university's
Radio Workshop is on the air. The
time is 4:15 p.m., the day Wed
nesday, and the station KFOR.
Aired from Temple basement
(better known as the home of
university radio studios), the
Workshop features monthly or
iginal dramas by university radio
students, prize winning scripts of
the Association for Education, and
scripts sent from other universi
ties. Operating from behind the
scenes, radio majors Gloria Mc
Dermott and Marilyn Davis di
rect the Workshop shows, allying
their book larnin' with the radio
business of directing, worrying
over timing and success of shows,
and auditioning.
Mike Personalities
Other mike personalities that
make the Workshop's success in-
although a fully professional par
ticipation would of course preju
dice one's vision. Composers Vir
gil Thompson and Harl McDon
ald are example that have com
bined the two.
Praises Kapell.
Sanroma had a word of praise
for several personalities, too.
When William Kapell, who played
here two years ago, was men
tioned, he remarked, "There's a
wonderful boy." Like Kapell,
Sanroma did not begin his piano
studies until he was past ten years
of age. He .was especially pleased
to hear that Wilfred Firkusny, an
artist not well-known in Lincoln,
is scheduled for next year's sea
son. "He's a marvelous pianist!
Don't miss him." He mentioned
Paul Hindemith, whose new con
certo he premiered recently in
Cleveland, as "one of the great
est composers today."
But the nicest things were said
of Conductor Serge Koussevitzky,
under whom he has given a mul
titude of performances. "Great
conductors like him never retire,
never die." Then he added, "The
only drug he takes for his tre
mendous energy is music itself."
evitable include Bud Levinson
whose dummy ventriloquist voice
takes the part of an old man, Ellie
Detweiler and Bob Baum who
consistently take the prize as
youngsters, and sage'n silent Al
Sage who takes off to perfection
a bombastic, irascible individual.
Shyster or salesman, Lynne
Reed and Bill Wiseman are stand
bys. Versatile Arly Swanson one
week will be a bitter old wo
man, and the next week an in
genue. Another unforgettable
character is Bill Lucas, .com
plete with his collection of
accents and vocal ranges.
As essential as the actors is the
sound efects man. Studio A is ful
ly equipped with wind machine,
slamming door, a variety of buz
zers and bells, and all sound ef
fects possible for wits to devise.
Putting the studio on and off the
air, Searle Spangler is the engine
er. Soldevilla
Once upon a time Radio work
shop was a show called "Book
Nook Library News," the first
show aired by the radio depart
bent. Started back in '41, the snow
had Romulo Soldevilla, now an
instructor, as its announcer.
Later "Soldy" did the whole
show, writing and broadcasting.
Dramatizations of good books
were featured the next year, and
in 1945 the transition was offi
cially made from "Book Nook
News" to "Radio Workshop." No
longer did students dramatize
only books but expanded to fields
of mystery, comedy, tragedy and
history.
To Paul Bogen, director of ra
dio, should go special commenda
tion. Still the show's boss, he can
be counted on tb hand out his
opinion of what is or isn't "good
radio." Another familiar face
around the lower depths of Tem
ple is that of Avrum Bondarin.
Whenever an unusual part needs
particular attention, Av is on the
job. His talents climb also to the
writing angle, and many of the
shows produced are his.
Radio students have the oppor
tunity of an honest-to-goodness
studio, and they're making the
most of it.
Free Variety Shoiv
ALICE FAYE DON AMECHE HENRY FONDA
in OILMAN RUSSELL"
3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 16
Union Ballroom
8:00 p. m.; March 16, Ag Union
It Says Here
BY II. G. IIOLMQUIST.
One popular radio comis stated
that John L. Lewis has lost his
union suit. Lewis has been brow
beating the American public so
long, I think it is about time the
brow is lifted in the other direc-.
tion. Lilienthal's confirmation is
before the senate this week. If
the McKellerites propose much
opposition, the country hopes the
Vandenbergites will be "up and
atom"...
Peter Lorre upholds his usual
standard in "The Chase" at the
local theater; holds the young
sters quite spellbound. If only
adults were allowed to see his
portrayals, would one advertise
the show as Fol-Lorre? . . .
The American delegation to the
Big Four Minister's Conference is
in the able hands of Secretary of
State General Marshall. I think
we should give our delegation the
power of Marshall law.
Alvino Rey's renowned guitar
didn't quite sing at the box office
as was expected. The bad pro
motion idea there was putting
Alvino Rey recordings in the juke
box in the Crib. The students
thought they could hear just as
much guitar for a buffalo-head . . .
The new St u debaker has
brought about the comment that
you can't tell which way you're
going. I say it is supposed to go
both ways One end is for the
owner and the other end for the
finance company. . .
"Open the Door, Richard," has
been the nucleus of many a joke,
but I contend that the biggest
joke is the song itself . .
For a man that has written
some real jazz numbers and in
stituted some new musical inter
pretations don't miss Raymond
Scott and his orchestra, playing
for the Jr.-Sr. prom. However,
in his past combos he was as
good in figures as I. His "Ray
mond Scott Quintet" contained
seven men, and his "Secret
Seven" contained nine men. His
reason for the oddity was that
he liked the sound and appeal of
the names, as can also be evi
denced by his song titles. He is
probably like I am not inter
ested in that kind of figures. The
Prom is Saturday the 22nd. Don't
forget the date for the date!
(Editor's Note: The Daily Ne
braskan assumes no responsibility
for the opinions stated above since
the identity of Mr. Holmquist has
not been revealed.)
CONTINUE SERIES.
"Road to Rio," which again stars
the triumvirate of Bing Crosby,
Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, is
fifth of the popular series inau
gurated by Paramount in 1939
with filming of "Road to Singapore."
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