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ORCHESTRA OF NEW MISSION AND NEW FILLMORE THEATRES, SAN FRANCISCO—INSERT, HERMAN HELLER, CONDUCTOR.
LAUNCH MOVE to RESTORE
LIVING MUSIC in THEATRES
T
HE motion picture interests have been directly charged
by organizations of musicians and others with being
responsible for the development of the mechanical or
"Robot" music, as opposed to living music, through the
introduction of talking pictures with their recorded overtures,
accompaniments and incidental music. Considerable basis for
the charge was found in the fact that numerous theatres,
many of them of large capacity, substituted recorded music
for their large orchestras, a practice that was considered eco-
nomical though not highly satisfactory from a musical stand-
point.
Now from the Pacific Coast, the center of motion picture
production, comes the announcement that the same interests
have launched a campaign to replace living music in the
theatres, and in the most practical way, by engaging a twenty-
five piece orchestra under the direction of Herman Heller
to play in the New Fillmore and the New Mission Theatres
in San Francisco. The orchestra will alternate between the
two theatres and will play the better grade of music as well
as popular airs for the edification of the audiences.
Incidentally it is particularly interesting to learn that the
piano will take an important part in this musical rejuvenation,
four Mathushek grand pianos having been purchased for the
orchestra pits of the two theatres. The instruments were
ordered through Louis F. Goelzlin, the Mathushek repre-
sentative in San Francisco, and were personally selected by
Herman Heller, the orchestra conductor, who in a letter to
Mr. Goelzlin said:
"As we are now approaching an era of better and 'human'
music in the theatre by public demand, it has been decided
to select an orchestra of twenty-five artists to meet the require-
ments of the public for both jazz and the better grade of
music.
"In order that we give our patrons the best in music at
both of our theatres, the New Mission and the New Fillmore
Theatres, we have decided to select four Mathushek Grand
Pianos for our orchestra.
"The piano being one of the most important instruments
in the orchestra, it is necessary for us to have instruments
of durability in order to stand the forceful playing on them
at all performances. We find that the Mathushek can reach
these requirements and retain a sweetness of tone and perfect
evenness from the very lowest to the very highest tone, which
helps to make our concerts a delight.
"Allow me to recommend these Mathushek grand pianos
for their richness and purity of tone, and the power to keep
in tune under all conditions which is so seldom found in a
piano and which makes the Mathushek a pleasure to play on."
Mr. Heller, by the way, is regarded as one of the most
efficient and enterprising directors of theatre orchestras and
comes back to San Francisco after an absence of nine years
{Please turn to page 17)
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW.
December,
1931