arcadia publishing manuscript
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
1/18
Arcadia PublishingManuscript
Music Hall: CincinnatiCourtney Todd
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
2/18
Contents
Query Letter ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Interview ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Author Biography .................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Music Hall: Cincinnati ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Exterior of Music Hall ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
Interior of Music Hall ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
The North Hall: Machinery Hall .................................................................................................................................... 9
South Hall: Art Hall........................................................................................................................................................... 13
The Music ............................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Floor Plans ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
3/18
Query Letter
Arcadia Publishing,
I recently had a chance to meet the Arcadia author Christene Mersch in my Writing
Cincinnati course. She explained the process of writing an Arcadia history book includingthe communication with an editor and the overall gathering of information and research.Since then, I came up with an idea that I thought would suit Arcadia Publishing well. Let meknow what you think.
Many people have wondered who and what took place in the historical Music Hall ofCincinnati. Many famous people sat in the grand Springer Auditorium to catch a glimpse ofthe beautiful organ, gorgeous chandelier and mural paintings. It will be undergoingrenovations in spring 2014 which leads much to the imagination. Why not help readerscatch a glimpse of the past of a historical landmark while we can?
My Arcadia BookMusic Hall: Cincinnati will take readers back to the past on Elm Streetwhere everything began. The Paupers cemetery, the first performance, and sitting next to
Reuben Springer. It is a collection of photos that represent the ambience of a historicallandmark that many Cincinnatians would love to have.
Please let me know if youd like more information on my idea.
Thank you,
Courtney Todd513-675-9616
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
4/18
Interview
An Interview with the Author ofMusic Hall: Cincinnati
How did you come up with the idea for the book?
I was born and have lived in Cincinnati for the majority of my life and still have not seen every
interesting and thought provoking part of the city. Speaking with my aunt who performs in the May
Festival Choir inspired me to learn more about the historical landmark and its many uses from the
past. The amount of things that took place in Music Hall is extraordinary which helped me gather
photos to include in my book.
How long did the project take?
I started researching Music Hall at the beginning of April. Since then I have been in touch with the
Cincinnati Historical Society and the University of Cincinnati Rare Books and Archives Library. I
researched photos and had them scanned. My manuscript was finished by the beginning of June.
What new things did you learn about your subject from researching the book? Did anythingsurprise you? Did you uncover any lost hidden treasures or secrets?
I was very surprised that Music Hall was used for so many different things other than Music
festivities. At one point the major gathering at Music Hall was due to boxing events and expositions.
Music Hall was built on a Paupers Cemetery and it is known to be haunted. Around 1928 during a
renovation, bodies and tombstones were brought up proving existence of ghosts for many of the
Music Hall regulars. Today, they conduct ghost tours.
Why do you think people will enjoy the book?
With old books and photos, I learned a great deal about Music Hall and its past history. It has
brought in many influential people not only for music, but other social gatherings. A lot of people
who live in Cincinnati do not know the history of Music Hall. Without seeing photos of Music Hall
being used for expositions I would have never known it was a huge business venture started by
Reuben Springer. Before reading the history I only saw a building used for music, after research I
realized that Music Hall is a historical landmark and rightfully so. I think whoever reads this book
will understand the significance it has had as part of American History due to its music and
industry.
Please feel free to add anything else you think is pertinent for readers to know.
For me, learning is based off of extensive research and understanding. I did that as I looked through
old archives on a meaningful place to many people: Music Hall. Understanding the meaning behind
history is what keeps generations growing smarter and stronger because we understand how
everything came to be before us, for the most part. There is always a question left behind, but that is
why these books are so interesting. They take us back in time to help us understand a little more
about ourselves and how we came to be, although we may never truly know.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
5/18
Author Biography
About the Author ofMusic Hall: Cincinnati
Courtney Todd, 22, is a native of Cincinnati. Shes lived in West
Chester her whole life until attending the University of
Cincinnati. After speaking with her aunt, she realized that
Music Hall is a treasure many people do not know about.
She is currently still working towards her Bachelors degree in
English Lit.with a certificate in Rhetoric and Professional
Writing at the University of Cincinnati. She was pleased by the
chance to find and help bring to public photographic history
with the help of University of Cincinnati Rare Books and
Archives Library and the Cincinnati Historical Society.
Todd is very active with her studies and is hoping to graduate
in fall of 2013. After, she would like to attend the University of
Cincinnati Graduate program to obtain a Masters in
Professional Writing. She would also like to teach ESL to
International adults with a certificate from UC.
When not studying, Todd loves reading books, going to the movies, and being with family.
She hopes this book will show the memories shared in Music Hall from the past and inspire peopleto begin new memories.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
6/18
Music Hall: Cincinnati
The Front of Music Hall
(1878-1955)
Many Cincinnatians believed Music Hall should not be used for different things, but rather for one
sole purpose. A Cincinnatian stated before the hall was constructed, We are a mechanical people,
not a race of fiddlers. However, Music Hall became a house for both disciplines: music and
industry.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
7/18
Exterior of Music Hall
Above is Music Hall before the North and South Wings were built (1878) located in the center of the
lot. The structure was plain and symmetrical and many people believed it looked off balance. Later,
Reuben Springer, a wealthy merchant would build onto Music Hall which would soon be the housefor his business expositions.
A subway was to run behind Music Hall on Elm Street and Central Parkway where the canal once
flowed in the 1930s. Before the subway preparations, Music Hall was undergoing renovations in
1927 which led to literally bringing up real ghosts. From the Jubilee program in 1928, a man
named Arthur Franklin was digging a connecting tunnel from North Hall to the auditorium when he
exposed three graves. This continues the belief that the historical Music Hall is one of the most
haunted places in America.
In 1888, a fence stood in front of Music Hall. With its new look on Central Parkway; Music Hall
became the center of affairs including business, art and education.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
8/18
Interior of Music Hall
On May 11, 1978 Music Hall turned 100 years old. President Jimmy Carter congratulated Cincinnati
on keeping the artistic life of the city. The Chandelier is from Czechoslovakia, Patricia and J. Ralph
Corbett found the elegant chandelier and had it shipped back to Music Hall in 1969. It is said to bethe queen of the hall.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
9/18
The North Hall: Machinery Hall
One of the busiest places in Cincinnati, Music Halls North Hall had grand ceremonies. It could seat a
total of 5,700 people comfortably. On the first floor 3,700 people and on the balconies located on
the east and west ends could be seated 2,000 people.
North Hall was home to a three-ring circus. The audience was comfortably seated on elevatedchairs. There was no use for bleachers.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
10/18
Here is what looks like a school room in North Hall that would have seated 1,800 people. It wascompletely air-conditioned for the comfort of its pupils.
A home show takes place in North Hall containing a full-size house with a lawn and shrubbery. The
concrete floor with unlimited load capacity came in handy.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
11/18
North Hall was notorious for its exhibit space. Above, the space is being used for heavy industriousequipment.
Music Hall was used for the Cincinnati Southern Railway in 1880 during the Grand Banquet. This
picture features a model locomotive onstage. The two wings were built just in time for the
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
12/18
exposition which brought the total cost for Music Hall to $ 446,000. Reuben Springer continued to
support Music Hall both monetary and spiritually which left a special place in Cincinnatians hearts.
U.S. President Hayes opened the 1879 Industrial Exposition in the North Wing of Music Hall. Similar
to the exposition he held as the governor of Ohio. Businessmen of Cincinnati believed Machinery
hall was a great exhibition spot for them to advertise their crafts. By 1910, the fair expanded into
the first official Ohio Valley Exposition.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
13/18
South Hall: Art Hall
1,800 people could be comfortably seated in Music Halls elegant ballroom which was home to the
famous Topper Club. Its name came from its location which was at the top of Music Halls South
Wing. Nowadays, we call it the Critics Club.
Here is the same ballroom set up for an exposition. It had wide aisles and bright lighting which led
to a great event. By the next day the ballroom could be transformed back into a club with softer
lights and music. It had one of the worlds largest installations of the strobe light to help withdramatic effects for shows and dancing.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
14/18
The Music
Lohengrin opened Cincinnatis first Opera Festival and John Rettig, the painter of the Cinderella
scenerydesigned a temporary proscenium for this event. The main purpose for the remodeling was
to house the newly formed Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. However, the orchestra did not play
until after Theodore Thomas death (1905) because it was believed he did not want his May Festival
to have a rival.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
15/18
The Permanent Proscenium was added in 1894 while the wood lining was demolished. Many
people compared it to the inside of a violin and were scared the resounding walls would muffle the
beautiful music. However, to this day the acoustics remain comparable to that of 1878, the year the
hall opened.
The Organ was expected to be the biggest and best ever made by Cincinnatians. Reuben Springer
donated an extra $10,000 dollars to start the Organ Society. Hastings received the contract andstarted to build the instrument and had it installed by May 1, 1878. It took all, but one year to
complete the construction. In the picture, you can see that the organists mirror blocks the
extensive woodcarving which would continue to do so for many more years.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
16/18
Floor Plans
Above is the first floor plan of Music Hall made by George E. Scwatz and Associated Architects.
From Elm Street is the main entrance which would lead you into the Grand Foyer where the coat
rooms are located. Straight ahead is the Springer Hall Auditorium where the entire art of musictakes place while to the left is extra storage, dressing rooms, lounges and offices.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
17/18
The Second Floor plan consists of the ballroom to the left where lavish parties, banquets and
expositions took place. To the right is Upper North Hall where locomotives, auto-shows and
circuses arrived. The center is a shot of the Foyer Balcony looking down on the notorious organ.
-
7/30/2019 Arcadia Publishing Manuscript
18/18
The simplest floor plan is the third floor which consists of an overhead shot of the stage that is
home to the May Festival previously the (Saangerfest) and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The
balcony leaves for a breathtaking view of the festivities below.