Show me any article in the press from the 1960s to the arrival of Gelb that discusses depleting the endowment. Show me any article in the press from the 1960s to the arrival of Gelb that discusses performances with fewer than 50% of tickets sold.
The Cathedral of St John the Divine in NYC now has an admission fee. I don't mind that because churches that are open for free all day long usually end up as hang outs for homeless people. In London, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral charge an admission. The fact is these huge churches have annual budgets in the tens of millions of dollars and the people throwing $2 in the collection plate on Sunday morning cannot sustain them.
I watched "Maurice" yesterday for the first time - it's on youtube for free. It was like watching my own life story and falling in love with my closest friend at age 19
Many people mention our educational system to explain the decreasing audience. Nobody seems to be blaming mom and dad and the fact that music is no longer viewed as a priority. When I was growing up we had a piano in our living room and I had weekly lessons. I'd say that was true for maybe 40% of my classmates. If you walk into an elementary school today and ask the students how many have a piano at home and take lessons I'd say it would be below 10%. People have changed their priorities.
I assume you're speaking of the 1939 film version with Laurence Olivier, which I've seen twice and I enjoy. 1939 was a banner year in the film industry - Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Wuthering Heights, and Bette Davis as Elizabeth I
Gone with the Wind is a bore. It's a sentimental soap opera. Has anyone else noticed that English actor Leslie Howard makes no attempt at a Southern accent? Vivian Leigh at least tried to do a Southern accent
I didn't think there was much of a story in a film so long. Also, the poor people were all portrayed as good and the rich people were all portrayed as bad (Molly Brown being the exception). Well that isn't true. If you don't believe me walk by yourself down a deserted alley in a poor neighborhood at 2am.