June 21, 1913: Happy 100th Birthday, Houston Symphony!

         As the twentieth century gained momentum, Houston grew from a city of 50,000 in 1900 to one of 100,000 by 1910. Even then, it had a traffic problem: streets downtown were clogged with new-fangled automobiles, buses, trucks--all sharing lanes with horses and buggies and mule-drawn wagons. There were no traffic lights, but there were other amenities. By 1911 there were 7 movie houses, 4 theaters, 6 dance halls, 36 pool halls--and 311 saloons. But Houston had no opera, no ballet--and no symphony orchestra. New York’s Philharmonic had been around since 1842, and the Philadelphia Orchestra was founded in 1900.

         Enter one young socialite (she danced at a ball until the wee hours on at least one occasion) who decided that Houston needed some culture. She had studied music abroad; she had heard the great orchestras of Europe, and in 1913 she set about making an orchestra for Houston. (She always downplayed her pivotal role, but as a friend remembered, she was the prime mover.) She persuaded local musicians to do a trial concert, and she found a place. The Majestic Theater agreed to allow a performance sandwiched between its matinee and evening vaudeville shows on June 21, 1913, at 5 p.m.         

         On that hot afternoon, with windows open and wall fans stirring the air (and, no doubt, music fans fanning themselves), an orchestra of 35 musicians played a concert that began with Mozart’s Symphony in E Flat--and ended with Dan Emmett’s “Dixie.” Then and there, the Houston Symphony Orchestra was born.

                 

         Thank you, Ima Hogg!