Music: Fine Italian Hand

Labor’s New Order in music continued its efforts to force the union label on the Boston Symphony Orchestra last week. From musical Rochester, N.Y. came word that the only major non-union orchestra in the U.S. will not play its annual December concert at Rochester’s Eastman Theater this year. Reason: a threatened boycott of the theater by all union musicians.

This is not the first threat. In Springfield, Mass. two ominously polite letters last month told the committee in charge of the Municipal Auditorium that if the Boston Symphony plays there next winter, American Federation of Musicians members will blacklist the hall. In Northampton, Mass. an A.F. of M. official announced that Smith College will be blacklisted if the Boston orchestra plays there.

The threats came from minor officials, but their fine Italian handwriting looked suspiciously like that of A.F. of M.’s big boss, James C. (for Caesar) Petrillo. Ever since he became tsar of U.S. musicians, ex-Trumpeter Petrillo has considered the patrician Boston Symphony one of the chief thorns in his sensitive side. Union pressure has kept the Boston orchestra from broadcasting since 1939. Two years ago Petrillo forced RCA-Victor to stop recording the Boston Symphony, then exulted: “They’re through!”

But the orchestra may not be able to buck Petrillo’s New Order much longer. In Boston, orchestra and union officials were at last getting together. In Manhattan, many a musician was betting that Boston Symphony players will never again enter Carnegie Hall without union cards.

Meanwhile James Caesar Petrillo had another battle on his hands. Next fortnight the Government hopes to slap an injunction on Petrillo to end his boycott against recordings. On hand to push the Government’s case will be Assistant Attorney General Thurman Arnold. So far Trust-Buster Arnold has had no great success in his brushes with organized labor. But this time he has popular opinion behind him. A Gallup Poll question, “Do you approve or disapprove of the Government taking legal action to stop Petrillo?” turned up a 73% chorus of ayes.