“One can survive everything nowadays, except death, and live down anything except a good reputation.” —Oscar Wilde

HEARD ON THE TOWN

NEARLY 2,000 people attended the Austin symphonic pipe organ concert at Memorial Auditorium. The event, featuring Robert McDonald of New York City and Fort Worth, was free, thanks to the Chattanooga Music Club.

According to the club’s advisory board chairwoman, Charlynne Fry, Mr. McDonald was the organist for Radio City Music Hall in New York for several years. He also was organist and choirmaster at Riverside Church in New York.

“He had performed years ago in Chattanooga at the auditorium, and this performance proved to be a most popular one with the audience as he gave brilliant accompaniment to the 1920s comedy silent film ‘Liberty,’ (starring) (Stan) Laurel and (Oliver) Hardy,” Ms. Fry said.

The concert was the second annual patriotic concert sponsored by the music club in celebration of the renovated 1924 Austin pipe organ, she said.

“The music club raised over $700,000 toward this project and is now in the process of receiving contributions toward the completion of the electrical solid-state system of the organ,” she said. “On full completion, the value of the symphonic instrument will be over $2 million.”

Vance Fry served as master of ceremonies at the concert.

Among those in attendance were Jeff Scofield, past dean of the Chattanooga Chapter of American Guild of Organists; Evelyn Gibbs, organ renovation chairwoman; and Dr. Jack Kennedy, organ renovation co-chairman.

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