Show salt lake tabernacle and choir to iso used in film version of Cori anton 00 V I 1 L an interview with david A smith president of 0 the choir jete ewt by dr M marems p some time in january a producers syndicate indicate will commence filming TC Cori ori anton the play whose author 0 U bean was hailed by literary critics as the american shakespeare and of whom one of the critics said he had out shake speared spear cd shakespeare the largest part of the filming will bs done in the widely known de forrest studios in long island but one part will necessarily have to ie be done in salt lake city because the world famous tabernacle orgin organ and the great tabernacle Ta bernac c choir will be used in the sound synchronization of the fil film I 1 the play its story its history and its success wite ax common knowl edge the story nory of the play is taken from the book of mormon frequently and erroneously the mormon bible in addition to being a religious document the book of mormon ormon is is in in some respects a history proven by archaeological discoveries the ti c latest one cli which is that ancient cit city Y tl the remains of which have been observed from the air by colonel lindbergh Lind bergli in his recent flight over central america jungles such remains are expected to shed considerable sid erable light on the american cf about half a thousand years before the christian era how did it come about that the presidency of the mormon church permitted the use of the great organ and the widely reputed choir built and organized primarily for sacred and religious purposes in so secular an ing as a movie this question caused me to seek an authoritative answer the logical man to give that answer is david asmith the president of the tabernacle choir an interview was requested and graciously granted to the inquiry as to the reason tor for granting that great and valuable privilege mr smith with a smile on h hs s lips and a swift g garce in the direction of the publicity manager present at the interview answered persuasion then e n quickly changing the course of his thought from humorous to serious mr smith immediately continued the church has always been interested te in the play Cori anton because its story is taken from the book of mormon on the stage the subject is visualized and therefore more easily if seen by many it might give to many the incentive to want to know more about ancient A america merica that america which is dealt with in the book of mormon and which is of unusual interest and great importance to american archaeologists 1 entirely aside from religious angles the book of mormon gives of ancient america a story that has been proven and authenticated by many archaeological discoveries co of our time students are working on the remains of the language spoken by the americans of thousands of years ago and are rummaging among old bits of prehistoric writings digging out the meanings of hieroglyphics they find and restoring to something aing like grammatical order the various various scraps of words and phrases one day the mcanin meanings gs of buildings carvings carving sign writings and art relics will be fitted together like pieces of a puzzle and everybody will be able to read the story ot of america from centuries before christ down to columbus Is the interest in those things really 0 of so general a nature was the next question the answer was wac if it is not we want to make it so that it does not confine itself to just a few is amply and convincingly vincin 1 gly proven by the fact that so many people cibit our tabernacle grounds and the organ recitals which we give in the tabernacle daily with I 1 the exception of sundays we have statistics showing that from a quarter to a half million people annually visit the recitals on account of this manifest mahi fest interest nt erest we have made the elevating ing music of that world famous organ accessible to larger numbers and wider circles by permitting on two occasions the victor talking machine company to make records of the choir and organ lately we have hav e made the ilia instrumental and vocal music of organ and choir still more accessible to music mus ic lovers in general by having it broadcast over the radio does docs it have effect letters after letters are coming to this office expressing thanks and appreciation for the rare musical treat one letter just received here comes from a ranger deep in canadian forests a hundred or more miles away from civilization this good ranger is thanking us for bringing high class music into his recesses of the forest so far away from contact with civilization the tabernacle choir is known all over the united states not only through phonograph records ard radio broadcasting but also through concerts which the choir in years past has given in in several large titles cities of the united states among the cities visited was washington D C president taft was unable to attend the concert on account of previous engagements and after the choir had performed senator reed smoot came to the director telling him that the president would like to hear the choir and inviting us to sing that night in the white louse house I we went we 1 were taken ti cn to the spacious east room the president cabinet members senators and members of i the diplomatic corps were assembled to licar hear us it had bad been agreed that we sing two numbers and atter after having finished them the i dent asked whether we would not do him the favor of singing some i more of course we did the j next morning the papers carried large streamers str earner president and andia diplomatic corps listen to mor 1 mon choir and ariti critics paid h high compliments compliment to the s singers ingers T that hat day we had to sing i in n richmond I 1 virginia where the clergy of other denominations had conducted a regular campaign against us painting mormons cormons as black as they could and warning people not to attend the concert but on account of these headlines and reports we had bad a crowded house and the most enthusiastic audience upon further questioning mr smith informed the writer that the church is maintaining the musical organization with three organists two choristers cho and about hundred voices in the choir anthony C lund will direct the choir when singing for synchronization and tracy Y cannon will be at the console c the two men need no introduction to musicians and music I 1 ic en enthusiasts in our country or ot other h cr countries |