Arthur Judson (Arthur Leon Judson) was an artists' manager who also managed the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra. He was born in Dayton, Ohio February 17, 1881 and died in Rye, New York January 28, 1975. The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States. ... The Philadelphia Orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the Big Five symphony orchestras in the United States and usually considered among the finest in the world. ... February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Rye, New York is the name of two places in Westchester County, New York. ... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

Early Life

Judson studied violin beginning at the age of eight, and continued his studies with the composer, conductor, violinist Max Bendix and the violinist Leopold Lichtenberg in New York for one year. He became the dean of the music department at Denison University, Granville, Ohio 1900 to 1907. At Denison, he also performed the Richard Strauss Violin Sonata in its first public performance in the United States. He returned to New York in 1907 to attempt a recital career. He also spent eight years on the staff of Musical America magazine. Disillusioned of a concert career (he said of this time “I was a good violinist, but no Kreisler or Heifetz”) Judson was pleased to be offered a lucrative management career. Leopold Lichtenberg was a Jewish American Violinist; born at San Francisco, California on November 22, 1861. ... Denison University is a private liberal arts and sciences college in Granville, Ohio, approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of Columbus. ... Granville is a village located in Licking County, Ohio. ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Richard Strauss Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949) was a German composer of the late Romantic era, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Orchestra Manager and Artists' Manager

A benefit of Judson's Musical America job was traveling to hear concerts and meeting the people who performed or attended the concerts. Judson was therefore already known for his knowledge of music and judgment on musicians of quality when he was appointed as the manager of the Philadelphia Orchestra in July 1915. He launched Concert Management Arthur Judson, Inc. in Philadelphia to manage artists, and commuted daily to his New York office where he set up a second artists’ management office. With three partners, he organized the Judson Radio Program as another venue for his artists in 1926. His attempt to get an exclusive contract with David Sarnoff at the National Broadcasting Company for the radio program failed. Judson and his partners therefore purchased a low-power station owned by the Atlantic Broadcasting Company and by January 27, 1927 signed up a network of sixteen stations known as the United Independent Broadcasters to carry his program. William S. Paley purchased this network on September 25, 1927 and it became the Columbia Broadcasting System. 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Radios Sarnoff on the cover of Time in 1929 David Sarnoff (February 27, 1891–December 12, 1971) was the General Manager of Radio Corporation of America (RCA) from its founding in 1919 to his retirement in 1970. ... The National Broadcasting Company or NBC is an American television broadcasting company based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... William S. Paley (September 28, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois – October 26, 1990 in New York, New York) was the chief executive who built CBS from a small radio network to the dominant radio and television network operation in America. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... CBSs first color logo, which debuted in the fall of 1965. ...

In 1930, Judson became the president of Columbia Concerts Corporation (which is now Columbia Artists Management). William S. Paley was chairman of the board. Judson amalgamated seven independent concert bureaus in what would become known as the “Judson Empire”. These were the Wolfsohn Music Bureau, Haensel and Jones, The Metropolitan Musical Bureau, Evans and Salter, American Opera Company, and the Community Concert Service of Ward French. Also included in this amalgamation was Concert Management Arthur Judson. 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Columbia Artists Management, Inc. ...

Judson managed the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1915 to 1935 and the New York Philharmonic from 1922 to 1956. Judson’s zenith was reached between 1930 and 1935 when he simultaneously managed the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, instituted and managed the summer concert series at Lewisohn Stadium 1920-1943 in New York and the Robin Hood Dell in Philadelphia as well as serving as president of Columbia Concerts Corporation. He also was the advisory manager of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for five years. As an impresario, he advised many other organizations. When Carl Denton, conductor of the Oregon Symphony, died in 1925 the orchestra called Judson. His recommendation, Willem van Hoogstraten, was hired. When the Minneapolis Symphony (now the Minnesota Orchestra needed a conductor in 1931, Judson recommended Eugene Ormandy. Judson also recommended the successors to Ormandy in Minneapolis: Dimitri Mitropoulos and Antal Doráti. Some likened the Minneapolis orchestra to Judson's "farm team". The Philadelphia Orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the Big Five symphony orchestras in the United States and usually considered among the finest in the world. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States. ... The Philadelphia Orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the Big Five symphony orchestras in the United States and usually considered among the finest in the world. ... Lewisohn Stadium was an amphitheater and athletic facility built on the campus of the City College of New York, and opened in 1915. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 3 - Babe Ruth is traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the largest sum ever paid for a player at that time. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Cincinnati Music Hall As the fifth-oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra that was founded in 1903 by Emil Oberhoffer as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Eugene Ormandy in the 1950s Eugene Ormandy (November 18, 1899 – March 12, 1985) was a conductor and violinist. ... Dimitris Mitropoulos (Greek: Δημήτρης Μητρόπουλος) (March 1, 1896 – November 2, 1960) was a Greek conductor, pianist, and composer who spent most of his career in the United States. ... Antal Doráti (April 9, 1906 – November 13, 1988) was a conductor and composer. ... A farm team, or farm club, generally refers to a minor league baseball league in the United States which are at a lower pay level and play in smaller cities and towns than do Major League Baseball, and which are under the control of the two major leagues and are...

Judson was not only big in the music world, he was also a physically big man described as six foot 200 pounds, possessing a massive head, barrel chest, and also huge hands useful for his favorite pastime of chopping wood. He had a ruddy complexion which he explained as a “permanent rage” induced by dealing with artists. He was impecably groomed and worked standing at a high antique desk while he smoked cigars. He was surrounded by steel engravings, shelves of books, antique furnishings, and old pewter. He considered himself a “disappointed conductor” but made up for this by conducting the 100-piece summer orchestra at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Ocean Grove is a census-designated place located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. ...

In 1939 Judson was called before the Federal Communications Commission to testify. This was described in a highly unflattering Time magazine article, "Chain-Store Music" for February 6, 1939. Spectators were surprised to learn that music was organized just like any other business. Salesmen toured the country selling musicians to 376 communities involved in the Community Artists series. In order to get the big name artists, lesser known commodities also had to be purchased. There was plenty to choose from in the catalog: Columbia Concerts Corporation controlled two-thirds of the nation's musical artists and conductors. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The FCCs official seal. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Of course, the Community Artists series also made it possible for communities to obtain high quality artists without having to assume high financial risks since the concerts were prepaid. Artists had more opportunities too, and in return they paid a 20 percent commission to Judson’s Columbia Concerts Corporation. The only other company in this field, NBC Artists Service, shared the market and did not compete with Judson.

There were some musicians Judson did not represent. One conductor Judson did not represent was Artur Rodzinski. Judson attempted to stop Rodzinski from taking over the Cleveland Orchestra in 1933 (Judson failed). Judson succeeded in stopping Rodzinski from taking over the New York Philharmonic in 1936. In 1947, Rodzinski who had become the conductor of the New York Philharmonic with Judson's short-term assistance, battled with Judson over hiring and programming. He requested that the orchestra board choose between himself and Judson, and the board sided with Judson. Rodzinski also lost his next job as conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra over programming disputes, purportedly due to the power of Judson. Two other conductors who believed Judson damaged their careers were Eugène Aynsley Goossens and Otto Klemperer. Goossens decided, after twelve years, to no longer pay Judson a commission. Klemperer made the “mistake” of insisting on a performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the New York Philharmonic. Judson refused, but Klemperer went on with the performance. Judson then abandoned Klemperer. Artur Rodzinski (January 1, 1892 - November 27, 1958) was a Polish conductor. ... The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States. ... The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, based in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the leading orchestras in the world. ... Sir Eugène Goossens Sir Eugène Aynsley Goossens (May 26, 1893 – June 13, 1962) was an English conductor and composer. ... Photographic portrait taken ca. ... The Symphony No. ...

In time, strained relations with another major conductor and the impropriety and conflict of interest in managing artists and orchestras which then hired the same artists caused Judson to resign his orchestra management positions. He announced his resignation as Philadelphia's manager on October 8, 1934 (which became effective May 31, 1935) after increasingly strained relations with its conductor Leopold Stokowski. Although the two collaborated in later years, Stokowski's comment at the time was "Mr. Judson is not my manager". New York Time’s music critic Howard Taubman’s article appearing on April 29, 1956 “The New York Philharmonic—What’s Wrong and Why?” alleged over-hiring of Columbia artists at the New York Philharmonic and may have encouraged the seventy-five year old Judson to resign from that post. October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Leopold Stokowski (born Antoni StanisÅ‚aw BolesÅ‚awowicz April 18, 1882 in London, England, died September 13, 1977 in Nether Wallop, England) was the conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Symphony of the Air. ... Howard Taubmans Memoir Howard Taubman (July 4, 1907 – January 8, 1996) was an American music critic, theater critic, and author. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States. ...

Amongst the artists Judson presented and represented: Marian Anderson, John Barbirolli, Robert Casadesus, Van Cliburn, Clifford Curzon, Todd Duncan, Nelson Eddy, Benjamino Gigli, Mischa Elman, Zino Francescatti, Gary Graffman, Jascha Heifetz, Vladimir Horowitz, Jose Iturbi, Lorin Maazel, Yehudi Menuhin, Eugene Ormandy, Lily Pons, Rudolph Serkin and Helen Traubel. Marian Anderson, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1940 Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993) was an African-American contralto (same range as alto), best remembered for her performance on Easter Sunday, 1939 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The concert, which commenced with... Sir John (Giovanni Battista) Barbirolli (December 2, 1899 - July 29, 1970), was a British conductor and cellist who led the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, among many others. ... Robert Casadesus (April 7, 1899 – September 19, 1972) was a French pianist and composer. ... Cliburn playing in the final round of the First International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition Harvey Lavan Cliburn Jr. ... Sir Clifford Michael Curzon (May 18, 1907 - September 1, 1982) was a celebrated English pianist. ... Robert Todd Duncan (1903-1998) was an American baritone. ... Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (born June 29, 1901; died March 6, 1967) was an American singer and film actor. ... Beniamino Gigli (March 20, 1890 - November 30, 1957) was an Italian singer, widely regarded as one of the greatest operatic tenors of his time. ... Mischa Elman Mischa Elman (January 20, 1891 – April 5, 1967) was a Ukrainian-born violinist, famed for his passionate style and the beauty of his tone. ... Zino Francescatti (August 9, 1902 – September 17, 1991) was a French violinist. ... Gary Graffman (born 14 October 1928) is an American pianist specializing in classical and symphonic works. ... Jascha Heifetz Jascha Heifetz (February 2, 1901 – December 10, 1987) was a violinist. ... Portrait of Vladimir Horowitz, captured from the documentary The Last Romantic. ... Jose Iturbi photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1933 Jose Iturbi (November 28, 1895 - June 28, 1980) was a Spanish conductor and pianist. ... Lorin Varencove Maazel (born March 6, 1930) is a conductor, violinist and composer. ... Yehudi Menuhin album cover Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE (April 22, 1916 – March 12, 1999) was a Jewish-born, American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom and eventually became a British citizen. ... Eugene Ormandy in the 1950s Eugene Ormandy (November 18, 1899 – March 12, 1985) was a conductor and violinist. ... Lily Pons as Rosina Lily Pons (April 12, 1898 – February 13, 1976) was a French-born U.S. coloratura soprano. ... Rudolph Serkin(pianist; born March 28, 1903, Eger, Bohemia; died May 9, 1991) - also spelled as Rudolf Serkin. ... Helen Traubel (June 16, 1899-July 28, 1972), was an American operatic soprano, best known for her Wagnerian roles, especially that of Brünnhilde. ...

References

• ”Arthur Judson Dies at 93; Leading Concert Manager”. New York Times, January 29, 1975.
• Chasins, Abram. (1979) Leopold Stokowski: A Profile. New York, Hawthorn Books.
• ”Chain-Store Music”. Time (magazine), February 6, 1939
• Horowitz, Joseph. (2005) Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall. New York, W. W. Norton & Co.
• Judson, Arthur (Leon) in Current Biography (1945). New York, H.W. Wilson.
• "Manager Resigns in Stokowski Rift". New York Times, May 30, 1935.
• "Orchestra Confirms Judson's Resignation". New York Times, October 26, 1934.
• Rodzinski, Halina. (1976) Our Two Lives. New York, Scribner.