[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY OF MUSIC

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 43 which was 
submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sanders). The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 43) honoring the important 
     contributions to the Nation of the Academy of Music in 
     Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on its 150th anniversary.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to support 
legislation with my distinguished colleague, Senator Casey, that will 
honor the 150th Anniversary of the Academy of Music of Philadelphia, 
PA.
  The Academy of Music has served as a venue for the performing arts, 
ceremonial events, Presidential conventions and historical occasions 
since its opening in 1857. The Academy is the oldest grand opera house 
in the United States still used for its original purpose, and was 
designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1963.
  The Academy served as the main concert hall for the Philadelphia 
Orchestra for more than a century. The Orchestra purchased the Academy 
in 1957, and continues to perform there each year for the Academy's 
anniversary. Additionally, a host of legendary artists including Maria 
Callas, Joan Sutherland, George Gershwin, Anna Pavlova, Igor Stravinsky 
and Luciano Pavarotti have performed at this important venue.
  The Academy of Music has also been the site of several significant 
and historic cultural events. Alexander Graham Bell conducted a 
demonstration of the telephone in 1877, Leopold Stokowski and the 
Philadelphia Orchestra performed the first ever concert in stereophonic 
sound there in 1933, and in 1939, the Philadelphia Orchestra recorded 
the soundtrack to Walt Disney's classic film, Fantasia, at the Academy.
  The Academy's history extends further than the opulent interior of 
the main hall and the magnificent performances that have graced its 
stage. An elegant restaurant was constructed in the basement in 1857 
for opera-goers and arts patrons. During World War II, the restaurant 
was converted into a canteen that hosted 2.5 million service men and 
women between the years of 1942 and 1945 who enjoyed performances by 
Abbott and Costello, Duke Ellington, Lynn Fontanne and Frank Sinatra.
  The Academy of Music continues to be the Philadelphia area's primary 
venue for the performing arts, hosting major Broadway productions, 
operatic performances and traveling dance and theater companies. It is 
with great pleasure that Senator Casey and I present this resolution 
honoring the Academy of Music's 150th Anniversary, and pay homage to an 
institution that has played a significant role in Philadelphia's 
vibrant arts community. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
the Academy of Music.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 43) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 43

       Whereas the Academy of Music opened in 1857 in 
     Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and quickly became the most 
     prestigious opera house in the United States;
       Whereas the Academy of Music is the oldest grand opera 
     house in the United States that is still used for its 
     original purpose;
       Whereas, in 1963, the Academy of Music was designated a 
     National Historic Landmark;
       Whereas, over the years, the Academy of Music served not 
     only as a venue for the performing arts community, but has 
     also hosted many graduation ceremonies, along with several 
     Presidential conventions and other important public events;
       Whereas the Academy of Music served as the Philadelphia 
     Orchestra's main concert hall for more than a century, and 
     the Orchestra purchased the Academy in 1957 and performs each 
     year for the Academy's anniversary;
       Whereas the Academy of Music has had a host of legendary 
     artists grace its stage, from the disciplines of classical to 
     popular music, dance, and drama, including Maria Callas, Joan 
     Sutherland, Marian Anderson, Frank Sinatra, George Gershwin, 
     Duke Ellington, Anna Pavlova, Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, and 
     Margot Fonteyn;
       Whereas the Academy of Music has also hosted several 
     sporting events, was turned into an indoor skating rink in 
     1866, had a wooden floor installed over the parquet level in 
     1889 to create space for an indoor football game between the 
     University of Pennsylvania and the Riverton Club of 
     Princeton, and had a wooden floor installed again in 1892 for 
     the University of Pennsylvania for a track meet; and
       Whereas the Academy of Music has also been a part of other 
     historical and cultural events, such as a demonstration of 
     the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1877, the first 
     ever concert in stereophonic sound in 1933 performed by 
     Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the filming 
     of ``One Hundred Gentlemen and a Girl'' in 1937, and the 
     recording of the soundtrack of the Disney classic 
     ``Fantasia'' by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1939: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, 
     Pennsylvania, on its 150th anniversary;
       (2) honors the important contributions of the Academy of 
     Music to the Nation; and
       (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to the Academy of Music.

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