Phone Calls in Detroit

Phone Calls in Detroit After two seasons without a symphony orchestra, Detroit seemed well on the way to a new one.

The desire for an orchestra had never died. The problem was to bring the desire and Detroit money together. The man who turned the trick was Industrialist John B. Ford Jr. (no kin to Henry), wartime Navy commander, director of half a dozen Detroit corporations. At first he was reluctant. But at the urging of music-loving Jerome Remick Jr. (whose family once owned Remick Music Corp.), he agreed to "make four phone calls, ask no more than $10,000 from each of the people I call."

Within two days, Ford made four calls, got pledges of $40,000 a year for three years, no turndowns. Within twelve days, he raised $380,000 more. Among the contributors: General Motors, Chrysler, Ford and Packard ($10,000 each), the Women's Association for the Detroit Symphony ($100,000), the city of Detroit ($50,000), the delighted Detroit local of the A.F.M. ($10,000).

This week Detroit was talking about a 90-man orchestra and a 22-week season, and was discussing potential conductors.

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