26 Facts About Arthur Judson

Arthur Leon Judson was an artists' manager who managed the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra and was the founder of CBS.

Arthur Judson co-founded the Handel Society of New York with entrepreneur James Grayson in 1966.

Arthur Judson returned to New York in 1907 to attempt a recital career.

Arthur Judson spent eight years on the staff of Musical America magazine, serving as advertising manager and critic.

Disillusioned of a concert career, Arthur Judson was pleased to be offered a lucrative management career.

Arthur 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.

In 1930, Arthur Judson became the president of Columbia Concerts Corporation.

Arthur Judson amalgamated seven independent concert bureaus in what would become known as the "Arthur Judson Empire".

Arthur Judson managed the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1915 to 1935 and the New York Philharmonic from 1922 to 1956.

Arthur Judson was the advisory manager of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for five years.

Arthur Judson recommended the successors to Ormandy in Minneapolis: Dimitri Mitropoulos and Antal Dorati.

Arthur Judson was not only big in the music world, he was a physically big man described as six foot four, 200 pounds, possessing a massive head, barrel chest, and huge hands useful for his favorite pastime of chopping wood.

Arthur Judson had a ruddy complexion which he explained as a "permanent rage" induced by dealing with artists.

Arthur Judson was impeccably groomed and worked standing at a high antique desk while he smoked cigars.

Arthur Judson was surrounded by steel engravings, shelves of books, antique furnishings, and old pewter.

Arthur Judson was always available to walk across the street to Carnegie Hall to listen to an audition.

Arthur Judson was extremely choosy when it came to pianists and violinists, accepting very few.

Arthur Judson considered himself a "disappointed conductor" but made up for this by conducting the 100-piece summer orchestra at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, beginning in 1898.

In 1939 Arthur Judson was called before the Federal Communications Commission to testify.

Arthur Judson attempted to stop Rodzinski from taking over the Cleveland Orchestra in 1933.

Arthur Judson succeeded in stopping Rodzinski from taking over the New York Philharmonic in 1936.

Two other conductors who believed Arthur Judson damaged their careers were Eugene Aynsley Goossens and Otto Klemperer.

Arthur Judson forced him to pay in an out-of-court settlement, and then dumped him.

Arthur Judson announced his resignation as Philadelphia's manager on October 8,1934.

Arthur Judson learned from Davidson that concerts in the US were largely controlled by Columbia and the National Concert Artists Corporation.

Amongst the artists Arthur Judson presented and represented: Ruth St Denis, 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, Fritz Reiner, Jesus Maria Sanroma, Rudolf Serkin, the American Opera Company, and Helen Traubel.