By Paul Hobe
A viewing of the timeline in A Band of Music shows that the organization had a constant struggle for financing. Money was needed for music, rehearsal space, director’s salary, uniforms and perhaps a small salary for the musicians. Although there is record of the Musician’s Union beginning in the early 1900s there is no specific reference that the members were paid, though one might expect so considering the number of concerts scheduled during many years of its existence. It appears that most “open air” concerts were free to the public. However, certain concerts, especially those held indoors and often in the winter, required the purchase of tickets “to support the band” as is mentioned in 1877. There is record that, even from early years, at times the band had some support from the Alliance City government or the Chamber of Commerce.
A search through the timeline indicates that often some sort of money-raising event or support from a local civic organization would help pay the bills. For example, a “gift festival” was held for the band in 1889 at which “a beautiful bedroom suite” and other furniture were raffled off. In 1900, a “lawn fete” benefit was held (the Mannerchor Band). For many years $500 was set aside by the city for use of the City Band. In 1908, the band was going to solicit members of the community to become “associate members.” Businesses provided some funds in 1905. In 1918, the band raised funds by “public subscription to guarantee Prof. Rinkendorf for another year.”
In the early 1920s the Alliance Kiwanis Club became a major supporter. The Kiwanis often had annual winter theatricals that helped fund the band or perhaps sponsored specific concerts. It is interesting to note the G. E. Graf was secretary of the Kiwanis Club and a member of the City Band. In 1925 the Kiwanians sponsored a circus to benefit both the City Band and the City Hospital. In appreciation of the Kiwanis support, Rinkendorf wrote the march titled “Put and Take” which he dedicated to the Kiwanis clubs of America and which the band often played in Alliance. “Put and Take” was the name of the Alliance Kiwanis magazine mailed to members. Kiwanians and the public will get to hear this march at the reenactment concert on July 4, 2026 at Silver Park. In 1948 and 1972, the Women’s Division of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce “adopted” the City Band. In 1948, the effort raised $1,200 for new uniforms. An article in 1966 tells of a move to buy new uniforms for the band. It describes a dance at the American Legion with the Lou Naumoff orchestra, a spaghetti dinner, and a tag day. These efforts helped purchase the red blazers in 1973.
In 1948, the Alliance City Band began to obtain some funding from the Musician’s Union’s Music Performance Trust Fund. A negotiated agreement between the Musician’s Union and the burgeoning recording industry developed the fund that would subsidize admission-free performances of live music for the public. For a number of years, then, a performance schedule would consist of certain “paid” jobs while some were performed voluntarily by band members. Band members could join the union and thus get some remuneration for their efforts.
Through cycles of financial uncertainty and a variety of musical leaders the Alliance City Band was able to provide musical entertainment for Alliance and the surrounding communities for over eleven decades.
[Pictured above: Alliance City Band with red jacket uniforms taken on the cement slab at Silver Park]