Alma Voedisch Explained

Alma Voedisch
Birth Date:	June 23, 1878
Birth Place:	Menomonie, Wisconsin
Death Date:	January 9, 1949
Death Place:	Chicago
Occupation:	Musicians' manager, tour agent

Alma Voedisch (June 23, 1878 – January 9, 1949) was an American musicians' manager and tour agent.

Early life

Voedisch was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin,^{[1] [2]} the daughter of Christian Voedisch and Eula (Julia) V. Koethke. Her parents were both born in Germany. She studied piano as a young woman.^[3]

Career

Voedisch was business manager of the Western Musical Herald before 1912. She managed and booked musical acts in the midwest, including Julia Claussen,^[4] Yvonne de Tréville, Saba Doak, Theodore Spiering, George Hamlin, Theodora Sturkow-Ryder,^[5] and Leopold Godowsky.^[6] She also booked tours for the Minnesota Orchestra,^{[7] [8]} the Ukrainian National Chorus,^[9] and the Boston Grand Opera.^{[10] [11]} She opened an office for theatrical management in New York in 1917.^[12] She encouraged and supported the development of local music associations,^{[13] [14]} and credited clubwomen for their flourishing: "Were it not for the women's clubs, which back attractions at considerable financial risk, appearances of world famous artists would be confined to only a few of the larger cities", she said in 1922.^[15]

Voedisch led her first group tour of Europe in 1926, touring factories and palaces, and attending concerts, pageants, and operas.^[16] She continued traveling in Europe annually into the late 1930s.^{[17] [18]} She wrote about seeing Hitler and Mussolini in Nurnberg in 1937.^[19] In her later years she took charge of her family business, Voedisch Bros. Wholesale Sporting Goods, after her brothers died.

Personal life

Voedisch died in Chicago in 1949, aged 70 years.^[20]

Notes and References

1. News: 1929-07-04 . Wins Success in Concert Bookings . 4 . The Dunn County News . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
2. News: 1938-07-15 . Rotary Entertained by Voedisch Sisters . 2 . Leader-Telegram . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
3. News: 1912-05-09 . Alma Voedisch to Sail for Europe . 1 . The Dunn County News . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
4. September 25, 1915 . Alma Voedisch Visits Hubbard's Lodge . Musical America . 22 . 33 .
5. July 30, 1913 . Chicago . Musical Courier . 67 . 16.
6. News: 1922-12-11 . Alma Voedisch is Firm Believer in Importance of Music in Development of Town Community Life . 11 . Press-Telegram . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
7. News: 1910-10-06 . Business Staff Enlarged . 11 . Star Tribune . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
8. News: 1910-08-25 . Great Orchestra to be Heard Here . 1 . The Dunn County News . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
9. News: 1922-08-08 . Ukrainian Chorus May be Heard Here . 3 . Joplin Globe . 2020-11-25 . Newspapers.com.
10. October 16, 1915 . Alma Voedisch Presents Boston Opera Artists . Musical America . 22 . 21 .
11. October 7, 1915 . Alma Voedisch to Manage Concert Bureau of Max Rabinoff's New Opera Company . Musical Courier . 71 . 14 . 32 . Internet Archive.
12. October 11, 1917 . Alma Voedisch Opens Office on Forty-Second Street, New York . Musical Courier . 75 . 41 .
13. News: 1916-02-06 . Pushes Founding of Local Grand Opera Association . 42 . The Indianapolis Star . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
14. News: 1930-05-29 . Miss Alma Voedisch Pays Visit to City . 22 . Altoona Mirror . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
15. News: 1922-10-13 . Women are Art Aides . 1 . The Bee . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
16. News: 1926-10-21 . Tells of Sights Seen in Europe . 8 . The Dunn County News . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
17. News: 1935-08-15 . Eastern Germany Grips Traveler . 7 . The Dunn County News . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
18. News: 1938-09-21 . World Traveler Writes of Trans-Atlantic Trip . 1 . The Dunn County News . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
19. News: 1937-09-23 . Sees Hitler . 11 . The Dunn County News . 2022-07-15 . Newspapers.com.
20. News: 1949-01-12 . Alma Voedisch . 11 . The Dunn County News . 2020-11-25 . Newspapers.com.