This is what can happen when Freemasons just pitch their heritage overboard. Several years ago, the Murat Shrine Center in Indianapolis leased half of their incredible 1910 Middle Eastern-styled building and theatre to what is now Live Nation. They negotiated a long lease deal that puts Live Nation in charge of the theatre side of the building.
Almost immediately, members were shocked as one of the first shows booked into the theatre was "The Vagina Chronicles." Freemasons all across Central Indiana were aghast.
Still, the name of Murat Shrine, formed in 1882, was still alive, and the theatre was still associated in the city's collective memory with Shriners.
Well, today it was announced in the Indianapolis Star that Live Nation has struck a sponsorship deal with Old National Bank of Evansville, Indiana, and the Murat Theatre will now be known as the Old National Center.
Yuck.
Freemasons all across Central Indiana were aghast.
ReplyDeleteBecause we all know that Freemasons want nothing to do with vagina, right?
:eye roll:
Chris, sometimes it's okay to let go of the past. Those grand old buildings are historic monuments *now*, but when they were built, they were community centers. They were sustainable when they had 200 members at a meeting, or 500 on the rolls. But we don't have those numbers anymore. Let's stop hamstringing ourselves and concentrate on developing better, but smaller lodges.
I cringe whenever I'm at a meeting with new Masons and the oldsters start talking about special assessments to repair or maintain an old building. I'm sure they're thinking "After I just paid $200 to $300 for dues and initiation fees, now they want another $100? What did I get myself into?"
Do they still have masonic meetings i teh building at all?
ReplyDeleteAlmost immediately, members were shocked as one of the first shows booked into the theatre was "The Vagina Chronicles." Freemasons all across Central Indiana were aghast.
ReplyDeleteSeriously?
Then, if they want to control what shows perform at the site, they shouldn't have leased it out.
He who pays the bills and all ...
They need to either get over themselves, or renege on the lease.