This is Let's Talk to Lucy starring Lucille Ball.

A very warm welcome to you all.

I'm Gary Morton, and now let's talk to Lucy.

Hi, this is Lucy, and Gary and I have as our guest today, composer Ernest Gold.

His musical score for the Motion Picture Exodus won him an Academy Award,

and I think you will find his frank opinions and views of the musical world. Very interesting.

Ernest, you have undertaken a wonderful, interesting project that I'd like to know more about.

You have organized the first senior citizen

symphony orchestra in this country, maybe in the world. How did that come about? Well, it was a

very interesting experience. One day I received a call from Mayor Yorty's office, and he said that

they were making plans and they had hopes to organize an orchestra

specifically staffed by senior citizens. You see sometimes people think that the senior

citizens orchestra is one for them but it is actually composed of senior citizens and the youngest member is 53.

Actually 50 is the lower age limit with people up to about 80.

Well, when Mayor Yorty asked me to function as conductor, I was very excited about it

because when I first came to Hollywood back in 45, that same idea occurred to me then,

except I was in no position to implement my desire to work with such an orchestra at the time.

But meanwhile, of course, the whole idea of senior citizens has become one which is much talked about, much in the forefront.

And as a consequence, we managed to get ourselves organized very quickly, and we're rehearsing every Friday.

I think it's just wonderful, and that's one of the things that I heard about you, Mr. Gold.

I just thought it was the most exciting thing I'd heard in some time.

I know that all of the experience you've had throughout the years has contributed to being able to do this.

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