New Pops

Like a lot of people who never have, Max Leon, a well-to-do Philadelphia candymaker, has always wanted to lead a band. Last week, largely at his own expense, Leon had his way, and Philadelphia had a new Pops Orchestra.

Leon came to the U.S. from Poland at 16 with a few candy recipes and a fiddle he liked to play. He took a job in a candy factory near the Philadelphia wharves, invented a marshmallow syrup, made enough to buy the factory. Last year he had saved up enough money to hire 75 members of the famed Philadelphia Orchestra in their off hours. On the top floor of his factory, he rehearsed them in musical bonbons by Johann Strauss and Offenbach, and piped both the sweet and sour notes to the candy kitchens below. Then he took his Pops Orchestra on a tour of Army & Navy hospitals, paying out $1,200 for each concert.

Last week in Philadelphia the new Pops began its first season. For the maraschino to top his prize package Max Leon imported Grace Moore. By season's end, Popsmaestro Leon expects box office, not bonbons, will keep his orchestra going.

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