Musical Chairs

When the directorship of an important art museum falls vacant, the directors of every U.S. museum perk up. In the game musical chairs that follows, even the lowliest may find a plushier seat. Last summer Perry Rathbone, director of the City Art Museum of St. Louis, was appointed to fill the directorship of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (vacated by the death of George Edgell).

In December Charles Nagel, in charge of the Brooklyn Museum, got the nod from St. Louis (his home town). Soon afterward Edgar Schenck, director of the Albright Gallery in Buffalo, was tapped by Brooklyn. Schenck frankly stated his reasons for shifting: "Better salary and wider scope of activity."

The game might go on and on. Francis Henry Taylor's resignation from Manhattan's Metropolitan (TIME, Dec. 27) still leaves the U.S. museum world's throne unfilled. Last week the merry-go-round got another powerful whirl. Director Fiske Kimball announced his retirement from the Philadelphia Museum. For the time being Henri Marceau, the Philadelphia's associate director, has moved in as acting director. But all over the country museum directors were up on their toes, listening.

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