Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
40
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MUSIC PUBLISHERS' LIVE WIRES.
Among the latest additions to "The Musicians'
Library," published by Oliver Ditson Co., besides
the usual number of classical pieces and songs of
especial merit, are two volumes of "Modern
French Songs," edited by Philip Hale; and
"Songs by Thirty Americans," edited by Rupert
Hughes. They are the finest additions extant
and are now ready for trade orders.
rendered by Edgar Temple, the veteran tenor,
are notable song hits in "Paris by Night," at the
Madison Square Garden roof. Both are from
the richly laden catalogue of the "House of
Hits."
PRICES IN SAN FRANCISCO.
A Chat With F. W . Clark—How Prices Are
Maintained Out There.
Monday Fred. W. Clarke, buyer of sheet mu-
sic and musical merchandise for the Emporium,
Arthur Gillespie has bought Frederick Chapin's of San Francisco, and said to be the leading de-
interest in "The American Girl," the musical play partment store on the Pacific coast, reached New
in two acts, written by him and Mr. Chapin. The York on one of his regular trips, of which he
music is in the best style of the composer of "The makes three a year. He will be here for three
Storks," and the latest Chicago success.
weeks and expects to see all the publishers of
In a suit brought by one well known publisher
any note. Referring to the attitude of depart-
Rumors are rife "in the street" that Rogers ment stores in his section, Mr. Clarke said to The
against another of greater prominence for the
rights of a new musical comedy, the point of con- Bros, will retire from the publishing business. Review:
tention is the alleged breach of contract, on the They have handled only their own productions,
"Prices are not slashed in San Francisco, and
part of the composer. The plaintiff declares that and are said to have finally realized that music we make no attempt to interfere with the busi-
if the other side is victorious he will immediately publishing is not quite the "cinch" they were led ness of the regular dealer. The Pacific Coast
open negotiations for their staff of writers by to believe. Negotiations for their plates and Music Board of Trade, of which we are not. mem-
offering to double their compensation and guaran- copyrights are now pending with another pub- bers, because our business precludes membership,
teeing to back whatever contract they may have. lisher who "knows the ropes" and can market the but are in entire sympathy and are governed by
This is what the complainant calls the retort goods.
their action, keeps the business from being
courteous, though he claims first blood in the
slaughtered. We have our sales days, like others
Jean Schwartz, referred to as the star of Sha- in our line, to be sure, but otherwise prices are
legal scrimmage, having obtained a preliminary
injunction from Judge Scott, New York Supreme piro, Remick & Co.'s writing staff, who recently kept on an even kiel. In fact there is no disposi-
Court, last week, pending a hearing to make the returned from a stay at the spring resorts of the tion to cut, and our relations with everyone in
enjoining order permanent. The case will be West, sailing for Europe on the "Kaiser Wilhelm the trade is of the most amicable nature.
der Grosser," last week, arrived in London, Eng.,
argued August 10.
"Some time back we were getting 35 cents, and
on Monday. He will be away for the remainder then a competitor dropped to 25. We sent word
Sol Bloom is convinced that he has on his cata- of the summer. His collaborates, Wm. Jerome, that unless he restored the price we would be
logue, the ballad hit of the season in Heelan & returned to New York from a protracted Western compelled to make the same reduction, as we
Helf's great story song, "Be Satisfied With What trip on Tuesday. Then for a week's end jaunt, never permit anyone to undersell us. Our over-
You Have, Let Well Enough Alone," and it is in" Maurice Shapiro, the heavy end of the "Big tures were met with a prompt refusal. The con-
its popularity with singers and music buyers Firm," went through Connecticut on his French sequence was that is the figure we are all selling
touring car as far as New Haven, reaching home at now. Not that there is any special complaint
alike that he is said to judge it.
Monday supremely pleased with his outing and at this price, for it represents a fair margin, and
Good was the verdict of an overflowing house experience.
it is not likely to go any lower. The dealers
at the New York Theatre, Monday night, on the
have done a very satisfactory business and our
premiere of "The Maid and the Mummy." It is
By order of the court on Thursday last, the sheet music department makes the same report.
the joint production of Richard Carle, of "Tender- receiver of Howley, Dresser Co., bankrupts, was
"No, we do not have a piano department. We
foot" fame, who is responsible for the book and directed to return to Ben. M. Jerome his operetta, have taken the matter up every year, but prices
lyrics, with Robert Hood Bowers contributing "Queen of Balley-hoo-bey," including the orches- do not suit us. The inducements being made in
the score. All the songs were well received, the tra, piano and vocal scores, book and lyrics. San Francisco in connection with the retailing
meed of highest praise, however, being accorded Mr. Jerome declared he had written the play of pianos are simply appalling. We are quite
"It's Great to be Crazy,'" "Peculiar Julia," and two years ago and had simply entrusted it to the content to sell sheet music."
"I Fell in Love With Polly." M. Witmark & firm for safe keeping. Judge Thomas approved
Sons are the publishers.
the transfer.
SOME BIG PROCTOR DEALS.
Something new will be shortly announced in
the line for which they are the undisputed head-
quarters by Hinds, Noble & Eldridge. This prog-
ressive firm is gaining fresh laurels with every
publication bearing their highly regarded im-
print.
Last Sunday was "Witmark Day" at Tolchester
Beach, Weber's Maryland Fifth Regiment band
rendering a programme of fourteen numbers, se-
lected exclusively from the publications of this
house, ranging from "Follow the Crowd On a
Sunday" to "When Johnny Comes Marching
Home." Tolchester, being Baltimore's popular
resort, made these two selections particularly
appropriate.
During July and August, in l.eu of a vacation
period, Edward S. Cragin, the capable manager
of Chas. H. Ditson & Co., leaves New York every
Saturday for Spring Lake, N. J., the fashionable
seaside resort mostly favored by Philadelphia,
returning to business on the following Wednes-
day. He owns a well-appointed home there and
enjoys the summer comfortably and rationally.
"The Girl With the Changeable Eyes," sung by
Miss Toma Hanlon, and "In Sweet Loveland,"
SEASON'S SIGNAL SONC r SUCCESSES T H A T
ENJOY P E R E N N I A L POPULARITY
POLLY PRIM
FALL IN LINE
EGYPT
1
GARDEN OF DREAMS
PLAIN MAMIE O'HOOlEY 1
PEGGY BRADY
/ \
AFRICANA
WONG TING SING
—-—dp!S&J
S
V
LOVERS A. B. C.
FISHING
SWEET LOVE LAND
SLY MUSETTE
\
—
T BIG INDIAN CHIEF
PILLOWS OF DESPAIR
KITTY RAY
TURN THOSE EYES AWAY
Published i>y
JOS.
W . STERN 6 CO.,
CHICAGO
34 East 21st St., New York
LONDON
SAN FRANCISCO
The fiftieth anniversary of the day when the
song "Die Wacht Am Rhine" was sung in public
for the first time, was celebrated with great eclat
at. Kufeld, Germany. The song was composed and
set to music in March, 1854, by Carl Wilhelm, who
from 1846, for more than twenty years, was the
musical director—and a good one—of the Lieder-
tafel, the principal men's singing society in Kre-
feld.
The streets of the city were in festive garb. A
great banquet was held in which all the singing
societies participated after which there was many
speeches by leading men who extolled the writer
of the song and its influence in making a greater
Germany.
Among the promising young composers recently
added to the enormous staff, who write exclusively
for the Witmarks, are H. Sylvester Krouse, who
in addition to his compositions for the piano,
writes such successful songs as "Here's to the
Rose"; and George Spink, composer of "Honey
my Sweet" and other popular songs. With the
addition of Dave Reed, Jr., to the staff of lyric
and libretto writers, the Witmarks are prepared
tc furnish any sort of musical entertainment.
Mrs. Bunting—"Are our concert seats at the
end?"
Mr. Bunting—"No, they are just in the mid-
dle of the row."
"Then we go late."
A. J. GENTRY'S CLEVER WORK.
Alfred J. Gentry, of Litchfield, Eng., is the com-
poser of an evening anthem, entitled, "Abide With
Me," which has been recently published by No-
vel lo, Ewer & Co., of London and New York. It
is arranged for soprano, alto and tenor soli and
chorus, and in arrangement and effectiveness of
results it is a musicianly work which should win
no small measure of favor.
During the past six months more than $100,000
worth of contracts have been signed by the
Proctor management for the vaudeville importa-
tions alone for next season. Practically every
specialty from Europe coming to this country
next season will be seen at the Proctor theatres,
in addition to the best American specialists, and
in addition to these important engagements there
are many who have been placed under contract
for 1906 and 1907. By engaging performers so
far ahead Mr. Proctor is able to secure first claim
upon their service, and more than a quarter of a
million dollars is represented by the engage-
ments already entered upon the books. This is
exclusive of the lesser performers who are only
engaged in from four to six weeks in advance of
their appearance, and does not include the sums
represented by the contracts with the members
of the various stock companies controlled by Mr.
Proctor. Mr. Proctor is always upon the look out
lor the best, and it is this alertness on the part
of himself and his lieutenants, which assures his
patrons of an always good programme.
DENIED BY C. K. HARRIS.
Song Writer Has No Intention of Entering the
Theatrical Business in Milwaukee.
Recently a story was current in Milwaukee to
the effect that Charles K. Harris, Joe M. Harris
and Harry Harris were to build a $125,000 theatre
in Milwaukee to be devoted to vaudeville. Writ-
ing from New York City, Charles K. Harris, song
writer and music publisher, says that he is satis-
fied with his present business and has no inten-
tion of entering the theatrical business, either in
Milwaukee or elsewhere. The origin of the story
appears to be in the consideration by Joe M. Har-
ris, of Chicago, and Harry Harris, of Milwaukee,
of a proposition to assume the management of the
one of the small new theatres in Milwaukee. The
author of "After the Ball" never had any idea of
joining in the enterprise.