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BUSINESS IN NORMAL CONDITION.
CURRENT MUSICAL PLAYS.
Trade Buying Freely Not Only So-called " H i t s "
But Standard Publications—The Situation
Reviewed and Carefully Analyzed.
Productions Having Their Premieres This
Week—Present and Prospective Successes.
(Special to Tl?2 ltcview.l
Business throughout the country, in the princi-
pal cities at least, is in a normal condition. The
trade is buying freely, not only sheet music but
folios, books and miscellaneous stock. The large
number of musical plays now current are excep-
tionally successful, and publishers interested in
productions are congratulating themselves on the
strong showing so early in the season. The num-
ber of individual selections "making good" is
aiso surprising, when the actual congestion of
lighter airs is taken into consideration. Pub-
lishers in this branch of the business are fully
aware of the glut in the market, but they seem
helpless in curtailing the superabundance, let
alone applying a remedy. Writers will write,
and publishers take chances, for who is to say
what will suit precisely the fickle fancy of the
public. Not a few most unpromising pieces, su-
perficially viewed, have later "turned the trick"
neatly and landed winners.
With the steady-going publishers, to whom the
production and marketing of popular music is re-
garded as full of snares and pitfalls, business is
of the most prosperous character. The leading
houses in this line aver they are selling their
output in general music as fast as it can be
printed, with the demand from the Middle and
Far West exceptionally brisk. Their travelers
report that in these sections the price disturbance
has not appeared, let alone been discussed.
A publisher who is fully informed as to the ups
nnri downs and peculiarities of both branches of
the business, in discussing prospective trade and
current conditions, said to The Review: "This
summer has not been so good as last year, but
the fall trade is equal to if not ahead of 1905.
You know popular music does not last, it is
ephemeral and far from being what may be
called staple goods. Either it must be sold when
in favor or destroyed. That is to say, when a
house has a reputation to sustain on account of
the distinguished composers with which they are
allied, or their music is of such standing—gen-
erally speaking, of course—that its appearance
for sale in certain places would place them in a
questionable attitude before the trade at large,
their orders from these people must be refused
and the knife run through the lot. It is a sacri-
fice not many publishers can stand, consequently
houses who are financially weak yield to the
inevitable, prices are cut and the market is de-
moralized. Naturally, when one has a 'knock-
out' in fact, and not in imagination, the selling
price can be maintained, but look at the raft of
slow sellers, not to mention the dead ones."
Successful Interpolations
By GUS EDWARDS
Hit of "THE BLUE MOON":
"Don't You Think It's Time to Marry."
Hit of "ABOUT TOWN":
"When Tommy Atkins Marries Dolly
Gray."
Four Hits from ANNA HELD'S "A PARISIAN
MODEL";
" I Just Can't Make My Eyes Behave."
"I Love You, Ma Cherie."
" Mr. Monkey."
"I'd Like to See a Little More of You."
(Peekaboo Sextette.)
In "Veronlque" and "My Lady's Maid":
"ASK ME NOT."
Washington, D. C, Oct. 15, 1906.
"Madame Butterfly," by Puccini.
The first production in English of "Madame
Butterfly," by Puccini, was given at the Colum-
bia Theater to-night before a brilliant audience,
and was an overwhelming success. The opera
was elaborately staged, the music bright and
melodious and splendidly rendered by the Sav-
age English Opera Co. Mme. Elsa Szamosy made
her American debut in the title role and scored
a great success. Joseph R. Sheehan sang the
tenor role effectively, and Harriet Bolinee, who
was sent abroad under the patronage of the late
William Steinway, the well-known piano manu-
facturer, made her American debut in the role,
of Suzuki. Official life was well represented, and
Signor Tito Ricordi, of Ricordi & Co., the fa-
mous publishers of Milan, Italy, who came over
to witness the performance as the personal repre-
sentative of Composer Puccini, occupied a box
with a party of his distinguished countrymen, to-
gether with George Maxwell, of New York, who
handles and controls the Ricordi publications in
this country.
Mam'selle Sallie," by Raymond Hubbell.
(Special to The Review.)
Waterbury, Conn., Oct. 15, 1906.
The new musical comedy, "Mam'selle Sallie,"
book and lyrics by Robert Smith and music by
Raymond Hubbell, had its premiere at Poli's The-
ater to-night, and it was a tremendous success.
Katie Barry, in the title role, scored a personal
triumph. There were eight encores for the
finale of the first act. The big song hits were:
"Whistle as You Go Out," "Life Is a Seesaw"
and "Day Dreams." Others that were well re-
ceived were: "Mam'selle Sallie," "I Am a Law-
yer" and "You Never Told Me That Before We
Were Married." Charles K. Harris, who has the
publishing rights, and Meyer Cohen, his man-
ager, were present and highly pleased, and they
warmly congratulated Messrs. Smith and Hub-
bell on the auspicious occasion.
"The Belle of Mayfair," by Leslie Stuart.
Next Monday, October 29, "The Belle of May-
fair," book by Charles H. E. Brookfield and
Cosmo Hamilton, music by Leslie Stuart, will be
heard for the first time at Daly's Theater, New
York. The "Belle" has been running in London
for a year to capacity, and the home newspapers,
without exception, speak of it in glowing terms
as another great success for Leslie Stuart's tune-
ful music, one of the most critical frankly say-
ing, "The best thing about 'The Belle of May-
fair' was the music—melodious, light, dancing
and sparkling. The music is certain of immor-
tality." Among the vocal numbers scoring are
the following: "Come to St. George's," "Play the
Game," "Come Along, Girls,' "In Montezuma,"
"Said I to Myself," "The Weeping Willow
Wept," "Why Do You Call Me a Gibson Girl?"
The latter song, recently interpolated, made an
instantaneous hit, and caused the row between
Edna May, singing the title role, and the sub-
ordinate, who carried off the honors, leaving the
popular Edna in the background, whereupon she
resigned from the company with her retrousse
facial fixture at an angle of 45 degrees. The
"Gibson Girl" song is catchy, and will undoubt-
edly go here from the start if the incidental
"business" is cleverly managed. Francis, Day
& Hunter are the publishers.
SPECIAL RATES ON EARLY DEMANDS
Gus Edwards Music Pub. €o. t5 S
achieved in his new play, "The Girl and the
Governor," which had its initial performance in
Washington, D. C, Monday week, at the National
Theater. Of course, it was received with high
favor, that was a foregone conclusion, for one
reason because it has unusual merit, and second,
because it bears the imprint of Witmark house,
whose productions are successes that succeed.
Isidore Witmark, who attended the opening, was
impressed with the cordial manner with which
Miscellaneous Operatic Offerings.
Jefferson de Angelis has been wearing a broad
smile of satisfaction, owing to the success he has
the music was received, encores being the order
of the evening.
"The Blue Moon," with James T. Powers, will
replace "My Lady's Maid" at the Casino Theater,
New York, Wednesday evening, October 31. It
has been en tour, and scored handsomely. The
"Blue Moon" is only one of the long list of
productions published by Chappel] & Co., Ltd.
At the close of her present engagement in
"Miss Dolly Dollars" at the New York Theater,
New York, Blanche Ring and her company will
begin rehearsals of a new musical play by Victor
Herbert and Harry B. Smith.
Charles Frohman has accepted by cable for
Edna May's next appearance in London a new
play, entitled "Nelly Neill." The book and lyrics
are by C. M. S. McLellan, author of "The Belle
Another Ghappell Production Success
THE BLUE MOON
Music by
HOWARD TALBOT and PAULA. RUBEN
Containing following Real Sons Hits:
"THE CROCODILE"
"LITTLE BLUE MOON"
"BURMAH GIRL"
"SHE DIDN'T KNOW"
CHAPPELL
&. CO.,
Ltd.
37 West 17th Street, New York
PUBLISHERS' DISTRIBUTING CO.
(GEORGE L. STANDEN)
51 West 28th Street, New York
JOBBERS ONLY
We do NOT PUBLISH Music, SELLING AGENTS
exclusively.
Carry Music of all the Publishers. We solicit the
Sheet Music Business of Dealers throughout the country.
Orders properly ttken care of and goods promptly shipped.