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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
"The Party Who Wrote Home, Sweet Home
temporaries have long since openly declared
themselves as sick and tired of trying to accom- Never Was a Married Man," is certainly humor-
plish. In the past it was The Review alone. Now ous enough to suggest that it is at least a novelty.
it is P. B. Haviiand and The Review, with every
prospect of added recruits. And when things do
VESTA VICTORIA PAVED THE WAY
right themselves, which they must do sooner or
later, for the fight, so far as we are concerned
For the English Influx Now Such a Notable
at least, is only just beginning, it will be largely
Feature of Our* Music Halls.
due to the magnificent example set by-this one
music publisher who has shown the courage of
When one takes into consideration that but a
his convictions and who has pledged himself to few years ago the late lamented Dan Leno, prob-
work independently, or with the other publishers ably one of the greatest comedians of a genera-
as occasion demands, not only for himself, but tion, died an artistic death in New York from
for the good of the trade which he represents. sheer lack of appreciation, it is a source of won-
Thus, The Review records the first chapter of a derment how a decade could possibly make such
local "New York Music Publishers' Association" a change in the taste of the American public.
which alone can save the situation, for with all Vaudeville history tells us that Dan Leno—after a
said and done, the music publishers of New press campaign that lauded him, and very justly
York can boast of having some magnificent speci- so, as the greatest comedian of the age—walked
mens of business men in their midst. Haphaz- on to the stage on the occasion of his first ap-
ard and as an example we mention Isidor Wit- pearance in New York, to the tune of tumultuous
mark.
applause, and walked off, some half an hour later
The Trail of the Serpent.
Answering a letter from John C. Groene, of
Cincinnati, deploring existing conditions in the
local sheet music trade, Philip Werlein, the well-
known music dealer of New Orleans, has written
a most convincing letter which unfortunately,
owing to pressure on our space, we are unable
to publish in full. In substance it clearly shows
that in spite of Mr. Remick's suggestion that
the cut-rate law is confined to New York City,
the trail of the serpent can be traced as far
south as New Orleans. Mr. Werlein suggests
that sheet music should be kept at a price of
30, 35 or even 50 cents per copy, and further
suggests that the publishers enter into a mutual
agreement to decline to sell sheet music to cut-
rate and ten-cent stores. The entire letter is of
absorbing interest and proves conclusively that
the awful conditions which we have lately ex-
perienced in this city are rapidly spreading
amid silence that could be almost felt. And all
throughout the country.
because the little cockney comedian had come to
this country before his time. Then, the English
ANOTHER "HOME" SONG.
style of humor was a joke in itself. But now,
M. Wit mark & Sons have published a new song intercommunication between the two countries
which Clarice Vance, the well-known vocalist, is has so effectively spanned the bridge that it Is
fast making popular. Although the writer has safe to say that could Dan Leno perform in New
not yet heard the melody and therefore cannot York to-day, he would be accorded a reception
recommend it from personal knowledge, the title, equal to that which greeted Harry Lauder on his
initial appearance in New York last year.
It is a curious circumstance that the ever-
popular little Vesta Victoria was the Columbus
of the English variety artist. It was she who
first wormed her way into the hearts of Ameri-
can audiences, as a typical cockney comedienne.
The late influx of English talent into this coun-
try can therefore be veritably called the Vic-
torian era. A retrospective glance shows how
many vaudevillians of the old country have suc-
cessfully visited these shores. Among these may
be cited: Vesta Tilley, Marie Lloyd and her
sister Alice, May Belfort, Claire Romaine, Hetty
King, Millie Lindon, Lily Lena, and last, but
not least, the great Harry Lauder, who, like
Csesar, came, saw and conquered. But one could
go on indefinitely to add proof to the assertion
that the influx of English vaudevillian artists
started with the arrival of Vesta Victoria, who
IT STANDS UNMATCHED
might well be proud of the distinction of being
the first great star of the Victorian era.
NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE
And yet her rise to fame has not been so rapid
as some people may imagine. It is true that
the song, "Waiting at the Church," did a great
deal to place this charming little singer in her
present unique position, yet, long before the
advent of this popular song, her name was asso-
ciated with one of the greatest song successes
in a generation, "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a
Bow Wow."
During her first engagement in America—
17 West 28th Street, New York
when she was a very, very little girl—she ap-
peared at Tony Pastor's Music Hall, which, at
"CENTURY EDITION"
10c. SHEET MUSIC
HAS NO EQUAL
Century Music Publishing Co.
NAT'L MUSIC CO.'S
45
that time, was the most popular vaudeville re-
sort in New York. It was here that "Daddy
Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow" made the sensa-
tional success, which is now past history. Al-
though Vesta Victoria has always been fortunate
in the selection of her songs, it cannot be said
that they are responsible for her wonderful suc-
cess. She is a painstaking little artiste, and her
characterizations at all times are the product of
careful study and thought. Indeed, it is not so
much the song itself, but the way in which she
sings it, that has made her the most popular
vaudeville comedienne in the country.
Although decidedly pretty, Miss Victoria never
hesitates to disfigure herself in the cause of art.
In "Poor John," a ditty with which she followed
"Waiting at the Church," her make-up was in
itself sufficient to establish the song as a success,
even had it not been for the humor of the
words and tunefulness of the music. In talking
of her varied characterizations, the dainty little
comedienne is particularly modest. All she will
say is that she goes direct to life for her "make-
ups," and, extraordinary as it may appear, she
rarely overdoes the peculiarities of the type
which she selects for her model. Her careful
study, too, of the mannerisms of children, is
amply demonstrated in the rendition of her new
song, "Don't Get Married Any More, Ma!" which
may be said to be as successful as any song
which she has sung during her career.
Like most of her countrywomen, her enuncia-
tion is well-nigh perfect, every word she utters
being distinctly audible to her audience. This In
itself is no small factor in the success of the
little comedienne who, it is said, can demand tne
largest salary of any vaudeville performer in
the country. Although Francis, Day & Hunter
publish the most successful of them there can
be no doubt that this popular little artiste
has created a demand for English songs which
the American publisher has not been slow to
recognize.
The McKinley edition of ten cent music has
long become a standard in the music publishing
field, and no one who watches the trend of the
music market wi^ deny its wonderful popularity.
Verily it deserves the place which it has made
for itself as the same care is devoted to its pro-
duction as to the highest grade of copyright
music.
THE TEACHER'S
FAVORITE
GRADED
EDITION
BBO.
U 3
PAT OPT.
LEO FEIST, Feist Building, 134 W. 37th St., N. Y.
J
E
R
O
M
E
D.
SUCCESSFUL SONGS
• From "THE DAIRYMAIDS"
( W o r d s b y M. E. ROURKE)
"MARY McGEE." "I'D I.IKE TO MEET YOUR
FATHER. "CHEER UP GIRLS," "I'VE A MILLION
REASONS WHY I LOVE YOU," "NEVER HARRY
A GIRL WITH COLD COLD FEET."
From "THE LITTLE CHERIB"
"MEET ME AT TWILIGHT," (Words by F. Clifford
Harris). "UNDER THE LINDEN TREE," (Words
by M. E. Ronrkc).
K
E
R
N
'S
From "THE MORALS OF MARCUS"
"EASTERN MOON." (Words by M. E. Rourke).
T .
R
Broadway
D. HARM**
n / t n n i t j f w 0 . , 1431-U3C
NEW YORK
ROBERT TELLER SONS & DORNER
Mnslc Engravers and Printers
•END MANUSCRIPT AND IDEA OP TITLE
FOR ESTIMATE
I I I WEST 16th STREET, NEW YORK CITY
of 600 Standard IOc
NEW
SHEET
CATALOG
Sellers, every one a
live number and, barring about 15 pieces, are not to be
found in any other publisher's IOc catalog. It's a trade
builder.
Write to-day for samples and special offer.
MUSIC
C0I
Wor7d"Tu-ge"'pu°Yishers of 10c music."