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58
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Conducted by B. B. Wilson
MAKING A DANCEJSUMBER POPULAR.
JAMES (TDEA DIES.
GEORGE EDWARDES_NOT TO RESIGN.
Why Some Music Publishers Find Difficulty in
Forcing Tangos and Maxixes to Success.
The Author of Popular Songs and Widely
Played Musical Comedies.
Famous London Producer Denies Intention of
Giving Up Business—Explains Why English
Musical Comedy Is Most Complete.
Those music publishers who have issued any
considerable number of new style of dance music,
such as the tango, hesitation or maxixe, have become
impressed with the fact that forcing a dance num-
ber to popularity presents problems not met with
in the handling of the ordinary popular song. The
merit of the music does not seem to enter into the
matter to such an extent as does its general use by
dancing teachers. In the matter of tangoes, for
instance, there are probably half a dozen numbers
that have been in favor since the dance first made
its appearance here, for whether the aspiring dis-
ciple of Terpsichore has learned the steps from
an expensive teacher or at the popular tango teas,
those particular numbers have been the ones most
generally used. The dancer has learned to guide
his or her steps by the music and a change in the
melody serves to confuse. At least this is the
reason given for the difficulty found in popular-
izing dance numbers by a prominent publisher, and
it appears to be logical.
James O'Dea, the author of several well-known
musical comedies, died Sunday at his home, 151
Hendrickson avenue, Rockville Centre, L. I., of
pneumonia. Mr. O'Dea was bo.rn in Hamilton,
Ontario, on December 25, 1871. He came to New
York eleven years ago, and was soon prominent
as a writer of songs. He was one of the orig-
inators of the style of songs popular ten years
ago, among his best known pieces being "Silver
Heels," "Hiawatha" and "The Sweetest Girl in
Dixie."
Mr. O'Dea married Miss Anna Caldwell, the
playwright, nine years ago, and shortly afterward
began to turn his attention to writing lyrics for
musical comedies. His first success in this field
was in "The Wizard of Oz." He collaborated
with his wife in writing "The Top o.' the World"
and "The Lady of the Slipper." In October, 1911,
John Barrymore appeared in New York in a play
by' Mr. O'Dea, called "Uncle Sam."
"AMAPA" HAS_COME TO STAY.
Tango and Maxixe Has Duplicated Parisian
Success in This Country and Is Featured
Practically Everywhere There Is Dancing.
'The Pearl Maiden" and "After the Girl" to Be
Presented in New York Next Season.
One of the dance numbers that made its appear-
Among the new productions already announced ance early in the present dance craze and has held
its popularity ever since has been "Amapa," a
by the Shuberts for next season are "The Pearl
Brazilian tango and maxixe by J. Storoni. The
Maiden," a successful English musical comedy,
music by Hugo Felix and Howard Tolbert, and number was first introduced in Paris by Arlette
Dorgere and immediately created a sensation.
"After the Girl," with lyrics by Percy Greenbank
and Paul A. Rubens and music by Mr. Rubens. When introduced in the United States "Amapa"
The music for both productions is published by was immediately taken up by leading dance orches-
Chappell & Co., Ltd., which indicates that the an- tras, used in the dansants and theaters, and is being
nounced Schubert policy of retaining the publica- featured at present at the Winter Garden pro-
tion rights to their musical productions will not duction of "The Whirl of the World," in "The
Belle of Bond Street," by the foremost exponents
be put in force for another season :d least.
of the tango, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle, and by
the talking machine companies among their selected
GRACE LA RUEJiN VAUDEVILLE.
records for dancing. Chappell & Co., the pub-
Using Two Numbers Published by Chappell & lishers of "Amapa," have found it difficult at times
Co.—"The Tango Dream" a New Compo- to meet the demand for it, but at the present time
have placed substantial stocks in the hands of the
sition by San Francisco Girl.
jobbers.
Grace La Rue, the well-known comedienne and
erstwhile comedy star, who is at present appear-
C. H. DITSON VISITING THE SOUTH.
ing in vaudeville, is using two of Chappell & Co.'s
Chas. H. Ditson, head of the Ditson industries
publications, namely, "The Tango Dream," a of New York and Boston, left last week for the
clever new number written for her by Elsa Max- South, where he will enjoy a brief respite from
well, a San Francisco girl, and also Herman Lohr's business cares.
tremendous success, "Little Gray Home In The
West." Miss La Rue will make her appearance at
The Redewill Music Co., Phoenix, Ariz., has
the Palace Theater, Chicago, next week, where she completed arrangements for the erection of a one-
is exceedingly popular.
story warehouse in that city.
NEW PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCED.
According to the New York American, the re-
port that George Edwardes, the prominent musical
comedy producer of London, has retired per-
manently £rom his prominent position as theatrical
manager, and which report is still believed in Lon-
don, is actually without foundation. Mr. Edwardes
is rapidly recovering from his indisposition and
declares that he will return to his office and to
active business in the very near future. In put-
ting forth some of the reasons for his success, Mr.
Edwardes said:
"To say that musical comedy productions in
London are more lavish and more complete than
American productions is merely to repeat what
many Americans have told me. It this is so, I
presume the reason is not difficult to find.
"Primarily we can obtain the same results for
less money than can the American producer. But
we spend more money also. I spend between
$40,000 and $50,000 on every production I make.
But, after all, this initial expenditure is hardly a
beginning.
"From my observations I have found that many
producers either try to save on the production and
bank their faith on an organization of high-sal-
aried artists or having spent a large amount in
scenery and costumes feel that they can afford to
economize on their cast. My experience is that it
is necessary to be recklessly extravagant in both.
"Atmosphere in musical comedy, the kind of
atmosphere your David Belasco creates in his
dramatic plays, is the sine qua non of high-class
entertainment."
LIBRARY OF NEGRO MUSIC BURNED.
James Reese Europe, the director of the
National Negro. Orchestra, who got together a
musical library typical of the race, must start over.
The orchestra gave an entertainment and ben-
efit last week at the Manhattan Casino, at which
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle danced. When the
evening was over the man entrusted with the or-
chestrations, valued at $1,000, placed them in a
room in the building and then forgo.t them.
When a cleaner came across the bundle of
music lie consigned it to the furnace.
C. A. WOODMANJN NEW YORK.
C. A. Woodman, of the Oliver Ditson Co., Bos-
ton, was a visitor to New York this week in con-
sultation with the various executives of C. H.
Ditson & Co., New York.
A GUARANTEE TO EVERY MUSIC DEALER
We are known to every Music Dealer in the Country. Why?
given with the sale of our catalogues.
'EDITION WOOD," C O N T A I N I N G
STANDARD STUDIES, RECREATIONS
AND CLASSICS IN MUSIC
Because our publications sell, and we stand behind T H E GUARANTEE
FOR $75.00
July 1, 1914.
EASY PIANO TEACHING MUSIC
STANDARD SONGS
We will send any reliable dealer a carefully selected stock of our " E D I T I O N WOOD," every volume in a neatly printed shelf-wrapper
for convenience in reordering, together with one each of the 278 compositions contained in our "Teacher's Book of Samples" and one each
of our best selling songs and violin and piano compositions (all copyrights excepting some volumes in Edition Wood), all for $75.00. W e
will make easy terms of payment to reliable dealers.
OUR GUARANTEE.—Show the above to your customers. At the end of one year from date of purchase select those you find
unsalable (if any) and return them to us. We will exchange them, upon a basis of price for price, for music which you have found by your
own experience (not ours) will sell. W E TAKE T H E RISK! T o all dealers handling our publications we furnish a liberal supply of
catalogues imprinted on the title with the dealer's name. Write t o us at once!
THE B7F7WOOD MUSIC COMPANY
246 Summer Street, BOSTON
ALSO
LONDON and LEIPZIG
29 West 38th Street, NEW YORK