Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1914 Vol. 58 N. 26

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
ART OF MAKINGJVIUS1C ROLLS.
Weil-Known Arranger Tells of His Experiences
in the Field and How He Works—What Is
Demanded of the Arranger.
Frederick C. Hopkins, well known as an ar-
ranger for player-piano music rolls, started out to
be a lawyer but wound up in Anton Seidl's Or-
chestra, and later was one of the first to recognize
the opportunities offered to the arranger of music
rolls, with the result that he entered the new field.
In speaking of his experiences he said:
"Comparatively few people know that the music
played by the mechanical piano has to. be edited
as well as transcribed. The process involves in-
finitely more than transcribing the printed notes
of sheet music to the round and oblong holes of
the music roll. A popular composition put upon
the music roll just as it is written for the •human
performer would sound pathetically thin and tinny.
"To make it effective the theme must be empha-
sized. The mechanical piano gives its effect of
fulness and completeness by playing more notes
than the human hands could strike. As a matter
of fact the music is usually arranged as if played
by four hands.
"The man who is entrusted with the task o.f
putting in these notes must be both a performer
and a composer of music and thoroughly master
of the instrument, lie must stand between the
composer and the performer, helping the latter to
give an adequate interpretation of the former.
"In adopting a popular waltz, for instance, to
the mechanical piano 1 use the score not as ar-
ranged for the piano, ibut for the full orchestra.
1 play the composition as I change it upon an ar-
ranging machine which looks not unlike a piano,
but its key-board responds with clicks instead of
notes. Each click registers a punch in the long
roll of paper which comes out of the back of the
instrument like a ribbon out of a stock ticker.
"I play the arranging machine just as 1 would
the piano, only much more slo.wly, for 1 must think
as I insert the extra notes. For a half note 1
press my finger on the key and count eight clicks.
The vertical slit appears in the paper as it rolls
off the drum run by an electric motor at the back
of the machine. Other notes have other numbers
of clicks. By counting them I get the no.te 1
want and raise my finger when it is finished.
"This first roll is called the master. When it is
finished it is run over another machine which re-
sponds with punches instead of aotes and makes
two rolls, one of heavy paper and one of very
thin paper, which is at once tried out on the piano.
This test ru'.l 1 can correct as I go, and from it
the heavy master, too thick for the tracker board,
is corrected by hand.
"Missing notes are cut in and extra ones are
pasted over. The workman follows my penciled
directions on the test ro.H, working with a paste
pot and a mallet and punch. It would doubtless
make the great musicians turn in their graves to
see him, except for the fact that we do not edit
the classics. We haven't the impudence.
"At the marking table the rolls are spread out
two at a time and the dotted expression lines are
put in by means of a semi-automatic marking ma-
chine. Words in regard to expression are added
by hand by means of rubber stamps.
"I have to make a guide for these expressions,
of course, using one of the ordinary rolls and
marking in the lines and writing the words by
hand. The rolls are rewound by means of a hand
reel and checked over from my copy for blemishes
at the inspection tables. They are then spooled
by machine, labeled and boxed, ready for ship-
ment."
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
ELECTRO=MAGNETIC PIANO.
PIANO MEN ON COMMERCE CRUISE.
George Breed, of Philadelphia, Pa., Has Just
Been Granted an Important Patent Which
He Has Assigned to the Lyrachord Co., of
New York, and Which Is of Interest to Those
Following Improvements in Musical Instru-
ments Controlled Electro-Magnetically.
Attend Annual Cruise of the Detroit Board of
Commerce and Visit Duluth—Ernest Urchs
a Visitor—Smith Visited Chicago Houses.
(.Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., June 23.—A good many piano
men are away from Detroit this week ori the
annual cruise of the Detroit Board of Commerce.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 22.—Patent No. 1,100,- The steamer goes to Duluth and return this year.
117, for an Electro-Magnetic Musical Instrument, E. P. Andrew, manager of the piano department
has been granted to George Breed, Philadelphia, of the J. L. Hudson Co.; A. A. Grinnell, vice-pres-
Pa., which he has assigned to the Lyrachord Co., ident of Grinnell Bros.; E. W. Grinnell, one o.f the
directors; Jay H. Grinnell, sales manager of Grin-
New York. It relates to electro-magnetic musical
instruments, and particularly pianos, having means nell Bros.; Harry, W. Rapp, office manager; W. D.
for pulsating the currents which excite the electro.- Norton, of the piano department, and C. E. Mitten,
magnets in the desired phase relation to the vibra- of the Victrola department of Grinnell Bros., are
tions of the sonorous members actuated by the the music trades men who are participating.
Ernest Urchs, traveling ambassador of Steinway
electro-magnets, as set out in Reissue Letters Pat-
&
Sons, was in Detroit Saturday and called on
ent of the United States No. 13365, obtained by
Grinnell Bros. He stopped off here en route to
the inventor January 23, 1912.
Chicago and other Western points.
The primary object of the present invention is
E. Hugh Smith, of the piano department of the
to provide improved means for effecting the pulsa-
J. L. Hudson Co., has returned fro,m Chicago,
tions of the current in the desired phase relation
where he went to look over the piano departments
to the vibrations of the musical strings, with re-
of some of the big stores there to get ideas for
sulting refinement in the action and improved
the piano department of the new Hudson store
quality of tone.
no.w in course of construction. E. K. Andrew,
In the preferred form of this invention, as em- manager of the talking machine department, also
bodied in a piano, circuits containing current was in Chicago with a similar purpose in view
pulsators and electro-magnets having fields inter- relating to the handling of the talkers.
sected by the strings of the instrument, are com-
bined with phase mechanism comprising coiled
The railroad companies have acknowledged the
springs, which are connected with the pulsators change of name of North Tonawanda to Wur-
and with the musical strings and which have litzer, N. Y., by putting the new name in their
means connected therewith for adjusting their latest issues of timetables and folders. The change
positions, lengths and tensions, the pulsators hav- was made some time ago following the develop-
ing resilient conductors with coiled ends providing ment of the big Wurlitzer industries in that city,
desired clamping, conducting and heat radiating but has just received official recognition from the
means for their carbon contacts.
powers that be.
Slump In Upright Prices?
Sure
Too Many Trade-Ins
What's the Answer ?
Sisjer Piano Player
tnas ine /luman 9oueA
vs. Put it J ] ^ yauf Piano
The wide-awake piano merchants
are getting on the job for this
proposition.
Ask more about it.
IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTED.
"Don't you think you could do something with
that orchestra to improve my song?" asked the
lady soloist at the theater.
"What's the matter with it?" asked the orchestra
leader.
"Why, they could hardly hear my song for that
drum!"
"Well, we can put in a couple more drums I"
MANUFACTURED BY
SIGLER
PIANO
Offices and Salesrooms
Sigler Building, 30 N. Second St.
PLAYER CO., HA £ ER N S NA URG
Factory
426-428 Market St.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALE OF AUTOMATIC PIANOS.
New Motion Picture Theaters, Hotels and Restaurants in Various Sections of the Country That
Will Require Orchestrions, Automatic Pianos and Other Musical Equipment.
square, Cambridge, Mass., upon which a large theater is to
be built.
George Tilton is about to build a three-story building at
Tilton, N. H., and will use the ground floor as a moving
picture house.
Rock & Hayes have given out their contract for the build-
ing of their new theater at Marlboro, Mass., which is to
seat 1,200, with a policy of vaudeville and pictures.
A new theater is now going up at South Manchester,
Conn., to seat about 1,100. Owner Holl states that he has
not as yet named the house.
E. G. Bullard, of Pleasant street, New Bedford, Mass., is
having plans drawn up that will call for a moving picture
theater, to cost $40,000.
E. C. Wheeden and C. W. Typer, of 27 Exchange street,
Providence, R. I., say that they are about to build a one-
story theater to cost about $35,000.
J. M. Goodwin of the Acme Amusement Co., has opened
his new summer theater at Belgrade Lakes, Me. The house
seat about 700, and will be devoted to moving pictures. Mr.
Goodwin is also part owner of theaters in Hallowell, Vinal
Haven, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.
New Jersey.
Consolidated Amusement Company, Camden; $500,000;
W. H. Carpenter, W. H. Parott, Camden; W. B. McCal-
lum, Collingswood.
Steel's Old Vienna, Camden; $20,000; F. R. Hanzell,
G. H. B. Martin, J. A. MacPeak, Camden.
Savoy Amusement Company, Newark; $50,000; A. W.
and Mabel Edelmeyer, E. II. Frederick, East Orange.
New York.
Hauser Amusement Company; $10,000; J. & D. Hauser,
J. Rosenberg, 915 St. Mark's avenue.
Northwest.
G, N. Bontecou will lease the new moving picture theater
to be erected at Howard, S. Dak., by August Schultz.
The Opera House at Belfield, N. Dak., has been leased by
William Dahlheimer, who will operate a moving picture
show.
L. Thompson will open a moving picture theater at Mich-
igan, N. Dak.
Norg Sorrenson will open a moving picture theater at
Hayti, S. Dak.
John Bauer is erecting an opera house and dance hall at
Moccasin, Mont.
Ohio.
Lyceum Theater Amusement Company, Toledo; theaters;
$10,000; Abe Shapiro, Joseph Weimer, De Clan Allen.
Ernest Purvis and S. S. Ruble, of Logan, Ohio, expect to
have their new moving picture theater on North Market
street in that city open about September 1.
Plans are being drawn for a new moving picture theater
to be erected in Columbus, by Joseph Hinterschied.
The Clifton Amusement Co., of Cincinnati, has awarded to
the Ohio Building & Construction Co. the contract for the
construction of a large and up-to-date picture house on
Ludlow avenue, near Clifton.
Home Amusement Company, Massillon; amusement;
$2,000; W. II. Miller, A. M. Lane, C, J. Holzebach.
New Central Hotel Company, Galion; $10,000; J. W.
McCormick, Mary McCormick, Floretta McCormick.
Public Amusement Company, Springfield; $4,000; Charles
Settos, Ralph Kretzer, Fred Hill.
A new moving picture theater will be opened in Lowell-
ville.
Pennsylvania.
Preliminary plans are under way for the construction of a
moving picture house to be built at 2907-11 North Fifth
street, Philadelphia. The building is to be of brick, 45 by
100 feet, and will bo one-story high.
George Bishop has purchased a moving picture equip-
ment and is giving shows at Falmouth.
A. Peterson will operate a moving picture show under
canvas at Arcadia this summer.
There are approximately twenty-five moving picture thea-
ters in course of erection in the city of Detroit at the pres-
California.
ent time.
The Boardman Estate recently commissioned J. Henry
The Warfield Theater at 1028 Hastings street, Detroit,
Boehrer, Delger building, Oakland, to prepare plans for a
has been sold to James Reese.
one-story brick theater building at Palo Alto, and work on
The Ideal Theater at Mack and Field avenues, Detroit,
this structure is now commencing.
formerly owned by Mr. Ward of the Mutual Film Company,
The Gem Theater is a new photoplay house at Santa Clara
has been sold to S. Tomlinson.
having just been opened by Mr. Harris.
Architect Richard H. Marr, Detroit, is taking figures on
L. L. Cory, owner of the Theater Fresno, is making prep-
a brick theater building to be erected on Grand River ave-
arations to remodel this well-known Fresno house, the work
nue, near the Boulevard.
to commence early in June.
Architects Pollmar & Ropes, 602 Sun building, Detroit,
Turner & Dahnken, of San Francisco, who conduct the
Richmond Theater at Richmond, are planning to erect a fine are drawing plans for a picture theater to seat 400 at the
corner of Forest and Grandy avenues. The name of the
theater building on the property owned by this concern on
owner is being withheld for the present.
Macdonald avenue
Architect R. E. Raseman, of 1302 Penobscot building, is
The plans of Architect O. H. Thayer for the Novelty
taking bids on a theater to cost $20,000, seating 400, to
Theater, to be erected at Martinez, have been accepted by
be erected on Riopelle street, for Nicoli Geovenangeld. It
the owners.
will be handsomely fitted.
Illinois.
The Calvert Theater Co., Detroit, composed of David
The Princeton Hotel Co., Princeton; capital, $60,000;
King and Adolph Finsterwald. will shortly let contracts
hotel business; incorporators, Caito A. Trimble, S. P. Clair,
Alfred Morris, Palmer E. Anderson, E. P. Lovejoy, L. R. for its new motion picture theater to be erected at the south-
east corner of Woodward and Kenilworth avenues, to seat
Davis, Charles F. Anderson.
1,500, and to be completed by October 15.
Ed. Fellis, Hillsboro, is contemplating the erection of a
New England.
new opera house and roof garden in that city.
Samuel Kantor, manager of Lockwood's Hall and the
George Pheland, of Danville, has leased the building at
Pleasant Hour Theaters, Bridgeport, Conn., has secured the
Third and Market streets in Alton, formerly occupied by
property adjoining the Norwalk Club building, and will build
the Biograph, and will open a new moving picture theater.
The Temple may be given over to moving pictures after the a theater there.
A recent incorporation is the Whalom Recreation Co., of
lease of W. M. Savage expires this summer.
Fitchburg, Mass. The promoters of this $6,000 company
Indiana.
are William Bergcr, Dors Berger, A. Royal and Abner
Deming Hotel Co., Terre Haute; $100,000; D. Deming,
Cohan.
J. T. Beasley, L. E. Waterman.
A new theater is to be built at Manchester, N. H., to be
The Delight Picture House Company, Indianapolis, has
situated at Elm and Central streets. The house will seat
incorporated to operate moving picture shows, with a capi-
about 700.
tal of $3,000. W. W. Connell, Jr., A. M. Connell and B.
I. H. Stoddard intends to have a moving picture theater
Connell are incorporators.
at Webster square, Worcester, Mass.
The Cosmopolitan Amusement Co. is opening a new pic-
Work has been started on Main street, Pittsfield, Mass.,
ture house on Broadway, Gary.
where A. St. Leger is building a theater, to be devoted to
E. H. Ryce, Odon, is going to open a new motion picture
moving pictures. Mr. St. Ledger states that he will have
house near his Grand Hotel at Odon.
a thoroughly modern house, and that he is not sparing ex-
A new summer airdome is now being erected at Warsaw,
pense to attain this end.
by C. P. Ferry. The building will be 125 by 50 feet and
A new theater is slated for Hartford, Conn., according to
will seat 500.
Jacob Rodesky, its promoter. The plans, which are now
M. M. McBride, of Gary, a real estate man, is planning
being made by C. J. Bailley, call for a 1,200-seat house, on
for a string of twenty or more picture houses throughout
Grand avenue.
the Calumet district. His first house will soon be opened
Charles Barnes has succeeded the old owners of the
to the public.
Broadway, Somerville, Mass., and will continue the house
A new airdome has been opened at Columbia City by
as a moving picture theater.
George Brookins, manager of the Lyric Theater.
Mr. Matthew Kennedy has secured a lease of the new
Iowa.
building on Green street, Worcester, Mass., and intends to
The Coggon Opera Co., of Coggon, will go through
use the rear portion of it for a moving picture house.
with its plans to build a new $7,000 theater, having pur-
A new theater is scheduled for West Lynn, Mass., to be
chased the site.
known as the Federal. This house will seat about 800, and
Construction of the new moving picture theater to be will be devoted to moving pictures only. Plans have been
erected at Exline, by C. C. McDonald, of Cincinnati, has
completed for J. Dooley.
begun.
Nathan Gordon and his associates will soon have a theater
The Secretary of State has granted a charter to the in New Haven, Conn. The location is on Temple street,
Cresco Opera House Co., which incorporated with a capital
and work is to be started at once on the house. It is also
stock of $25,000. The incorporators are E. H. Allen, S. A. reported that Mr. Gordon has secured property on Central
Converse, O. J. McHugh, F. A. Ruber, A. J. Thomson, VV.
H. Tillsoh, E. P. Farnsworth Company, C. C. Burgess and
C W. Reed.
Thomas Duffy and F, J. Etzel, of Vail, will operate a
moving picture show at Lakewood Park, Lake View, this
summer. Mr. Etzel will act as manager.
Kentucky.
The Commonwealth Amusement Co., Louisville, has been
organized at Ludlow, with a capital of $5,000. It will re-
construct a building and install a motion picture show. The
incorporators ar e John Hunt, Joel Ward and U. J. Howard.
A block now being constructed in Eddyville by Roy Threl-
keld will be occupied by a moving picture theater.
C. W. Joehrendt, of Greensburg, has purchased the mov-
ing picture theater at Campbellsville from J. R. Hobson, and
is remodeling it extensively.
C. C. McClure, of Clearfield, has purchased the Gem
Theater in this city and will operate it henceforth.
George Owens is owner of the Boone's Trail Theater just
opened in Mt. Vernon.
In Owensboro it is given out that a well-known motion
picture man will construct a $10,000 moving picture house in
that city. The lot on which the building is to stand has
been purchased, according to the information from Owens-
boro.
Missouri.
New airdomes opened in Kansas City recently include
those of the Iliad Amusement Company at Thirty-first street
and Troost avenue, and the Linwood Gardens, at Forty-sec-
ond street and Prospect avenue.
The contract for J. C. Wirthman's $200,000 theater build-
ing at Thirty-first street and Troost avenue, Kansas City,
will be awarded shortly.
William Kling has received permission from the Kansas
City council to construct and operate an airdome at 1309
East Eighteenth street and will open in the immediate
NEW STYLE A-2 "TROUBLE-PROOF" COINOLA
future.
Mlchlaan.
ASK FOR CATALOG AND PROPOSITION
A. W. Hooper, of Toledo, will be manager of the Lyric
Theater at Lepeer, which has been purchased by S. W.
Smith and Frank Cutting.
Herman Tietz is now giving picture shows at Armada.
Piano dealers should find in this column many
opportunities to make sales of automatic pianos
and orchestrions, as well as many other musical in-
struments. The field is a large one.
Our New
OPERATORS PIANO COMPANY
Styles
ESPECIALLY
—SHOULD BE
KNOWN TO YOU
We know that they
represent the very
best in modern
automatic piano
construction and
we want you to
know it, too.
Our new style A-2 has the
mechanism placed above the
keyboard. This means
ACCESSIBILITY
BETTER TONE
COMPACTNESS
MECHANICAL
SUPERIORITY
1911 CLYBOURN PUJC KCf\
AVENUE
itlllAuU

Download Page 9: PDF File | Image

Download Page 10 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.