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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THREE PRIZE WINNING DISPLAYS OF "BOND-SHOP" MUSIC
In the Recent Successful Contest Inaugurated by Carrie Jacobs-Bond & Son, Chicago—Songs
That Have an Individual Appeal— An Efficient Publishing Organization.
(Special to The Review.)
CHICAGO, I I I . , February 24.—No one who has
"Bond Shop," conducted by Carrie Jacobs Bond
& Son, Inc., whether it be sheet music or book,
heard any of Carrie Jacobs Bond's songs, or who stationery or advertising matter exploiting the
has sung them, can doubt their merit, or fail to company's productions, is impeccable from a typo-
desire an intimacy with everything the famous Chi- graphical and artistic viewpoint.
cago woman composer has written or published.
Very many dealers, realizing not only the direct
If perchance he has heard Mrs. Bond interpret her
financial benefit accruing from pushing the product
own productions, the wish becomes a frenzy.
of the "Bond Shop," but also the prestige gained
Mrs. Bond's song poems are known by heart, as the result of prominently identifying them-
literally by heart, by millions the world over. selves in the mind of the public with songs which
Thousands of homes have been gladdened by her while striking the universal chord and therefore
being "popular" in the
exquisite lyrics and sometimes joyful, sometimes
best sense, are of the
plaintive melodies. She has given recitals from
highest literary and musi-
'Frisco to Hong Kong and all the way from St.
cal merit — v e r i t a b l e
Petersburg to Chicago.
Many of the contestants supplemented their win-
dow displays by vigorous advertising in their local
newspapers. Quite a few advertised a "Bond
Week," and even went so far as to solicit and gain
the co-operation of local bands and orchestras,
who featured Bond numbers in their programs—
notably "A Perfect Day." As a matter of fact, the
sales of the Bond publications during the "cam-
paign" months of December and January increased
thirty per cent, over the corresponding months a
year previous.
The photographs submitted to the judges repre-
sented such a wealth of artistic and attention-
attracting merit that it was no easy matter to
choose the winners; but after careful and critical
GAMBLEHlHGtDHUSK COM!£GMIBlfIZEDSlEElKSttS±
First Prize.
Notwithstanding all this, there are still a few
people who know her not, and millions who de-
sire always to become at once acquainted with
her latest brain children.
Furthermore, woman cannot live by song or
poetry alone, and therefore cometh the commer-
cial medium by which the printed songs are dis-
tributed and the means secured whereby the
creator of these beautiful evangels of hope and
joy, of comfort and hopefulness, may continue
to give them in increasing numbers to the world.
Mrs. Bond has indeed been fortunate in having
so capable an associate as her son, F. J. Smith,
who has long had charge of her business affairs.
Third Prize.
has managed her recital tours and has supervised
the publication and marketing of her songs and
those she has produced in collaboration with others.
Himself a man of artistic as well as commercial
instincts, a rare combination, he has invariably
the right means to the right ends. He has ever
lit.en thoroughly in sympathy with his mother's
ideals, and everything that emanates from the
Second Prize.
classics of their kind—have spent time, money and
effort to advertise them and display them to the
best advantage.
This fact gave Mr. Smith a commercial "inspira-
tion." Last fall he collected photographs of sev-
eral especially attractive window displays of the
Bond songs which had been made by dealers in
various parts of the country, had cuts made and
sent prints to a large number of dealers who had
shown particular energy in selling the company's
publications. Accompanying these prints was a let-
ter calling attention to the effective work done by
the dealers referred to and suggesting that the re-
cipients go and do likewise.
As an incentive, cash
prizes aggregating $120
were offered, $60 for
the best window as evi-
denced to an impartial
committee of judges by
a photograph and de-
scription thereof, $25
for the second best, and
a third prize of $15.
Also a fourth and fifth
prize of $10 each. It
was also stated in the
letter that title pages of
any of Mrs. Bond's
songs would be fur-
nished for display pur-
poses if desired. It
was naturally stipulated
that only windows de-
v o t e d e n t i r e l y to
"Bond" displays could
be entered.
The response was
most gratifying. Over
seventy-five "solid" Bond window displays were
made during the months of December and January
throughout the United States. Taking into con-
sideration the fact that the title pages of the Bond
publications are decidedly out of the ordinary and
decidedly artistic, and that the participants showed
marked originality of conception in their displays,
some idea of their effectiveness may be gained.
consideration the judges, who were Mr. Shannon,
of the I\ J. A. Forster Music Co.; Fred Ryder,
of the Cable Piano Company, and Mr. Stewart, of
Lyon & Healy's, all of Chicago, made the follow-
ing awards :
First'prize, the Gamble Hinged Music Co., Chi-
cago ; second prize, the Consolidated Music Co.,
Salt Lake City, Utah; third prize, the Beesley
Music Co., Salt Lake City, Utah; fourth prize,
Sherman, Clay & Co., Tacoma, Wash.; fifth prize,
the University Music House, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Just a few facts regarding the Bond Shop and
its output may not be amiss.
The sales of "A Perfect Day," which was
brought out in June, 1910, have reached the re-
markable figure of 975,000 copies, and it is still a
"best seller." The latest Bond success, "God Re-
members When the World Forgets," which made
its appearance in June of last year, has already
sold 115,000 copies and is in its infancy. "Just a
Wcaryin' for You" has been bought by 600,000
people and has touched at a very conservative esti-
mate just about 00,000,0(10 hearts, while "I Love
You Truly" has spread its tender mission through
the medium of 500,000 copies.
The Bond songs have been reproduced on Victor
and Columbia records by such artists as Schu-
mann-1 leink, Evan Williams, Cecil Fanning, Mrs.
Klizabeth Wheeler and a number of others. The
I'ond songs are being sung professionally by those
mentioned above and David Bispham, Caroline
White, Alice Neilson and others of lesser note, but
of great artistic achievement.
The Frederick Harris Co., of London, which is
the British agent for the Bond publications, is re-
porting very heavy sales on one of the late Bond
numbers, "A Little Pink Rose." The company has
interested over 10,000 teachers through the British
Isles and Australia in the desirability of the Bond
songs as "teaching pieces."
The Canadian agents, Hawkes & Harris, of To-
ronto, are reporting one of the best seasons they
ever had on the Bond songs. The great piano and
music house of Sherman, Clay & Co., of San
Francisco, is the exclusive Pacific Coast agent for
the Bond publications. Visitors to Chicago should
not fail to visit the Bond Shop in the handsome