Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SAN FRANCISCO TRADE TO HAVE PROSPERITY DINNER
Under Auspices of Retail Trade Committee of Chamber of Commerce, of Which George Q. Chase
Is Chairman—Reasons for Rejoicing—Wiley B. Allen Discusses Next Convention.
(Special to The Review.)
SAN FRANCISCO, €AL., June 25.—With the return
of all the San Francisco delegates from the East,
it is expected that the activities of the local Piano
Dealers' Association, which were interrupted for a
few weeks, will soon be resumed. In fact prepara-
tions are already being made to get the trade
together for a general discussion of various ques-
tions, which will no doubt reflect some of the dis-
cussions at the National Convention, and plans will
probably be started before long for the accommo-
dation of the convention of 1915. At present, how-
ever the general object of attention is the "pros-
perity dinner," to, take place in the Ferry building
June 29, as piano merchants, in common with
others, have acquired a very keen appetite for a
dinner of this kind. This dinner is being held
under the auspices of the retail trade committee
of the Chamber of Commerce, of which George
Q. Chase is chairman, and its object, according to.
those who are taking a prominent part in the
plans, is not merely to get off a lot of optimistic
"hot air," but to bring out a statement of the con-
ditions that actually exist in San Francisco at the
present time. In announcing this event Mr. Chase
says: "There are vital facts which the average
business man does not know, which assure San
Francisco of the most active commercial period in
its existence. We believe that the underlying pros-
perous conditions will have an immediate effect on
retail business and that retail trade in the city of
San Francisco will start booming within thirty
davs, instead of holding off o.ver the summer
months. Our payroll exceeds that of last year by
$40,000 a week. The exposition company alone is
disbursing $150,000 a week in salaries and wages.
We have also the civic center payroll and the
municipal railway payroll. There are 3,000 build-
ings in San Francisco now under construction; on
them are working 35,000 laborers and skilled me-
chanics, getting an average of $5.60 per day. Our
total daily payroll on construction work alone is
now averaging $196,000 a day, not including the
payroll of the exposition company." At this dinner
further facts will be brought out in speeches by
labor leaders, merchants and bankers, which are
expected to show that conditions here are much
better than general reports have indicated.
Discusses Prosperity Campaign.
Commenting on this "prosperity campaign,"
Frank Anrys, of the Wiley B. Allen Co., who is
taking an active interest in it, states that while the
piano, business cannot be considered up to normal
the reason is largely "psychological;" that the
prevalent hard times talk has infected the com-
munity to such an extent that people, though well
"Fourth of July racket" means money
wasted, but the "racket" you make advertising
JESSE FRENCH Pianos will bring big re-
turns ; albeit, it cannot equal the advertising
done by the beautiful tone and finish of these
instruments in the homes of thousands of
owners.
The demand for JESSE FRENCH Pianos
and Players increases yearly. If you do not
represent a line which shows increasing popu-
larity, you had better inquire about the
JESSE FRENCH & SONS' line.
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.
New Castle, Ind.
able to buy, are "salting down" their money in the
banks, and he believes that a realization of actual
conditions will go far to. relieve the situation. As
for the company's own business, he notes more
activity so far this month than in May, with signs
of an impetus from the crops in some of the o.ut-
side towns. The business, he says, is all of the
highest quality, as there is no disposition among
the public to buy things they cannot abundantly
afford, and the time has returned when it is safe
fo.r salesmen to take a more aggressive attitude
than for some time past.
As for the plan to hold next year's National
Convention here, Mr. Anrys believes the event will
be highly successful from the dealers' viewpoint,
though the actual attendance, especially from the
East coast, may not be as large as in some former
years. He believes, however, that dealers will be
attracted from all parts of the Southwest, Middle
West and Pacific territories who have never at-
tended the conventions in the East, and by this
means the membership may be largely increased,
while those who have attended one convention will
be more likely to go to others. Moreover, he
thinks that the time which dealers will wish to
spend here will give an excellent opportunity fo.r
those informal discussions that really do more
solid good than any other convention feature.
Return from Eastern Trip.
P. T. Clay, o.f Sherman, Clay & Co., and F. L.
Grannis, assistant sales manager of the company,
have just returned after spending several weeks in
New York. F. W. Stephenson, of this company,
is back from a trip to Portland, Seattle and
Spokane, spending most of his time at the latter
place. That branch, he says, will be in temporary
quarters for the next few months during the re-
modeling of the store. The business, which has
formerly been confined to. the ground floor, will
hereafter have the entire four-story and basement
building. The basement will be used for the
wholesale talking machine and shipping depart-
ment. The ground floor will be elegantly finished
in mahogany and plate glass and will co.ntain a
large office, talking machine department, etc., with
six finely lighted and ventilated demonstration
rooms in the rear. The main piano department
will occupy the second floor, and the third will ac-
commodate the player department, with fo.ur dem-
onstration rooms, modeled on lines similar to
those in the San Francisco establishment. The top
floo,r will for the present be used for shops and
storage. The Seattle store, he says, which at first
seemed to be rather out of the business center, is
now in the best part of town, as the Bon Marche
department store has taken the block opposite, and
the block beyond has been bought by one of the
finest department stores in Seattle. Changes in
the second floor of the San Francisco store, to ac-
commodate the new office system, are just being
completed.
15
Mr. Ridgway, of Lyon & Healy, stopped in San
Francisco a few days ago.
W. B. Ragland, of Kohler & Chase, is calling on
the company's agents in the North.
Charged with Fraudulent Advertising.
A case against R. H. Coker, at San Jose, under
the fraudulent advertising ordinance, was recently
dismissed for lack of evidence. He has again been
arrested on a similar charge, together with Stanley
B. Ells, and the trial will take place July 15. Much
interest is being shown in the case by the local
trade.
Eilers Improvement.
The local Eiler Music Ho.use will finish its im-
provements in a few days. The most important
change is the installation of a talking machine de-
partment under the management of H. P. Rother-
mel, formerly of the Portland house. Four rooms
have been fitted up and will be opened in a few
days.
H. Hauschildt, of the Hauschildt Music Co., is
calling on the trade in the interior.
AEOLIAN HALL^ GLEANINGS.
Production of Unique Playlet Scores Success
—Chatfield to Speak on Music Appreciation
—Visitors to Hall—Another Baseball Game
Planned for September.
The Aeolian Co. presented on
Monday of this week a new one-
act comedy with music, which, as
anno.unced exclusively in recent
issues of The Review, is something
entirely unique in the realms of
entertainment.
This comedy is
named "In Music's Thrall," and is
given every afternoon at 3 p. m.
in the Aeolian concert hall, and
the crowded houses at this week's
performances gave substantial evidence of the
playlet's merits. Capably acted by experienced
actors and produced with infinite attention to de-
tail, this sketch features the Duo-Art Pianola, the
Aeolian concert organ and the Victrola. The
marked success of the play insures its being pro-
duced at Aeolian Hall for the next few weeks,
after which it will probably be shown on the road.
Beginning about the middle of this month,
Gerard Chatfield, of the Aeolian concert depart-
ment, will give a series of musical talks at New
York University based on the proper appreciation
of music. The Weber grand Pianola will be fea-
tured at these talks, and the series will form part
of the university's summer music course.
S. E. Beatty, manager of' the Oklahoma City
store of the Jenkins Sons Music Co., was a visitor
to Aeolian Hall this week. This was Mr. Beatty's
first visit to New York, and he was, of course,
greatly impressed with the city as a whole, and
surprised at the magnificence of Aeolian Hall.
The exciting finish to the recent Aeolian whole-
sale-retail game has acted as an incentive to the
members o.f the Aeolian Athletic Association to
make arrangements for a return game. According
to present plans, efforts will be made to have this
Col. Hollenberg Expected.
Col. B. F. Hollenberg, of Little Rock, Ark., who. game played the first Saturday in September at
the beautiful grounds of the Hackley School,
was appointed to the commission of the State of
Arkansas to select a site for the State building at Tarrytown, N. Y., where the first game was
the exposition, will be in San Francisco in a few staged.
Paul J. Healy, of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, 111.,
days.
. it
was a visitor to Aeolian Hall this week prior to,
Pleased with Behning Grand Players.
Clark Wise has just received his first shipment sailing for Europe Wednesday on the new ocean
of Behning baby grand players, and is greatly liner, "Aquitania."
pleased with the quality and appearance of this
instrument, which he finds even better than he ex-
pected. R. A. Wise is making a short visit to Los
Angeles this week. Mr. Guyett, formerly with
Barker Bros., Los Angeles, is now with Clark
Wise & Co.'s talking machine department.
The Smallest Real Grand Piano
in the World
BRAMBACM PIANO COMPANY
I1ARK P CAnP8fLL
Pfiis
SrePHAff BRAnSACH VKI Pat i
635-643 WEST-M^ST.
NEWYORKCITV
P I A N O S & PLAYER P I A N O S
REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD PIANO MAKER
i* the
piano
pianos
•Jting
Ask
title of a booklet giving a brief history of
making in the wut.
Tells how the firtt
were made and who made them. An Intar-
story.
for your copy.
Simply send a postml.
SCHAFF BROS. CO., Huntington,
Ul.