Music Trade Review

Issue: 1915 Vol. 61 N. 15

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
65
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MILWAUKEE MUSIC HOUSES PREPARE FOR BUSY SEASON.
Music of the Better Class Now Enjoys Bulk of Demand, Declare Dealers—Feel Ten Cent Store
Competition in Cheaper Prints—C. J. Hambitzer Doubles Capacity of Store.
(Special to The Review.)
MILWAUKEE, WIS., October 4.—Milwaukee sheet
music dealers are preparing for the busiest fall
and winter season in years, due to the influences
already felt of a decided revival in general business
and more elaborate plans by musical societies, clubs,
choirs and others. Light operatic, classics and higher
grade music is displacing popular music of the
trashy type, according to dealers. This may be due
to the surfeit of cheap "pops," which are losing
their market, and a gradual change in the taste of
the average music lover, who is tired of near-vul-
gar and suggestive music which has flooded the
market of late months, and longs for more edi-
fying music.
Paul J. Mueller, assistant manager of the Will-
iam A. Kahn Music Co., said:
"We are encouraging the public to use the better
grade of music. It has always been the aim of the
Kaun house to promote the best there is in music
rather than that which makes a quick but short-
lived appeal to the popular taste, and then leaves
a bad taste in the mouth. We keep in stock only
enough of the so-called hits to meet the small de-
mand from our customers. We let the five and
ten-cent stores fill the bulk of the public's require-
ments. Our sales are simply an accommodation to
our customers who come to us for our high-class
music and may want one or two popular 'hits' to
take with them."
At the sheet music department of Gimbel Bros,
department store it was stated that the season is
opening up in splendid shape and a change is noted
in the popular taste, although there is still a tre-
mendous demand for popular music. Because of
five and ten-cent store competition, however, music
that must be sold for ten cents produces a very
small profit, and it is handled chiefly to accommo-
date buyers of the better class of music. Nearly
the same idea was expressed at the sheet music
counter of the Boston Store.
C. J. Hambitzer, who conducts an almost ex-
clusive band and orchestra music store at 417
Broadway, has recently doubled the capacity of
his store, and says the usually quiet months of
June and July were among the best of the year.
The Hambitzer store is virtually Milwaukee head-
quarters for band and orchestra leaders, the pro-
prietor himself being one of the leading directors
of the city and State, as well as a composer. Mr.
Hambitzer expresses himself in no mild terms
against the practice of publishers in advertising
editions direct to consumers at, for instance, twenty
cents and selling to the dealer at twenty-five cents.
Being both a dealer and a leader, Mr. Hambitzer
has become acquainted with all angles of the game,
and says the business for both publishers and deal-
ers would be much improved if competition within
the business were eliminated and the trade re-
organized on an equitable footing. "We are ac-
tually forced to compete with ourselves," said
Mr. Hambitzer. "The system is wrong, and until
it is righted the music selling business will not
come into its own. I am sure when the publishers
know the conditions they will remedy them."
MUSIC BELONGSJN MUSIC STORE
DENVER ASSOCIATION MEETS.
And Not in Department Store, Declares E. S.
Florentine, of San Francisco—Western Deal-
ers Prove That It Is Possible to Get Good
Prices for Popular Music.
Holds First Session of Fall and Makes Plans
to Strengthen Organization—Pleased with
National Association Progress.
(Special to The Review.)
DENVER, COL., October 2.—The first fall meeting
of the local association of music dealers for the
season 1915-16 was held Tuesday, September 14, at
the Knight-Campbell Co. offices, and was well at-
tended. We had as guests Bill Jacobs, of the
Joseph Morris Co., and E. M. Gidden, of the
White-Smith Co., both of whom made encourag-
ing remarks apropos of the occasion. A telegram
from Sam Fox was read, expressing best wishes
for our success and assuring us of his hearty co-
operation in helping to uphold the principles of
the association.
It was unanimously agreed to carry on the regu-
lar monthly meetings through the season, and to
strengthen the association so far as possible by
extending it to include small dealers throughout
the State, as well as by making further uniform
price agreements.
A discussion of the report of the doings of the
National Music Dealers' conventions in New York
and San Francisco followed, and it was felt that
considerable progress had been made.
The meeting then adjourned to enjoy smokes
and refreshments.
(Special to The Review.)
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., October 2.—"The Western
sheet music dealers are to be congratulated upon
their fair margin of profit in comparison with that
of their Eastern contemporaries," said E. S.
Florentine, manager of the Florentine Music Co.,
to The Review representative this week.
"The ever-present five, ten and fifteen-cent store,
with its sheet music department, is just as aggres-
sive here, charging fifteen cents for popular music
sold elsewhere for ten cents, and getting the higher
price without trouble.
"The dealers on the Pacific Coast have a gen-
eral scale of prices which brings them an enviable
gross profit; for instance, if a discount of Vz and
20 is allowed on a number we retail same for
forty cents net, which gives us a fair margin.
"The sheet music business should be run on a
paying basis, the same as any other line of business.
Our sheet music department pays a nice profit an-
nually. Sheet music belongs in a music store, not
in a department store, and I hope the day will come
when sheet music will be brought back to a com-
mercial basis, not an advertis'ng medium."
The Greatest of All Hippodrome Successes
"Hip-Hip-Hooray!"
Management CHARLES DILLINGHAM.
Is Full of Good Music and Assured Hits Including
My Cutie Doll"
"The Ladder of Roses"
The Good Ship Honeymoon" "The Wedding of Jack and Jill"
Instrumental Selection
Lyrics by John L. Golden.
Music by Raymond Hubbell.
Staged by R. H. Burnside.
"MY LAND, MY FLAG" (Words by Marcus C. Connelly. Music by Zoel Parenteau)
We publish it all, as well as the
"New York Hippodrome March" by John Philip Sousa
"Miss Information Jf
Management Charles Dillingham.
" Two Big Eyes"
PUBLISHED
BY
with ELSIE JANIS, at the
George M. Cohan Theatre
Lyrics by John L. Golden and Elsie Janis and Music by Jerome Kern.
"Some Sort of Somebody"
"A Little Love for Me
T. B. H A R M S & FRANCIS D A Y & H U N T E R 6 2 w * 8t 45th St •• New York
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
66
SEPTEMBER BUSINESS BREAKS RECORD IN LOS ANGELES.
Grunn's "The Desert Suite."
"The Desert Suite," five tone-pictures of t'.ie
Volume of Business Surprises Dealers—Great Popularity of Hawaiian Music—R. W. Heffel-
desert, by Homer Grunn, published by the South-
finger Issues New Publication—Welcome Reduction in Freight Rates Announced.
ern California Music Co., of this city, is one of
(Special to The Review.)
a single Los Angeles dealer has sold, by whole- the big Los Angeles successes. Issued for the
piano, it is attractively illustrated with reproduc-
Los ANGELKS" CAU, October 2.—Without a
sale and retail, more than 25,000 copies of "On
tions of paintings by the famous Tndian painter,
single exception, the sheet music dealers of Los
the Beach at Waik ki." one of the newer pieces
Angeles report September as having been product-
published by a Honolulu company. "Aloha Oe" W. E. Rollins, and is accompanied by descriptive
ive of the very best run of business they have —well known all over the country—continues ex- poems by William Hooper Howells. Portraying,
respectively, the "limitless dreariness, brazen skies,
ever experienced. Visiting the place of business tremely popular, and R. W. Heffelfinger alone has
of any one of them, one finds the department
sold approximately 80,000 copies of it of his own false hopes of thrilling allurement, and at last
shade and trees and life-giving water," the com-
literally crowded with purchasers, and inquiry
publishing, which he issues as a song, a waltz and
position includes "At Sunrise," "The Mesa,"
brings forth the statement that such condition
with variations. Mr. Heffelfinger also publishes
"Cholla Dance," "Mirage" and "Oasis." John J.
has prevailed throughout t.ie month. With the the "Ukulele Method," a book of instruction for
Apffel, manager of the company's sheet music
opening of the schools on the second Monday of
ukulele players, by George Kia, and since the date
department, says the work has not only met with
the month the demand for the standard music has of its first publication, April, 1914, has sold 4,300
remarkable local success, but has had a very grati-
become particularly keen, and such dealers as R. copies. It is estimated that more than 30,000
W. Heffelfinger, the Southern California Music ukuleles have been sold in California this year. fying sale throughout the country.
Co. and the Lindsey Music Co., who cater prin-
Attractive New Quarters.
Comparatively New in the Field.
cipally to such trade, have had an extremely busy
The Melody Shop, 432-a South Broadway, is
The Lindsey Music Co., R. J. Lindsey, manager,
spell. But even during the summer months, when
comparatively new in the Los Angeles field, hav-
which occupies a portion of the Wiley B. Allen
business in other music lines was notably quiet,
ing been started during the early part of the sum-
Co. store at 416-418 South Broadway, and which
the sheet music houses had nothing to complain
has exclusive control of this store's sheet music mer. Eddie Pomeroy and Harry Becker, the lat-
of, for the records of all previous summers seem
department, has recently come into possession, ter having been for five years connected with Will-
to have been exceeded. Tnen, however, as might
iam Rossiter, are the managers. The house deals
through Wiley B. Allen Co. improvements, of
be considered natural, the demand was mainly
new, more commodious and much more attractive exclusively in popular music, and its best sellers
for the popular muse instead of the standard, and
quarters. The space allotted the Lindsey Co. is at present are "W.ien I Leave the World Behind,"
it was then such houses as the Remick Song Shop,
"Monterey," "Jubilee of Old Kentucky Home"
in fact twice as large as t.iat formerly occupied,
the Melody Shop and the sheet music departments
and "So Long, Letty." The last named song,
which permits the company to carry a much
of the department stores tiiat reaped the bulk of
larger stock and to make a far better display. although a Witmark publication, is virtually a
the business. All the dealers, however, handle
Los Angeles production, being the most catchy
Counters, shelves, cabinets, and so forth, when
more or less popular music, and the demand for
number of the musical comedy of the same name,
the work shall have been finished, will be done in
it still continues very satisfact >ry indeed, even
which had its premie"e in this c'ty a few weeks
white enamel to match the remainder of t'.ie
though the coming of fall has placed standard
ago.
store's interior. The sheet music department of
music in the lead.
the Broadway Department Store, through the
Regularly ksues Music Catalog.
Hawaiian Music Popular.
completion of the company's new building, also
The Hamburger Department Store, one of the
One of the most notable movements, connected
h;\s just come into possession of larger space.
few Los Angeles department stores that devote
with the sheet music trade on the Pacific Coast is
Important Freight-Rate Victory.
space to sheet music, regularly issues a 100-page
the rapid growth in popularity of Hawaiian music.
One of the biggest things that has accrued to the music catalog, of wh'ch it circulates 5,000 copies.
Introduced here only a few years ago, compara-
financial benefit of the sheet music dealers of the The 1915-191(5 edition will come from the -press
tively, the demand for this music has grown to
during the coming week. The department, Man-
Pacific Coast for a long time comes in the nature
truly phenomenal proportions, and, according to of a very substantial reduction in transcontinental
ager Dart states, doer, quite an extensive wholesale
certain experiences of some of the local dealers,
business in southern California.
freight rates. Heretofore the rate to the Coast
its vogue is evidently spreading throughout the
from New York on sheet music has been $3.70, but
country. Californians began really in earnest to a cut to $2 becomes effective on October (i. The old
SENDS LYRICSJiY TELEGRAPH.
appropriate the music of Hawaii about two years
rate was considered exorbitant, but ail previous
In
these days of activity in the music game
ago, and to-day it is commonly heard all over the
efforts to secure a reduction proved of no avail.
speed's the thing, which serves to explain why
State. It has been especially liberally used to en- And t.iat victory has finally come may be attributed
William Jerome and Harry Williams, at present
tertain the Eastern visitor during the past sum- solely, declares R. W. Heffelfinger, secretary
working with the motion pictures in California,
mer, particularly by real Hawaiian players at the
and treasurer of the organization, to the unity
sent the lyrics of a new song to Jean Schwartz in
Panama-Pacific Exposition, and it is perhaps of effort brought to bear upon the railroads
New
York by telegraph at night letter rates. The
largely due to these uses of it that it has come into
through the National Association of Sheet Music
stunt cost $4. Mr. Schwartz wrote the music for
its more general popularity. Some idea of this
Dealers. The association began negotiations with
the piece while in the West recently. The number
vogue locally may be conveyed by the fact that
the railroads with this end in view last April, and
is "Ukulele Daly," and is to be featured by Blanche
only a couple of weeks ago was the announcement
Ring in "Nobody Home."
of success made. The campaign for the reduction
was carried on from the direction of both publish-
ers and dealers, many of the publishers being
members of the association. The $2 rate is the
same as that which has prevailed for some time on
the transcontinental sh'pment of books, and now
To dealers in sheet music, or jobbers of sheet
PUBLISHERS OF THE
that books and sheet music have come under the
music, we offer a catalogue of songs that you
same classification, at least so far as cross-conti-
can not afford to be without. Look over this list,
and if the names do not appeal to you, send in
nent shipments are concerned, Mr. Heffelfinger
for samples and be convinced that we have num-
presumes that the reduction applies, or will soon
bers that are sellers, and will increase your music
apply, to all parts of the country. He is as yet
sales: "Ragtime Land," "Cotton Time in Dixie-
uninformed on this latter phase, but is of the
land," two rag numbers that speak for them-
selves. "Have You Had It?", a novelty song that
opinion that nothing can prevent its being ac-
is entirely original. "Down Among the Fields of
complished, if the ruling does not already cover
Cotton," one of those good old home and mother
the matter. And now that this matter is virtually
songs, the type of "Old Folks at Home." A good
settled satisfactorily, the association expects
song and dance number.
"Where the Brown
Eyed Daisies Grow." This is another "Tipperary"
within a short time to secure a reduction in sheet
and is sure to be a winner. "For Thou Art the
music rates by way of the Panama Canal. The
Soul of a Lovely Rose," one of those high-class
present rate in effect on American-Hawaiian
songs to sell at io cents. "Amanda Lou," a rag-
time proposal. This is a good coon song and
steamers is $2.25 per hundred on sheet music,
character number.
"The Fate of a Broken
whereas books on the same boats receive a rate of
Announce the publication of new catalogs
Heart." This is a high-class ballad, another "Last
$1. It is hoped and expected that the steamship
Night Was the End of the World." "You'll Be
for 1916, containing 50 NEW NUMBERS,
lines can also be induced to admit sheet music to
Waiting for Me, Dearie," a beautiful syncopated
comprising 35 Piano Solos, 5 Piano Duets,
ballad. "The Gondolier," a classic instrumental
the same classification as books, following the ac-
and 10 Songs.
number.
tion of the railroads.
The "BEST" is Always the Cheapest
DEALERS AND PROFESSIONAL
PEOPLE, TAKE NOTICE
McKinley Music Co.
FAMOUS
MCKINLEY
10 CENT MUSIC
BETTER MUSIC BETTER PAPER
BETTER TITLES
But no increase in price.
Free Catalogs with Stock Orders. We pay for your
advertising. Our Music is staple as wheat. Write for
Samples.
McKINLEY MUSIC CO. • « * *
Issues Brahms Op. 117.
R. W. Heffelfinger, owner of the sheet music
department at the George J. Birkel Co. store at
446 South Broadway, this city, and who has been
meeting with considerable success in the pub-
lishing of music on a small scale, has just issued
Brahms' op. 117, which marks its first publication
in this country. He says th>e piece is one of his
very best sellers.
i
Professionals sending marked program, or some-
thing to identify them as being entitled to free
copies, will receive same by enclosing postage.
David Publishing Co.,inc.
Writers and Publishers of Songs
That Are Different
407-08 Schmidt Bldg.
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Download Page 65: PDF File | Image

Download Page 66 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.