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THE MUSIC TRADE
56
REVIEW
LEO. FEIST, INC., HOLD SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Branch Managers, Traveling Representatives and Department Heads Gather for Annual Meeting-
Plans for Coming Year Outlined and Approved—Beefsteak Dinner the Best Ever
The sixth annual convention of the organiza-
tion of Leo Feist, Inc., which includes the man-
agers of the branch offices, traveling representa-
tives and the heads of the various departments,
was held throughout the week of July 15. One
of the largest gatherings in the history of the
above place is noted, was then served. Enter-
tainment between courses was provided by the
members of the staff, under the able direction
of Phil Kornheiser, manager of the professional
department, who acted a-s toastmaster. There
was not a dull moment in the evening.
JULY 27,
1918
patriotic activities, not only furnishing the songs,
and the trucks for such work, but supplying the
men from their organization to act as Savings
Stamp salesmen and collectors, a work that goes
far into the night. This, of course, is all a
part of the Feist plan which was arranged over
a year ago.
During the dinner Edgar F. Bitner, general
manager of the company, was around every-
where to see that all the boys were getting
everything they wanted, and after the affair was
Members of the Leo Feist Organization at the Sixth Annual Beefsteak Dinner
1 Harry Jentes; 2 Gus Klumpp; 3, Moe Kleemen; 4, Jack Levinson (New England Rep.); 5, Monroe Silvers; 6, Chas. Cordray; 7, Al Weiss; 8, Arthur Huskins, 9, Ben
Alberts-
lbert
10 0 Bob
o Miller (New
(
York);
) ; 11, , Walter Donovan; ; 12, , John
J
White; 13, Johnny
J o h n y Green;
G r e e ; 14, , Louis Piotti; ; IS. Milton A
Ager; 1 16,
6 Bob Miller (Detroit Mgr.); 17, Jack
...
- , . - ; 24, H. C. Johnston (San Francisco Mgr.);
Richmond-
d 'l8 Ben
B
Edwards;
E d d
19,
19 Karl
K l Kaufmann
K f
(Advt.
(Ad
Agent);
A )
20,
20 B.
B McClelland;
MCllld
21,
21 Jimmy
Ji
Flynn;
Fl ...., __,
22,
22 Percy
P _, Wenrich;
W i h , „ 23,
23 , A
Al _ Doyle;
25 5 "Al
Mgr.');
26,
Setzler
(Pittsburghi'Migr.)
Heine; 28,'Archie
Orleans
Mgr.);
29,
Auger (Boston Mgr.); 30, Dave Frank
Al Sather'(Los~
Sh
(L Angeles
A l
M )
26 Elmer
El
Stl
( P i t t b h M ) ; 27,
27 Henry
H
28 Archi Lloyd
L l d (New
(N
Ol
M )
29 Fred
F
; (Southern
Rep.); 31, Billy Hallett (Kansas City Mgr.); 32, Harry Coe; 33, Ernie Hughes (Cleveland Mgr.); 34, Artie Mehlinger; 35, Leon Berte; 36, Jake Ascherberger; 37, O.
W Vaughn- 39 Arthur Hoffman; 40, V. Walsh; 41, Billy Jerome; 42, Mel Morris; 43, Ira Schuster; 44, Joe Santly; 45, Mort Schaffer (Minneapolis Mgr.); 46, Leo Feist, Presi-
dent- 47 E F ' Bitner Genl. Mgr.; 48, Myer Jacobs, Auditor; 49 Fred Wright (Philadelphia Mgr.): 50, Fred Kemlo, Baltimore Mgr.; 51, J. A. Decatur Asst. Genl Mgr.; 52,
Toe Fuchs (St Louis Mgr.); 53. Howard Johnson; 54, Lee Orean Smith (Mgr. B. & O. Dept.); 55. Solly Cohn; 56, Lieut. Gitz-Rice; 57, Rocco Vocco (Chicago Rep-); 58 Lew
64,' Jack
Mahan (Texas Mgr)- 59 Phil Kornheiser Professional Mgr.; 60, Milton Weil; 61, Lester Santly (Eastern Sales Rep.); 62, Cliff Odoms, Sales Mgr.; 63, Irvin Dash; 64,
-• -
-- Theodore
— -
--
-~ G.
- W.
- " •••
Others who attended were Lt. Earl Carrol, Leon Flatow, Howard Rogers and Mack Goldman.
!Cr
Malloy; 65, Grant Clarke;
66,
Morse; 38,
Meyer.
organization attended, and from every view-
point it was the most successful convention the
firm has ever held.
One of the purposes of these affairs is to en-
courage every man in the organization to use
his individuality and initiative in working for
his own and the company's interest, for Leo
Feist, Inc., is ever ready to recognize the work
of its "employes no matter in what capacity
they may be working, the opportunity being al-
ways open for those who have special qualifi-
cations to prove their worth.
The plans for the ensuing year are arranged
at' these annual gatherings and the songs to
fee featured during the months to come are
Jieard and passed upon. i
On Monday morning, after the usual get-to-
gether preliminary meeting, the conventioners
went into executive session, which was followed
sjby a series of meetings both morning and after-
noon on, the days following until Friday morn-
ing, when the final 'session was held. Mon-
day evening all of the out-of-town representa-
tives were guests ofthe. company, at "Getting
Together," now playing at the-Shubert Theatre,
.which, by the way, carries a title which sig-
nifies just what the Feist boys were doing dur-
ing the convention.
The annual banquet was held at Castle Cave
on Tuesday evening, and this, as usual, proved
orie of the biggest features of the week. Fol-
lowing a flashlight photograph of the gather-
ing .the regular beefsteak dinner, for which the
Howard Johnson, the well-known lyricist, who
is now a yeoman in the United States Navy,
sang the annual convention medley, written
especially for the occasion and which was not
only melodious, but was the source of much
laughter, the lyrics containing personal refer-
ences regarding members of the organization.
Song after song followed, many of which no
doubt will be featured later in the season, and
some idea of the volume of the melody that
issued forth can be imagined when it is con-
sidered there were over sixty voices, each pos-
sessor of which knows how to put a song over
at its best.
Leo Feist, president of the company, made the
address of the evening, and the keynote of his
remarks was patriotism and what his organiza-
tion has done and will do in helping the Govern-
ment win the war. He covered the work of
the past year, showing how they have co-oper-
ated with the Government and how they have
anticipated the Government's desires.
It might be recorded here that the Feist work
has not alone been the publishing and popular-
izing of a number of songs nationally known,
which have done their bit to assist the Govern-
ment in instilling patriotism by bringing the war
home to the thoughts of all, building up the
morale of those at home as well as the boys on
the firing line and in the camps, but in addi-
tion they have taken part, and an active part, in
every Liberty Loan drive, Red Cross appeal,
War Savings Stamp campaign and all other
over
over he saw that everyone, especially the men
the city, were provided
who were strangers
with transportation.
On the way uptown many of the boys gathered
around the War Savings Stamp truck at Times
Square, where they were interested in the work
of Leon Flatow as a salesman. Several young
ladies from Broadway productions, due no doubt
to the persuasion of Phil Kornheiser, were en-
tertaining the crowd and such songs as "I'm
Sorry I Made You Cry," "Belgian Rose" and
"K-K-K-Katy" were loudly encored, each ren-
dition for a large sale of stamps. Mr. Feist's
car stopped at the corner on its way to his home,
and as it was leaving the crowd gave him
three loud cheers.
At the Thursday morning session Karl Kauf-
mann, of the Federal Advertising Agency, ad-
dressed the meeting. His subject was "Adver-
tising," and he covered his subject in all its
phases much to the interest of his hearers, who
felt it was one of the best addresses of the con-
vention.
During the week side trips had been arranged
for the entertainment of the visitors, including
journeys to the beaches. The meetings on
Wednesday and Thursday were longer than
scheduled, owing to the-fact that the plans for
the coming year are bigger than ever. Leo
Feist, Inc., have had a most successful year
since the last annual meeting, and those who at-
tended this year's meetings state the coming
season will even be a larger one for their firm.