Music Trade Review

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42
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
COLUMBIA CONVENTION CLOSES WITH GREAT BANQUET
Annual Gathering of Branch and Dictaphone Managers in New York City Last Week Brought
to Enjoyable Close With Banquet at the Hotel Pennsylvania—G. W. Hopkins Toastmaster
As mentioned briefly in last week's Review,
the branch and Dictaphone managers, togethei
with the members of the executive offices, of the
Columbia Graphophone Co. were the guests at
a banquet given by the officials of the company
at the Hotel Pennsylvania. This banquet has
been, for a number of years, one of the most im-
portant events of convention week, and this
year's program provided for one of the most
pretentious and extensive musical entertain-
ments that have ever been offered in the talking
machine industry.
In former years the company has offered a
program that has included many famous ar-
ning served to emphasize the wonderful progress
and success that have been attained by the Co-
lumbia Co. in recent years. This galaxy of ex-
clusive Columbia "stars" was a concrete indi-
cation of the achievements of the Columbia
operatic and artist divisions.
During the course of the banquet interesting
addresses were made by F. S. Whitten, presi-
dent of the company; H. L. Willson, vice-presi-
dent and general manager; C. W. Woddrop, vice-
president and treasurer; T. C. Roberts, assist-
ant to the president, and in charge of manu-
facture; Marion Dorian, chief auditor; G. W.
Hopkins, general sales manager; F. K. Penn-
JANUARY 10,
1920
by Vice-president Willson as the "Miracle Man,"
for under his direction the Columbia factories
at Bridgeport had achieved phenomenal and
well-nigh miraculous results. Mr. Roberts gave
some pertinent facts regarding the progress made
by various departments at the factory, stating
that during the past few months the production
of the machine department had been trebled,
the output of the record department had been
doubled and that the production in the matrix
department was four times as large as formerly.
Marion Dorian gave a stirring and force-
ful address, which at times was reminiscent, and
which concluded with a most eloquent and sin-
cere appeal to the managers to make the com-
ing year the greatest in the history of the com-
pany. The concluding addresses of the eve-
ning, made by Geo. W. Hopkins, Frank K.
Pennington and C. K. Woodbridge, constituted
Annual Banquet of Columbia Branch and Dictaphone Managers, Held at the Hotel P ennsylvania Saturday Evening, January 3
tists, the majority of whom have been exclusive ington, assistant general sales manager, and C. a series of informative and valuable talks that
were keenly appreciated by the managers.
Columbia artists. This year, however, arrange- K. Woodbridge, Dictaphone sales manager.
President Whitten was enthusiastically re-
During the course of the evening Mr. Hop-
ments were made whereby the entire musical
entertainment would be comprised of exclusive ceived by the members of his organization, and kins advised the diners that it was with extreme
Columbia artists only. Theodore Bauer, oper- in his characteristic way sincerely expressed his regret that he was obliged to announce that E.
atic and concert director of the Columbia Co., appreciation of the untiring efforts of the branch N. Burns, vice-president of the company and
was in personal charge of the musical program and Dictaphone managers which had enabled the in charge of recording, could not be present, ow-
and well deserved the enthusiastic congratula- company to close the greatest year in its his- ing to illness. Mr. Burns, who is one of the
tions that he received from the managers and tory, a year which far exceeded the highest ex- most popular Columbia executives, is now re-
cuperating and when Mr. Hopkins proposed
the executives of the company upon the com- pectations of the executives.
pletion of the musical offerings.
H. L. Willson welcomed the guests and in the three cheers for "Ned" Burns they were given
Geo. W. Hopkins was toastmaster at the course of his address emphasized that every divi- with an enthusiasm that undoubtedly echoed
dinner and his introductions of the various sion of the Columbia organization was "ready" hundreds of miles away. N. F. Milnor, manager
speakers constituted one of the most enjoyable for 1920. Referring to each specific depart- of the San Francisco branch, suggested that a
features of the banquet. Mr. Bauer introduced ment, Mr. Willson paid a well-deserved tribute telegram be forwarded to Mr. Burns advising
the artists and among the entertainers on the to the accomplishments of the Columbia staff him of the deep regret of the Columbia organi-
program, all of whom are Columbia artists ex- in 1919, giving some interesting facts as to the zation that he could not be with them, and ex-
pressing the hope that he would soon be back
clusively, were the following: Harry C. Browne, preparations for 1920.
Mme. Jeanne Gordon, Percy Grainger, Charles
C. W. Woddrop, with one of his forceful and at the helm of the recording division. Mr. Hop-
Hackett, Mme. Marion Harris, Sascha Jacob- effective talks, made one of the "hits" of the kins appointed Mr. Milnor a committee of one to
sen, Keegan and Edwards, Ted Lewis and his evening. He commented upon the fact that he draft this telegram.
Jazz Band, Jose Mardones, Mme. Barbara Mau
recently had had occasion to interview several
The signal success of this convention may be
rel, Geo. Meader, Mme. Carmela Ponselle, Mme. prominent financiers and captains of industry attributed in a large measure to the indefati-
Margaret Romaine, Oscar Seagle, Toscha Sei- regarding the outlook for the coming year. They gable efforts of Mr. Hopkins, who, with the as-
del, Riccardo Stracciari, Mme. Grace Wagner. were unanimous in expressing the opinion that sistance of Mr. Pennington, prepared the com-
The conductors were Charles A. Prince, Robert 1920 would be a wonderful year for business, plete program from start to finish. With his
Hood Bowers and Romano Romani. Mme. and Mr. Woddrop told the managers that Co- thorough and invaluable knowledge of merchan-
Rosa Ponselle, famous operatic soprano and lumbia was "ready" for this prosperity and dising and sales problems, Mr. Hopkins so ar-
exclusive Columbia artist, had arranged to be activity. As treasurer of the company, Mr. ranged the program that every discussion and
present Saturday evening, but was confined to Woddrop presented some interesting details re- address provided the managers with practical in-
her home by illness. Several of the artists garding the strength and stability of Columbia formation and informative ideas. The managers
mentioned are new additions to the Columbia finances.
left for their respective branches imbued with
record library, and they were given a tremen-
Mr. Woddrop received the hearty applause the thought of Columbia progress and accom-
dous ovation by the guests at the banquet. of every one present when he stated that there plishments and posssessed of the knowledge
Every artist on the program was obliged to ren- was not a single bond out against the com- that each and every department at the execu-
der several encores to meet the insistent de- pany and not an unpaid obligation.
tive offices and in the factories is working in
mands of the diners, and the fame, prestige and
T. C. Roberts, assistant to the president and the closest co-operation with the sales organiza-
ability of the artists appearing Saturday eve- in charge of production, had been referred to tion.