Music Trade Review

Issue: 1921 Vol. 73 N. 15

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
OCTOBER 8,
1921
ARTISTIC FLOAT BOOSTS PUBLICITY
Roscoe Benjamin Features Victor Products in
Parade—Dancing Girls Attract Attention
D, CONN., October 3.—Prominent among
the many floats in a recent parade here, com-
memorating the 150th anniversary of the city,
was that of Roscoe Benjamin, an exclusive Vic-
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
BROCHURE O^jVlOOD MUSIC
Extremely Interesting Volume Just Issued by
Thos. A. Edison, Inc., Anent Experiments
Conducted by Dr. Bingham on the Effect
Which Music Produces Upon the Listener
ORANGE, N. J., October 3.—Thos. A. Edison,
Inc., has just issued a very interesting thirty-two-
page brochure, entitled Mood Music. It is
one of the most unique works ever published re-
garding the phonograph in relation to the effect
which its music produces upon the listener.
The book is a compilation of 112 Edison Re-'
creations, according to "What They Will Do
for You," and is based upon psychological ex-
periments conducted under the direction of
Dr. W. D. Bingham, director of the Department
of Applied Psychology, Carnegie Institute of
Technology, who has for some time been asso-
ciated with the Edison Co.
The following extract from the "Foreword"
gives an idea of the unique character of this
Roscoe Benjamin's Unique Float
tor dealer. The float, which was instrumental in booklet:
"On the following pages you will find 135
attracting considerable attention to the Victor
product and at the same time gaining publicity musical selections, arranged in twelve lists, but
for Mr. Benjamin, contained six Victor dogs, do not think, therefore, that this booklet is
one perched on the front of the truck, one on merely a compilation. You will look in vain
top of each of four pillars on the truck and the for 'Operatic Gems' or 'Band Music,' or any
other in the center of the float. Two dancing other of the familiar classifications. Instead you
girls, who danced to the music of a Victrola will find such helpful, suggestive headings as
whenever the float came to a standstill, com- 'To Bring You Peace of Mind,' 'To Make You
Joyous,' 'To Stimulate and Enrich Your Imagi-
pleted the ensemble.
nation'."
Following the "Foreword" is a discourse on
SINGLE ARTIST CONCERTS
mood music which is developed from an histori-
Recordings of One Well-known Artist Have cal viewpoint down to modern philosophers, such
Often Greater Power to Attract Certain Cus- as Emerson. It then treats upon Mr. Edison and
his vision in the field of re-creating music and
tomers Than the Usual Mixed Concerts
concludes with the more recent development by
A departure from the usual talking machine the Edison organization of the mood music idea.
Throughout the book are illustrations pictur-
concert has been adopted by the Victrola depart-
ment of the Griswold, Richmond & Glock Co., ing the contrast between the business man under
Meriden, Conn., which is stimulating interest in tense strain versus the business man enjoying
the department among the music lovers of the music's pleasant relief: the nervous and ex-
community. Instead of the usual arrangement hausted wife versus the wife soothed and re-
of selections, the entire concert is devoted to freshed by music: the stockbroker jarred by the
market versus the stockbroker steadied by
the recordings of one artist.
For example, the concert which is staged in music: the man of toil too tired to eat versus
the afternoon at this establishment is widely the man of toil refreshed by music: the lone-
announced through newspaper advertising and some woman versus the woman comforted by
publicity, and personal notices are sent to cus- music: the housewife too tired to get dinner
tomers stating the fact that a Gluck concert is versus the housewife whose "pep" has been re-
to be given on a certain afternoon. At this con- stored by music. There is also a reproduction
cert only the records of Alma Gluck will be of the mood change chart filled in by W. J.
played unless there is a special request from a Burns, the famous detective.
The complete classifications under which, in
member of the audience for a particular selection
each
case, about a dozen selections are listed
by another artist.
The plan outlined above can be followed with are made up as follows: To Bring You Peace of
advantage by other talking machine dealers. Of Mind, To Make You Joyous, In Mood of Wist-
the large percentage of music lovers in any com- fulness, Jolly Moods and Good Fellowship, For
munity, a number favor particularly a certain More Energy, Love and Its Mood, Moods of
artist, and consequently when the announcement Dignity and Grandeur, The Mood of Tender
of a concert by their favorite artist, whether it Memory, Devotion is also Mood Stirring for
be Caruso, Galli-Curci, Kreisler, Gigli, Tosca- the Children.
ki conclusion there is an article by Mr. Bing-
nini, or numerous others, comes to their atten-
tion they will be sure to attend, and in many ham on "Research of Moods in Music." The
cases it will be found worth while to have a whole conception of this work on mood music is
good stock of records similar to those played on most interesting and is likely to have a far-
hand to meet the sudden demand. A series of reaching effect insofar as providing a new type
concerts, one staged each week, will give the of sales ammunition for the salesman in the re-
dealer an opportunity to reach a great number tail establishment.
of people in his community and possibly many
in surrounding towns.
FIRST VICTOR RECORDS BY MORINI
FEATURES NEW RECORD REVIEWS
COLUMBUS', O., October 3.—A service as un-
usual as it is beneficial to the dealers is one just
inaugurated by the Perry B. Whitsit Co., Victor
wholesaler. 211 North Fifth street, through its
publicity director, T. T. Frankenberg, in secur-
ing a monthly review of Victor records, written
by H. E. Cherrington, well-known music and
dramatic critic, on the Columbus Dispatch. Mr.
Cherrington hears all of the records the week
before they are released and runs the review in
the Sunday music section of the Dispatch imme-
diately following their release, thus giving timely
information regarding the latest records.
49
io double
Vour Income
and the proposition could be proved
sound from every angle, you wouldn't
hesitate, would you? Of course not,
but do you realize that a talking machine
department can be made to provide
sufficient revenue to take care of the
overhead on your entire establishment ?
Thousands of other retail music
chants have proved the above made
statement true and thousands of retail
music merchants have looked to T h e
Talking Machine World for guidance
in the matter of selecting the make of
talking machines they would handle, the
way they would map out their talking
machine department, etc.
The Talking Machine World is the
oldest and largest trade journal in the
world devoted exclusively to the talking
machine industry.
Some book, eh? Yes, and some encyclo'
pedia of the kind of information that
will positively double your income.
Don't miss your chance.
coupon now.
Send in the
The Young Viennese Violinist Who Scored
Triumph in America During Past Concert
Season Makes Her First Records for the
Victor—Heralded as Violin Genius
The latest addition to the notable list of Vic-
tor recording artists is Miss Erika Morini,
whose first recordings have already been offered
to the public. Miss Morini is heralded as a
genius of the violin. She came to the United
States in January of this year, unheralded as
it were, and quickly won for herself a position
among violinists to-day. Her first concert ai
Carnegie Hall, New York, was a triumph, and
the triumph has continued since.
TALKING MACHINE WORLD,
373 Fourth Ave., New York City.
Please enter my subscription for one year. I want to
learn how to double my income via a talking machine
department. Bill me $2 at your convenience to cover cost
of same.
Name
Fi rm
Street
City and State
'
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
50
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
OCTOBER 8,
1921
CONDUCTED BY V. D. WALSH
CHAIN STORES TO INVADE THE SHEET MUSIC FIELD
Retail Sheet Music Dealers Must Be Prepared to Meet Competition Which Will Be Offered Them
Through the Entry of Several New Syndicate Concerns in the Near Future
The Music Publishers' Protective Association
has, during the past few months, been ap-
proached by financial interests with a view to
inducing publishers to open up a chain of re-
tail music stores. These suggestions, while they
come from reliable sources, have been promptly
turned down by the organized publishers, for
as an association they did not care to become
involved in any such enterprise. The interests,
however, have continued to make repeated of-
fers, the last coming from a well-known capital-
ist, who. offered to put $250,000 in a chain of
stores if the publishers would put in $250,000
worth of stock—sheet music, player rolls and
records.
This is only one of a number of such offers
and every indication shows that the legitimate
sheet music dealer is to have much competition
during the year 1922 from syndicate stores other
than those already in existence.
Those who have made a minute study of the
possibilities of the sheet music field claim.it is
the "cleanest merchandising proposition in the
world" and the point to be made here is that
it behooves the legitimate dealer to do all he
can for his popular sheet music department or
otherwise the success that such departments
have attained in the past two years will be lost.
The latest entry into the sheet music field
is the announcement that the Piggley Wiggley
stores, with headquarters in Memphis, Tenn.,
are now about to open up "miscellaneous" stores
carrying sheet music departments similar to
those operated by Kress and Kresge.
In addition, the United States Music Stores,
Inc., a Maryland company, with headquarters in
Baltimore, recently organized with Thomas E.
Noonan as president; George West, who is a
member of Hecht Bros., of Baltimore, as vice-
president, and H. E. Paetow as secretary and
treasurer, contemplates opening up one hundred
retail stores during the year 1922, carrying sheet
music, player rolls and talking machine records.
Joseph Reinhorn, the well-known music dealer
of New York, who operates a number of stores
on Broadway, through his attorney, Julius Ray-
field, is now carrying on negotiations for the
purpose of opening up a national chain of re-
tail stores.
The Ohio Securities Corp., of Newark, O., is
also arranging plans to operate a chain of re-
tail stores carrying sheet music, player rolls and
talking machine records.
All of the above substantiates the rumors to
the effect that the dealers are to feel the com-
petition of syndicates.
That much business will leave the dealers' hands
is assured unless a fight is put up to meet such
competition. Such syndicate stores use tKe very
best merchandising methods and know-how to
make intensive sales drives for business. On the
other hand, the legitimate sheet music dealer all
too often makes popular music a side line and
gives it the smallest representation possible in
order to operate the department.
The publishers repeatedly claim that they get
little or no co-operation from the regular dealers
and, of course, if that is the case they will do
nothing to discourage the further opening of
syndicate propositions.
There has been some talk in recent months
by dealers to the effect that at the present re-
tail prices they were not getting enough profit.
When it is considered that popular sheet music
takes up little or no space and that the sales
are "quick turn-overs" the argument about
price hardly bears weight. The Woolworth
stores in times past made much money with a
much smaller profit, merely because they had a
quick turn-over. There is a quick turn-over
to-day in popular music. It is true that the
retail price is somewhat higher, but so, too, is the
profit larger, and while the sales may not be as
numerous as in the oldi 10-cent days they are
certainly active and, being active, the dealer
does not require as handsome a profit as if he
only made .a sale now and then.
A case in point was recently brought to the
writer's notice as to the methods pursued by the
legitimate dealer, particularly in regard to the
price question. A certain dealer wrote to a
publisher and stated that he was very sorry to
hear of the price, which was approximately 18
cents, on a fast-selling hit, the dealer taking the
stand that this did not allow him enough profit
and for that reason he intended to place the
goods under the counter and only sell them
when called for. This is, indeed, a case of spit-
ing one's self inasmuch as it is the hits that
attract the people "to the counter and make it
possible not only to sell the number called
for but the other mediocre material that is dis-
played. Hundreds of sales are probably lost in
this manner and probably will never be regained.
If such goods were displayed, even if the profit
were not as large as the dealer thought was jus-
tified, he would find that the volume of the busi-
ness would make up for the small profit. •
SONGS THAT SELL
Irving Berlin's
Song Hit of the Hour
All By Myself
Cry Baby Blues
Birds of a Feather
My Mammy
Home Again Blues
I Wonder Where
My Sweet, Sweet Daddy's Gone
Drowsy Head (Waltz)
Oh, My Sweet Hortense
Once in a Blue Moon
You're Just the Type for a
Bungalow
When the Sun Goes Down
I've Got the Joys
The New Sensational Hit
Tuck Me to Sleep in My Old
'Tucky Home
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1587 Broadway,
New York
This same question was brought up at the
recent convention of the National Association of
Sheet Music Dealers in Chicago in June and a
similar statement regarding the placing of goods
under the counter was made and concurred in
by a number of dealers present. It is certainly
poor business judgment and does not tend to
promote the success of music departments.
THE COUNTRY'S QUICKEST "BLUES" HIT
EVERYWHERE IS HEARD THE
Ta De Da Da De Dum
Already obtainable for player-piano
and any talking machine
Publishers J. W. JENKINS SONS MUSIC CO., Kansas City, Mo.
Also Publishers of "12th Street Rag," "Sweet Love," "Colleen O'Mine"

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