Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MAY
27, 1922
STARR PHONOGRAPH PRESENTS ITSELF TO BILLY SUNDAY
GRAFONOLA FOR GLOBE THEATRE
Over 1,000 Employes of Starr Piano Co. Attend Big Revival in Richmond When Starr Phono-
graph With Special Records by Rodeheaver Is Presented to Noted Evangelist
Period Model Grafonola Installed in Ladies'
Smoking Room of New York Showhouse
RICHMOND, IND., May 22.—Last Thursday eve-
ning, May 18, was "Starr Night" at the big
tabernacle here where Billy Sunday, the noted
evangelist, is holding one of his successful meet-
ings, and over 1,000 employes of the Starr Piano
Co. marched to the meeting in a body wearing
appropriate ribbons with the Starr trade-mark
thereon and carrying banners bearing inscriptions
such as: "The Starr Piano Co.," "Starr Pianos,"
"Starr Phonographs" and "Gennett Records."
The main event of the evening was the pres-
entation of a Style X Starr phonograph to Billy
Sunday by the factory, the phonograph making
its own presentation speech. A special Gennett
record was made by Homer Rodeheaver, the Sun-
day choir leader, at the Starr recording labora-
tories at Richmond for the occasion and caused
a great deal of surprise and comment. A special
spruce horn four feet long was built and con-
nected to the regular horn of the phonograph, so
that the words of the presentation speech could
be heard in the most remote corner of the great
building. The instrument was played by Clar-
ence Gennett, treasurer, and Fred Mayer, super-
intendent of the Starr factory.
The obverse side of the record bore a talk
calling attention to the fact it was the first
time a phonograph had ever presented itself to
an individual, in commenting upon the manufac-
ture and equipment that made such a feat pos-
sible. The reverse side reviewed in well-chosen
words the development of the phonograph, how
it had the magical power of invoking happiness
and joy or sorrow and sadness. Its value in
spreading the Gospel was also dwelt upon and,
in closing, the record said: "Many a sould would
rejoice and accept religion through my repro-
duction and many a family could be held to-
gether if I were allowed to speak out the truths
of Christianity."
The reproduction of the special record aroused
tremendous and prolonged applause and Mr. Sun-
day had difficulty in finding words to express his
appreciation of the gift.
Gennett records of the tabernacle songs recent-
ly recorded at the Starr factory by Homer Rode-
heaver were then played and enjoyed by the
crowd. An interesting feature of this was the
playing of one verse and chorus of various selec-
tions alternated with the singing of the same
piece by Mr. Rodeheaver, much to the delight of
the throng. The stage was decorated with sev-
eral large baskets of irises presented to Mr.
Sunday by the women of the Starr Piano Co.
The Globe Theatre, where the successful musi-
cal comedy, "Good Morning Dearie," is now in
its twenty-eighth week in New York, has in-
stalled in the ladies' smoking room a beautiful
period model Grafonola. Last week Louise
Groody, star of the show, paid a visit to the
ladies' smoking room between the acts, and there
listened to the Columbia records of "Ka-lu-a" and
DEATH OF JOHN L. SPILLANE
TIE UP ADS WITH MOVING PICTURE
Secretary of Collings & Co., Newark, Passes
Away Suddenly as Result of Operation—
Widely Known in Talking Machine Industry
Canadian Columbia Dealers Take Advantage of
Film "Smilin' Through" to Push Record of
Same Name—Co-operative Ad Campaign
The death of John L. Spillane, secretary of
Collings & Co., Victor jobbers of Newark, N. J.,
which occurred on Thursday, May 18, at St.
Many favorable reports arc being received at
the Columbia Graphophone Co.'s headquarters in
New York from Columbia dealers in Canada who
arc capitalizing on the moving picture entitled
"Smilin' Through," which is now being exploited
throughout Canada. Dealers are tying up with
this timely event by installing attractive window
displays and by extensive newspaper advertising
in the local papers, featuring the Columbia rec-
ord "Smilin' Through," by Oscar Seagle, well-
known Columbia artist.
In Montreal twenty Columbia dealers have
combined their energy and, pooling their adver-
tising appropriations, are carrying large-size
newspaper space in the Montreal papers, and dur-
ing the time that the moving picture is being
shown in this city every dealer has agreed to
carry an attractive window display to tie up with
the advertising. The result of this intensive cam-
paign has been a noticeable increase in sales of
Columbia records of this popular number.
John L. Spillane
Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., following an
operation, was quite a shock to his large circle
of friends, as he appeared recently to be in the
best of health.
Mr. Spillane was one of the best-known mem-
bers of the Victor trade. For many years he was
associated with the Blackmail Talking Machine
Co., New York, Victor wholesaler, holding the
position of assistant secretary with that impor-
tant concern.
With the reorganization of Collings & Price,
under the direction of L. W. Collings and the
forming of Collings & Co., Inc., he was induced
to join this organization. He was generally
recognized as one of the foremost authorities
on Victor distribution, particularly as applied to
records, having specialized on the development
and growth of that department.
It is indeed with regret that the host of friends
which Mr. Spillane had in the trade will learn of
his unexpected death. He was a man who
possessed those admirable traits of character that
endeared him to all with whom he had business
or social relations and who admired him for his
broad sympathies and desire to help his fellow
man.
. Mr. Spillane is survived by his widow, three
sons, John, James, Charles, and a daughter,
Catherine.
Louise Groody and the Grafonola
"Blue Danube Blues," the two leading numbers in
the show. During her visit she entertained the
ladies present with a lively conversation on the
merits of these two particular numbers as they
appeared in the show and commented on the time-
ly release of them on Columbia records. Both
these numbers have met with phenomenal suc-
cess on Columbia records, and so far the demand
seems to be as lively as when they were first
published some time ago, which is a criterion
that they were successes from the very start.
TWO CARLOADS OF GRAFONOLAS
Eastern Outfitting Co. Places Large Order for
Columbia Machines
The credit for the largest individual order of
Columbia Grafonolas placed by a San Francisco
dealer goes to the Eastern Outfitting Co., Co-
lumbia dealer in that city. This company pur-
chased in this one order two entire carloads of
Columbia Grafonolas, and to advertise this event,
J. E. CLOKEY^ NEW POST
Appointed Office Manager of the Sales Depart-
ment of the Columbia Graphophone Co.
J. E. Clokey, who has been connected with
the sales department of the Columbia Grapho-
phone Co., New York, for some time, has just
been appointed office manager of the general sales
department, and is to take up his active duties
there in this capacity immediately. Mr. Clokey
will have charge of the requirements of Colum-
bia branches throughout the country. His pro-
motion to this important post was earned
through his good work, and it is expected that
he will be successful in the management of the
affairs of his new post.
A. E. Landon, manager of the Toronto branch
ot the Columbia Graphophone Co., was a visitor
at Columbia headquarters this week, where he
is to confer with H. L. Pratt on plans for a
Summer campaign among Columbia dealers in
Canada.
The Shore Music Shop, formerly located at
Tennessee and Pacific avenues, Atlantic City,
N. J., is now in its handsome new establishment
at 924 Pacific avenue. A complete line of Vic-
trolas, Starr phonographs and Victor and Gen-
nett records is handled in addition to pianos.
Parade Featuring Carload of Grafonolas
the machines were placed on eight motor trucks
and paraded through the principal streets in the
city. Each truck carried a banner announcing
the arrival of this large number of Grafonolas,
and also announcing the opening date of the sale.
To tie up this publicity full-page newspaper ad-
vertising was carried in the local papers for a
period of two weeks previous to the opening of
the sale. The company has every confidence
that this large number of Grafonolas will be dis-
posed of within a very short time, as already
orders have been booked that will materially re-
duce the number of machines left to be sold.
The E. G. Hays Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa., has
been incorporated in that State for the manufac-
ture and sale of musical instruments, with a
capital of $50,000. Incorporators are E. G. Hays
and C. H. Wilt.