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APRIL 28,
1923
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
11
REVIEW
MUSIC SUPERVISOR ASSOCIATION MEETS IN CLEVELAND
Number of Musical Instrument Firms Make Exhibits During Convention—Local Association to
Take Action Against "Gyp" Sales—Northern Ohio Association Active
By far the most impressive exhibit, one that
CLEVELAND, 0., April 24.—Seldom has any city
had the opportunity to stage a musical event showed every modern musical instrument, was
that influenced the people of the community so that of the Conn interests, staged by R. R.
significantly as has Cleveland in connection with Story, district manager, and J. F. Boyer, secre-
the convention of the National Music Super- tary, the C. G. Conn, Ltd. Mr. Boyer, himself
visors' Conference, which has closed a week's a nationally known pianist and organist, was one
session here. More than 2,000 supervisors of of the demonstrators of instruments, giving
school music, from every State, attended and daily concerts. Other noted musicians who ap-
discussed new methods for interesting the chil- peared in connection with this showing were
H. Bennie Henton, saxophone soloist with
dren of the schools in musical education.
From the strictly trade viewpoint, however, Sousa's Band, and Allie Clarke, first trombone,
the event was decidedly advantageous to the Cleveland Orchestra. It was the opinion of Mr.
music industry locally, for many angles were Story that millions of children throughout the
linked with the conference, in the way of ex- country will be reached with the propaganda
hibits in Hotel Statler, where the convention that supervisors will spread as a result of the
held forth; at the hall where the music memory enthusiasm aroused over the exhibits they saw
contest was staged so that delegates would be here.
able to witness the progress of this feature; in '
The music memory semi-final contest was held
the way that school bands and orchestras took during the week the supervisors were here.
part, and in the whole-hearted co-operation This event brought out the Lourdes Academy
given the affair by individual music merchants. Senior as winner, with Dawning School, Pros-
pect School and Central High School following
Russell Morgan, Assistant Supervisor of In-
strumental Music in Cleveland Schools, was the in that order. Liberal support was given by
factor that brought the industry and the super- talking machine interests in the way of loaning
visors together. There were many demonstra- machines and giving of $600 worth of records
tions of what Cleveland schools are doing to for use in the contest. Several firms gave talk-
further music interest among the younger ele- ing machines as prizes to winning schools. This
ment, but perhaps the best illustration of this work was under the direction of Mrs. Grazella
was the demonstration of the skill of the eighty Puliver Shepherd, supervisor of musical appre-
members of the Glenville High School Girls' ciation in public schools.
Band, tlie first all-girls school band to be or-
Keen interest was shown in the Meissner
ganized, and still the largest of its kind. The piano, said to be the smallest piano made, which
next best showing in this direction is the West was demonstrated by W. Otto Meissner, its in-
Tech High School Girls' Band, smaller and ventor. Mr. Meissner also held a choral hour
newer, but quite as proficient, sufficiently so to at a local hall, in which some 500 supervisors
appear at the conference and also at the Build- took part.
ing Show, which was in progress during the con-
Association Plans Closer Co-operation
ference. The Glenville aggregation also was
The April meeting of the Cleveland Music
heard at Public Hall. In the latter are four Trade Association was marked with the adop-
girls, Lillian Shifrin, Sylvia Atlas, Althea Ker- tion of plans looking toward improving condi-
lin and Phruna Yahrans, each thirteen years tions in the piano industry here. First of these
old, who never played any instruments, they will be the presentation of a tentative measure,
say, before last December. These girls and adopted from the ordinance now in operation
their associates astounded the delegates at the in St. Louis, wherein it is hoped to curb house
conference, as well as the thousands of people sales of pianos, masquerading as private sales
who heard them and other bands and orchestras in liner advertising in local newspapers. Sec-
daily during the session.
retary Rexford C. Hyre will confer with Law
The work of band organization here is Director J. Paul Lamb on the preparation of
under the direction of Griffith J. Jones, director the measure and its presentation to council. The
of instrumental instruction, who also is the band move is an outcome of specific instances of this
leader, and his faculty, that of making the chil- evil cited by O. C. Muehlhauser, of the Muehl-
dren like to do this work, is a secret of its hauser Bros. Piano Co.; H. B. Bruck, of the
success in Cleveland, according to Mr. Morgan. H. B. Bruck & Sons Co., and others at the
Other groups that took part in the conference meeting.
President Harry R. Valentine, .of the Drelier
were the Boys' Glee Club, Davenport, la., and
the Grand Rapids Central High School Band Piano Co., inaugurated the plan for an exchange
of listing of instruments handled by the in-
and Orchestra.
All these young people, and many who were dividual members of the Association. These
not connected with musical organizations, took lists are being turned in to Secretary Hyre,
the keenest interest in the exhibits of local mer- and when the full complement of lists is at
chants. Their interest was equal to that of the hand they will be compiled and redistributed
supervisors, who, in the case of the Conn Cleve- among all members. The object of this, ex-
land Co. of the C. G. Conn, Ltd., exhibit, in- plained President Valentine, is to give every
dicated they saw instruments that were entirely dealer an idea of the lines the other dealers are
handling.
new to them.
"Often a customer will come into a store,
A pretentious exhibit was that of the Ameri-
can Piano Co., with Franklin S. Dunham, edu- ask for a certain instrument, and, not being able
cational director, in charge. Ampicos and to get it in the store he is in, wishes to know
straight pianos, including Chickering, Knabe, where lie can buy it," says Mr. Valentine. "A
Marshall & Wendell, Fisher and Haines, were customer like that often cannot be sold, and
used daily in connection with vocal soloists' since there is business to be had from him, he
appearances. The exhibit also included a Chick- should be referred to the dealer who has the
ering instrument, said to have been built in 1823, instrument he wants. The same situation will
and on which Lowell Mason is said to have be reversed, so that the original dealer will be
able to get a customer from some other dealer,
composed "Nearer, My God, to Thee."
The American exhibit was extended to the and much good can come from having this
Building Show, where Jess Van Camp and Miss knowledge of the lines, we believe."
Co-operation between members of this Asso-
Ethel Beebce sang to the accompaniment of
an Ampico. The instruments for these purposes ciation and the Music Industries Chamber of
were supplied jointly by the May Co. piano de- Commerce in furthering the publication of a
trade-in blue book is likely, but additional data
partment and the Knabe Warcrooms.
Novelty and standard instruments of the on this subject will be obtained by Secretary
Buescher vintage were displayed by the Euclid Hyre, whereupon the move in Cleveland may get
Music Co. under direction of J. R. Frew, vice- under way.
Hope that the bill in the State legislature
president of the company.
that would make a felony of false information
in connection with chattel mortgage deals would
pass now has little ground for realization. The
bill apparently did not meet with the approval
of the committee, since it may have considered
that the present law is sufficient for the piano
merchant's need, and it is probable that along
this line measures will have to be adopted to
continue to safeguard the dealers' interests.
Where Music Was a Necessity
Marathon dancers in Cleveland have had one
short week of fame and now go into the dis-
card along with the natural gas rate settlement.
Yet while the fanaticism lasted they had the
time of their lives. All of which is of little con-
sequence except that they could have done
nothing without music, and that two pianos in
one hall were used up. Two young men, one
Horn and another one Arnold, established some
records themselves, the first playing constantly
for four hours, the other for five hours at one
stretch, in one of the contests in which twelve
couples were competing. In this affair the
well-known public had its inning, for when a
pianist finally quit there were plenty of boys
and girls to take their places. Undoubtedly a
good time was had by all.
Color Organ Is Exhibited
Clavikux, a soundless organ that is credited
with creating the same sensations that music
creates, only in this instance colors thrown on
a screen do the business, was to make its first"
public appearance here at Public Hall, April 22.
The instrument is the invention of Thomas Wil-
fred, who also was to lecture on the subject.
Headquarters preceding the event were estab-
lished at Knabe Warerooms.
Anthony J. Stasny, noted music publisher of
New York, and former resident of Cleveland,
died in the East and was buried this week from
the home of his mother in this city. Mr. Stasny
started a small business in New York several
years ago, which rapidly grew into one of the
best-known music publishing houses in the
country.
Interested in New Association
Piano merchants are taking a keen interest in
the progress of the new Music Merchants' Asso-
ciation of Northern Ohio. At the April meeting
of this Association here this week more new
members were admitted, including the Kratz
Piano Co., Akron; Cleveland Piano Co., H. R.
Grossman, Fred Ellsasser, William Taylor Son
& Co. and C. E. Marshall, the Vocalion Co. of
Ohio. The mefnbership drive under leadership
of Edward B. Lyons, Eclipse Musical Co., and
Leslie I. King, Brunswick interests, will be con-
tinued.
Slogan, the first of monthly selections of
this nature, was adopted at this meeting, "What
drives away care? : ' Other slogans will be de-
vised by the committee headed by John Ortli,
Ortli Music Co., until one that has the most
pulling power on the public is obtained, where-
upon this may be used as the permanent slogan
of the organization. Streamers will be printed
for use in windows and stores of members and
a release date will be announced for their dis-
play by Secretary Rexford C. Hyre.
The Association also plans an exchange of
credit information that will tend to bar out the
prospect that wants to use an instrument for
a month for nothing and then return it, only to
go to another dealer and repeat the perform-
ance. Future meetings also will be attended by
prominent speakers on pertinent trade topics
and first of these will be provided by J. L. Du
Breuil, of the Sonora Phonograph Ohio Co.
The Clias. A. Ross Co., of this city, has been
granted a charter of incorporation under the
laws of this State.
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