Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
31, 1924
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Duo-Art Plays an Important Part in
Crothers' Comedy " Expressing Willie
9
LAUTER
62nd Year
How Much
Pleased Customer
Business Do
YOU Get?
Duo-Art in Scene of
HKN Rachel Crothers wrote the play "Ex-
pressing Willie," now at the Forty-eighth
Street Theatre, New York, she wrote the story
as it came to her, not reckoning on the difficul-
ties later to be encountered when it came to
filling the rather exacting requirements of the
cast, in particular "Minnie," the talented small-
town heroine who, at a critical passage in the
production, was called upon to play the piano
in a manner to thrill all those who attended the
performance.
In selecting someone to play "Minnie" it was
necessary to choose either a fine actress who
could play the piano with exceptional ability
or an able pianist capable of portraying the
dramatic possibilities of the role, and either
combination seemed impossible to realize.
The result was that Crystal Hernc, the well-
"Expressing Willie"
known actress, was selected for the role of
"Minnie" and the question of proper piano play-
ing was met by the placing on the stage of a
specially designed Steinway Duo-Art piano,
from which Miss Herne, with the aid only of
her fingers, apparently produces the thrilling
melody that represents such an important factor
in the play.
John Powell's recording of a Chopin scherzo
is the composition selected as being most ap-
propriate and that the results are satisfying is
indicated by the enthusiasm shown nightly both
by members of the cast and the audience itself,
many members of which believe that Miss
Herne herself is playing. As one critic wrote:
"Miss Herne sits down at the piano and plays
so well that one really believes she has sud-
denly come by the touch of musicianly genius."
Believes Direct-by-Mail
Publicity Should Be Shown
the members of the Trade Service Committee
that in the future provision be made for direct-
mail campaign advertising displays during the
time that the conventions are being held, and I
sincerely hope that they will look favorably upon
it as I feel very certain that we are not the only
house that would be interested in displaying
matter of this character."
W
Advertising Matter of That Character Should
Have a Regular Place in the Convention Ex-
hibits, Declares E. I. Kaiper
CINCINNATI, O., May 26.—A suggestion pertain-
ing to the display of direct-mail advertising mat-
ter in the National Advertising Display, which
is held annually at the conventions of the Allied
Music Industries, was sent this week to the
members of the Trade Service Committee of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce by
Elmer I. Kaiper, president of the Vocalstyle
Music Co., this city.
The Vocalstyle Music Co. has been using for
some time a direct-by-mail national advertising
campaign which has proved very profitable to
the dealers handling this line. Regarding this
Mr. Kaiper said to The Review representative
to-day:
"The national advertising campaign which we
arc using has met with such favor and success
and has been complimented so highly that we
feel that it is deserving of the recognition of the
music trade through the Chamber of Commerce.
I have found on investigation, however, that the
national advertising display is confined to adver-
tising published in national magazines only and
have been advised by the Trade Service Bureau
that on this account the proper space has not
been provided for for direct-by-mail advertising
displays. This has been disappointing to us and
I can imagine to many others who are utiliz-
ing advertising campaigns of this character.
1 have, therefore, to-day mailed a suggestion to
What docs it avail a dealer to
sell his customers cheap player
pianos? They are never satis-
fied and will not recommend
the instrument to their friends
—and the continual trips of the
repair man eat deeply into your
profits.
What a difference
Lauter-Humana!
with
the
Your c u s t o m e r s are satisfied
from the m o m e n t that this
player piano enters their homes.
And they are kept satisfied be-
cause their instruments are al-
ways in perfect playing condi-
tion, thanks to the careful con-
struction and v a r i o u s protec-
tions that keep the valves and
tracker bar free of dust, paper,
etc.
Brunswick Laboratories Move
This week marked the completion of the new
recording laboratory of the Phonograph Divi-
sion of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.,
New York, and the entire recording plant, under
the management of W. A. Brophy, has been
transferred to the top floor of the new Bruns-
wick Building at Fifty-second street and Sev-
enth avenue. The laboratory has been located
at 16 West Thirty-sixth street since 1920, and
several of the ideas developed by Mr. Brophy
at the former location have been worked out in
the design and general layout of the new depart-
ment.
Our dealers tell us that they
can count upon every Lauter-
Humana sold bringing in a defi-
nite amount of new sales.
LAUTER CO.
591 Broad St., Newark, N.J.
Hardman-Peck Visitors
Among the visitors at the executive offices
of Hardman, Peck & Co., New York, this week
was William Schmoller, of the piano house of
Schmoller & Mueller, Omaha, Neb.
Mr.
Schmoller spent a few days in New York prior
to his sailing for Europe, his trip to be ex-
tended through the greater part of the Summer.
Other visitors calling on the Hardman estab-
lishment were Fred F. Kramer, of Allentown,
Pa., and Frank D. Perry, of Hudson, N. Y.
Manufacturers of
Fine Pianos