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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Doings in the Sheet Music Trade in
St. Louis, Mo., and in Omaha, Neb.
Maurice Richmond, of the Richmond Musical Supply Corp., Sums Up Conditions in These Two
Western Cities—Written Exclusively for the Music Trade Review
C T . LOUIS, MO., September 23.—St. Louis
has a million population, but is better known
as the home of the Dixon-Lane Music Publish-
ing Co., Inc., the publishers of the world-famous
song "Call Me Back Pal O' Mine," by Harold
Dixon. It has helped
this company to keep
the wolf away from
the door to such an
extent that the well-
known oil man, Mr.
Sinclair, got wind of
the
tremendous
a m o u n t of invest-
ments that it was
making and immedi-
ately got on its trail
and sold it some oil.
Maurice Richmond
"Nuff sed."
Harry Von Til/.er's flowing melody, "Under
The Anheuscr Busch," also Bullard's "Stein
Song," would have been impossible without St.
Louis beer, but these compositions would never
have seen daylight now as they would have
been singing "How Dry I Am" instead.
The Hunleth Music Co. is an institution
which deals in everything musical. It is nicely
situated in a splendid location and is well
thought of in the community.
The Murray-Volhnar Music Co., Inc., is com-
posed of two men who are thoroughly familiar
with every angle of the music business. To
reveal the number of years that Murray has
been in the music business would probably
make him very proud. Just how his grand-
children feel about it I cannot say. Mr. Mur-
ray traveled for a number of years for G. Schir-
mer of New York. Walter Vollmar is of the
old school, having had his early training with
the old Thiebes-Stierling Music Co. of St. Louis.
This makes a splendid combination, and, with
the impressive store they are located in, there
can be nothing but success ahead for them.
An incident of real interest to the entire music
industry occurred in St. Louis just twenty years
ago during the St. Louis Exposition. The
writer was traveling through the Middle West
and decided to spend a few days with the rest
of the on-lookers at the Fair. While in the
lobby of the old Planter's Hotel I was con-
fronted by Mr. and Mrs. Leo Feist, the stand-
ard bearer in the popular music field. They
were on their honeymoon, and when he saw
me he nearly collapsed. He confided in me
that he had just reached town, a stranger in a
strange city, and had $1.19 in his pocket. He
said: "I need some money. Do you know any-
body that will cash my check?" The fact of the
matter was I was in the same condition finan-
cially as my dear friend Mr. Feist, but I stated
that I knew some people in town who would
gladly see us through. That gentleman was
none other than Charles Ralmer, of the old
Balmer & Weber Music Co., which proves that
A riot wherever it is sung
Oh, Sweet Mamma, Come Home
A New Mama Song with Great Comedy Lines
Published by
JOHN S1MK0, 294 Carroll St., AKRON, 0 .
a man may be "down" but never really "out."
In a personal interview, Walter B. Simon, in
his office at the Dixon-Lane Music Publishing
Co., Inc., revealed the fact that Harold Dixon's
new ballad "Oh For a Pal Like You" is now
enjoying a splendid sale and has all the ear-
marks of a duplication of the universal success,
"Call Me Back Pal O' Mine." I was pleasantly
surprised to see the number of other high-class
ballads that this house is bringing out. It is
doing splendid work in creating a demand for
them with the better-class of song requirements.
It has opened a beautiful high-class music store
in the same building on the street floor under the
management of Walter Starck, who is one of
the pioneers in musical circles in St. Louis and
is making splendid headway. It is only a ques-
tion of time and this will be the real rendezvous
for the musical public of St. Louis.
Oliver Shattinger, formerly of the Shattinget
Music Store of this city, is now devoting his
entire time and energy to his own publications,
and is quite pleased with the progress he is
making.
It will be of considerable interest to the
music industry to know that St. Louis is the
home of one of the most progressive and widely
known musical enterprises that has been under-
taken in America in recent years, namely, the
Municipal Opera, a semi-public, non-profit mak-
ing corporation under the name of The Munici-
pal Opera Association. This has been in effect
for the last six years and has proven a tre-
mendous success, the attendance at the operas
ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 persons a perform-
ance. The theatre itself is a very beautiful out-
door amphitheatre and has been called by judges
one of the most beautiful of its kind in the
world. Give more thought to music" is a slogan
that is used a great deal in this city, and un-
doubtedly must have a splendid psycological
effect.
OMAHA
The long-distance train on the C. B. & Q.
puffed into Omaha right on time, bright and
early in the morning.
This city is wide awake in musical circles.
A. Hospe Co. is a complete music house that
meets with every requirement of the public.
This concern is now celebrating its golden
anniversary, fifty years in business. It started
October 23, 1874, with a snug sum of sixty-five
dollars. The most remarkable thing of this en-
tire period has been that the very same lines
that Mr. Hospe opened with, he is still handling
to-day, alert and active, looking after his busi-
ness every business day.
Mr. Hospe has paid 100 cents on the dollar
through his entire career, and has gone through
many panics. He relates many novel experiences
that happened in the first years of his business,
when Omaha was a small settlement of a few
thousand souls who knew more about life out-
doors than about music and art. People would
often go to his store and put down five cents
on the counter and ask for a glass of beer.
Women would call for items foreign to his line.
The public didn't have the remotest idea what
music and art meant in their life.
I was curious to learn soinething about the
secret of Mr. Hospe's success, not only in
SEPTEMBER 27, 1924
worldly profits, but the fact that he displayed
such a youthful spirit—seventy years young, a
keen eye and a splendid sense of humor. Mr.
Hospe gave me first-hand the following ten
business commandments, and he hopes that the
fellow dealer who has not learned his little
book may derive some good from it:
1. All eggs in one basket: "Minding my own
business."
2. Know your business thoroughly.
3. Sign no endorsements; loan no money.
4. Have regular habits; don't dissipate.
5. Exercise physically and mentally, daily.
6. Leave the spirituous liquors alone, boot-
leg or otherwise.
7. Don't bite off too much: "Let good enough
alone."
8. Keep close tabs on what's coming in and
going out.
9. Be honest with yourself. Smile hard and
often, as every smile means dollars to you.
10. Vote the Republican ticket and play safe.
The music department of this concern is ably
managed by Charles F. Boyce, who is thor-
oughly familiar with music, being a splendid
musician himself.
The Schmoller & Mueller Piano Co., music
house of Omaha, Neb., has been established for
many years, and has several branches through-
out the State. It represents many of the best
instruments, such as the Steinway, etc. It ad-
vertises "exclusive representatives for the
world's best." Its sheet music department is
managed by Henry Pusch, a young German lad
who has really accomplished more than any of
his predecessors. Although this young man has
only been in America two years, he has thor-
oughly Americanized himself and is conducting
the department very efficiently. In his own
words, "I believe it will be difficult for me to
learn just what your American jazz composers
mean, and their history," and confesses to know
very little about them. He feels very much at
home with the standards, classics, and the writ-
ings of the masters.
One music man who is well known in the
field is Ed Patten. He is conducting a com-
pact music shop on one of the most important
spots in the city, handling Victor goods, Conn
instruments and everything in music from be-
ginning to end. He claims to have increased
his business right straight along; particularly
his cash trade from the country has shown an
increase of 20 per cent since August. The
worries and the activities in the music depart-
ment are nicely handled by Mrs. Harriet Friend
Stevenson, a little lady who displays an un-
limited amount of personality.
The next thing in order was something to
sustain life with, and I visited the Brandeis
Department Store roof garden, a beautiful high-
class cafe conducted by this store, and was sur-
prised to hear Art Randall's orchestra, the best
dance music in this section of the country.
Portland Popular Sellers
PORTLAND, ORK., September 17.—According to the
sheet music departments of the city of the new
Rcmick numbers "Follow the Swallow," "That Lost
Sweetheart of Mine" and "Dreamer of Dreams"
are in big demand, and the new Remick ballad,
"Old Pal," "Charley, My Boy," "June Night,"
"Maytime" and "Dooble Doo Doo" are other
sellers.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
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