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54
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
MARCH 28, 1925
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Conditions Among the Sheet
Music Merchants of Richmond, Va.
Maurice Richmond, of the Richmond Music Sup ply Corp., New York, Tells of the Conditions
Existing Among the Retail Merchants There—Written Exclusively for The Review
On the opposite side is the sheet music depart-
ment where every standard edition, likewise the
classics are carried complete, vocal, piano and
for every other instrument. The popular music
display is particularly interesting in its arrange-
ment, freshness of stock, displaying all the up-
to-the-minute successes the public is demanding.
Through his many years' experience Mr. Cor-
bitt has profited evidently to the extent of mak-
ing his department one of the few real musical
rendezvous of the country. He is the type who
thinks much more than he says, for thinking
out problems and then putting them into action
is his way of performance. From his view-
point he puts the light in this manner: "There
are three kind of thinkers, those who think in
advance, those who think in time and those who
think too late. The result of success depends
Maurice Richmond
t a k e n
o v e r
f r o m
the Cable Company by J. G. Corley. In 1921 upon which class of thinker you are. Original
young and energetic Frank W. Corley was thinking in advance of action brings undoubt-
made vice-president and G. William Greener edly the best results. Real thinking gives more
was elected treasurer. This house uses as its breadth to the soul and spirit. As the old say-
slogan "The House That Made Richmond Mu- ing goes, think first before you do and you will
sical." It is a jobber and distributor of the not have any regrets. To philosophize this
Victor line, and also a retailer of Victor goods. thought, when our heads are covered with
white snow that never melts, can we look back
In its piano lines it features the entire Cable
line, Mason & Hamlin, and the Duo-Art. J. G. over our lives and say T took time to think!'"
Lee-Fergusson Piano Co.
Corley, the president, holds a similar position
The name of Lee-Fcrgusson in the music cir-
of the Wednesday Club, a choral society that
cles of Richmond has been in existence for over
lias been instrumental in bringing to this city
thirty years. This house features the Chicker-
many great artists. He has the honor of hav-
ing piano as leader, The American Piano Co.
ing been the first president of the local Rotary
Club. This firm operates three stores, head- line, including Marshall & Wendell and Am-
pico, the P>rambach, Estey, Mehlin and Gul-
quarters at Richmond, a branch at Petersburg,
bransen, with the complete Victor line and So-
Va., managed by J. K. Fletcher, and one at
Durham, N. C, headed by A. C. Cavedo. In a nora, selected line of musical merchandise of
short interview with the treasurer, G. William every description, and a representative stock of
sheet music essential to a first-class music store.
Greener, he stated that the year just passed
was very successful, for, due to the energetic Mr. Fergusson is of the type who is on the "in-
side looking out" for business. He has been
work of Frank W. Corley, the firm went out
and got the business. Mr. Greener also related successful not only in his own line but in many
his first activities with the old Richmond Music outside interests. His organization, while com-
Co., when Mr. Paull was active and when pub- pact, is a very happy one, due to Mr. Fergus-
lishing was quite an item. The first march, son's personality, which is so reflected and
demonstrated through his willingness to give
called "I'en Hur Chariot Race,"—how it did sell
by the tens of thousands! It is still selling to- his employes all the due credit.
Upon entering the store I was met by Miss
day.
The manager of the musical instrument de- Inez Verser, the charming little lady who is in
partment, as well as the sheet music, is an in- charge of the front part of the store, the sheet
dividual who is known to many of us in the music, phonographs and other merchandise and
who isalso asort of general utility personage. Mr.
industry. Guy H. Corbitt carries an endorse-
Fergusson greeted me very pleasantly and asked
ment of twenty^five years' experience in this
me to come into his office for a little chat. He
line of work. He started originally with John
F. Ellis & Co., at Washington, D. C. He was believes in personal liberty in spite of the fact
later with Sanders & Stayman, and traveled a that every institution needs law and order, but
few years after that for the old American Mu- resents the necessity of hard rules and regula-
tions to himself and to his employes. Never-
sic Stores outfit. He has been associated with
the Corley Co. for ten-years. It is hardly nec- theless his business is well organized to the
. essary to describe the completeness of this extent that he is not a slave to it and is able
to take an occasional holiday, which sure stops
store, likewise the attractiveness of the depart-
him from going to seed. He talked to me
ments managed by Mr. Corbitt. The musical
about his recent trip to Florida and how he en-
instrument department comprises the best
that is manufactured, such as Ruescher saxo- joyed it. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club,
Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Association
phones, the Gibson and Martin lines, Roth vio-
and everything connected with musical circles.
lins and Ludwig drums, etc.
The sheet music department has such a mag- He disclosed the fact that his great hobby in
the piano line is specializing particularly on
netic atmosphere to the consumer for its
attractiveness. The woodwork is in silver oak. grand pianos and he is known that way. His
On one side you will find an attractive display motto is to look upon the bright side of every-
of musical, instruments in glass cases with slid- thing. He said, "It is wise to keep a good tem-
per and lose a bad one. Why waste energy?
ing doors where every instrument is systemat-
We must all make the best of to-day. This is
ically arranged. The wood on the interior is
the only day you have. There is no to-morrow.
covered with plush, even to the extent of the
To-day is the time, the season out of which
shelving holding the instruments cut to fit
T> ICHMOND, VA., March 25 —Richmond,
"•• the capital city of Virginia, has been asso-
ciated in national events since 1609, the present-
day population given as 215,000 and is termed
the center of Southern
culture.
Corley Piano Co.
The Corley Piano
Co. was o r i g i n a l l y
called the Richmond
Music Co. and was
started back in 1880 by
John G. Corley and E.
T. Paull, the deceased
music publisher and
famous march king. In
1911 the business was
SONGS THAT SELL
Listening (New), by Irving Berlin
Yearning (New)
All Alone, by Irving Berlin
Seventeen
Oh, How 1 Miss You Tonight
Show Me the Way (New)
Ukulele Lady (New)
All Aboard for Heaven (New)
Marie, Marie, Marie
My Sweetie and Me
Can't Your Friend Get a Friend for Me?
Oh, Mabel (New)
Please Be Good to My Old Girl
What'll I Do?
I Ain't Got Nobody to Love
Hot Tamale Molly
—
—
—
BOOKS THAT SELL
TIDDLE DE UKES — Comic Songs for
the Ukulele
Universal
Dance Folio No. 8
X Special 1925
Edition
Peterson's Ukulele Method
—
World's Favorite Songs
4th MUSIC BOX REVUE, 1925
In the Shade of a Sheltering Tree
Tell Her in the Springtime
Tokio Blues
DIXIE TO BROADWAY
Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
Dixie Dreams
Hits Irom TOPSY and EVA
Rememb'ring
I Never Had a Mammy
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
you can build your success and happiness. The
question is how are you utilizing the hours of
to-day. If you are banking- on the elusive to-
morrow you are wasting your now for the un-
certain to-morrow."
The little lady whom we call Miss Inez Ver-
ser is of the peppy type, on the job continually
with an alert and active mind and a very pleas-
ant and cheerful outlook upon everything. The
department is compact in view of the fact that
it carries special lines boiled down to a concen-
trated stock in order to have a greater turn-
over.
Dealers' Association
Virginia has an organization called the Music
Teachers of Virginia, headed by Miss Edna
Shaeffcr, of Harrisonburg, Va. Recently this or-
ganization were the guests of the local music
dealers' association.
They were splendidly
taken care of and a very interesting program
was arranged. This local organization com-
prises the following houses in the trade: The
Corley Co., Lee-Fergusson Piano Co., Walter
D. Moses & Co., Crafts Piano Co., Biggs Music