Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9, 1925
"Shufflin' Along" Goes Richmond in
the Good Old "Alabam" They Sing About
Head of the Richmond Music Supply Corp., New York, Visits Montgomery, the Cradle of the
Confederacy, and Especially the Jesse French Piano Co. in That City
X/IONTGOMERY, ALA., May 5.—Mont-
gomery, the cradle of confederacy, is
the capital of Alabama, and was the first
capital of the Confederate States. It has a resi-
dent population of 65,-
000, but the retail
trading zone, within a
radius of fifty miles,
takes in over half a
million.
The
first
White House of Con-
federacy is still to be
seen, the home of
"Jeff" Davis, the great
leader of his day.
How often has that
lovable name of "Ala-
Maurice Richmond
bam" been mentioned
in the old quaint type of ballad as well as in the
modern fox-trot There seems to be "pep" and
zest in the word. The "Land O' Cotton" and
"Alabam" are synonomous. I could fill several
columns sketching the beauties of old, historic
Montgomery, but I know the editor would
object merely on account of lack of space.
Jesse French & Sons Co.
Montgomery is very proud that within its
boundaries is housed the well-known concern,
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.—manufacturers
and distributors of pianos, player-pianos, etc.
H. E. Poston is the local manager. The by-
word of the house is "Quality-first—First Quali-
ty." In addition to the piano lines, it handles
the Victor and Columbia phonographs, Zenith
radio, musical instruments and has a complete
attractive sheet music department.
This
branch was first organized in 1916. There is
another branch in Mobile, while the headquar-
ters are at New Castle, Ind.
The name of "Jesse French" has been well
known since 1875. It has a large following
throughout the . United States. When the
World War broke out in 1914 this company
organized an export department from its fac-
tory plant and now many hundreds of pianos
annually are shipped over-seas to all parts of
the globe.
In 1875, when this firm practically started,
there were but few piano makers and few buy-
ers, because the instruments then were just
large square pianos and very expensive. During
the past fifty years Mr. Jesse French says he
has seen many changes. "The square, on which
my first piano experience was founded, has
come and gone. The cottage organ, the sacred
harmonies of which contributed so much to the
POPULAR
SONG SUCCESSES
You May Mean the
Whole World to
Somebody Else
Headin' Home to
Oklahoma
Island Nights
happiness of the people in humble dwellings,
is now seldom seen. The grand piano has al-
ways been conceded to be the 'King' of musical
art. Within the last ten years this fact has
been appreciated to such an extent that grand
pianos are leaving their old haunts and position
of strictly being the possession of artists and
have become one of the most necessary pieces
of furniture in a living room."
The Jesse French & Sons Piano Co. make
many styles of upright and grand pianos. In
a pamphlet issued by the concern, they list
thirty-six foreign countries where their pianos
are in use.
Mr. Poston had been connected with the
manufacturing end of the Jesse French Co., at
New Castle, for eight years. He took charge
of the Montgomery branch in September, 1924.
He showed me a booklet, printed by Jesse
French & Son, showing important points oi
the city with many illustrations of schools and
churches who are using the Jesse French pianos
and who had expressed their appreciation of the
instruments. The illustrations show the homes
of nearly one hundred instruments—just in
public institutions. It goes on with a talk to
the dealer in which it says: "Look at this—see
what can be done in one county. If this record
can be made in Montgomery county—why not
in your own? Many sales were also made to
a number of the most discriminating families
in the county, families of high culture, homes of
doctors, lawyers and many notables in local in-
dustries."
The day I was in the city Mr. Poston extend-
ed an invitation to me to be his guest at the
Lion's Club, for lunch. I was thoroughly enter-
tained. First of all, the lunch was free so far
as I was concerned.
There were several
courses, and they were all good, including the
dessert. But the big surprise wa? a splendid
short concert rendered by a lady vocalist and
a few selections given by two charming ladies,
violin and piano duets. The Lion is a very
energetic animal, always hunting for what he
can find. The men "Lions" I found at this club
were appropriate in that they were strong in
character and energetic, but they were a splen-
did lot of men with a friendly spirit in their
souls.
Right at Home
The moment I entered the Jesse French
Piano Co.'s store, and met the general manager,
Mr. Poston, I felt at home. He grabbed me by
the arm, rushed me into his private office, and
introduced me to all the folks. "Without
boastin* about Poston" he made me feel as
though I had found some long-lost cousin. He
apologized for the store not being in excellent
order, for it was being remodeled by enlarging
the sheet music department and beautifying the
store in a general way. Mr. Poston said he had
been on the job pretty steadily since he came
to Montgomery, and that he was well pleased
with the results. He seems to thrive on work.
He certainly looks the picture of health, with
his boyish appearance and pinkish complexion.
Mr. Poston said to me: "Work is the healthi-
est play in all the world when you like the
game. Even Adam had an idea that he could
spend his time lounging under an apple tree, but
he was soon taught that he must work or go
without the eats, that he must get busy in the
right way or feed on mulberries and sleep in
the swamp. With work, there must be per-
petual interest so that you can become enthu-
siastic. You can then do more, earn more and
be happier. But you will never realize or cash
in on these things until you become enthusiastic
over your work. It must mean life itself
throughout. Enthusiasm is the emblem of
energy. It points where you are to-day and
47
predicts where you will be to-morrow. With-
out enthusiasm in your work, you are simply
chasing a rainbow of promise that recedes as
you advance."
Sheet Music Stock
The sheet music stock consists of a large as-
sortment of Wood Edition, Schirmer Library,
a complete series of Appleton books, called the
"Green Cover Line," all standard editions of
studies, and an attractive display of all the
popular hits of the day. This department is
very ably managed by Mrs. W. Y. Smith. This
little lady "song-smith" is so wrapped up in her
music work that half the time she forgets to
take her lunch hour although the store is right
within the walls of one of the best hotels in
the city which serve plenty of good food.
Another enthusiast of the Jesse French house
is Mrs. Juanita Roberts who has been at the
head of the bookkeeping department for seven
years. She has charge of all the credits, scoops
in all the money she can, and passes it out
with real wisdom. This "Senorita" is much in-
terested in music. It adds much to her happi-
ness to be in a musical atmosphere.
The Alabama Federation of Music Club is
part of the National Federation of Music
Clubs. The State president is Mrs. W. C. Giles
of Opelika, Ala. The State officers of 1924-
1925 are many of the important people in musi-
cal circles throughout the State.
Again exemplifying the real Southern hos-
pitality at the hotel the morning newspaper is
tucked under your door and the caption reads,
"Top O' the Morning To You." Upon enter-
ing the dining room, a prim little colored lady
brings you an eye-opener of dripped Southern
coffee. This is given to you with the compli-
ments of the house. The headwaiter brings
the menu, listing various combinations, and he
is followed by the waiter himself. When the
food comes, you may be served with a break-
fresh egg that is "over-ripe." You really can't
find fault with the waiter, he didn't lay the
egg. And my appetite immediately turned to
cereal.
Irving Mills on Road
Irving Mills, of Jack Mills, Inc., who sings
with Jimmie McHugh, professional manager of
the company, over the radio where they are
broadcasters as the Hotsy Totsy Boys, has
left on a trade trip which will cover over 10,000
miles. Mr. Mills will not only visit the trade in
that territory but has scheduled appearances at
broadcasting stations in Detroit, Mich.; Chicago,
Minneapolis, Baltimore, Oxford, Miss.; Uni-
versity Place, Nebr. and many others.
SLEEPIN
BEAUTYS
WEDDIN
SOB
SISTER
SADIE
ARTRE
ROSE
OLD
SWEETHEART