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46
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
JUNE 27,
1925
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
live here, might have justified the predictions
and given up," he said.
Mr. Philpitt's first establishment in Florida
was at Jacksonville, where he initiated a full-
fledged, complete musical business in Cohen's
Head of the Richmond Music Supply Corp., of New York, Leaves the Town a Booster for It— Department Store, on April 1, 1916, selling
Some of the Things He Saw There and Did There During His Stay
pianos, Victrolas and other musical instruments
and sheet music.
TV/IIAMI, FLORIDA, June 13.—Miami is the pitt, the business side and the personal. The
Thirty days later, on May 1, 1916, he shipped
tropical zone of Florida, where Winter is business aspect is marked by integrity and fixed three pianos to Miami by way of a trial. He
turned to Summer. Miami, the Magic City— policies applied unswervingly along the line of secured space down by the Fotosho, for ten
the city of adventure and tropical wonderland the highest principles in merchandising. The days, and at the end of that time rented half
where business cares personal side is one of warm and easy friend- of the store which was divided by a rail into
and worries vanish un- liness and courtesy that is an asset of no mean two sections.
der the spell of the value.
One year later Mr. Philpitt established a
glorious sunshine. It
He was born in Washington, D. C, in 1874 branch at Tampa and later still one at St.
is the most popular and has been "growing younger ever since he Petersburg and Orlando. He plans to open
Winter resort in Amer- came to Florida." He received his early educa- several more. With keen foresight, Mr. Philpitt
ica. The climate is su- tion in Washington public schools and later in realized that with the increasing number of
perb. Miami is the Sadler, Bryant & Stratton's business college in Northerners wintering in Miami and others in-
tourist's delight, the Washington and Baltimore. At the age of tending to spend their declining years here,
fisherman's paradise— thirteen, he started in the business world, as an Florida was a growing State and that, given
t h e golfist's wonder- errand boy, chief porter and making himself even the normal growth that appeared at thai
land, the surf-bather's generally useful for $1.50 per week, in the time, there would come a day when the bunga-
joy, the yachtsman's service of the R. M. Stultz Music Co. of Balti- lows then being erected would want more, than
Maurice Richmond
rendezvous, the horse- more. During the twenty-eight years in which the bare necessaries of life, and that as more
racing Utopia. It is truly the outdoor city. he worked for others, before entering into busi- pretentious homes were built, there would arise
Biscayne Bay, Miami's beautiful waterfront, is ness for himself in Florida in 1916, he was man- a demand for proper furnishings and for the
one of the world's most famous protected har- ager of the sheet music department and later better grade of musical instruments.
bors. Westward across the Fverglades, the buyer and manager for E. F. Droop & Sons Co.,
Being ever alert to create, publicity and instill
Tamiami trail extends now to the Dade county Washington, D. C. Later, he entered the serv- the interest of the public in music, in 1919,
line. This will eventually be a famous motor ice of M. D. Swisher of Philadelphia, and then Mr. Philpitt brought to Miami the first of the
highway connecting the Gulf with the ocean.
with John Wanamaker of that city, as buyer internationally known artists whose concerts
Miami has at least one hundred hotels con- of musical instruments and talking machines. have marked his greatest endeavors here. That
ducted on the American and European plans. Then Mr. Philpitt became general manager of season he 'presented Joseph Hofmann, pianist,
Some of the most popular in the country are the American Music Stores of New York, which and the distinguished violinist, Mischa ElmanJ
here. The Hotel Flamingo, the Pancoast and operated music stores and departments through- Since that time, S. Ernest Philpitt & Son have"
the Nautilus are famous for their pretentious out the country. When he assumed his posi- annually presented to the music-lovers of Miami
structures and most beautiful locations. There tion with that concern it had fourteen stores and district all of the better internationally
are more than one hundred and fifty apartment and increased under his management to twenty- known artists: Among these have been Rach-
buildings, all modern, housing as many as one eight in twenty-three cities and nineteen States. maninoff, Heifet,/, Flon/.aley Quartet, Anna
hundred families in a single apartment house. In making this business Mr. Philpitt had inter- Fitziu, Mana Ztfcca, Kreisler, New York Sym-
Miami is a city of homes, homes of taste and ests under his supervision from the Great Lakes phony Orchestra under Frank Damrosch, John
refinement. There is surf-bathing every day of to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Rocky McCortnack, Werrenrath, Schumann-Heink,
the year. The warm Gulf Stream sweeps along Mountains to the coast of Maine.
John Philip Sousa, Rosa Ponselle, Frieda Hcm-
the Miami shore, regulating the temperature of
While with the American Music Stores he pel, derakline Farrar and numerous others.
the sea at this spot at an average of 72 degrees. made his first visit to Miami in 1912 and there- This coming Winter Mr. Philpitt hopes to
It is considered the liveliest Winter resort in after annual business visits until 1916, when he bring down Paderewski and Galli-Curci. In
America to-day. The population is 75,000, in thought that the time had arrived for him to creating this atmosphere, he has developed his
greater Miami, 102,000. During the past season embark in business for himself. His bankers business to the point where it is now recognized
there were from 350,000 to 400,000 tourists. advised him not to start in business in Florida, as the exclusive State agent and representative
The greatest number at one time was on March predicting failure and urging that no musical for the best in everything musical, Steinway,
1, when there were more than 100,000 visitors. business had succeeded in any tropical climate. Steinway Duo-Art, Francis Bacon, Briggs,
By aeroplane, it is forty-five minutes' ride to the For some time after he had started in business Kurtzmann, Ricca, Micssner and Premier pianos;
Bahama Islands and about three and a half for himself his losses indicated the possibility Aeolian Reproducing pipe organs, of which
hours to Havana, Cuba.
that his bankers had been right—but he w,\< $315,000 worth arc being built and installed in
determined to live here and he persevered. Florida this year; the Kstcy organ; Buescher
S. Ernest Philpitt & Son
No one has done more for musical Miami "Because I was determined to live in Florida band instruments, Vega banjos, guitars and uku-
than the man who banked on the city's love T persevered, and because of that my business leles. The Philpitt stores arc. known to carry
for music. There are two sides to Mr. Phil- lias succeeded where others, not determined to cverv model of the entire Victor line as well
Richmond Visits Miami, Fla., and Says
That It's All That Is Claimed for It
I t Was No
' Wonder They Could \
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The Big Song And Dance Hit From
^MERCENARY MARY*
L Lawrence Weberfe New Musical Comedy
Cyrics and Music h
William B. Fiiedlander a >,d Con Conrad
Other Songs From "Tfie Same Bi(£ Show Nit
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Song Hit For The Town
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N.Y. TIMES