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SEPTEMBER 19, 1925
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
55
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Richmond in His Visit to the Hub of
the Universe Broadcasts the News
Head of the Richmond Music Supply Corp., New York, Sees the Publishers and Sheet Music
Merchants in the Athens of America, to Say Nothing of the Home of the Bean
DOSTON, MASS., September 17.— Boston,
musically speaking, is second to none.
If you don't believe it, ask the House of Schir-
mer, B. F. Wood and the Ditson House—not
forgetting our friends,
George M. Cohan and
Irving Berlin.
The
famous "bean eaters"
certainly chew up a lot
of music.
Oliver Ditson Co.
It was mighty disap-
pointing when I called
;it C. A. Woodman's
private sanctum and
was informed by his
secretary that the hon-
orable gentleman was
Maurice Richmond
away on a visit with his family over the
holidays at Nantucket, way down on the Cape.
Everyone knows Mr. Woodman and the type
that he is, always applying modern methods
to the promotion of his publications, never
overlooking for one moment the heart interest
which he feels in the dealers' welfare. A quota-
tion by James Allen is quite fitting Mr. Wood-
man and exemplifies his type perfectly:
"Be not impatient in delay,
But wait as one who understands;
When spirit rises and commands,
The Gods are ready to obey."
There is an artistic side to the Woodman
family. Miss Flora Woodman has been spend-
ing the Summer at the Artists' Colony at Nan-
tucket and she has created quite an impression
with her fellow artists. She has been teaching
a large class of children. Her works are so
numerous that it may be advisable for her to
have a serial of "opuses" in order to catalog
them properly.
James A. Smith, whom everyone calls "Jim-
my," the retail manager, sends this message to
the music trade at large: "Boston will give the
boys in 1927 the best time they have ever had
at any music dealers' convention," and he wants
everyone to boost for the "bean town." Jimmy
also said that he is getting an awful kick out
of the articles that are appearing in The Muse
Trade Review that I have been contributing, for
they have given him a great deal of intimacy
with the trade throughout the country. This
individual also has a nickname: "Commodore
Smith." We are all from Missouri and we will
see how good a commodore he is in due time.
Ditson's has always been my standby when in
need of money. My good friend, William J.
Reilly, the cashier, whom I know as "Bill"
Reilly, is caged in in the rear of the store with
a lot of money and pretty girls. He is some
connoisseur on beauty. When I presented my
check at the window Bill Reilly was not there.
That gave me an opportunity to have a good
look at his pretty girls and I couldn't help but
remark about it. When Mr. Reilly made his ap-
pea:ance he said thusly: "You know my eye-
sight is good and 1 appreciate beauty, and when
1 get to the point when my eyesight is gone
then I am going to call for the undertaker."
The reason he gave for having so many, mean-
ing more than one, was because there is safety
in numbers. "By the way," he said, "Maurice,
there is nothing the matter with your eyesight,
either." A good reason why Bill Reilly plays
safe in cashing my checks is because I always
return "the borrowed silk umbrella." I in-
tended mentioning that while Bill Reilly is very
popular he is much more so on Thursdays.
The two songs especially featured in one of
the Ditson windows were "This Life and You"
and "For You," both by Laurence H. Montague,
featured by Wm. F. Dodge, conductor of The
Boston American Radio Orchestra. They are
"Two Gem Ballads" of note. The arrangement
of the display was exceedingly attractive.
Riding up to the third floor I caught Harry
Haney, who is in charge of the wholesale de-
partment, on the run. I looked at my stop
watch and he made a third of a mile in eleven
seconds. This puts the little Finn, Nurmi, in
the backg ound. Harry winds him,elf up dur-
ing his vacation and lasts through the entire
year. That's that.
Charles W. Homeyer & Co.
Charles W. Homeyer is one of our foremost
music merchants in the country; is a brilliant
fellow, a man of energy and keen mind. He
claims the music publishers are taking a tre-
mendously backward step in getting away from
the net prices. It means that we will get less
for our merchandise and eventually a change
will be necessary—back to the old markings.
He is optimistic about the coming season, and
stated "the savings banks everywhere have
plenty of money and the rank and file are be-
comipg much more interested in music." In
leav.ng he added this: "There are no two ways
of doing the right thing, which explains why
so many people get left."
Carl Fischer, Inc.
In a few moments' talk with F. E. Burgstaller,
the manager, it appeared that he was very op-
timistic, and that conditions looked rosy for the
music line this Fall. The greater interest par-
ents display in their children's musical educa-
tion is without a doubt a big factor in the in-
dustry. The Fischer catalog is of much greater
value to-day to the dealer, as well as the musi-
cian, since such composers as Godowski, Rosen-
thai, Auer, Kreisler, Siloti, Rachmaninoff, etc.,
have contributed some of their most valuable
compositions.
C. I. Hicks Music Co.
Miss Clara Hicks, who claims she has no
kicks about her jobbing business, was quite
cheery the day I called on her. She undoubt-
edly must be satisfying a lot of dealers through-
out the East; reports her business well advanc-
ing and states that she has made splendid gains
since the early Summer. The publicity man for
this firm, Henry Homeyer, who is a pathfinder,
a road man, and what not, makes his territory
frequently and evidently in fast tempo. I am
inclined to think he uses an airplane occasion-
ally, for he certainly is a fast worker.
J. H. Remick & Co.
The Remick Song & Gift Shops possess a
valuable gem in Lee Meyers, its manager. He
surely wears his years well. In my way of
thinking, he hasn't changed a bit in fifteen years.
I asked for his recipe, and he said: "More
sleep, my boy, will make you live longer."
But say, what's the use of living longer just to
sleep? The Remick hits for this season are
"Some Time," "If I Had a Girl Like You,"
and "Can I See You To-night." They are real
hits, like the fellow who had coffee for three
cents and coffee for five cents, but for five
cents, oh, what coffee!
Lee's business is showing a 25 per cent in-
crease since August, and he'll bet a new brown
dorby against a plate of beans that he will show
a greater gain in the Fall season.
Krey Music Co.
The Krey Music Co., now at 576 Washington
street, is operated by R. S. Hartstone & Co.,
(Continued on page 56)