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MARCH 13, 1926
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Music Business Above Normal in Most
Lines With Kansas City Music Dealers
Many New Brunswick Dealers Announced in the Territory—Standke Music Shop to Move to
New Quarters—New Zenith Machines Well Received by the Public
T7"ANSAS CITY, Mo., March 6.—Business as
a whole in the Kansas City territory is re-
ported to be above normal in most lines, with
better prospects than at the same time last year.
Collections are good, and the condition of the
farmers is better than it has been for some
time. Crop conditions and the advancement in
the farmer's work are ahead of last year. The
building trades, which indicate the number of
new homes that are to be supplied with musical
instruments, are all prosperous, and the num-
ber of homes being erected this year is greater
than last.
The piano business for February is reported
to be normal, with a tendency to be spotted.
Most of the lines of musical instruments are
enjoying an ordinary February business.
The Wunderlich Piano Co. is taking advan-
tage of the appearance of "Jerry" and her four
Premier grands at the Orpheum. The pianos are
in pure white, and make a very striking act. The
Wunderlich Co. is showing a replica of the
pianos and their players in the window, and it
is attracting a great deal of attention.
The Standke Record Shop is to move into
larger quarters, the new address being No. 1223
Main street. The location is just across the
street from the former one, and is chosen be-
cause the neighborhood has given the Shop a
very remarkable business during the last few
years. The location is in the midst of promi-
nent hotels and theatres, and the hook-up with
the recording artists who appear at the thea-
tres has been greatly to the advantage of the
Shop. Indeed, Mr. Standke states that it is
not unusual to do a pretty good day's busi-
ness after a show in supplying the demand which
the performance has created. It is the policy
of the Shop to keep open at night to supply this
trade, and the hotel dwellers and theatregoers
appreciate the service.
The New Sonora was demonstrated to deal-
ers here recently, and its power of amplification
to cover the whole of the chromatic scale made
a most favorable impression.
The new series of Gennett records at fifty
cents is having a ready sale.
Marion Talley, the Kansas City girl whose
first three appearances at the Metropolitan
Opera House in New York resulted in the over-
selling of the house on each occasion, is quite
as popular at home as she is in the Metropolis,
and both over the radio and from the records
her voice has been heard by thousands here.
The records are bought faster than they can
be supplied, and it is estimated by Manager
Lyman, manager of the wholesale Victor De-
partment of the Jenkins Company, that the de-
mand for the first sixty days following her ap-
pearance at her debut will be 15,000 records.
The Jenkins retail Victor Department reports
that the sales of the Talley Red Seal records
has surpassed that of any other artist whose
records have ever been sold here.
New Brunswick dealers announced are: T. B.
Gubb, Ellsworth, Kan.; McDonald & Castaton
Music Co., Pawhuska, Okla.; Strambaugh's
Drug Co., Davenport, Okla.; and for records,
the Paul Shop, Kansas City, Mo.
Ted Lewis, exclusive Columbia recording
artist, has been appearing at the Orpheum. He
has visited personally the Columbia record deal-
ers of the city, and there has been a fine hook-
up in the windows and newspapers, resulting in
large sales of his records.
The New Zenith, according to Manager
Pierce, of the radio department at Jenkins, is
being received well by the public, and there has
been a good business in that line. Indeed all
radio departments are reporting that the de-
mand for instruments has been unusually heavy.
There has been some complaint about getting
the goods to sell. Prospects are that there
will be a fair demand all Summer, though the
demand is now being effected by the usual
Spring slump in the business. There will be
a good business in the service department, how-
ever, as there has been an unusual number of
instruments put in during the Winter, and these
must be taken care of, it is pointed out by the
company.
Radio had a prominent part in the Better
Homes Show at Kansas City, when there was
an attendance of approximately 70,000 people.
A number of very creditable exhibits were
made. The Brunswick Panatrope had place of
honor in the show, at the end of the main aisle,
where it could not but be seen, and from which
place of vantage it sent out the music which
helped to entertain the crowds.
Detroit Music Trade Plans
for Piano Playing Contest
Special Meeting Held on Monday of This Week
to Discuss the Plan—Newspapers and Schools
Promise to Co-operate in Movement
DETROIT, MICH., March 6.—A meeting of the
Detroit music trade was held at the Book-Cad-
illac Hotel on Monday evening to consider the
proposed plan for a city-wide contest to deter-
mine the best pianist among the school chil-
dren, with prizes offered by the Detroit music
trade or through it.
Nearly a dozen piano firms were represented
at the banquet and meeting, during the course
of which entertainment was furnished by artists
from the WCX broadcasting station atop the
hotel. Frank K. Bayley, of Bayley's Music
House, outlined the plan and explained that
there were still many details to be worked out.
Forrest Smith, assistant director of music in
the Detroit public schools, was asked for sug-
gestions, and declared that the contest should
prove a great success, although a number of
details must be taken care of, such as the
grading of pupils, etc.
Mr. Smith promised to take up the question
with Director of Music Chilvers, Frank Cody,
superintendent of public schools, and the board
of education for its final approval before adopt-
ing the plan.
A motion was made by Jay Grinnell, sales
manager of Grinnell Bros., and seconded by
Walter Jenkins, manager of the Cable Piano
Co.'s store, that the Detroit music trades favor
the contest and that a committee, consisting of
Messrs. Bayley, Grinnell and Jenkins, be em-
powered to confer with a committee consisting
of representatives of newspapers, public schools,
parochial schools, music conservatories and the
music teachers. It was practically decided that
the music trade would underwrite the cost of
the campaign to an extent of $2,500. It is under-
stood that the move will have the strong back-
ing of the Detroit Times. Another meeting
will be held within a few days to receive the
committee's report.
Forms Jordan Piano Co.
PATERSON, N. J., March 8.—After a retirement
of six years, James T. Jordan has decided to
re-enter the piano business, with which his
name was identified locally for the greater part
of his business life. He has accordingly formed
a new company called the Jordan Piano Co., of
which he is president and which will be located
at 109 Washington street. Merged with the new
concern will be the piano business of Mr. Jor-
dan's brother, John J. Jordan, who has been lo-
cated at 49 Ward street for several years. The
Jordan Piano Co. will handle Kohler & Camp-
bell, Hazleton Bros., Ricca and othe well-
known makes of pianos.
Barnett Opens His Own Store
JEFFERSON CITY, MO., March 6.—C. A. Barnett,
until recently with the Baldwin Piano Co., St.
Louis, has opened a store of his own, featuring
the Baldwin line, at 306 East High street. The
establishment has been completely redecorated
and made ready for displaying a full line of
musical instruments. Mr. Barnett, prior to his
connection with the Baldwin house, was identi-
fied with the musical life of New York City and
has had many years' experience in the retail
music field.
Thomas & Cary, of Syracuse, N. Y., have
recently moved their piano repair shop from
203 Ash street to 308 West Water street, in or-
der to obtain space large enough to accommo-
date their increased business.
Hallet & Davis Angelus at the Tobacco Show
/"^NE of the interesting features—in fact, the
only outstanding musical event—of the re-
cent International Tobacco Exposition, held at
Grand Central Palace, New York, was the play-
ing of Herma Menth, Angelus recording artist,
in a series of afternoon and evening recitals.
The accompanying photograph shows Miss
Menth seated at a Hallet & Davis small grand
engaged in playing a two-piano selection, the
other part being reproduced by the Angelus in
the Hallet & Davis, at her right, from an An-
gelus recording of her own.