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FEBRUARY 6,
THE
1926
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Duo-Art Wins Plaudits as Soloist in
San Francisco Theatre Presentation
Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," Solo Number, Accompanied by Walt Roesner's Super Soloists—
Tom Pletcher Leaves for Southern California—Strong With Wiley B. Allen
C AN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 28.—As a
solo performer, in concerto with Walt Roes-
ner's Super Soloists, the Duo-Art is winning the
plaudits of the multitude at Loew's Warfield
Theatre this week. Gershwin's "Rhapsody in
Blue," composed and played by George Gersh-
win, is the number which the Duo-Art is re-
producing and the Super Soloists playing. It
seems that this composition is really a Fantasia
in jazz form for piano and jazz orchestra, the
first of the kind ever written. Sherman, Clay
& Co. arranged for the appearances of the Duo-
Art and for its rolls of the composition. Gersh-
win is not here at all, but the audience ap-
plauds the reproducing instrument about as
much as if he were. The number is making a
great hit.
In putting on the "Rhapsody in Blue," Sher-
man, Clay & Co. have provided good advertis-
ing. Page ads in the daily papers have told of
the performances and in one of the windows of
their Kearny street store is a striking display,
including a nearly life size painting of Walt
Roesner, and photographs of his musicians.
Sheet Music Identified With Records
A very striking window has been installed by
Henry Grobe, owner of the band instrument and
sheet music department of the Wiley B. Allen
Co.'s store here. It shows some of the sheet
music identified with Paul Whiteman and the
records and rolls of the music. Three Leo Feist
publications are shown in lavish profusion; they
are: "I'm Sitting on the Top of the World,"
"When the One You Love Loves You" and
"Sleepy Time Gal."
Strong With Wiley B. Allen Co.
Theodore Strong, the organist who came from
New York when the Welte pipe organ was in-
stalled in the Kohler & Chase building here, and
who made a host of friends through his broad-
casting, is now with the Wiley B. Allen Co. Mr.
Strong is with the Oakland branch of the com-
pany.
Tom Pletcher Leaves for the South
Tom Pletcher, president of the Q R S Music
Co., left for southern California, on his an-
nual trip a couple of days ago.
C. Kurtzmann's Representative Is Here
Calling on the trade this week is George E.
Mansfield, representative of C. Kurtzmann &
Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Several piano representatives
are expected here in the near future.
Jimmie Kelty, representing Harold Flammer,
New York City, arrived in the city this morn-
ing from the Northwest. Mr. Flammer is mak-
ing his first trip on the Coast and he is quite
enthusiastic over the wonderful co-operation
and the royal treatment he has received from
the dealers he has visited. A new McCormack
Victor record, to be released in February:
"Mother My Dear," and composed by Treharne,
has led to many orders for the song, as dealers
are anticipating increased sales of the sheet
music, as a result of the release of the record.
Valley Dealers Delighted With Panatrope
Brunswick dealers here are getting a few
Panatropes, and are hoping for more. Burton
Harris, with the Brunswick division of the
Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., has just re-
turned to wholesale headquarters of the
Brunswick here after demonstrating the Pana-
trope in the principal cities of the San Joaquin
and Sacramento Valleys. For instance, he
demonstrated in the Wiley B. Allen Co.'s store
in Fresno and also in the store of Chandler &
Newman, Fresno, as well as at Breuner's and
the Wiley B. Allen Co. in Fresno. All the deal-
ers of the two Valleys visited by Mr. Harris
were very enthusiastic and were eager for more
instruments.
Lines That Will Garry the
Angelus Reproducing Action
daily at 3 and 9 p. m. Mme. Menth, who is an
Angelus recording artist, played several selec-
tions for two pianos in the course of the week,
the Angelus rendering the second part. A
printed program, containing a list of the selec-
tions played by Mme. Menth as well as the
Angelus, was distributed to the thousands at-
tending the exposition.
Reproducing Medium to Be Found in Hallet &
Davis, Conway and Merrill Grands, States
Walter C. Hepperla, of Hallet & Davis Co.
Walter C Hepperla, of the Hallet & Davis
Piano Co., New York, has reiterated for the
benefit of those members of the trade who seem
a bit confused the fact that the Angelus repro-
ducing action is contained in the Hallet & Davis,
Conway and Merrill reproducing grand pianos.
It is believed that the combination of the An-
gelus reproducing medium with the instruments
named will form a strong sales argument for the
dealer, owing to the wide reputation that has
been enjoyed by these various products through-
out the country.
Angelus Reproducing Piano
at the Tobacco Exposition
Daily Recitals, Featuring the Angelus in the
Hallet & Davis Piano, Presented to Audiences
at New York Show Last Week
Daily piano recitals, using the Angelus in the
Hallet & Davis reproducing piano, were features
of the Fourth International Tobacco Exposi-
tion, held in Grand Central Palace, New York,
during the week ending January 30. The soloist
of the occasion was Mme. Henna Menth,
Viennese concert pianist, who appeared twice
Highest
Quality
Prices of Auto-Art Rolls
Gut to Seventy-Five Gents
United States Music Co. Announces That In-
creased Production and Demand Make Pos-
sible Price Reduction
CHICAGO, III., February 1.—The United States
Music Co., this city, announces that a reduction
in the retail prices of Auto-Art music rolls has
been effected which now makes the Auto-Art
word rolls retail at 75 cents, the same as the
U. S. popular word roll. There is also a general
reduction of 25 cents in all Auto-Art instru-
mental numbers.
This latest announcement is in keeping with
the company's policy of stimulating a greater
sale of reproducing and expression players by
pricing its rolls within the limited spending
power of the average buyer. It is based on
the economic manufacturing policy of the com-
pany which has reduced costs to the lowest
possible figure in keeping with the quality of its
product.
In making the announcement George L. Ames,
vice-president and sales manager of the United
States Music Co., said: "We are now ready to
get into real production of the Auto-Art roll
and greater production means reduced manu-
facturing costs, which, in turn, will enable us
to put the saving thus obtained into further im-
provement.
"This decrease in the cost of manufacture en-
ables us to sell the roll to the public at a lower
price, and the reaction from this is naturally
going to stimulate sales vigorously, for it brings
a quality reproducing and expression player roll
down within the restricted buying power of the
average purchaser, which means conservatively
90 per cent of the music-buying public.
"This also gives a powerful impetus to the
sales of reproducers and expression players, for
it is certain that more people are going to be
interested in those instruments when they know
that they can buy the rolls for them at a price
within their means.
"The demand for the Auto-Art rolls com-
pelled us to take steps for a greater production
and, as is the policy of the United States Music
Co., we have decided to give the music roll
dealers and the roll-buying public the full bene-
fits to be derived from greater production."
The Auto-Art music roll will play on any
reproducing or expression player equipped with
the standard tracker bar and is the company's
highest grade product. Among the widely
known recording artists who record exclusively
for the Auto-Art are McNair Ilgenfritz, Walter
A. Fifielski, Ivan Petrikoff, Lee Sims, R. Billings
and Cora Mel Hatton.
The new price opens a wide opportunity for
the dealer.
OUR
piano keys
piano ivory
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known near and far as
Pratt Read
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stand for
Quality and Service
in the piano industry.
PRATT, READ & CO.
Established in 1806
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
D e e p River, Conn.
Highest
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