Music Trade Review

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IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Death of Clarence A. Woodman Removes
One of the Outstanding Figures in the Trade
Entered the Great House of Ditson in 1874, Completing More Than Half a Century of Service
at the Time of His Death—One of the Big Men of the Industry
HpHE sudden death of C. A. Woodman, man-
•*• aging director of the Oliver Ditson Co., on
Thursday of last week, was a decided shock to
his many friends and to the entire sheet music
industry. Mr. Woodman to all appearances at
the time of his death was hale and hearty and
it seemed that he had many years of fruitful
work before him.
Mr. Woodman was a figure in the industry.
He was one of the last of the old school music
publishers, who in recent years have been pass-
ing away all too frequently. He was a man of
rare and thoroughly constructive business
acumen with all the tendencies of the past gen-
eration to be conservative while healthily pro-
gressive. He was an ideal citizen and a repre-
sentative of the best type of the American
gentleman. None could know the man without
loving him. His passing leaves a void and is an
irreparable loss.
Mr. Woodman had held a prominent position
in the music business through fifty-two years
of active service. He entered the great house of
Ditson when a lad in 1874. He was a native of
Braintree, Mass., and came on both sides of
old New England stock, being a direct descend-
ant of John Alden.
Several years ago George Edgar Oliver, of
Albany, N. Y., a music critic, published a tribute
to his friend Clarence Woodman, and inasmuch
as it is known that Mr. Woodman remarked
that the tribute would make a good obituary we
appropriately repeat it:
"Men who accomplish great results in the
business world and add to the wealth and pros-
perity of the country may be divided into two
classes. The first includes those who have a
THE LITTLE RED
SCHOOL HOUSE
AND THE
World-Famous
McKINLEY
* MUSIC «*
are staple American institutions. Both
have won and hold the implicit confidence
of the American people through merit
alone.
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NOW READY, Piano Solos, Piano Duets and
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McKINLEY MUSIC CO.
1501-1515 E. 55th Street, CHICAGO
love of publicity and seek the limelight. Much
is heard of these and their activities. But on
the other hand, there is another and even
greater class, who quietly build up big busi-
nesses and yet prefer to remain virtually in the
background and let their accomplishments tell
SONGS THAT SELL
—
At Peace With The World (Irving Berlin)
Always (Irving Berlin)
How Many Times? (Irving Berlin)
Remember (Irving Berlin)
When The Red, Bed Robin Comes Bob, Bob,
Bobbin' Along:
Trudy
I'd Climb The Highest Mountain (If I knew
I'd Find You)
I Never Knew What the Moonlight Could
Do
I'd Iiove To Meet That Old Sweetheart of
Mine
Let's Make Up
But I Do, You Know I Do
Who Wouldn't?
In the Middle of the Night
Blue Bonnet You Make Me Feel Blue
Oh If I Only Had You
Roses Remind Me Of You
To-night's My Night With Baby
Put Your Arms Where They Belong
Poor Papa
Gimme A Little Kiss, Will "Ya" Huh?
Say It Again
If You Miss Me As I Miss You
Oh Boy How It Was Raining
And Then I Forget
—
—
—
—
—
—
I Found A Round-a-bout Way To Heaven
Pining For You
Up And Down the Eight Mile Road
Trying To Forget
That's Annabelle
Take This Rose
No More Worryin'
Old Fashioned Sal
Pretty Cinderella
Clarence A. Woodman
the story. Such a man was Clarence A. Wood-
man.
"The Oliver Ditson Co., the oldest and one
of the largest music publishing houses in the
United States, was founded in 1835 by the late
Oliver Ditson, who by acute vision and progres-
sive methods built up a large and prosperous
business, with important branch houses in New
York, Philadelphia and Chicago. His death oc-
curred in 1888 and by that time the young Clar-
ence Woodman had absorbed Mr. Ditson's view-
points and comprehended his ideals. Mr. Wood-
man's many merits as an administrator were
recognized by Charles H. Ditson, who suc-
ceeded his father, and after many rapid promo-
tions Mr. Woodman in 1907 was made general
manager of the house. From that time forward
he was indefatigable in his efforts to make the
House of Ditson one of the greatest music
publishing houses in the world. He kept in
close touch with the many activities of the
whole establishment and yet in his quiet and
charming way he always found time to greet
visitors in his office and to keep in touch with
the heads of his many departments. He pos-
sessed the loyal support of every employe and
each one could look on Mr. Woodman as a
personal friend."
Following the church service the body was
taken to Mt. Auburn Cemetery, accompanied
by the two clergymen, where the last words of
committal were read.
Throughout this week one of the windows of
the Tremont street store of the Ditson Co.
carries a memorial of Mr. Woodman in the
shape of a photograph of the dead managing
director with a large sheaf of white gladioli
lying in front, and a card bearing the date of
42
BOOKS THAT SELL
X
—
New Universal Dance Folio
No. 11
Edition Extraordinary—Just Out
Peterson's Ukulele Method
World's Favorite Songs
Tiddle De Ukes
Strum It With Crumlt
Irving Berlin's Song Gems
From the Musical Comedy Sensation
"THE COCOANUTS"
Ting-aling the Bell'll Ring
Why Do You Want to Know Why?
Florida By the Sea
The Monkey Doodle Doo
Lucky Boy
We Should Care
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
his death. The entire window is draped in
black.
A meeting was held at the Oliver Ditson Co.'s
directors' room on Saturday morning when
William Arms Fisher was appointed chairman
of a committee to draw up suitable resolutions
on the death of Mr. Woodman.
The funeral of Clarence A. Woodman was
held Sunday afternoon from St. Luke's Episco-
pal Church, Allston, not far from the Wood-
man home. There was a large outpouring of
business associates and family friends, who were
seated by the two ushers, Charles F. Manney
and Leslie A. Martell, of the Ditson house.