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The Music Trade Review
SEPTEMBER 18, 1926
National Broadcasting Co. Formed to
Provide Solution for Vital Problem
New Concern Sponsored by the Radio Corp. of America Will Take Control of Station WEAF
in New York on November 15—Will Probably Lease Time From Other Stations
*TpHE formation of the National Broadcasting
•*• Co., Inc., as a solution of the problem of
establishing national and permanent radio
broadcasting, was announced by Owen D.
Young and General James G. Harbord, chair-
man of the board and president, respectively,
of . the Radio Corp. of America, in a formal
statement on Monday of this week.
M. H. Aylesworth, formerly chairman of the
Colorado Public Utilities Commission, and more
recently managing director of the National
Electric Light Association, has been named as
the president of the new company, which will
make the station WEAF, formerly owned by
the American Telephone & Telegraph Co., as
the nucleus of a national broadcasting service.
While all the plans of the new company have
not been formulated, it was stated this week
that the National Broadcasting Co., Inc., would
take control of WEAF on November 15 and
might lease time from other stations.
The policies of the new company were out-
lined fully in a statement signed jointly by Mr.
Young and General Harbord, and it was pointed
out that any group of stations willing to
finance a cross-country chain would be wel-
comed in the field, either competitively or co-
operatively. Mr. Aylesworth said:
"There have been more than enough broad-
casting stations to serve the public and the
essence of the formation of the National Broad-
casting Co., Inc., is to conserve and make per-
manent existing facilities, rather than to add
anything to the growing contention for wave
lengths.
"While there has been a crowding of sta-
tions there has been no assurance of perma-
nency, and this has not been the fault of any
one. Stations have been free to come into the
field and go out again. Because the supply of
service has probably exceeded the demand,
there has been no particular responsibility for
staying on the air or withdrawing from it.
"So far the experience of the various broad-
casting companies has been somewhat disheart-
ening, financially; the expenses have exceeded
the income.
"The purpose of the National Broadcasting
Co., Inc., will be to provide the best program
available for broadcasting in the United States.
The new company will not only broadcast these
programs through station WEAF, but it will
make them available to other broadcasting sta-
tions throughout the country so far as it may
be practicable to do so and they may desire to
take them.
"It is hoped that arrangements may be made
so that every event of national importance may
be broadcast widely throughout the United
States.
"The formal statement of the Radio Corp. of
America explaining its own interest in the main-
tenance of broadcasting, and the stabilizing of
it on a high plane, needs no amplification. The
National Broadcasting Co., Inc., will flourish in
proportion to the manner in which its programs
please the public, and it will be the policy of
the company to arrange its programs constantly
with this thought in mind.
"While the announcement of a public advi-
sory committee will be withheld until accept-
ances are received, I am quite confident that
the membership will be found to be representa-
tive. Those who have been asked to serve,
while representing various shades of public
opinion, are able men who realize that the Na-
tional Broadcasting Co., Inc., must be success-
ful in practice as well as in theory. The board
of directors will be announced in a few days.
"The vice-president and general manager is
to be George F. McClelland, who has been re-
sponsible for much of its success."
Welte-Mignon Artist
Praised by Mussolini
matic Action Co., maker of the Welte-Mignon
(Licensee) reproducing action. "He is just
crazy about my music," writes Mme. Brard, and
states further that she has been engaged for
two public concerts during the first week in
November. In addition to the engagements
which Mme. Brard had in Italy, recitals in Paris
and other cities are scheduled, besides a return
to America, at which time she will make addi-
tional recordings for the Welte - Mignon
(Licensee).
Italian Premier Gives High Praise to Magde-
leine Brard After Her Recitals in Rome
Among the honors accorded to Magdeleine
Brard, Welte-Mignon (Licensee) recording
artist, during her stay in Europe this Summer
When Salesmen Praise
Them They're Good
Columbia Road Men Highly Enthusiastic Over
the Company's New Line
ATLANTA, GA., September 13.—.How enthusiastic
over the Columbia line are the salesmen of the
Atlanta branch of the Columbia Phonograph
Co. may be judged by the following extracts
from a letter received by Westervelt Terhune,
manager of the Atlanta branch, from one of his
salesmen on the road. "I believe I am carrying
to-day the best lot of selling samples I have
ever had. Their appeal to the people of this
section is so great that whenever I play them
for a dealer in just a few moments we have a
large audience and are literally deluged with
requests that I sell the sample I am playing.
Judge Eve, of Tifton, a gentleman of the
highest type and a real collector of records
that appeal to him, who was a member of the
audience at Tifton, said he would make the un-
qualified statement—referring to the smooth
surface—that Columbia was making the best
record on earth. He was especially interested
in 'Iyone — My Own, Iyone,' played by Ted
Lewis and His Band, and requested the dealer
to order this and a number of others for him
personally."
Consolidated Stores Chartered
The Consolidated Music Stores, Buffalo,
N. Y., have been granted a charter, with a
capital stock of $150,000. The officers of the
company are A. Poppenberg, C. O. Curtis and
E. R. Voorhees.
Pratt Read
Products
P i a n o Ivory
Piano Keys
Piano Actions
Player Actions
1
Pease Formal Opening
Benito Mussolini and Magdeleine Brard
has been the privilege of giving a private recital
for the Italian Premier, Benito Mussolini. Mme.
Brard, who, since her American tour last sea-
son, has been spending her vacation at Villa
Magda, her home in Turin, was recently pre-
sented to the musical society of Rome in the
Augustco. It was here that Mussolini heard
her and he was so impressed with her playing
that he invited her to play for him four times
in a single week.
An enthusiastic letter describing the meeting
with the Italian statesman was received recently
by W. C. Heaton, president of the Auto Pneu-
The formal opening of the new store of the
Pease Piano Co., at 58 Flatbush avenue, Brook-
lyn, was held recently, a full stock of Pease
pianos having been placed on display. The
store, which is under the management of Harry
F. Bieling, was located for a period of years
at 34 Flatbush avenue, but the company was
forced to vacate this Summer when plans were
made to raze the old building. The new store
has been decorated attractively with cream-col-
ored walls and affords an additional showroom
in the basement for Pease uprights and player-
pianos.
Edward Bates, Jr., Married
September 11.—Edward
Bates, Jr., president of the Bates Piano Co.,
this city, has been receiving the co»gratulation
of friends as a result of his marriage- to Miss M.
Gertrude Fairbanks in New York recently.
After a short trip Mr. and Mrs. Bates will re-
turn to Worcester, where they will make their
home.
WORCESTER,
MASS.,
Established in
1806
at Deep River, Conn.
Still There
Standard Service and Highest
Quality
Special Repair Departments
Maintained for Convenience
of Dealers
PRATT, READ & CO.
THE PRATT READ
PLAYER ACTION CO.
Oldest and Best