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IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Bloom Introduces Bill to Make Maiden
Names Valid in Copyright Applications
Congressman Comes to the Support of Women who Make Application for Copyright on Works
in Their Maiden Names—Makes Announcement of Scope of New Measure
COME time ago the copyright office informed
^ an authoress using her maiden name in tak-
ing out a copyright that she would have to take
it out in her married name. Since that time
it is understood that Register Solberg, in re-
viewing the order of the copyright office, has
waived the necessity for such action in that par-
ticular case.
The whole matter has been brought before
Congress and Representative Sol Bloom, of
New York, is presenting a bill to clear up the
situation. All decisions affecting copyrights
of this character also affect music copyrights,
and for that reason the whole problem proves
interesting to the trade.
We believe titles to copyright properties
should be quite clear and any attempt to in-
volve them with rules and regulations that are
too restrictive should be avoided. The whole
subject where names of authors or composers
are involved is one that could easily curb the
activities of many present-day writers as it is
quite usual for such persons to use assumed
names for business purposes.
Bearing all this in mind the recommendations
in the bill of Congressman Bloom are worth re-
producing:
" 'Resolved, That registration of claims to
copyright by married women shall not be held
invalid or prejudiced by reason of being made
or having been made in the maiden name of the
author who claims copyright in the work.'
"A copyright is a deed, a record of ownership
by the copyright applicant in the work it is
sought to protect in the latter's interest. The
register of copyrights accepts whatever name is
given to him. So far as the official attitude in
the matter is concerned, no question can .be
raised.
"There may be a question in certain cases,
however, concerning the validity of the copy-
right, or deed, granted. If taken into court, will
it always be found to afford the protection it
is supposed to confer? Upon this point some
doubts may arise in connection with registra-
tions in the maiden names of married women,
or of noms de plume.
"My bill above, introduced today, is intended
to remove such doubts, both of the past and in
future.
"The bill, as will be seen, is retroactive. This
is to avoid any possibility that, in clearing up all
question concerning the legality of the registra-
tion of maiden names by married women hence-
forward, no doubt is, by implication, thrown
upon such previous registrations.
"The right of a married woman to register
her work in her maiden name, it should be said,
is not disputed by the register of copyrights or
by any other government official. The register
acts automatically upon any application made to
him, and should not be subjected to adverse
criticism if it is found subsequently that any
loophole in the law opens the way to an attack
on the title sought to be conferred by his ac-
tion, in conformity with the rules governing him.
"The point raised by the National Woman's
Party, however, that all possibility of confusion
should be removed as to the unassailability of
any married woman's title to copyright protec-
tion of her work, registered under her maiden
name, is very well taken.
"It applies, not alone to married women who
prefer the continued use of their maiden names
for literary purposes, but also to women who,
registering work under their maiden names, sub-
sequently marry.
"I am heartily in agreement with the senti-
ment that a woman, winning laurels through
her work in the field of literature, should not
be required to share them with another, even
though a husband; that the latter should not ex-
pect to shine in the reflected light of his wife's
achievements.
"My bill will serve to set at rest all ques-
tion to woman's legal right to claim for her-
self, and for herself alone, all honors due her
for her many accomplishments."
Sheffield & Spencer, Inc.,
Enter Publishing Field
SONGS THAT SELL
Just a Little Longer (Irving Berlin)
Because I Love You (Irving Berlin)
How Many Times (Irving Berlin)
When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob,
Bobbin' Along
I'm on My Way Home (Irving Berlin)
That's a Good Girl (Irving Berlin)
My Baby Knows How
(I'm Tellin' the Birds—Tellln' the Bees)
How I Love You
Oh! How She Could Flay a Ukulele
When I'm in Your Arms
Rags
Some Day
So Will I
Elsie ShuItz-en-Heim
Susie's Feller
I Never Knew What the Moonlight Could Do
At Peace With the World
I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (If I Knew
I'd Pind You)
I'd Love to Meet That Old Sweetheart of
Mine
Remember
Always
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
Roses Remind Me of You
Tonight's My Night With Baby
Put Your Arms Where They Belong
Poor Papa
Gimme a Little Kiss—Will Ya? Huh?
If You Miss Me as I Miss You
And Then I Forget
Old-Fashioned Sal
Pretty Cinderella
—
—
—
First Numbers of New Firm Are "The Broken
Heart Mender," "Tender and True" and
"Hours, That Wonderful Hour With You"
The latest addition to the music publishing
field is the firm of Sheffield & Spencer, Inc.
Heads of the firm are two well-known members
of the music industry, George Sheffield, a re-
cording manager, having bee*n associated with
the Aeolian Co. for a number of years, and
Herbert Spencer, the other member of the firm,
one of the best known of present-day song
writers and one who has had a measure of suc-
cess for over twenty years. He has been asso-
ciated with such publishing firms as Jerome H.
Remick & Co. and M. Witmark & Sons. Among
his best known songs are "Underneath the
Stars," "Egypt," "In Your Dreamy Eyes," "In
the Candlelight," "Me Neenyth" and others. He
recently concluded a tour of the Keith circuit
with his wife Fleta Jan Brown, who collabor-
ates with him writing the lyrics to his melodies.
The new firm begins business with a waltz
ballad entitled "The Broken Heart Mender."
The number has already been tried out and it
is said its early indications of success were one
of the inducements for the organization of the
new firm. Other numbers, published by the
new firm, are "Tender and True," a melody
fox-trot and a waltz ballad called "Hours, That
Wonderful Hour With You." The new firm has
opened up offices at 1595 Broadway, New York
City, Mr. Sheffield handling the executive and
sales department and Mr. Spencer in charge of
the professional.
New Hanson Concerts
Dr. Howard Hanson, the young American
composer and director of the Eastman School
of Music, whose symphonic poem, "Pan and
the Priest," was given its first American per-
formance by the New York Philharmonic
recently, has just completed a concerto for
organ and orchestra, which will have its
premiere by the Rochester Philharmonic at the
Eastman Theatre, January 6, with Eugene
Goossens conducting. Harold Gleason, of the
Eastman School Faculty, will be the soloist.
In writing his concerto Dr. Hanson has made
the organ an integral part of his composition
and has sought to bring out all the possibilities
of the Austin organ in the Eastman Theatre.
31
BOOKS THAT SELL
X
New Universal Dance Folio No. 13
Special Edition for 1937
Peterson's Ukulele Method
World's Favorite Songs
Tiddle De Ukes
Strum It With Grumit
Irving Berlin's Song Gems
From the Musical Comedy Sensation
"THE COCOANUTS"
Ting-sling the Bell'll Ring
Why Do You Want to Know Whyf
Florida By the Sea
The Monkey Doodle Doo
Lucky Boy
We Should Care
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
Eskimos Stay With Columbia
Harry Reser and his Clicquot Club Eskimos
have renewed their contract to record exclu-
sively for the Columbia Phonograph Co. This
orchestra, which broadcasts over the WEAF
chain, and also plays at the Knickerbocker
Grill, New York, has become one of the most
popular organizations of its kind in the country.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.