Music Trade Review

Issue: 1927 Vol. 84 N. 10

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Photoplay Houses Present Publishers
With Greatest Factor in Exploitation
Constant Development of Music Programs in Those Houses Make Them Assume
Greater and Greater Importance in Publishers' Song Publicity
D H O T O P L A Y houses throughout the country
are being built larger and larger each year.
They are a predominating influence in Ameri-
can life and they are making great inroads in
all other forms of entertainment. Their pro-
grams, however, are not by any means confined
to photoplays, for one of the factors which
has won them huge success, and which is gen-
erally recognized, are the musical programs.
Besides large orchestras of the symphonic
character, all modern photoplay houses are
equipped with an organ, and these organ pro-
grams are not confined by any means to
standard organ works, as it is quite the thing
to use popular song slides with the organ ren-
dition in at least one part of the program.
These song slides are unusual productions.
They are prepared by the popular publisher
often in the form of a sketch. Through this
means the organist introduces with the slides
and accompanying music a background by which
is introduced the popular song itself. The
variety of these song slides seems to be quite
endless, as no two sets of slides are similar in
character or in method of approaching the audi-
ence. In fact, the larger popular publishers
to-day have a special department that does noth-
ing else but write exclusive material for these
built-up song presentations.
Besides the orchestra and the organ, the
larger photoplay houses to-day are booking
vocal artists and singing acts of every descrip-
tion. They are able to obtain the very best
talent for these purposes, as they have in their
favor not only larger seating capacity but also
modern sales methods whereby houses are
opened early in the day at unsually popular
prices. At the regular afternoon show period
these prices are raised and in the evening they
are raised again. Thus the photoplay house
is able to appeal to all sizes of pocket-books
and keep the house filled during much longer
hours than is possible for any dramatic, music
or strictly vaudeville house.
The popular publishers recognize the modern
photoplay house as probably the best means
of song exploitation available. It is much better
than the dance orchestra, where the dancers
hardly have much knowledge of the title of
the number being played. Popular publishers
say it is far superior to radio because the pho-
toplay program is confined to fewer songs well
presented to a receptive audience.
At the opening of the new Roxy Theatre S.
L. Rothafel, who has long been an originator
in presenting musical programs in combination
with photoplays, is to introduce further inno-
vations as regards music. These can be awaited
with interest because they will mean much to
music exploitation and doubtless will be the
forerunner of a new type of musical program
in photoplay houses everywhere.
Visitors who have recently toured Europe
freely state that the European music hall and
some other types of entertainment are fast be-
coming passe. The photoplay house, with its
feature pictures and its musical programs, is
making great inroads into other fields every-
where. In a large way this is the history of en-
tertainment in this country and it shows that the
taste and appeal for music is universal. For
many months English producers and publishers
have been complaining that the music hall did
iiot pay. Recently one photoplay exhibitor pur-
chased a string of twenty such houses, which
are to be turned into photoplay theatres. It is
music that is making this possible, because
when the old character of photoplay houses
was in its glory it made no inroads upon vaude-
ville, the music hall or other forms of enter-
tainment to any great extent. The new era of
photoplay music can be watched with interest
because it will mean considerable to the music
industries and to musical life.
New Harris Waltz
My Wild Flower," "Yakonwita," "The Grand
Canyon," "General Sherman Tree," "Mount
Rainier," "The Lost Arrow," and similar titles.
In the catalog, besides carrying thematics,
are brief descriptions of the background that
served as inspiration to the composer and these
descriptions are generally illustrated.
Charles K. Harris, pioneer popular publisher,
is still a very active figure in the industry, as is
indicated by the release of his new waltz suc-
cess, "The Last Dance of the Ball." The num-
ber is being widely sung and played and is billed
as the real successor to Harris' famous "After
the Ball." An unusual number of orchestrations
arranged by Frederic Watson are being sent to
musical combinations, and arrangements for
trade co-operation are under way.
Great Western Numbers
The Great Western Music Co., Visalia, Calif.,
which has been organized by Robert Elmer
Smith, author and composer, has forwarded to
the trade a catalog of its publications. This
company specializes in Indian songs and in
works of high standard. Among its composi-
tions of interest are "Hopi Indian Snake Dance,"
"Nature Songs," a folio; "Indian Song Cycle,"
in two books, and "Indian Love Songs," a folio.
Among its sacred compositions are "O Light
Eternal, O Light Divine" and "I Heard the
Voice of Jesus Say." The compositions con-
tained in the folios and cycles are all in West-
ern setting, including such title as "Tsianina,
New Firm in Tacoma
Songs that SeH
Blue Skies
Irving Berlin
Here or There (As Long aa I'm
With You)
Carolina Mine
Swanee River Trail
Rags
What Does It Matter
Irving Berlin
I Never See Maggie Alone
That's My Hap-Hap-Happiness
My Sunday Girl
My Baby Knows How
Yankee Rose
C'est Vous (It's You)
Some Day
Just a Little Longer—I'rving Berlin
When the Red, Red Robin Comes
Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along
Put Your Arms Where
They Belong
Always
Remember
I'm on My Way Home—
Irving Berlin
That's a Good Girl—Irving Berlin
I'm Tellin' the Birds—
Tellin' the Bees
(How 1 Love You)
I'd Climb the Highest Moutain (If
I Knew I d Find You)
That's What I Call a Pal
So Will I
In the Middle of the Night
Because I Love You
Irving Berlin
At Peace With the World—
l'rving Berlin
How Many Times Irving Berlin
I Never Knew What the Moonlight
Could Do
BOOKS THAT SELL
New Universal Dance Folio No. 12
Peterson's Ukulele Method
World's Favorite Songs
Tiddle De Ukes
Strum It With Crumit (Comic Uku-
lele Song Book)
TACOMA, WASH., February 15.—A new firm of
song publishers has just been announced here,
known as the Lincoln-Perry Publishing Co.
This company is organized by Charles F. Lin-
coln, baritone and composer, and Reine M.
Perry, of Boston. Offices are at 1012 A street.
The first song by the new company is a high-
rlass offering entitled "You, Just You."
the piano departments of several leading local
music houses.
New Westlake Manager
Bitner Goes to Coast
Los ANGELES, CM.., February 25.—Frank A.
Guyette has just been appointed manager of the
Westlake Music Salon of the Birkel Music Co.,
2402 West Seventh street. Associated with him
is Karl Birkel Eichorn, nephew of George J.
Birkel, president of the company. Mr. Guyette
has been identified with the piano business since
his early youth and has been associated with
Edgar F. Bitner, general manager of Leo
Feist, Inc., is away on a six weeks' trip to Cali-
fornia.
Mr. Bitner, while presumably going
away for a rest, will undoubtedly look over the
possibility of Far West compositions, which, in
recent years, have quite often proved popular.
Undoubtedly also he will find much pleasure in
meeting his many trade and personal friends.
31
IRVING BERLIN In,
1607Broadway New York City
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
32
The Music Trade Review
Prager on His First
Trip for Robbins-Engel
With Any FEIST' Song"
IF I DIDN'T
KNOW YOUR.
HUSBAND"
(AND YOU DIDNT KNOW MY WIFEj
A Clever Comedy
L WOLFE GILBERT
and ABEL 8AER,
OF YOU*
A New H i t by Walter
Donaldson W Paul Ash
That's,
Writers
)ve You'
Waltz;
Melody
HONOLULU
MOON'
hy
FRED LAWRENCE
SAM ,
THE O L D
ACCORDION MAN
DIFF' RENT
DONALDSON /
NOVELTY/
I'd
Rather Be
THE GIRL „
IN YOUR ARMS
|Than The Girl In Your Dreams)
by
k Thompson md Archer
. WISTFUL^
AND BLUE
A Fascinating Fox Trot Melody
Ay RUTH ETTING
^
rtfLIAN DAVIDSON
LEO. FEIST. Inc
F£/ST
BLDG h
231-235 W.4O^
ST,
NEW YORK, MY:
Featuring New Song, "I'll Always Remember
You," as Well as Other Outstanding Prints
of Catalog
Bernard Prager, long connected with the Ed-
ward B. Marks Music Co., and who recently
joined the sales staff of Robbins-Engel, Inc., is
on the road making his initial sales trip for his
new associates. Mr. Prager's first trip will be
only a short one of several weeks, but a little
later in the season it is to be extended over
much larger territory.
On his present trip Mr. Prager will feature
the new song, "I'll Always Remember You."
This number is proving one of the big successes
of the Robbins-Engel catalog and is featured
by many orchestras, including that of Paul
Whiteman. Other numbers that will receive
his attention and be again presented to the
trade, all outstanding Robbins-Engel prints, are
"Trail of Dreams" and "Calling," both numbers
that have been very active. He will also fea-
ture the Robbins-Engel songs from Earl Car-
roll's "Vanities," including "Who'd You Love?"
"Hugs and Kisses," "Climbing Up the Ladder
of Love" and "Alabama Stomp," as well as
the standard catalog and the motion picture
music, which has long been an important part
of Robbins-Engel activities.
M A R C H 5,1927
the past six weeks for exploitation. They are
'"Sam, the Old Accordion Man," "He's the Last
Word," "At Sundown" and "If You See Sally."
The additional number to these Feist releases
is a song from the pens of L. Wolfe Gilbert
and Fred Rich, called "I Still Believe in You."
Roach Congratulated
Upon His Promotion
New Secretary of Hinds, Hayden & Eldredge,
Inc., Widely Known in the Music Trade
J. T. Roach, who was recently elected sec-
retary and director of Hinds, Hayde*i &
Eldredge, Inc., publisher of the "Most Popular
Series of Music Books" and other musical pub-
Interesting Music Exhibit
at Library in Buffalo
Grosvenor Library Collection Includes Some
Rare Old Scores on Vellum and Parchment
J. T. Roach
—Organist Co-operates With Music .Pub-
lishers
lications, has been receiving congratulations
from music merchants in all parts of the United
States. Mr. Roach for many years covered
BUFFALO, N. Y., March 1.—Sheets of music on
vellum and parchments, dating from 1100 to 1500 thoroughly the territory of the United States and
A. D., are included in an exhibit of music, songs Canada and numbers among his friends prac-
and song books arranged in the Grosvenor tically all the old-time sheet music dealers.
library. Among the interesting exhibits are
In recent years Mr. Roach has confined all
facsimiles of Handel scores, Austrian and Ger- his activities to the home office of Hinds, Hay-
man Denkmaler and Harrigan & Hart music den & Eldredge, Inc., where he directs all the
sheets.
music publication business for that firm. In
"Blue Skies" and "What Does It Matter," addition, he has been quite active in the Music
two Berlin numbers, are among leaders in vol- Publishers' Association of the United States
ume of sales at sheet music counters here. The and other trade bodies.
survey is made from Denton, Cottier & Daniels,
Grants and Kresge counters, where the greatest
volume of sheet music is sold. "Sunday," a
Feist release, is one of the leaders, while other
good sellers are "Blue Bird," released by Jerome
H. Remick; "High Up in the Hills" and "Where Series Now Includes Eight Volumes—Includes
You'a Worka John," Shapiro-Bernstein hits, and
Many of Leading Composers' Outstanding
"It All Depends On You," the Al Jolson num-
Works
ber released by DeSylva-Brown and Hender-
son.
Carl Fischer, Inc., well-known standard pub-
Jack Yellen, of Ager, Yellen & Bernstein, was lishing house, is carrying out a very special
a recent Buffalo visitor. Although Mr. Yellen consumer and dealer campaign on its "World's
came for the express purpose of visiting with Greatest Composers Series." This series in-
relatives, he did not fail to pay his respects to cludes eight volumes, which, it is promised, will
be added to from time to time. The composers
the music stores where sheet music is sold.
Song pluggers are finding Bob Deming, the so far listed in these publications are Brahms,
new organist at Shea's Kensington Theatre, a Grieg, Liszt, Moszkowski, Rachmaninoff, Rubin-
real friend when it comes to planning a little stein, Schubert and Tschaikowsky.
This series is in book form, issued with
exploitation program. Mr. Deming is doing
some fine work for Remick, Feist and Waterson, two-colored title pages, and the contents include
working in co-operation with these publishers' some of the outstanding works of these famous
representatives, and building up a good volume composers arranged in modern form, which
of sheet music business in the Kensington dis- makes an appeal to pupils and teachers and
other music enthusiasts. An interesting written
trict.
biography of the composer appears in each
book.
"World's Greatest Composers
Series" From Carl Fischer
New Donaldson Songs
in the Feist Catalog
Quincke Canadian Agent
In the new group of releases from the catalog
of Leo Feist, Inc., are five numbers and it is
important to remark that four of these are
from the pen of Walter Donaldson. These
songs are of typical Donaldson character and
are being introduced by Leo Feist, Inc., during
W. A. Quincke & Co., 430 South Broadway,
Los Angeles, Cal., are now being represented by
the Foreign Music Importing Co., 313 Fort
street, Winnipeg, Canada. The Quincke Co.
is publisher of standard and teaching music,
as well as a number of semi-popular ballads.

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