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The Music Trade Review
AUGUST 20, 1927
Music Carnival Marks Michigan Meet
(Continued from page 4)
Following the election Mr. Pulfrey told of
the elaborate plans being made in Ann Arbor
for a music festival and piano-playing contest,
the details of which have already appeared in
The Review.
Tuesday Night
When Detroit takes up the matter of hold-
ing an official music carnival in one of ts prin-
cipal streets it goes after the matter seriously,
with the result that Washington boulevard to-
night had the appearance of a three-ring circus.
The entire street, which is some 200 feet wide
and four blocks long, was shut off to general
traffic, even the street cars and busses being
re-routed for the evening. The pageant itself
took place on a boardwalk, built by the city
down the center of the thoroughfare and 1,500
feet in length, all flooded by many batteries of
powerful lights placed on the roofs and cornices
of neighboring buildings and furnished by the
Westinghouse Co. with current supplied with-
out charge by the Detroit Edison Co. The
entire thoroughfare was decorated by the flags
of all nations together with masses of bunting
and at the Grand Circus Park end was a stand
upon which the mayor of the city sat to place
on the heads of the Prince and Princess of
Music, John Lennie, Jr., ten years old and
Dolorosa Roulo, twelve years old, their re-
spective crowns and to present to the Prince
the sword, suitably engraved, with which he
officially opened the carnival. After the coro-
nation there followed in rapid order folk dances
of many countries, music by bands and drum
corps whose services were contributed by many
interests, a diving contest in a large tank
erected in the center of the street, a costume
parade with prizes for the best costumes and
finally some hours of dancing in the street to
the music of the D. S. R. band, the Ford band
and music by other organizations. The whole
affair was under the general direction of Roy
A. Maypole and a capable staff of assistants.
Over 100 local Boy Scouts gave a flag drill and
then helped to police the carnival area. It is
said that over 500,000 people from all sections
of the city attended the carnival, which was
widely advertised in the newspapers, on the
busses and cars and by the railroads over a
territory within 250 miles of the city. An ac-
curate count was impossible but the fact re-
mains that there was not breathing space
throughout the entire length of the boulevard
and the adjacent streets. To the casual ob-
server it seemed as though a million people
were gathered.
Wednesday Luncheon
The principal speaker at the Wednesday
luncheon was William J. Rutledge, Police Com-
missioner of Detroit, who talked on home in-
fluence and crime. The Commissioner, who
organized the very efficient Detroit Police Band,
told how his department was steadily decreas-
ing the percentage of crime in proportion to
population. He declared that bad home environ-
ment was responsible for the creation of many
young criminals and that music properly en-
couraged would serve to keep the young people
home and away from questionable outside re-
sorts. Music makes for culture, and crime and
culture don't mix well, he said.
Another speaker was Arthur Dondineau, as-
sistant superintendent of the- public schools of
Detroit, who explained the manner in which
school authorities had co-operated in supporting
the piano-playing contest. He stated that the
school policy was to assist any movement of the
sort where the trade itself was properly organ-
ized and where all its members were likely to
benefit.
He said that the number of music teachers in
the Detroit schools had increased steadily until
there were now over 300 of them, and that in-
struction in the playing of instruments 'Was
freely given where it was possible to teach in
groups of twenty or more.
Ray Priest, of the Detroit Times, which tied
up with the local contest last year and this, and
who handled the publicity on both occasions
with great ability, also spoke briefly and said
that his paper was well satisfied with the general
results even though the advertising support by
the piano dealers had not been any too gener-
ous.
Roy A. Maypole, director-general of the con-
test and carnival, explained in considerable de-
tail how they had been planned and conducted
and said that it was the policy in Detroit to
string out interest in the contest as long as pos-
sible through school elimination tests. He ex-
plained how the carnival was valuable for cen-
tering the attention of the entire city on music,
and emphasized the fact that it was through
ability to play the piano that the school cham-
pions won their prizes and were honored by the
great civic event.
George Cain, vice-president of the Miessner
Institute, Milwaukee, explained and demon-
strated the Miessner Melody Way Plan for
group piano instruction-, and Gordon Laughead,
sales manager of the Wurlitzer Grand Piano
Co., talked interestingly on "The Grand Piano,
Its Place And Trend."
The second night of the carnival on Wash-
ington Boulevard appeared to draw an even
larger crowd than was present on the first
night, with an official program that was very
similar to that of Tuesday. Following the car-
nival there was held the annual conclave of the
Michigan Chapter of Cheese Hounds at Oriole
Terrace, an affair that will long linger in the
memories of those who were privileged to be
present and take part in the festivities of the
carnival.
Gordon Joins Aeolian
Wholesale Promotion Staff
Well-known Pianist to Travel Demonstrating
the Duo-Art Reproducing Piano
Philip Gordon, widely known as one of the
most interesting of the younger American
pianists, has been added to the wholesale pro-
motion staff of the Aeolian Co., New York.
Mr. Gordon lias become known to the music
Philip Gordon
merchants of the country as a highly fluent
advocate of the reproducing piano, and has
for many years demonstrated its possibilities
for real musical enjoyment, as well as its effec-
tiveness from a teaching standpoint.
Before becoming identified with the piano
promotion field Mr. Gordon attained distinc-
tion on the concert stage. He was born in Cin-
cinnati, and his musical talent began to mani-
fest itself while he was still in his teens. After
studying in Cincinnati, Mr. Gordon came to
New York and was, for a time, a pupil of
Joseffy. Later he studied with Dohnanyi, the
great Hungarian pianist, in Berlin. When he
made his American debut several years ago
Philip Gordon amazed New York music lovers
by giving five recitals in the city within a few
months' time. This unique feat of playing five
difficult and comprehensive programs brought
him to the attention of the public as an artist
of vast resources.
Mr. Gordon has already recorded several
numbers for the Duo-Art, among them some of
his own arrangements, all of which will be
released shortly and used in his recitals.
Requests for Mr. Gordon's visits are already
coming in to the Aeolian Co. from its repre-
sentatives, but it has been stated that it will
require considerable time before he is able to
fulfill the engagements already before him.
The Columbia Phonograph Co. announces
the addition to its advertising staff of Robert
W. Morse, former copy writer for Time, and
contributor of musical articles to many papers.
The prisoner with "the ball and chain" upon his ankle has only a limited
sphere of activity. The piano dealer who cannot lift a piano on the back
of his Ford runabout and run it out to the prospect's home for demonstration
is likewise limited. The prisoner has got to serve his time, but the piano
dealer can get a Bowen loader.
Increase the power of your organization. Write for details today.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.
Winston-Salem, N. C.