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MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
Harmonica Center of Attraction at
Rotarian Convention in Atlantic City
Nine Cities Send Own Harmonica Bands to Compete in Contests—Chester, Pa., Wins
First Prize—Philadelphia Band Makes Appearance
A TLANTIC CITY, N. J., May 14.—Follow-
^*- int< close upon the sensational demonstra-
tion
ago, this instrument was again in the public
mi
•r'ft- r J
The Hohner at Atlantic City
spotlight last week, when the annual confer-
ence of the Fiftieth District of the Rotary In-
ternational, representing Eastern Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, was held at the Hotel Dennis.
Fifty cities were represented and nine of
them had, their own Rotary Club harmonica
bands equipped with attractive uniforms. These
included Pottstown, Pa.; Ardmore, Pa.; West
Chester, Pa.; Old York Road, Pa.; Glen Mills,
Pa; Chester, Pa.; Downington, Pa.; Bridgeton,
N. J., and Vineland, N. J. The bands traveled
to the conference at the expense of their own
sponsored club.
The harmonica festivities started with a
parade on the boardwalk in which 400 young-
sters participated headed by a brass band from
the Wolf Junior High School of Easton, Pa.
Preliminary contests were held on Young's
Million Dollar Pier, and all were eliminated
but the finalists. The finals were then held
during the lunch hour. Cups being awarded
as follows: Chester, first;: Old York Road,
second, and Vineland, third. The contest was
held under the direction of Rotarian "Al"
Hoxie.
After the contests Mr. Hoxie went to the
music room of the Hotel Chalfonte where he
spoke on the subject of harmonica music to a
gathering of Rotarians.
At the banquet held in the evening on the
Million Dollar Pier the harmonica again gave
a program of music which included Charlie
Kerr and his orchestra, the Reading Railroad
Seaside Orchestra, and Mitchell Brothers
vaudeville banjoists. The greatest applause of
the evening, however, was given to the Phila-
delphia Harmonica Band which made a special
trip to Atlantic City for the conference, and
which literally stopped the show with its rendi-
tion of Brahm's Hungarian dance No. 6, and
the "Poet and Peasant" overture. As a special
added attraction Ray Kraus, who was recently
crowned harmonica champion of Philadelphia,
played several jazz selections and was warmly
received.
After the harmonica demonstration the con-
ference adopted the following resolution: "The
Fiftieth District of Rotary International desires
to record its appreciation of the work of Albert
N. Hoxie and the contribution made through
his efforts to the pleasure of the District Con-
ference by arranging the Harmonica Band Con-
test, in which ten Harmonica Bands, sponsored
by Rotary Clubs, participated. The organiza
tion of these Harmonica Bands, the conception
of bringing them to Atlantic City and the ar-
rangements for doing so are due almost entirely
to Albert Hoxie. The presence of these bands
has been an inspiring demonstration of an ex-
cellent form of work with boys and girls.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Fiftieth Dis-
trict express its gratefulness to Albert N. Hoxie
for his splendid work and commend the organ-
ization and training of community harmonica
bands to the Rotary Clubs of our district as a
specific form of boys' work worthy of greater
development."
Buegeleisen & Jacobson
Issue Summer Bulletin
Buegeleisen & Jacobson, New York musical
merchandise wholesale house, announce the
issue of a special Summer bulletin, showing
special merchandise, which is particularly se-
lected as good selling items for the Summer
season. The bulletin also includes new mer-
chandise recently added to the line. It also
contains a number of items already listed in
Buegeleisen & Jacobson's catalog, specially
priced in order to give the dealer an oppor-
tunity to make some extra Summer profits or
to make special sales. Felix Baer, sales man-
ager, is in charge of the business during the
absence of Samuel Buegeleisen, who is in Eu-
rope on a buying trip.
Musical Instrument
Dealers to Entertain
At the meeting of the Associated Musical
Instrument Dealers of New York, held this
week at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, plans were
discussed for the entertainment of the visiting
members of the trade at the coming convention
at the Hotel Commodore. These plans will be
announced in detail in a later issue.
Wife of Fred Gretsch Dead
Mrs Frederick Gretsch, wife of Frederick
Gretsch, head of the Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co.,
Brooklyn, N. Y., died very unexpectedly Satur-
day morning after a short illness. She had
planned to accompany Mr. Gretsch and her son,
Fred, Jr., to Europe when they left the first
part <>f April, but what seemed at the time a
minor illness caused her to postpone her trip,
and she planned to join them in Paris later.
A sudden change for the worse occurred
about a week ago, and Mr. Gretsch and his son
were hurriedly summoned home, but they were
on the high seas when the end came. They
arrived Tuesday on the "He de France," leaving
the boat by special arrangement at Quarantine.
The funeral was held Tuesday morning at the
Church of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Forest
Hills, L. 1.
Mrs. Gretsch left three sons, Frederick, Jr.,
associated with his father in business, Richard,
a student at the University of Michigan, and
William, a student at Lafayette College.
A. J. La Goste Introduces
a Bride to Bill Nelson
BOSTON, MASS., May 15.—William Nelson, gen-
eral manager of the Vega Co., received an in-
teresting surprise last week. He received a let-
ter from A. J. La Coste, musical merchandise
manager for Philip Werlein, Ltd., New Orleans,
saying that he would be in New York for the
week-end, so Bill took a run down to New
York. Upon arriving at Mr. La Coste's hotel,
much to Mr. Nelson's surprise, he was intro-
duced to Mrs. La Coste. They had been mar-
ried that afternoon, the bride being the former
Miss Ann Bade, of New York.
Patents New Flasher
for Banjos and Drums
AI.TOONA, PA., May 15.—Joseph Nicomede, head
of the Nicomede Music Co., who returned from
New York this week, reports that he has se-
cured a patent on a new flasher for banjos and
drums. This electric flasher is now being made
by the Nicomede firm, and will be known as
the Nicomede Rainbow Flasher. In demon-
strations thus far the flasher has made an in-
stantaneous hit.
Walter Gretsch to Europe
Walter Gretsch, member of the firm of
Gretsch & Brenner, New York wholesale musi-
cal merchandise house, sailed this week for Eu-
rope, where he will spend several weeks visiting
the markets. William Brenner will represent
the firm at the convention.
Frank Campbell, sales manager of Gibson,
Inc., makers of fretted instruments, Kalamazoo,
Mich., visited the New York trade last week.
GRITFCH
for
Trade
Ma*
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
The Fred Gretsch
6O Broadway Brool