Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JUNE 2, 1928
15
The Music Trade Review
Tom Brown Music Co. Opens New Store
at 315 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago
Many Leading Artists of Dance and Orchestra Worlds on Hand at Formal Opening of
Store of Widely Known Master of the Saxophone
i^HICAGO, May 26.—Roy Dietrich, Gene Caf-
^ farelli, Benny Krueger, Frankie Masters,
Art Kahn, Wendell Hall, Del Lampe, Abe Ly-
man, Gus Edwards, Frank Westfall and many
other stars of the dance orchestra and radio
worlds were on hand last week to offer their
congratulations to Tom Brown, world-famous
saxophonist, on the opening of the Tom Brown
Music Co.'s new store at 315 South Wabash
avenue. The attractive new location marks an
important step in the company's growth. Start-
ing in small, modest quarters in the State-Lake
Building in 1921, this popular musical instru-
ment house has made such progress that loca-
tion in the heart of Chicago was a logical step.
H. J. Wallace, secretary of the firm, in an in-
terview, stated that the directors were greatly
pleased to be able to move at this time, since
they feel that the enviable reputation the firm
has gained in the seven years of existence
makes this move consonant with its needs for
larger space, as well as a more central location.
The amateur trade is catered to as well as the
professional and its new location will enable
iis patrons to reach the store with considerably
less trouble.
Tom Brown, president and leader of the fa-
mous Original Six Brown Brothers, while play-
ing Eastern time, cancelled his bookings long
enough to be on hand for the formal opening
and several days thereafter.
Tom Brown has done as much as anyone else
to popularize the saxophone and is one of the
pioneers in its demonstration. Born in Ottawa,
Canada, in 1881, he was one of eleven children.
His father was leader of the Governor-General's
Footguards Band of Ottawa and a fine musician.
Being the son of a musician, Tom was early in-
troduced to the study of the violin. His parents
caused him to switch over to the clarinet and
from then on his musical progress was fast.
At thirteen, he went out into the world to seek
his own fortune. He worked in an organ fac-
tory for a time and^ later joined a minstrel show
as clarinetist. In 1904 he joined Ringling Bros.
Circus as clarinet soloist, where he remained
five years. It was during this time that he
organized the Original Six Brown Brothers.
During the off-seasons in circus routine he
applied his time playing the moderate priced
vaudeville houses and it was from these that
he graduated into the better paying houses. His
big chance came at the Empire Theatre, Hobo-
ken, N. J., and as Tom has put it, "we were all
on edge to make the grade."
But things apparently were not ripe. The act
was cancelled after the first performance on
various pretexts. Greatly discouraged, Tom
went back to circus life, where he stayed until
1909. At that time he and the Six Brown
Brothers joined a burlesque show, "Curtin's
Broadway Gaiety Girls," with whom he made
a tremendous hit and from which he stepped
to the Keith and Orpheum Circuit—"big time"!
At last, the theatre managers discovered him
and from then on sailing was easy. After three
years in vaudeville he joined the famous Prim-
rose and Dockstadter Minstrels, with which he
stayed two years. At the end of this time he
toured the world with huge success. In Lon-
don, Tom Brown and his Original Six Brown
Brothers joined the famous team of Montgom-
ery & Stone, with whom they were connected
for nine years. He has traveled with Julian
Eltinge and has toured Australia since.
Success has not spoiled Tom Brown and his
intensely human and vivid personality is re-
flected in the store that bears his name and
which he visits when engagements bring him to
Chicago. As the cigarette ads say, "such popu-
larity must be deserved." The firm carries
Buescher band instruments and saxophones,
Selmer woodwinds, Paramount banjos and
Leedy drums.
BACON
AttractiYe. Specialties
Modern S e r v i c e
KALAMAZOO, MICH., May 26.—According to in-
corporation papers filed at the Secretary of
State's office, the capitalization of Gibson, Inc.,
manufacturers of Gibson fretted instruments,
was increased this week to $300,000.
Paul Moennig Returns
From Trip Aboard
Chicago Musical Merchandise Distributor Back
After Visiting European Buying Centers
CHICAGO, III., May 26.—Paul Moennig, head of
Tonk Bros. Co., Chicago, wholesale distributor
of musical merchandise, with headquarters at
t)23 South Wabash avenue, has returned from a
two months' buying trip abroad.
Mr. Moennig sailed on the steamship "Col-
umbus," accompanied by his wife and two chil-
dren and E. Holmes, buyer of the musical mer-
chandise department of Lyon & Healy.
Principal music centers in Germany, France,
and Czecho-Slovakia were visited. In Germany
Mr. Moennig and his party made their head-
quarters at Markneukirchen, where the three
brothers of Paul Moennig, Richard, Harold, and
Fritz reside and are in the music business. The
two former brothers are in the string business
and manufacture the well-known brand of
strings represented by Tonk Bros. Co., known
as the Beau Ideal and Elephant brand. Fritz
Moennig is the maker of high grade violins
made under his own name which are also
handled by the Chicago jobber.
You have tried the rest
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Strings
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NICOMEDE MUSIC CO., Altoona, Pa.
Manufacturers
Played by Leading
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AND
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