Music Trade Review

Issue: 1929 Vol. 88 N. 20

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Philadelphia Harmonica Movement
Organized on Permanent Basis
P H I L A D E L P H I A , PA., May 13.—The har-
monica movement, begun only a few years
ago when it was introduced into the schools
as well as playgrounds and recreation centers
on an experimental basis, and which grew with
such an astonishing rapidity that to-day up-
wards of 80,000 school children are players of
the instrument, has at last been welded into a
permanent organization.
The harmonica is now an "institution" in
Philadelphia, for it has not only converted these
thousands of children to the cause of musical
expression, but has captured the whole-hearted
support of the leaders of the city's civic, social
and religious life.
And all of this came about through the un-
tiring and zealous efforts of Albert N. Hoxie,
local business man and philanthropist, who
took the helm of the harmonica movement at
its incipiency and under his personal direction
has guided it to the high place it now occupies
in the activities of Philadelphia.
There have been many achievements in this
harmonica development of the youth of Phila-
delphia, most of which have been widely
chronicled, but the fitting climax came last
Thursday evening when "Who's W h o " in
Philadelphia, headed by Mayor Harry A. Mack-
ey, and even the humblest inhabitants, as-
sembled in the grand ballroom of the Bellevue
Stratford Hotel for one of the most brilliant
social events ever held in this city. The event
was known as "The Harmonica Jubilee," staged
for the benefit of the now famous Philadelphia
Harmonica Band and its activities.
Social leaders, captains of finance and indus-
try, city officials, and even many from the work-
ing class, numbering nearly 2,000 in all, came
together to participate in this harmonica bene-
fit. And a program that entirely measured up
to the importance of the occasion was one of
the outstanding features of the evening. This
program was prepared with the view of fea-
turing "the child in music," an appropriate part
of Boy Week that was being observed during
the week. It embodied everything that pertains
to the child in music, opening with the har-
monica, acknowledged as the interlocutory
medium in the musical transition of the youth,
Albert N. Hoxie, of Philadelphia
and ending with the presentation of a sym-
phonic orchestra. It even went further than
this, for it featured the tired business man's
interest in music, when a group of the best
known and most successful captains of indus-
try in the city gathered in a group to play some
harmonica numbers, much to the delight of the
large audience and equally as much to their
own delight, for it took these men back to their
own boyhood days.
Harmonica champions of previous years came
back for this gala occasion and participated in
the program as their contribution in acknowl-
edging the harmonica movement's value. The
Philadelphia Harmonica Band, a boy organiza-
BACON
BANJOS
OIDES7 AND lABSBT HQUSi IN THE1SA0E
Played by Leading
Musicians and Orchestras
Sold by Representative
Mutic Merchants
BACON BANJO CO., Inc.
GROTON, CONN.
tion that has played for Presidents, foreign
rulers, Governors of several States and for
many audiences, in every case winning much
praise for their musicianship, played a promi-
nent part in this program.
Former members of the band, who have
graduated into other branches of musical ac-
tivity, were on hand and during the evening
formed an alumni association, that these boys,
too, might have a part in perpetuating the ideals
of this harmonica movement.
And out of this notable event—this gala day
for the harmonica movement—there has been
permanently organized a harmonica band asso-
ciation that will look after the future activities
of the harmonica band and its constituent or-
ganizations, found in practically every school
and playground through Philadelphia as well
as a large part of the outlying districts.
A Summer camp for the harmoncia band has
been established, to be known as Camp Har-
monica, where the boys may go for outdoor re-
laxation and recreation and at the same time
carry on their harmonica activities. This camp
was started last Summer by Mr. Hoxie, and
was such a great success that it had been de-
cided to make this camp a permanent one, giv-
ing the harmonica youths of the city an oppor-
tunity to spend their vacations in an attractive
and beneficial environment. When Mr. Hoxie
first took up the plans for this camp many
prominent business men and a large number of
Rotarians came to his support voluntarily and
have contributed most substantially in aid of
the movement.
The camp has been acclaimed a great factor
in promoting boy welfare, aside from what it
is accomplishing in encouraging the youth in
music.
All of the money realized from this jubilee
concert will go to the camp, providing new
equipment and defraying the expenses of
worthy boys who are not financially situated
to pay their own way at camp.
A study of the program presented at this
Jubilee Concert will instantly reveal the magni-
tude and scope of the musical phase of the
(Continued on page 15)
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Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Northern Ohio Band
Contest Held in Bucyrus
Parade and Playing By Amassed Band of 450
Among Features of Second Annual State
Meet
BUCYRUS, O., May 14.—The second annual north-
ern Ohio High School Band Festival closed its
two-day program here last Saturday with one
of the most spectacular parades in the history
of the city. Thousands of people lined the
streets as the bands from Norwalk, Sandusky,
Fremont, Willard, Oberlin, Piqua, Bellevue and
Bucyrus, headed by local police and flanked by
a guard of local business men and Boy Scouts,
passed in review to assemble in the public
square for a last concert by the 450-piece
massed band.
The festival was organized last year for the
purpose of promoting an interest in music
among high school pupils. The northern Ohio
association is the pioneer in the festival move-
ment in Ohio. Norwalk has been selected as
the place for holding the 1930 festival.
Music Store Sold
AKRON, O., May 13.—Announcement is made
that the former well-known music house of the
B. A. Emerson Co., of this city, has been ac-
quired by Wolfe's, and will hereafter be known
as Wolfe's Music Store. The new concern will
deal in pianos and will carry other lines also.
Freedman Moves Store
Harry Freedman is moving his general music
store from 297 West Ferry street to 44 West
Chippewa street, Buffalo. The new location
is in the heart of Buffalo's best shopping dis-
trict, whereas the Freedman shop heretofore
has been a neighborhood store.
What Trade Members Can Do to Arouse
Musical Appreciation in a Community
D A T T L E CREEK, MICH., May 13.—Every
now and then we find some excellent work
being carried on in behalf of the appreciation
of music by members of the trade in the com-
munity where they live. These members are
always thoroughly sold on music and its possi-
bilities and are usually musicians or have a
great appreciation or understanding of the sub-
ject which they endeavor to bring to their own
community. Quite apart from the business of
making and selling musical instruments and
accessories this promotional effort is being
carried on.
Perhaps there is no better example of this
work than what has been accomplished by
Raymond Gould of the V. C. Squier Co. of
Battle Creek, Mich. Mr. Gould lives in Lake-
view, a suburb of Battle Creek and he has dem-
onstrated that it is possible to awaken a musi-
cal interest in the community to appreciate
good music.
Under the direction of Mr. Gould, the Lake-
view Concert Orchestra was formed six years
ago among the musicians of the community
who began to assemble to practice and play at
various local functions. The first year that a
concert was given there was an audience of
about sixteen people who came out to hear a
program of orchestral music. The community
at that time had not fully appreciated what the
orchestra could give in the way of good enter-
tainment. Since the first recital there have been
numerous concerts presented and to-day the
average attendance is about 300, while there
has been as many as 600 in attendance.
This emphasizes the growth in the apprecia-
tion of good music by the community through
the efforts of Mr. Gould, conductor, and the
members of the orchestra. These concerts are
given gratis which enables everyone to attend
Philadelphia Acclaims the Harmonica
(Continued from page 14)
monica Band; His new boy friend, Carl Miller, who
event. In addition there was an address by
plays the accordion; and Harry Blair, a Songster
Mayor Mackey, who paid eloquent tribute to
from the Atlantic City Rotary Club Harmonica
what is being done to cultivate the boy in Phila-
Band.
Introduced by WILLIAM T. HARRIS
delphia. He stressed the importance of this
work and the dividends it pays to any com- 9. A Friend of the Cause—from Vineland, N. J.—
Charlie Ackley—Governor, 50th District, Rotary
munity. Mayor Mackey spoke in high praise
International.
of the harmonica movement. There were other
10. A Few Minutes in Camp Harmonica
The early Bugle Calls—Reveille—Assembly—Calis-
prominent speakers, all joining in profuse praise
thenics—Call to Chow—a few members of the Phila-
of this work. Many foremost members of the
delphia Rotary Club bring cheer and their Har-
Rotary District were on hand, this organiza-
monicas to Camp. Fred Sonnen and the Alumni
tion having taken a keen interest in the move-
of the P. H. B. arrive and revive memories of old
days. The visitors depart and Camp Harmonica
ment.
settles down to an evening around the campfire
Still another feature was the presentation of
with champions of other days and the newly
musical America's youngest members, a wee tot
crowned "Champ" of 1929—-Harry Rose.
The accompanists of the Philadelphia Harmonica Band
of but six years, who faced this great crowd
LENA BLANCHE JONES
and sang with the poise of a concert artist;
G. WALTER W. LAISE
also an eight-year-old boy banjoist, whose re-
WM. GEORGE CAREY
markable playing won much applause.
The program follows:
CARDS
1. Gems from "Good News"
THE ALBERT N. HOXIE ORCHESTRA
2. The Widener Memorial School Harmonica Band
First Prize Winner—Group Harmonica Contest
1928-1929
Under the direction of Miss JESSIE M. ROWE
3. America's Greatest Boy Banjoist
MASTER WARREN BODEN
4. The Harmonica Band of The Catholic Home for
Destitute Children
Second Prize Winner—•Group Harmonica Contest
1928-1929
Under the direction of FRANK R. SUNSHINE
5. The Philadelphia Male Quartet
HENRY WINDER, 1st Tenor; HOWARD K. JACKSON,
Baritone; Loins SMITH, 2nd Tenor; WILLIAM
HUTCHINSON,
15
The Music Trade Review
MAY 18, 1929
Bass;
GEORGE W.
BLANK, Ac-
companist.
6. The Philadelphia Harmonica Band
Under the direction of ALBERT N. HOXIE
(a) National Emblem March; (b) Chanson Arabe
"S'cheherezade"; (c) Poet and Peasant Over-
ture.
7. A Greeting from His Honor
The Mayor of Philadelphia, HARRY A. MACKEY
8. Kenneth Goodyear, Mascot of the Philadelphia Har-
the Clover Room
DANCING in the Ballroom until 1
Awards During Intermission
The pianos used at this concert are furnished by the
F. A. NORTH CO., 1306 Chestnut street, which has pro-
vided a piano, Jacobean period, as one of the many at-
tractive favors which will be awarded to-night.
All instruments used in the Harmonica movement are
and partake of this splendid entertainment.
With only a few players when it was formed,
the orchestra to-day consists of thirty pieces
embracing all of the standard musical instru-
ments.
This presentation naturally leads to a greater
interest in music and musical instruments and
Mr. Gould points out that this work can be
effectively carried on in the community in
which the members of the trade reside. "Prac-
tically every concern," said Mr. Gould, "has
someone in its organization that is musical,
that can play some instrument, and can organ-
ize a band or orchestra for community work.
If the manufacturers and dealers alike encour-
aged this type of work in addition to manufac-
turing or selling musical instruments, they
would soon find that they were living right in
the midst of a community that was apprecia-
tive of good music. Properly stimulated, this
movement would grow and orchestral music
would be as popular as many of the other
attractions that occupy the public consciousness
and perhaps do not give as satisfactory results."
To show further the reaction of the people
of the community to the idea of music; the de-
mand for music became so insistent that the
Lakeview Consolidated School in 1926 em-
ployed a music and art teacher. In 1927 an
outside teacher was employed to teach orches-
tra and band instruments to classes in the
school. The school now has a band, an orches-
tra, and choruses and when the new school year
opens in September will have additional musi-
cal activities as well as more groups of students
studying music. Communities are ready for
musical development, but someone must start
out and establish music on a good standard
basis.
The V. C. Squier Co. is an old established
firm, having been in the music business in
Battle Creek for thirty-eight years. The com-
pany not only manufactures the well-known
line of Squier-Trued wound musical strings, but
also has a retail department. The retail store
has recently been moved to No. 90 East Michi-
gan avenue-.
Taking Musical Census
As an additional service to the retail store,
the company recently inaugurated a new plan
to further the musical welfare of the city of
Battle Creek. A musical census of the city is
being compiled by the company and when the
census is completed, V. C. Squier Co. will have
a directory of practically everyone in Battle
Creek who plays an instrument or who is in-
terested in playing various musical instruments.
The record will be of real value to the musical
people of Battle Creek, which can be used as a
ready reference for any need, and at the same
time it will given the company an accurate
record of musical conditions in Battle Creek
and an excellent prospect index.
Contracts Expiring Soon
MILWAUKEE, WIS., May 13.—Musician's contracts
in Milwaukee theatres expire July 1 and there
is much doubt as to whether they will be re-
newed, in view of the fact that practically all
made by M. HOHNER, INC.
of the larger theatres have been wired for
The Harmonica Jubilee Committee was com- Vitaphone. While this fact is causing some de-
posed of the following prominent Philadelphia pression in the city, music dealers point out
people:
that orchestra groups have never been their
Admissions, Geo. P. Smith; Dance, Mr. and biggest buyers and merchants believe that by
Mrs. Walter S. Bauer; Fancy .Articles, Mrs. concentrating on schools and special promo-
Albert D. Wade; Junior Aides, Miss Julia E. tion they will scarcely notice any slump at all
Williams; Opportunities, Mrs. J. Ralph Wilson; because of the change.
Prize Awards, Ralph Dudley; Program, Mrs.
William A. McNamara, for the past ten years
Harry A. Mackey and Albert N. Hoxie; Pub- manager of the Forbes & Wallace Music Store
licity, Dr. Carroll F. Haines; Refreshments, in Greenfield, Mass., has resigne-d to become
Mrs. Wm. H. Ritter; Tickets, Mrs. Henry A. manager of a branch store of the C. C. Harvey
Rath; Treasurer, Allen M. Matthews.
Co. in Lynn, Mass.

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