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Musical Merchandise Section of The Music Trade Review
Philadelphia Harmonica Band on Annual
Spring Tour Through New England
'TPHE Philadelphia Harmonica Band journeyed
-*• from their home city to Boston on the night
of June 14 in order to render a concert for the
National Federation of Music Clubs. They were
also the major attraction at the dedication of a
flag and flagpole at East Sandwich, Mass.,
which was erected to commemorate the birth of
Passing through New York City, the band
first stopped to broadcast a half-hour concert,
from 7 to 7.30, over station WOR. That this
was very well received is amply proven by the
many telephone messages which came to the
station for request numbers before the depar-
ture of the band. From the broadcasting studio
Philadelphia Harmonica Band on State House Steps, Boston
the harmonica movement on the shores of Cape the band went to P. S. 27, where a large audi-
Cod seven years ago. From the little mustard ence gathered to applaud the skill of the boys.
seed that was sown in the mind of Albert N.
Leaving New York in a special sleeper, on the
Hoxie at that time has grown the present gigan- midnight train, they arrived in Boston early
tic movement which has involved the organiza- Saturday morning, journeying to the State
tion of hundreds of harmonica bands through- House, where they were received by Governor
out Philadelphia and the surrounding territory. Frank G. Allen.
Conn Dealers From Twenty-five States
Attend Annual Convention in Elkhart
Over 100 dealers from twenty-five States at-
tended the Convention in Elkhart, Ind., late in
May at the factories of C. G. Conn, Ltd., this
being the fifth annual gathering of the kind and
in all respects the most successful.
President C. D. Greenleaf in his address of
welcome sounded the keynote of optimism. He
called attention to the excellent market for band
instruments that dealers in various parts of the
country have discovered, and are developing.
Using the metaphor of "Acres of Diamonds" he
stressed the fact that these rich markets are
lying right under the nose of dealers and it has
only been recently that their possibilities have
been recognized.
He cited instances of dealers who have organ-
ized bands, not only among schools, but among
clubs, industries, business houses, within ga-
rages, along business streets and in scores of
the most unusual groups. It is just beginning
to dawn upon various dealers, according to Mr.
Greenleaf, that the band idea has an unusual
fascination for people of all classes and that it
is up to the alert dealer to organize this inter-
est and give people the opportunity of playing
in a band.
Various sessions of the convention were de-
voted to dealer problems with emphasis upon
band-organizing activities. Dealers who have
been successful in various lines of activity spoke
before the convention, explaining methods to
the other dealers and answering questions which
the various talks developed.
Outstanding among these was the address of
Wm. Howard Beasley, of D. L. Whittle Music
Co., Dallas, Tex., on "Preparation of a Budget
and Its Value to a Dealer." Other excellent
talks were given by G. S. Glen, Glen Bros.-
Roberts Piano Co., Ogden, Utah, on "Is Musi-
cal Merchandise Department of Store as Profit-
able for the Dealer as Other Departments?"
and by N. E. Hager, Hager Musical Instrument
Annual Banquet of Conn Dealers in Elkhart
43
From there they journeyed to the City Hall,
where they were received by Timothy F. Don-
ovan, president of the City Council, who was
acting as Mayor in the absence of the Hon. M.
E. Nichols. This was followed by luncheon at
the Hotel Statler, and in the afternoon a con-
cert was given before the National Federation
of Music Clubs, which taxed the capacity of the
grand ballroom of the Hotel Statler.
At the conclusion of the concert the boys en-
trained in their special car, and were taken to
East Sandwich, Mass., where their leader, Al-
bert N. Hoxie, has a Summer home. In the
evening another concert was given at the new
high school, the proceeds of which were pre-
sented to the school and will be used toward
the purchase of a grand piano.
Sunday morning was spent in sight-seeing and
after luncheon the flag and flagpole were dedi-
cated with appropriate ceremonies and about
fifteen hundred persons witnessed the event
Among those present were Mrs. Harry A.
Alackey, wife of the Mayor of Philadelphia;
Mrs. Clara Barnes Abbott, chief of the Phila-
delphia Bureau of Music; Mrs. Richard E. Davis
and Mrs. Pulaski Innes. The principal speaker
was the Hon. Charles L. Gifford, congressman
of the district.
Leaving Cape Cod in the afternoon, the boys
went to Providence, R. I., where a concert had
been arranged at the Central High School,
through the courtesy of Walter C. Butterfield,
City Music Supervisor. This gentleman had
heard the band before and believed it would be
an excellent opportunity to impress the value
of the harmonica upon his music teachers, all
of whom were present and witnessed the per-
formance. The Hon. James E. Dunn, Mayor
of the city, was also in the audience and spoke
words of welcome and praise to the boys.
This was the final engagement of the trip
and after refreshments were served the boys left
at midnight for their home town.
Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., on "Is Band Organiz-
ing Profitable for the Dealer?"
James F. Boyer, general chairman of the con-
vention, closed the three-day meeting with a
fitting climax. This was a short concert played
by a band composed entirely of Conn dealers.
More than 250 dealers, factory executives and
their wives gathered in the Athenian Ballroom
of the Hotel Elkhart at the dealer banquet
Saturday night, June 1, were so enthusiastic
over the exhibition that it was decided to make
a Conn Dealer Band a permanent feature of
all future Conn dealer conventions.
According to Mr. Greenleaf the surface has
only been scratched. Up to the present time,
a band has been organized here and a band has
been organized there, but bands will in the fu-
ture, with the proper organizing and merchan-
dising facilities behind the campaign, be or-
ganized on a wholesale scale.
Significant of this optimism also was a large
hand-painted sign hung before the various meet-
ings of the convention. This sign showed that
Conn dealers in various parts of the country
were enjoying a fine increase in business this
year over last year, through band" organizing
activities.