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THE M U S I C TRADE
10
ANNUAL MEETING OF CHICAGO PIANO
AND ORGAN ASSOCIATION WELL ATTENDED
T
HE annual dinner of the Chicago Piano
and Organ Association, held at the Audi-
torium Hotel, on the night of January 11,
was a great success from many angles.
Not alone from the attendance, which num-
bered 83, but as well from the enthusiasm
developed over business prospects for the
year, and from the remarks of the principal
speakers and the expressed determination of
the members to make the musical features of
Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition (to
be opened June 1) a more than ordinary suc-
cess.
At the previous monthly lunch-meeting,
December 29, President L. C. Wagner ad-
vanced the suggestion that the annual dinner
would bring out more people if the prices
were set at a lower mark than possible at the
Union League Club. This was a popular
step and many of the concerns represented
brought guests and in addition their sales
forces as well.
At the dinner, the 34th annual affair of the
oldest organization in the trade, the famous
Frederick Stock, director of the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, made an effective ap-
peal for their aid in the Music Temple to
be erected in the Chicago Century Progress
Fair, and Dr. A. D. Albert explained the
musical program of the Fair.
"If we make a success of the Temple of
Music, and we will," said Mr. Stock, "we
will rehabilitate the whole cause of music.
It is an effort to coordinate all musical activi-
ties and thereby benefit the entire profession.
We will be able to present greater music for
Chicago and better music than Chicago has
ever had. We must get music out of the
doldrums."
Dr. Albert, of the Fair's Management,
took what might be called the practical side
of the subject. Explaining the basic idea of
the musical program to be given there. In
part, he said, bringing out the illuminating
fact in Chicago this year the Fair intends to
devote more attention to music than any
other national show has given.
Later President Wagner announced that
the Executive Committee to aid in the project
of building the Temple of Music would con-
sist of George L. Hall, Frank Bennett, Adam
Schneider, Eugene Whale and the officers of
the association, President Wagner, Vice-Presi-
dent David W. Kimball, Secretary Fred Ryder.
These will work in conjunction with the So-
ciety Women's group w'ho are raising the
funds. It will cost $100,000 and much of
this has already been pledged through the
Women's Committee of which Mrs. Jos. M.
Cudahy, Mrs. Arthur H. Compton and Mrs
Paul Russell are leading members.
In addition to duties as toastmaster Mr.
Wagner made his first official address, say-
ing:
"My keynote this evening is optimism and
I sincerely and earnestly believe that 1933
will show a very substantial improvement in
all lines of business, especially the piano in-
dustry. The last two years have been most
difficult, but I am convinced that we are
about to turn the well-advertised, but elu-
sive corner.
"I was in Cincinnati last week and was
asked my opinion about 1933 and naturally
replied that I was optimistic. I explained
my reasons in this way. The difference be-
tween an optimist and a pessimist is that
the optimist would say, 'Please pass me the
cream,' while the pessimist would inquire if
there were any milk in that pitcher.
"Various influences have been taking the
cream off Chicago's milk for the last two
years. First, the banks took their share, but
now I believe that all the banks are closed
that will close. The Insull crash continued
the skimming process, and the real estate
bonds defaulting practically completed the
operation. But all these terrible catastrophes
are in back of us so how can one help but
feel optimistic.
"But this alone is not the entire basis of
my optimism. The general public have
learned that the real good times are to be
had in their homes and in the homes of their
friends and are appreciating more today than
they have in the last ten years that the finer
things of life are far more desirable than
the hectic chase for pleasure during the boom
years.
Music, undoubtedly, will be a
tremendous factor in the homes of the fu-
ture.
"American fathers and mothers have been
known all over the world for their willing-
ness to sacrifice for their families and, gen-
tlemen, they will sacrifice so that their chil-
dren may have the cultural advantages of
a musical education, provided it is present-
ed to them in the proper manner. There-
fore, it behooves our schools and colleges of
music, private teachers and the music indus-
try to bring this thought directly to the par-
ents and to conduct their business on a high
plane and in an intelligent and high-grade
manner. By doing this, we all will benefit.
REVIEW, January, 1933
OBITUARY
Alex McDonald
Alex McDonald, for many years an active
member of the piano trade until his retire-
ment a couple of years ago, died on January
3rd in a hospital in Cornwall-on-Hudson,
N. Y., where he had been confined for some
three months with a heart ailment. He was
fifty-seven years old.
Mr. McDonald first entered the trade
through the retail division in St. Louis, and
after a number of years there, came to New
York, where, among other activities, he
edited the Player-Piano Journal, long de-
funct. About fifteen years ago he became
associated with Sohmer & Co. as wholesale
manager and in charge of the company's ex-
tensive advertising. He was for a long time
greatly interested in the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants, was for some years
a member of the Board of Control of that or-
ganization and made transcontinental trips in
support of the Association.
Funeral services were held at Mr. Mc-
Donald's old home in East Orange, N. J.,
on January 7th. He is survived by several
grown children, his wife having died in
January, 1932.
Walter Paulus
Walter Paulus, who for some years past
had conducted a music store in Hollywood,
Cal., died in that city recently in his 56th
year. Prior to going to California some nine
years ago he was associated with his father
and brother in the Paulus Music Co., Mani-
towoc, Wis.
Killed in Motor Accident
An automobile accident in Southern Illi-
nois the night of January 9 killed Mrs.
Rowley and two other people. Mrs. Rowley,
the wife of the medical superintendent of
the State Hospital at Chester, 111., was the
oldest daughter of Mrs. F. P. Daly, owner
of the Daly Music Co. at Wisconsin Rapids,
Wis.
Adam Ruckstuhl, Sr.
Adam Ruckstuhl, Sr., a retired piano manu-
facturer and retailer of Jersey City, N. J.,
died recently in that city at the age of 70.
Born in New York, Mr. Ruckstuhl went to
Jersey City forty-three years ago and for
thirty years operated a piano factory in
Rutherford, N. J., and a retail store in Jersey
City.
STARR PIANOS
STARR ELECTRIC REFRIGERATORS
CHAMPION and GENNETT RECORDS
ELECTRICAL TRANSCRIPTIONS for RADIO BROADCASTING
THE STARR PIANO COMPANY
ESTABLISHED 1872
L
RICHMOND, INDIANA