Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Established 1879
August, 1952
REVIEW
VOL. I l l - N o . 8
THE
PIONEER
PUBLICATION
2,869th Issue
O F T H E MUSIC
I N D U S T R Y
Prospect of Good Fall Business Prompts
Liberal Ordering at 51st NAMM Convention
QOME 7,000 members of the music
^ industry decended on the Hotel
New Yorker on Monday July 28 for
the 51st Annual Convention of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants.
The Music Industry Trade Show
occupied 10 floors of the hotel. Promi-
nent speakers included movie producer
Jesse L. Lasky, whose newest project
is a film about high school music, en-
titled "Big Brass Band.''
There were approximately 250 ex-
hibitors.
The music merchants came to town
with a fairly optimistic outlook for
the rest of the year, and bought in sub-
stantial quantities for the fall and
Christmas retail trade.
Erlandson's Address
In his address of welcome given at
the opening luncheon for President Ray
Erlandson.
"It is always an inspiration to attend
these conventions and trade shows,
where we may talk with each other, get
a fresh outlook on our industry, and
where we can see the panoramic forest
of our great industry, instead of the
individual trees which represent our
daily problems. Somehow, it seems to
instill a new vigor—and you go home
with renewed determination to down
those irritating problems which loomed
so large before you left.
"At this convention. I am completing
mv second and last term as President
of the National Association of Music
Merchants. How well I have served is
for others to judge, but in the course
of my service I have enjoyed an experi-
e n r which will remain with me always.
"Our Association is strong and vigor-
ous, and over the past year, we have
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1952
RETIRING
PRESIDENT
ERLANDSON
HANDS THE GAVEL TO PRESIDENT-
ELECT HARRY E. CALLAWAY
served our membership well, we have
served our industry, which in turn has
been kind to us.
"My annual report to the membership
will be released tomorrow morning at
the Annual Meeting of Members. This
report documents our service to the
membership and the industry in detail.
Suffice to say here, that I am proud of
the record, and of my administration
which made that record.
"Of course it has been no one man
job. Many persons have had a hand in
that record. My fellow Officers and Di-
rectors, our committee chairmen and
their committees—as well as the active
support and inte-est of our membership.
I thank all of them sincerely for they
are the team. I thank the trade press
for its liberal and influential support.
The trade press of our industry is the
finest that I have ever seen in any in-
dustry, and we shall always strive to
merit their respect and cooperation.
Commends Educational Move
"I believe that our greatest single
achievement this year was the inaugura-
tion of the Education Division. Born
last November, it fittingly won its spurs
in Texas where our pilot project was
road-tested last January. Since that time
its progress has amazed everyone, in-
cluding our members who have bene-
fited from its services.
The NAMM does not claim credit for
originating the formula upon which its
Education Division operates. That credit
goes to one of our largest and finest
members who actually pioneered the
tangled path of translating promotional
theory into practical merchandising.
NAMM does, however, lay claim to
having brought this amazing new serv-
ice into the stores of its members.
"The NAMM Education Division is
currently a one-man operation, and our
greatest problem is to spread him over
the 48 states. In every city we have in-
vaded, our members have been aston-
ished at this new merchandising pro-
gram # and their enthusiastic reception
has been genuine.
"I said that this new Division was a
one-man operation. I want you to meet
this man now, whom you will see and
hear more of on Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday of this week. Mr. Verne
R. Marceaux, stand and take a bow.
Thank you.
"During my tenure of office, I have
made many friends and learned many
things. In this time I have wished that
every member of NAMM might serve
in the capacity as President, for even
one year—but that would take 1000
vears at the minimum. Perhaps if each
could serve a term as a director, as-
suming he were willing—but that