Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Story & Clark Ranch Model Piano a
Prize at American Livestock Show
A Story & Clark piano shared the
spotlight with horses and prize bulls
this fall at the annual American Royal
sponsored by the Royal. Honored in
talks by Ex-Mayor John B. Gage, presi-
dent of the Royal, and by Former
The Distinguished Missourian family of 1953 at the new Storv & Clark ranch style piano
presented to them October 20 as a surprise at the annual American Royal ham breakfast
by Paul W. Jenkins, president of the Jenkins Music Co. L. to R., the members of the
musical Monsees family, Betty Jean, 8, who plays the piano; Mrs. Monsees, a pianist;
Paul W. Jenkins; Olen Monsees, who plays the violin; Jim, 16, trumpet; Junior 13,
trombone; Ned, 10, French horn.
Livestock and Horse Show, in Kansas
City which attracts exhibitors from
throughout the United States. Pushing
the piano into the limelight was the
promotion-minded Jenkins Music Co..
which has the headquarters of its 12-
store. 4-state operation in that city.
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary,
Jenkins decided to give a new piano
to a farm family which had been se-
lected by the Royal to receive the Dis-
tinguished Missourian award for 1953.
The family was honored by the Royal
atid presented a plaque and a set of
luggage at the annual Ham breakfast
President Harry S. Truman, the family
of Olen Monsees of Smithton, Mo. was
not prepared for the next speaker. Paul
W. Jenkins, president of the music
fir-m, stepped up to make a surprise
presentation of a new Story & Clark
ranch piano to Mr. and Mrs. Monsees
and their four children.
"This family is being honored today
for their farming skill/' he said "but
they are a family of fine musical tal-
ent and each of them plays an instru-
ment. It gives me pleasure to present
them the piano as a gift from our firm
on its 75th Anniversary.
As he spoke, the piano was unveiled
to the applause of more than 400 prom-
inent Missourians attending the break-
fast. Its knotty pine finish, distinctive
western motif brought admiring com-
ments from the crowd.
Mr. Monsees, who plays the violin,
and his wife, who favors a piano,
gathered around the instrument to test
the keyboard. Crowding up to the pi-
ano were their four children, Jim, 16,
who plays the trumpet; Junior, 13, a
trombone player; Ned, 10, a French
horn enthusiast, and Betty Jean, 8, who
takes piano lessons.
The Kansas City Star devoted a 3-
eolumn picture to the Monsees family
and their new piano, radio and televi-
sion stations carried stories of the pres-
entation and papers in Western Mis-
souri noted the event in their columns.
After the October 20 breakfast, the
piano went on display at the American
Royal building, where it was seen by
more than 100.000 visitors to the Roy-
al by the time the show closed October
25. '
American Piano Supply Co.
Moves to Larger Headquarters
The American Piano Supply Co.,
which has been located on West 20th
St. for the last two years, announces
that it has now moved to 889 Broadway
on the northwest corner of 19th Street
where they occupy the entire second
floor of the building.
According to John J. Vaughan, Sales
Manager of the company, the enlarg-
ing of these quarters will be of consid-
erable advantage to the many custom-
ers of the company, as it will permit
faster and more efficient service and
give an opportunity for a much better
display of the many items which the
company carries for the piano industry.
Chosen by over a half-million families since 1896, the distinguished performance of Kohler & Campbell pianos has earned the title of "Heirloom Quality'
Exclusive Profitable Franchise
For valuable territories and brochure,write: Julius White, President, KOHLER & CAMPBELL, Inc., 401-425 East 163 Street, New York 56, N. Y.
&- Campbell pianos
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1953
21