Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Established 1879
February, 1953
REVIEW
Vol. 112-No. 2
THE
PIONEER
PUBLICATION
2,875th Issue
OF T H E MUSIC
INDUSTRY
Dealers From Several States Attend
Piano Round Table at Atlanta Conference
WILLIAM R. GARD ACTS AS MODERATOR AT PIANO ROUND TABLE AT ATLANTA CONFERENCE—L. TO R.—J. A. BROWN, J. A.
SEALS. VERNE MANLEY (STANDING) MARSHALL PHILPITT, JR., MR. GARD. LYNN SHEELEY, SR., LYMAN SEYMOUR, WINTER &
CO., AND C. H. STEPHANSON, JR.
Over 100 dealers from many states
attended the Fourth Annual NAMM
Southeastern Regional Conference held
at the Dickler-Ansley Hotel, Atlanta,
Ga., on February 6, 7, 1953.
Two feature highlights of the pro-
gram were the Piano Round Table dis-
cussion on February 6, and the address
by Mrs. Augustus Roan on February 7.
The Piano Round Table comprised
a panel of five retail dealers, one piano
manufacturer, and the moderator. The
panel discussed questions on any sub-
ject pertaining to piano sales, mer-
chandising, promotion, etc., and en-
deavored to offer workable solutions,
drawn from the experience of the panel
members. Many questions were mailed
to NAMM in advance of the meeting,
or offered in person or in writing at the
meeting. This unusual feature, com-
pletely unrehearsed, proved interesting.
Mrs. Augustus Roan, of Atlanta,
talked on music therapy. Her specialty
has been in the treatment of spastic
children, and her accomplishment in
teaching coordination through the use
of music is known throughout the South.
Mrs. Roan gave a demonstration of her
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, FEBRUARY, 1953
work, with one of her students on Sat-
urday morning, February 7.
V. P. Manley, was chairman of the
Atlanta Host Committee. Other mem-
bers of the local committee included
Vice-Chairman 0 . L. Baskette, Bas-
kette Piano Co., Cecil White, Cable
Piano Co., and J. S. Rutan, Rutan
Music Co.
The meetings opened on Friday, Feb-
ruary 6th, with registrations starting
at 10 a.m. on the Rainbow Roof of
the hotel. From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. V. P.
Manley, manager of the organ and pi-
ano department of Rich's, Inc., Atlanta,
Ga. was chairman. The conference was
opened with an address. "What's In It
For Me?" by William R. Gard, Execu-
tive Secretary of the N.A.M.M. Cedric
Matthews, buyer of the radio and tele-
vision department of Rich's, Inc.. fol-
lowed him with an address on "Mer-
chandising—Radio—Television".
The Piano Round Table was then held
with William R. Gard as moderator,
the subject being, "Pianos Are Our
Line" and the panel consisted of J. A.
Brown, Brown & Son. Miami, Fla.;
John A. Seals, Seals Piano Co., Bir-
mingham, Ala.; Lyman Seymour, rep-
resentative for Winter & Co., New York;
Lynn Sheeley, Sr., Lynn Sheeley Co.,
Morristown, Tenn.; and G. H. Stephen-
son, Jr. of C. H. Stephenson Music Co.,
Raleigh, N. C.
At 6:30 p.m. there was a banquet
with V. P. Manley as toastmaster, while
the guest speaker was L. C. Long, Vice-
President and General Merchandise
Manager of Rich's, Inc.
On Saturday, February 7th, there was
a meeting held on the Rainbow Roof
at which Otis L. Baskette, President of
the Baskette Piano Co., Atlanta, Ga.
acted as chairman. Marion Egbert, field
staff officer of the American Music
Conference, talked on "The Million Dol-
lar Promoter" and there was also an
address on "The Band Instrument Mar-
ket" and Dr. Olie S. Johnson, chairman
of the marketing division of the At-
lanta Division of the University of
Georgia, gave a talk.
In the afternoon, Mr. Manley acted
as chairman to a meeting at which
Mrs. Augustus Roan of Atlanta, Ga.
talked on the subject "Try a Dose of
Music" and also gave a demonstration